The 8500 is excellent at detecting laser attacks- Mine generally goes off within 150 feet of the laser source. The detector also emits a distinct (and loud) laser warning sound, which is easily heard above loud music.

This detector does tend to false, but is much quieter on the highway than the V1. It is easy enough to distinguish a false from a real warning, but keep in mind that you will be making good use of the "mute" button on this thing.

After receiving my fourth speeding ticket of the year, I went ahead and shelled out $300 dollars for the Passport 8500 (much to the dismay of my friends who all swear by their V1's). I've had the 8500 for two weeks, and while it spends much of its time properly identifying Walgreens and grocery stores, it has also saved me from 2 laser shots and 3 radar-piggies.

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V1- If knowing the direction and # of threats is important to you, shell out the extra $100 for the V1. Otherwise, the 8500 is a best bet.

The Passport 8500 is the best detector ever made!!!!.

None.

I have had this detector for a week now and this is the best detector ever made!!!!. I have a Valentine one also and its a big ugly piece of junk. I wish I would have gotten the Passport 8500 before I spent $400 on the V1 because the V1 is not worth the extra $100. When I first got the 8500 I went on the same road as I did when I got the V1 and wow I can't beleave how much better the 8500 is at not only finding radar but also it's so much better at not picking up false alarms. The range on the 8500 is just plan alsome and is by far the best I have ever seen. I was picking up police radar from over hills and around conners from 3+ miles away with little or no false alarms. Sometimes I have to ask myself if it is working or not? because it dose not pick up all the junk my V1 did but nope everytime it go's off it's the real deal. Thats what i like a detector without guessing games. I will admit $300 is a little bit pricy but when your the world's best nothing come's cheap and it still is cheaper then the BIG UGLY Valentine One. If any one wants my old V1? just let me know and I will sell it off for $50 because thats all its worth. I can;t beleave all the bogus reviews on this site and other's like it all saying that the V1 is as good if not better then the 8500 its just all Bull. The Passport 8500 is now the best detector ever made and most experts agree. THE PASSPORT 8500 IS THE VALENTINE ONE KILLER AND THAT IS A FACT.

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Valentine and others

Good range, sleek, the mute button is handy and it's fairly cheap.

Alarm isn't loud enough.

Fast and the Furious huh? Crap! They don't know what driving fast is all about! I have a pretty long driving record for speeding tickets and other crap and when I decided to start doing something about it and buy this my record has halted (at least mostly). Why I say mostly is because there a few flaws in this unit. For 1 one the display isn't large enough or bright enough and the alarm isn't LOUD enough. I can't tell you how many times that has fu*ked me up! Other then that the unit works very well. I just wish it could rather vibrate maybe the seat or something. Cause if your like me and you like to speed and listen to loud music the alarm just isn't loud enough.

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Bel

Great detection in all bands, ease of programmable features, ease of removal from window bracket, ease of on/off - volume control

No voice alarm, pricey

I was using a Bel Vector 985 for about 6 months, but it was stolen from my vehicle a few weeks ago. Bought the Escort 8500 as a replacement. Since the Bel 985 and the Escort 8500 are two of the top ranked detectors, it has given me a chance to compare the models. Both detectors have similar response to radar in all bands (we don't have any X band radar in our area - both detectors allow you to turn any band OFF) and both picked up false alarms in the same places where I drive. The major differences I have determined are in the equipment features of these models. The Bel 985 has voice notification with beeps, while the Escort 8500 is beeps only. The Bel 985 has push button on/off and push button volume control, while the Escort has a more simple dial for on/off and volume. Once the Bel is attached to the window suction cups it is not easy to put on and off the window (each time you must remove the suction cups and the detector - they don't come apart easily). One the other hand the Escort easily detaches from the suction cup bracket, even while still attached to the window, making for much easier removal while out of the vehicle. The programming features on each model are very similar and easy to use. The only other difference I've noted is the power cord for the Escort has a mute button and alarm indicator light on the lighter connection itself (called a SmartCord), while the Bel is a regular power cord. I would recommend either unit and find that both are powerful detectors for in town or on the road. The Bel can be purchased online usually for a bit less than the Escort. Almost everyone online sells the Escort for $299, while the Bel can be picked up for as little as $225.

