SensitivityRange,looks, programmability options

kinda long

i was given the passport 8500 as a b-day present. i drive to orlando all the time to visit my girlfriend and i am very impressed so far with this detector. i have no experience with other dtectors but i must say this things lets me know so i am happy and reccomend it.

Range is flat out alsome. It did not false like my old Valentine one did. This is the one to get if you want the best

The rear range could be better but it still seems good anuff for me.

This is the Best Detector that I have ever used and it blows away the Valentine one hands down. I have been useing the 8500 now for almost 2 years and I love it. It has saved me from getting so many tickets. I have picked up radar from well over six miles away. Anyone who gives this detector less then 5 stars most own a Valentine one because I have used so many kinds of detectors including the V1 and nothing even comes close to the 8500. My friend had a Valentine one and then I should him my 8500 and he loves it and he also said that he would have to also agree with me about how much better the Escort 8500 is then his V1. So If you want the best then the Escort Passport 8500 is the one for you.

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To many to list

Range, programming. Great value, escecially if you compare it to Valetine 1

a bit pricy, but well worth it.

The 8500 is an outstanding product. All of you who think Valentine 1 is so great because it has arrow, or because it can pick up K and X band at a ridiculously long range are just goofy..The 8500 gives you great range on K and X band, and outstanding rage on Ka, something that Valentie one blows at. Overall, this is a great detector.

Easy to understand instructions, Easy to program, Easy to read display, Low number of false alarms.

Color (silver seems to stand out more), Size, a little bit pricy but it seems that you pay for what you get.

This is my first experience with a radar detector so I cant really compare it to anything else. It does chirp on a stop light every now and then. Everything seems to work fine. I am looking forward to taking it out on the Through Way, which is loaded with State Troopers.

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none

Volume, features, windshield mount.

Length of unit, looks cheap, ExpertMeter and SmartCord are just plain gimmicks.

Let me start by saying I am somewhat of a radar detector fanatic. Ihave used almost every detector made (see below). I have owned two Passport 8500s. The first I was just not impressed with, so I sold it. Then I bought another, thinking I hadn't given the first one enough of a chance. I ended up realizing I was right the first time and sold it, too. It has alot of features that are nice, and good volume. The SmartCord and ExpertMeter are gimmicks in my opinion. The SmartCord has 2 lights and a mute button. It is easier to use the mute on the detector and keep your eyes on the road, than to reach to the SmartCord at the cigarette lighter. The ExpertMeter is TOO SMALL. If it was bigger, it may be a good idea, but the small lines are too hard to read at high speeds. The plastic silver case looks cheap to me, not at all in the glory days of Escorts. I have 2 Escort DSPs (the 2nd generation Escort) and they wipe up the 8500 on X and K. Overall, I would say that it is definitely the 2nd best detector made. It is a strong contender to the Valentine, but it's just not good enough. One thing that really bothers me most about this detector is how LONG it is. It is so long it looks odd. When compared to the Passport 7500, it is truly amazing how much longer it is. If you feel comfortable having the #2 detector and want to save $100, it's not a terrible deal. If you want one built like a tank, reliable as they come, and the most sensitive, spend the extra $100 and buy yourself a Valentine One.

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Original Escort, Escort DSP, Original Passport, Original Solo, Solo 4, Solo 5, Newest Solo, Passport 4500, Passport 4600, Passport 5000, Passport 7500, Bel 530i, Bel 745STi, Bel 980, Valentine

No other detector, except possibly the Valentine is even close.

A visor mount would be nice. A soft leather case would be nice also

I've been using radar detectors since the original FuzzBuster and have used all the major brands (BEL,Uniden,Whistler,Cobra and Valentine etc) including the original Escort which in it's day was the finest detector made. The 8500 continues the tradition and is by far the best detector on the market today in my opinion. This sucker is like a blood hound and false alarms are very rare. I've read all the reviews and the people who said it is hard to program and porky must be brain dead. Hard to program is a detector that requires entering menu's to adjust the volume. That's a PITA. I took this puppy on an extended vacation for 3 weeks in VT (I live in NY) and it sniffed out the local yokel's like a bloodhound. The cord is quality, the unit feels solid and the book/case is nice. The mount sitcks like glue but a visor mount would be a nice addition. I had a Valentine for less than a month and sent it back. I drive the Long Island Expressway in NY at night 7 days a week and the county mounties are creatures of habit, meaning I know where they hide. The Valentine false alarmed and virtually never pointed in the rigth direction as far as the location. The Passport 8500 nails them every time, even the Laser scatterings because these cops are trigger happy so I pick up reflections from other cars. One laser chirp and it's 100 percent that a cop is up there. If you are used to using Bel or Uniden or even Valentine, try the Passport 8500 because it is clearly the best.

