Pulled over twice in one month now with no alert. Faulty detector or new radar band?

Hi, this is my first post here, so hi guys!

I live in wisconsin. My detector is a an Escort 8500.

In the last month I have been pulled over twice, one by a stationary cop in a really sneaky place (speedtrap), and the second time while the cop crested over a hill driving towards me.

Both times the detector gave no alert whatsover. The stationary officer says he hit me at 500ft with radar. He gave me a citation for 76 in a 55. The moving officer says he hit me with mounted radar doing 67 in a 55. He gave me a warning and was super cool.

I would like to mention I consider myself a super adept speeder, and consider myself an expert with my unit. It has saved me HUNDREDS of times. I have always considered its detection range excellent. The only ticket I have ever received while using the unit was laser from the rear by a cop on a pretty high freeway on-ramp (wisconsin state patrol). I figured none of the laser entered the rear aperture and didn't blame the unit.

So after getting pulled over twice in one month I am wondering whats the deal? Is there some new low power radar out there that doesnt get detected? A new band?

Is this something common that people know about?

Thanks.

The moving LEO was most certainly Radar while I suspect the stationary cop was most likely using LIDAR and not Radar.

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target...........LIDAR does. At 500ft the beam is very tight and if he targeted a headlight or LP, chances are your 8500 had no chance at seeing the beam. On K-Band the 8500 is fast enough to catch virtually any IO shot from a moving LEO........stationary might catch you but the LEO would have to be VERY quick on the trigger.....under .3 seconds.

Now the moving dude. Definitely moving radar........most likely Ka and you are the victim of a QT (Quick Trigger). On Ka band it can take the 8500 up to .8 seconds to register a hit while radars like the Stalker Dual and Kustom Golden Eagle can register a target speed and go back into hold (not transmitting) in as little as .3 seconds while moving.

Of course, there is always the chance that your 8500 has gone tone deaf on at least one band or portion of Ka. There are no new radar bands out there that it cannot detect.

I agree with nine_c1, the stationary was very likely LIDAR considering he gave you a distance read-out like that; I wouldn't worry too much about your 8500 missing that shot, considering there are so many variables with a detector actually seeing a LIDAR beam. As for the moving officer, two possibilities IMO: either your detector is dying or you were hit with Q/T. My best guess would be the latter. Considering your 8500 has served you faithfully for so long without any sign of fading out, I would have to assume that you got hit with a shot of Q/T that was simply too fast for your 8500 to register. If your 8500 is getting old and has a lot of hours on it, it wouldn't hurt to send it in for a tune-up.

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Originally Posted by nine_c1

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target..

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Do leos have to give 100 percent accurate distances? I always thought they could give estimates with distances?

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Originally Posted by unmamfqlm

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Originally Posted by nine_c1

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target..

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Do leos have to give 100 percent accurate distances? I always thought they could give estimates with distances?

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I surely wouldn't think so, but the fact that the LEO even mentioned the distance leads one to believe that he was using LIDAR. I've never heard of an LEO telling someone the distance at which they acquired their speed with radar, and even if they did, they would probably just give the measurement as an approximation in miles.

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Originally Posted by Silverado12

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Originally Posted by unmamfqlm

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Originally Posted by nine_c1

First let's go with the stationary dude. The fact that he quoted your speed at 500ft makes me think LIDAR because radar does not give distance to target..

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Do leos have to give 100 percent accurate distances? I always thought they could give estimates with distances?

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I surely wouldn't think so, but the fact that the LEO even mentioned the distance leads one to believe that he was using LIDAR. I've never heard of an LEO telling someone the distance at which they acquired their speed with radar, and even if they did, they would probably just give the measurement as an approximation in miles.

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No Leos will not give speed with radar correct I had about 5 radar tickets none say how many ft

Sounds like it is time to 1. Get 8500 checked out, or 2. Buy a V1 or STI-R + , and some jammers :D

Granted if it has saved you hundreds of times, I don't see lidar being an issue in your area, and the 8500 is a nice detector also so maybe it needs checked out. How old is the 8500 because these will fall out of tune over time.

