Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar Detectors
Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar Detectors
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[Nov 05, 2001]
Tim
Model Reviewed:
2001
Strength:
K band range
Weakness:
sounds, X, Ka range, its ugly too This detector is not the best. I would try a V1, but i never did ...all of my friends have told me too. I would recommend a V1 by FAR! Similar Products Used: V1, Bel |
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[Sep 27, 2001]
k12steve
Model Reviewed:
Passport 8500
Strength:
First, the 8500 HAS a bogey counter. Those who say it doesn''t just aren''t reading the manual. Not only does it have a bogey counter, it will give you the band, and relative signal strengh of EACH bogey! Sure it doesn''t have directional arrows, so what? Who in their right mind is going to speed as long as they are getting hit by ANY K, Ka, or Laser signal? I sure ain''t!
Weakness:
I wish it was smaller. I am VERY satisfied with this unit both on the bike and in the Cobra. I have detected Tx DPS troopers, from the rear at distances which made them almost unresolveable visually. I have turned off X-band detection since I have NEVER encountered a police use of that freq in the N. Tx. area. If I leave the area on a trip, I''ll re-enable it. Similar Products Used: Older Cobra units |
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[Aug 28, 2001]
jasondorsey
Model Reviewed:
2001 8500
Strength:
The alarms are very loud in the loud mode setting. I like the fact that the alarm turns into a solid tone and gets very "panicky" long before the radar is in sight. This gets you to adjust your speed alot sooner in my opion.
Weakness:
Gives k band alarm sometimes at x band motion detectors at stores. I called Escort customer service about this and they said this was due to its sensitivity. I don''t agree with that reply from them. I have owned previous Escort units (original passport, Escort, model 4600) and whistler units. I bought this unit because I was getting worried about possibly missing some Ka radar now in use by the State HP. It is still not widely used in my area by the local cops. After having the unit for only three days, I was not too impressed about its sensitivity since it would not alert on some previous xband signals that I encounter on my daily 70 mile round trip commute on the interstate. However,on the third day, I had to take a detour off the interstate due to a wreck. After going about 5 miles, I started getting a Ka warning while going up a hill. I slowed down and found a motorcycle cop on the other side of the hill using instant-on Ka band as I approached him. I was only going about 7mph over the limit(50), but he looked like he was looking for someone to pull over that morining. I am now convienced that this unit saved me a ticket and have decided to keep it. It is definely. I have also picked up some K band radar and it seems to have as good a range as my old original passport that I previously used. I thought about buying the Bel980 or 970 before getting this unit, but I read that the Bel models give a few more false alarms that the 8500. In summary, I am satisfied with this unit. It is kind of pricy, but you get what you pay for. Similar Products Used: Escort, passport original models. Escort DSP (1989 model: a great unit), Whister Spectrum(1984), Spectrum 1 and 2 models. |
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[Jun 16, 2001]
Hadley Sanford
Strength:
Picks up all Radar from really far away, and in hills. Picks up radar in curves much further than the V1 and Bel 980.
Weakness:
Rear radar/laser effectiveness depends on position of detector between seats. Those 60 zone warning signals may never be used. (Warning signals) SWS went bankrupted I herd after only putting out handful of signals. I just received my Escort Passport 8500 one week ago. I was on my way to the next city for fun 20 miles away, and I picked up a State Patrol car using Super wide Ka Band on a pretty straight/hilly road about 7 Miles away. Another time I was driving on a long CURVY AND HILLY highway, and I picked up a Ka band signal at about 3 miles away! This was a State Patrol car parked at the top of a curved hill and I was about 3 Miles away many hills back. If you're a veteran, or if you're a novice to the detector game this one is for you. Check out http://www.radartest.com for the radar/laser tests on the top models out. Similar Products Used: Escort Cordless Solo, V1 (borrowed) |
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[Jun 15, 2001]
Howard
Model Reviewed:
8500
Strength:
Easy to use and program.
Weakness:
Don't leave it in the sun. It will overheat. It works well. I have used it on numerious long driving trips in all parts of the country. I have only been stopped once while using the 8500. I was being really stupid. I was the only one on the road, so I had no cover. The officer, driving an unmarked car, pulsed me with moving RADAR while comming toward me. He said I was going 59 in a 40. Moving RADAR with instant on is impossible for any detector to beat. The 8500 went off, but it was an unmarked car comming at me, and I only had 1 second to react. It did get a chance to slow down some. I was going about 77 when I first hit the breaks. It brought me down to 59, but by the it was too late. Similar Products Used: I have used both Uniden, Whistler. |
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[Jun 03, 2001]
Cann Lui
Model Reviewed:
00 Honda Accord
Strength:
30 secs before seeing the cop.
Weakness:
no arrows? but why do i need arrows? it's excellent Similar Products Used: escort 7500, v1, cobra 1850 |
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[Jun 10, 2001]
Andrew
Strength:
Appearence - multiple readings of all radars aimed at you - smart cord..
Weakness:
None It picks up every radar aimed at you. It gave me ample wardning on Lasar. Similar Products Used: Solo |
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[Jun 02, 2001]
Pete
Strength:
Updatable for future upgrades. Easy to program and adjust to your driving needs.
Weakness:
Detection isn't what I expected. I'm on my second 8500. I sent the first one back because of the poor range of detection I was encountering. The worst was when I saw a road side radar unit before my detector picked it up. I have to say that the customer service from Escort was phenominal. They sent me a new unit and paid for the shipping for me to send the original back. Similar Products Used: Cobra and Uniden. The difference in performance wasn't worth the money. |
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[May 31, 2001]
Christopher
Model Reviewed:
Fuzzbuster 3000
Strength:
Low cost, easy to operate and understand, nice standard operating features...
Weakness:
Signal differentiation can't decide which signal I'm picking up, very weak on KA... Average driving has shown this detector to be a great buy for the price but ONLY if you tend to go 5-10 mph over the limit...anything more you better move up in value...it can be found cheaper on ebay also...the beeps are hard to figure out, I just go by that if it beeps on anything watch out...weak on KA, marginal on K...great for the lightweight/casual speeder...very similar to the Fuzzbuster 3500 which is virtually the same detector with a few more features and costs a few bucks more. Similar Products Used: None |
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[Apr 26, 2001]
James
Strength:
range
Weakness:
No arrows to tell where the troopers are..I passed a trooper and my radar went off but I got a ticket as there was another State Policeman a mile ahead.I thought the warning was the guy behind me I passed...The Valentine would have told me.. Ok but the Valentine is better Similar Products Used: valentine is better |