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You name the detector and chances are I have used it.

Programming really is easy. Any review that says it isn't must not be able to read english. I didn't even need the manual and this is my first radar detector.

None, I was mildly annoyed at the extra band bogeys but was able to programm them easily out of the detector sensitivity.

I purchase the Passport 8500 having researched detectors on the web. The salesman was very helpful recommending the diffuser shifter, which I declined, as a $100 add-on. I will very likely go back and get it as while driving home a motorcycle cop lit me up with a LASER signal clearly on the detector. I was doing 60 in a 55 zone and slowed down in time. I have had the unit for a day and after registering felt strongly enough to recommend it to anyone considering a world class detector

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None this is my 1st one.

Everything so far

Wish it was cordless, and not so expensive

The cops in my neck of the woods use VG2 all the time to try and detect detectors (illegal here). How clever they look as I drive by, my Escort flashing all red under my dash, at 3 km/h above the posted speed limit. I'm glad that radar detection is always two steps ahead of the law.

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Whistler (Detected and confiscated thanks to clever VG2 system) - Not anymore!

Has wide menu selection of user-friendly options. Selectable band-defeat, 4 LED dim positions including completely off, meter display of exact radar frequency. Fairly light weight, compact.

Slow scan rate. It is expensive, but so are speeding tickets and insurance hikes. Take your pick.

The 8500 has several distinct differences from the Valentine 1 used previously. The range on Ka band seems much greater; K band similar to perhaps slightly less. I have X band turned off due to no police usage of X in my area. Lidar detection is very good. I have mine dash mounted in a Chevy Lumina and it has yet to fail on any lidar shot, even some near point-blank range. (I didn't get any lidar tickets if you are wondering. I have active defense capability for lidar) The 8500 seems to have a much narrower front antenna pattern. I don't hear as many door openers and other K band devices from the sides, which is very nice. The ones I do hear are clearly lower in signal strength (and urgency of alert). The V1 does have a rear antenna which hears much better behind as you would expect. This may or may not be of use in today's real radar world. I have had no encounters with SAME lane radar, but I know it's out there. Since SAME lane is much harder for the officers to use, I don't worry about it as much. One thing that does concern me is the apparent slow scan rate. I have seen several times where it appeared "slow" in locking up full alert on a nearby radar threat. (slow as in somewhat less than instant) This could be a major problem, especially with the new MPH Industries "BEE III" Ka radars starting to show up on 33.8 Ghz with their "pop" mode 67 ms bursts. Other radar vendors will surely follow suit. This could definitely put you at a severe disadvantage if you can't hear the radar at all. I'm quite sure the detector vendors must be working on this problem now. Overall, I find it the best possible choice at present.

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Valentine 1

Range, number of features, SmartCord w/ mute button.

A little bit pricey.

This is an excellent radar detector. The selection of programmable features is huge, and yet is very easy to use. I especially like the so called "Expert Meter" option because it allows you to track several different radar signals simultaneously. This is advantageous in my area because many businesses now use K-band signals in their security and door systems, but should there be a cop in the same area using K-band radar, I can still track him/her with the Expert Meter. The range of this model is also very good. While I have not yet encountered a true speed trap with this detector, I can say that it has detected Ka-band signals while I was in the middle of the city with no cops in sight. As far as I know only cops would be using Ka-band radar, so I was impressed by this. I also really liked the SmartCord with a mute button which made it easier to quiet the detector when necessary. Thanks to the Escort Passport 8500, I no longer need to worry about whether a cop is hiding around the next corner.

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Whistler 1750