Ok, so the stationary unit told me 500ft, but I dont believe there is any chance in hell that is accurate. Just based on my estimate I saw him at least 1200ft away and braked hard to 55. I have an Audi with 4 piston brakes so this happens pretty fast.

I specifically asked him if he hit me with laser, and he said no, just radar. I made a joke like "well I guess this thing {RD} isn't worth a damn". I almost thought he might have been shooting X-band because they have an old mid 90's crown vic and it is their only unit. X was turned off on my detector at the time. I was actually planning on pleading not guilty and asking for all the gun records through discovery. The courts here will generally lower your fine and points just for taking the time to show up.

As for the rolling unit it was a brand new charger with all of the bells and whistles, cowbar, blacked out grill, rear radar guns, the whole works.

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Originally Posted by Pip

Ok, so the stationary unit told me 500ft, but I dont believe there is any chance in hell that is accurate. Just based on my estimate I saw him at least 1200ft away and braked hard to 55. I have an Audi with 4 piston brakes so this happens pretty fast.

I specifically asked him if he hit me with laser, and he said no, just radar. I made a joke like "well I guess this thing {RD} isn't worth a damn". I almost thought he might have been shooting X-band because they have an old mid 90's crown vic and it is their only unit. X was turned off on my detector at the time. I was actually planning on pleading not guilty and asking for all the gun records through discovery. The courts here will generally lower your fine and points just for taking the time to show up.

As for the rolling unit it was a brand new charger with all of the bells and whistles, cowbar, blacked out grill, rear radar guns, the whole works.

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lol X band, possible I suppose but highly unlikely. I always scratch my head when I get X band in Ohio (where it is used). X band is like the poor little kid saying hey look at me look at me, but it's such a non threatening girly tone on the V1 you ignore it, compared to the manly burp K band does in your ear, lol.

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Originally Posted by bombebomb

lol X band, possible I suppose but highly unlikely. I always scratch my head when I get X band in Ohio (where it is used). X band is like the poor little kid saying hey look at me look at me, but it's such a non threatening girly tone on the V1 you ignore it, compared to the manly burp K band does in your ear, lol.

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I don't like driving through Ohio for that reason. Nearly every time that I have been through there, which has been quite a bit, I have had x band encounters. They always seem to come in bad scenarios as well, like on an interstate near a town.

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Originally Posted by Pip

Ok, so the stationary unit told me 500ft, but I dont believe there is any chance in hell that is accurate. Just based on my estimate I saw him at least 1200ft away and braked hard to 55. I have an Audi with 4 piston brakes so this happens pretty fast.

I specifically asked him if he hit me with laser, and he said no, just radar. I made a joke like "well I guess this thing {RD} isn't worth a damn". I almost thought he might have been shooting X-band because they have an old mid 90's crown vic and it is their only unit. X was turned off on my detector at the time. I was actually planning on pleading not guilty and asking for all the gun records through discovery. The courts here will generally lower your fine and points just for taking the time to show up.

As for the rolling unit it was a brand new charger with all of the bells and whistles, cowbar, blacked out grill, rear radar guns, the whole works.

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Considering you specifically asked the first LEO, I'd have to assume he did tell the truth & it was radar. As for the second LEO in the Charger, there's no way in h*ll they had an X band gun in there, lol.

At this point, it's pretty safe to assume that this wasn't C/O; I don't care how out of tune your 8500 may be, there's no way it would miss two sources like that unless it was straight up dead. If your 8500 still picks up door openers, it would've sounded to those cops. A tune-up may be in store for your 8500, but at this point, I wouldn't spend the money. It sounds like your area is adopting I/O & Q/T, and in that case, your best route is to upgrade your equipment to a RD that excels at Q/T detection such as a V1 or Sti-R Plus. Also, make sure you keep rabbits out in front of you if you want to stand a chance. Remember, even the best equipment in the world still can't save you from a well-timed I/O shot.

Welcome to the forum Pip.

