Bel / Escort radar detectors

[Johnny248]

I was looking at replacing my aging Bel Vector 995 which has actually been great for me over the years, but I think its going on about 7 years old now. They still make this unit, but it uses a different antenna/processor in the newer ones vs the older one like I have.

Anyway, I was looking at a Bel Pro 500 and Escort 9500ix which are nearly the same unit, except the Escort has some extra features that the Bel does not. Then I came across new Escort Passport Max which is pretty fricking sweet. I've read that it is pretty hard to beat either the Bel or Escort units above, but the new Max has some cool new features.

So I was wondering if anyone has any experience with the Passport Max as well as the Pro 500 and 9500ix. I'm still leaning towards the Pro 500 mainly because of performance and price point. The 9500ix has a couple of other things that are not that important to me over the Pro 500, and saving $50 doesn't hurt.

 

[dparm]

The new one apparently has a revised antenna design, so think of it as an upgraded 9500ix.

I opted for a 9500ix for the GPS capabilities. The STI and Red Line are more sensitive, but I wanted the red light camera/speed camera/false positive blocking since most of my driving is in-town.

 

[Johnny248]

Originally Posted By: dparm
The new one apparently has a revised antenna design, so think of it as an upgraded 9500ix.

I opted for a 9500ix for the GPS capabilities. The STI and Red Line are more sensitive, but I wanted the red light camera/speed camera/false positive blocking since most of my driving is in-town.
Originally Posted By: dparm
The new one apparently has a revised antenna design, so think of it as an upgraded 9500ix.

I opted for a 9500ix for the GPS capabilities. The STI and Red Line are more sensitive, but I wanted the red light camera/speed camera/false positive blocking since most of my driving is in-town.


The 9500ix and Pro 500 use the same antenna, GPS, etc. And they seem to perform great. I haven't seen any test reports on the Max yet, but the display is pretty awesome. Don't know if it's worth $150 more. Do you have the Escort live with yours? I saw how the Max will update date over bluetooth through your phone and Escort Live app. Will your 9500ix do that?

 

[dparm]

The 9500ix supports Escort Live. I just update with the USB cable and my computer whenever they email me about a new database in my state.

I was referring to the Escort Max being the new antenna design.

As for the new display, my fear would be that it's hard to read in bright light, or just has too much to look at. The 9500ix has a simple LED that's easy to read at a glance.

 

[ukmastermind]

The GPS function on the 9500ix is fantastic... I wouldn't go back to a non-GPS unit even at the cost of slightly shorter range

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: ukmastermind
The GPS function on the 9500ix is fantastic... I wouldn't go back to a non-GPS unit even at the cost of slightly shorter range



Exactly how I feel. It's a must-have if you are driving around town a lot (especially if your town is heavy on cameras), or frequent unknown areas.

 

[97prizm]

Not sure about where others are from but in Colorado almost every law enforcement agency has switched to LIDAR, which makes radar detectors useless.

 

[SteveSRT8]

With a properly trained LEO all any detector without jamming capabilities will do is tell you when to get out your ID and Insurance papers! Good low power Ka radar and the fancy new LIDAR guns give no warning when correctly operated.

I like my Valentine, they udate and bench check for a very reasonable fee and mine doesn't just beep, it gives real info about where and how many. But no way is it going to beat any good cop with newer stuff...

 

[kkreit01]

I love my 9500i, but if I were to buy new, I'd get Max.

 

[Johnny248]

For along time the Valentine was considered to be the best, but over the years from what I've read, or just isn't anymore. And I remember reading testing that only showed it to be OK. The Max display may be an issue in light, but hard to say without trying it. Even the LEDs are sometimes washed out.

GPS for sure though. I just personally like the manual marking of the Bel vs the auto in the Escort.

 

[MCompact]

I still prefer my V1- but having said that, any radar/LIDAR detector is merely one tool in your arsenal. You have to know the strategies, equipment, advantages, and limitations of your adversaries as well or better than you know your own.

Back in the '80s an F4 pilot used to give a talk at BMW tech seminars about high speed driving(this was back in the days of the moronic 55 mph NMSL). He always started his presentation by asking, "How many of you bought a shiny new Escort, stuck it on your sun visor, and got a ticket less than a week later?"

I have picked up only one ticket in the past 20 years, and the reason I got nailed is because I was distracted and I didn't pay attention to the information the V1 was providing.

Finally, any guesses how long it will be until one of our resident candidates for Highway Safety Sainthood pop in and self-righteously inform us that detectors aren't necessary if you obey the law?

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: 97prizm

Not sure about where others are from but in Colorado almost every law enforcement agency has switched to LIDAR, which makes radar detectors useless.



False, there are still a TON of radar guns out there. LIDAR doesn't work if the officer's vehicle is in motion, and is unreliable through any sort of rain/haze/mist/dust.

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/wiki/index.php?title=RDF_Geographical_Survey