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Bel Vector 985

Everything about it. Great range! Loud!

None other than suction cups could be a little stronger since the 8500 is quite heavy beast.

The 8500 is the best detector I have ever seen. I have had friends who have Bels, one has a V1, and another who has another 8500. the Bels tend to false a lot, and can get annoying, and when it falses to much, you tend to tune it out, and ignore it... I am an electrical engineer, and I actually have a K-band radar gun, made by Kustom. It can be quite fun to play with :) The 8500 is by far worth the $300. According to the reviews, it does appear to be close to the Valentine one... but the V1 is more money, and i dont know about the V1, but the 8500 can be really really loud, which is a must for people with loud systems and hearing damage... (the same people?) I have gotten approx 12-15 speeding tickets from the ages of 16-21. I take them all to court and plead no contest, and usually i just have to go to the 4 hour class, but one time the judge made me go to the 12hour one... not fun. you can take the class an unlimited amount of times if the judge is requiring you to go... there is only a limit on the number of times you can "elect" to take the class. (these are the florida laws anyhow) I am now 23, and from the time i got my radar detector a year ago or so, to the present, I have not gotten any tickets for speeding. So I went from getting about a ticket every 4 months or so, to going over 12 months without getting a speeding ticket. I have the 8500 to thank for this... b/c I certainly dont drive any slower. There was one instance where I was infront of a gas station that usually gives a little bit of K from the door opener, but instead of one K signal, i got two, so i knew something was up... I kept going a little bit, and one of the K signals went away, but i was still getting one... about a mile and a half down the road was a cop sitting in the median... I give this a value rating of 5 stars b/c if a radar detector isnt good at detecting radar, than any amount of money spent on it could be considered a waste in my opinion. At an average of 170 a ticket, and considering this has saved me countless times, its "saved" me at least $1000 in tickets. Now I was able to take "speeding tickets" off my budget! :)

I routinely drive 20MPH over the speedlimit in a large metropolitan area and have not been pulled over due to extreme advance notice of smokeys.

It's hot where I live and the sunction cups become more elastic like causing the detector to flop up and down; it's mounted at the top of the winshield. I've replaced the cups several times and all is well until the summer time, then flop flop flop. Wish they here was a better mount. Anybody got any ideas???

Absolutely no problems (or Tickets!) EXCEPT the windshield plastic sunction cup mounts.

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BEL , early Passport

The ability to track 8 bands (4X, 2 KA/K) at once, plus the signal strength of each. Great Forward radar detection range. Laser Detection was good for a little over ½ a mile away.

No rear detection.

I just recently got this detector, and I must admit I'm happy with it. The range on it is quite good. The features of it too are quite useful. The Voltage Meter allows me to keep tabs on my cars Charging system, and promptly alerted me once when the alternator failed on me. The Expert meter is another favorite of mine. It can pick up to 8 different bands at once! Around here in North Carolina the ability to count and show the strength of different radar is useful as road traps are a common practice. Also this radar detectors ability to find radar in hilly terrain and ignore false signals is great. Over all I'm pleased with my purchase. I considered the V1, but I couldn't see spending the extra money just for better range on rear detection.

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1555 Whistler, Bel 850

superior range to the valentine

no rear facing radar detection but who needs rear facing if your doin 140

the passport 8500 is a very sophisticated nicely designed unit which i dont see why some people descriminate on it i guess they have nothing better to do but.. my passport 8500 is an excellent unit i have had the valentine and yes it is a nice unit and i still have it in my SUV now on the other hand i have the PASSPORT in my 2003 bmw m3 and for good reason for example i live in indianapolis a very racing oriented city one night actually the first night i had the escort i was on the highway which encircles the whole city and low and behold in my rearview there is a 2001 porsche 911 carrera 4s well i've said enough about that after the high speed 140 mph manuevers the escort alerted me with a ka band alert and as the porsche is next to me i notice his valentine unit i slow down he keeps his pace and 4 or 5 miles away i see a porsche 911 carrera 4s pulled over OUCH enough said

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valentine one still a good detector but for the price ESCORT

- Excellent range, even picks up stuff behind hills. - Many features, the one I like the most is band disabling. I disabled the X-band. - Excellent build quality. - Very easy to configure and use. - Nice display and alerts. - All the features you want.