I agree with prior assessments here... either your 8500 is in need of a tune-up or the cops in your area are getting sneaky with QT I/O tactics. Maybe a little of both--that 8500 is what, at least 7 years old now? It's probably drifted out of spec by now. It's served you well (and certainly paid for itself many times over over the years).. either send it out for a tune-up or put it into retirement and get something more capable against today's threats like a V1 or STi-R+.

Like others have said, it's extremely unlikely that you were hit with X band. It's equally unlikely you were hit with POP either. If you decide to fight the ticket, see if you can get the information on the gun that was used, and calibration records.

Start thinking about laser jammers too. They're the only reliable protection against laser. You'll need something like an LI Quad or a Blinder M47 so you can cover both ends of your car, since it sounds like they do rear laser shots there.

P.S. What kind of Audi do you drive? I'm guessing one of the S-series (S4, S6 etc.) if it has good brakes. :)

Where were these encounters?

Since he gave a distance and said that radar was used and not laser then he lied and used laser.
Laser measures distance which is equated into speed. Microwave radar does not measure distance,only speed. He could have used radar and guessed at the distance. You guessed 1200 feet and he said 500. You guessed just under a 1/4 mile and he said just under 1/8. Not much difference that happens fast when traveling 55 plus.

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Originally Posted by protias

Where were these encounters?

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First was in the Town of Emmet, right outside of watertown.

Second was in rural Green Lake County.

I'm not familiar with those areas so I do not know their tactics. Remember, no counter measurement gives 100% protection. :(

Sounds to me like you were owned by Quick Trigger. Escort doesn't see a problem with it though so you might want to look into another detector if LEOs in your area are using this tactic. You can try a tune up but it's very unlikely to make it any better at QT response time.

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Originally Posted by SpeedUp

Sounds to me like you were owned by Quick Trigger. Escort doesn't see a problem with it though so you might want to look into another detector if LEOs in your area are using this tactic. You can try a tune up but it's very unlikely to make it any better at QT response time.

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I have yet to see it in WI, but then again, it doesn't mean it doesn't exist either here.

My 8500 X50 saved me many times over several years, but eventually it got to a point where some days it wouldn't alert to the speed sign on my way home, even when the sign was displaying my speed. Without that speed sign, I'd likely have received a radar ticket.

Get a tune up, your detector is probably just old.

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Originally Posted by Silverado12

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Originally Posted by Pip

Ok, so the stationary unit told me 500ft, but I dont believe there is any chance in hell that is accurate. Just based on my estimate I saw him at least 1200ft away and braked hard to 55. I have an Audi with 4 piston brakes so this happens pretty fast.

I specifically asked him if he hit me with laser, and he said no, just radar. I made a joke like "well I guess this thing {RD} isn't worth a damn". I almost thought he might have been shooting X-band because they have an old mid 90's crown vic and it is their only unit. X was turned off on my detector at the time. I was actually planning on pleading not guilty and asking for all the gun records through discovery. The courts here will generally lower your fine and points just for taking the time to show up.

As for the rolling unit it was a brand new charger with all of the bells and whistles, cowbar, blacked out grill, rear radar guns, the whole works.

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Considering you specifically asked the first LEO, I'd have to assume he did tell the truth & it was radar. As for the second LEO in the Charger, there's no way in h*ll they had an X band gun in there, lol.

At this point, it's pretty safe to assume that this wasn't C/O; I don't care how out of tune your 8500 may be, there's no way it would miss two sources like that unless it was straight up dead. If your 8500 still picks up door openers, it would've sounded to those cops. A tune-up may be in store for your 8500, but at this point, I wouldn't spend the money. It sounds like your area is adopting I/O & Q/T, and in that case, your best route is to upgrade your equipment to a RD that excels at Q/T detection such as a V1 or Sti-R Plus. Also, make sure you keep rabbits out in front of you if you want to stand a chance. Remember, even the best equipment in the world still can't save you from a well-timed I/O shot.

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Yes - Rabbits are a gift from the RD gods and their value is not to be overlooked :-) More rabbits = less tickets