The Passport 8500 X50's new "V-Tuned" radar receiver provides extreme detection range on all police
The Passport 8500 X50's new "V-Tuned" radar receiver provides extreme detection range on all police radar; conventional and "instant-on" radar, including the new POP mode radar threat, X-Band, and up to 50% more range than the original Passport 8500 on the all-important K and Ka bands. Digital signal processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms.
Summary: I'll grant you this the Passport 8500 has probably helped me avoid tickets from 5-0. But the unit is plauged with false alarms on the X band. It will routinely go off with a full strength X band signal under the most unusual of circumstances, when there is absolutely no source within range. Also, as for reliability, the mute botton on the plug has no failed (not springing back into it's regaulr position); this causes the unit from time to time to automatically go into mute mode, creating a situation where, if you are not paying careful attention to the visual display, you might be caught easily unaware that you have a signal. Given the cost of this unit I expected much better.
Summary: This detector works well, when it works.
Started having "internal calibration" problems within the first 6 months. As soon as the warranty had expired it began having "servicing Required" messages. Returned to Escort and paid $60 for repair. After I got it back it worked 1 day and then failed with "Service Reqired". Will send it back for a second time.
Strengths: When it works it has very good range for all bands
Weaknesses: High failure rate
Similar Products Used: Had a Bell once and threw it out the window after I got stopped and it didn't alert me.
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Summary: Got great information first about this radar detector from RadarReviews.Net
Excellent Radar Detector!
Strengths: Price, Distance
Weaknesses: Laser
Similar Products Used: Valentine One
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Rating Reviewed by: Wes(Unregistered User)
Review Date April 16, 2007
Overall Rating 3 of 5
Value Rating 3 of 5
Used product for Less than 1 month
Visitors rate this review 3.67 of 5,
3.00 votes
Review 4 of 159
Price Paid:
$308.00
from Best Buy
Year / Model Reviewed: passport 8500 x50
Summary: I live in Bend, Oregon and this product rarely works here. I've seen maybe fifty cops in the month I've owned the unit and it hasn't detected a visible car yet, I installed it in the correct position on the dash and have been using auto since the manual recommends it. I asked customer service at Escort and this was their reply-
It is impossible to explain everything our
customers encounter, but I think I understand your recent experience.
In their efforts to increase revenue and "trap" motorists with radar
detectors, the police use "instant on" more frequently than in the past.
With instant on, the officer leaves the gun in a stand-by mode and
there is nothing to pick up until the officer physically pulls the
trigger to clock the speed of the target vehicle. If you are the leader
of the pack or the only one on the road and they tag you with instant
on, there may be no advance warning at all.
With instant on, you are counting on them tagging someone ahead of you.
This is why detectors with the longest range are important. You may
hear the detector giving brief, weak bursts as an alert that might seem
to be a false signal. This is a perfect example of instant on being
used ahead of you, and should be a signal for caution.
All radar guns can be used with instant on, and laser is always used in
this mode.
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Rating Reviewed by: Enes(Unregistered User)
Review Date April 4, 2007
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for 1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review 3.00 of 5,
2.00 votes
Review 5 of 159
Price Paid:
$143.00
from ebay/used
Year / Model Reviewed: 2004 8500
Summary: Ive used the system for over a month and it's saved me NUMEROUS times, the best radar detector I've ever used. The expert mode is great as it shows 4 X bands, 2 KA, and 2 K. This is very helpful when driving through speed traps. The radar detector gives you more than enough time to react to whatever band and signal strength comes up on the radar. The price is very affordable considering how much speeding citations are, and the time you take to go to court and so forth. I paid $143 for a used on ebay and I would've paid5 times that much if necessary. I HIGHLY recomment this item.
Strengths: Detects all bands
Very far detection
Affordable
Easy to wire
Weaknesses: None for me.
Similar Products Used: Valentine
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