None.

Great detector! many features others don't have, comes with everything you need and even extra windshield mounts. Excellent build quality! If you are looking for the best, look no further. This baby got alot of cool features. You can play with the display, dim, change sounds, change modes or leave it on auto, disable radar bands not used anymore. (like the x-band)

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1. One of the first passports. Only detects x and k bands. Belongs in the museum by now. 2. Uniden LRD6599SWS. Was ok for the first year, then fell apart and didn't function the same. Needless to say

For the advantages, the Valentine One has a big display and I like it. Used Valentine detector value is always a high demand and price in second-hand market on ebay. Don’t know why. The Escort does have a better detection in hilly area over the Valentine. The Escort does NOT false due to their improvement over the past ten years in developing a DSP technology. Remember, DSP technology is not new but they improved it over the past years.

I wonder what Mike Valentine doing over the past ten years, uh? Maybe, he is still proud of his work without much improvement needed and I have a feeling that Escort will beat him badly someday. A LCD color display to locate the distances and number of threats, as an optional feature to add on the detector sure will kills Valentine One. Those features will not violate the patent as long as the detector using one antenna. Again, an inexpensive GameBoy Advance SP has a colorful LCD display, I am sure detector will soon following this idea.

I have used Valentine One and Escort 8500. Both detectors have advantages and disadvantages. In fact, I don’t really like both of them, but I have no other choices for driving over the speed limit without one. I reluctantly choose the Valentine One. Let’s talk about the disadvantages first on both detectors. Valentine One false alerts is the main reason that I don’t like to use it as my Valentine. The first generation version 1.7 without the rear laser detection and display radar bands does minimize on false alerts. However, the detectors that manufacture after that period is a different story. The newest version 1.8 is the worst I have seen on false alert compare with the older version. Valentine designs never change over a decade is the second reason that I don’t like. So far, a digital camera with a clear LCD display can sell cheaper than the Valentine One. Valentine is still sticking the Red LED in the box. Many users are happy with the display is big and clear LED and so am I. I expect the conceal display can be a nice three inches color LCD to locate precisely on each radar threat with distances. I bet buyers are happy to add that optional features because it can determine the threat whether is a false off the road or a real threat on the road. Again, today technology a clear LCD is not an expensive toy compare to ten years ago. It is strange that Mike Valentine always stuck with that model without designing another type for the public to choose. For the Escort, I did not use it because the display is too small and no rear protection. (Two disadvantages against one compare with Valentine.) Is it expensive to make a bigger Dot Matrix display? Come on, a cheap digital cameras are equipped with a nice 1.8 inches colorful LCD display and the price is relative the same as the detector. It is difficult for me to see at a glance of what’s going on when I drive fast on the highway. Especially, when you set the detector to tack multiple threats, you have no idea of what it tells you. Of course, if you go to their web, you can see the radar display clearly because the picture is in front of you and it is not the true scale. When I stuck the detector to the windshield, I hardly can see at a glance. In fact, spend more than one second off the road to look at other materials is dangerous when you drive 80mph on highway. Many people said that rear protection is rare and not important. I disagree. If you are in war, will you say a front protection only bulletproof vest is a good enough protection? I doubt it. One shot of bullet coming from the back kills you instantly and ruin your life. It is simple as that. A Ka radar from rear is the weakest detection on the Escort. It is proved from www.speedzone.com Speed Measurement Lab test.

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Bel 645STi, VRCD radar jammer, Blinder M-06, Valentine One