anyone else ordered new Passport 9500ci radar detector for their X5?

[marcx5]

has anyone else ordered the new Passport 9500ci (custom installed) radar detector for their X5? This is a VERY cool, remote radar detector system with integrated GPS functionality as well laser jamming.

would enjoy discussing some installation options... i.e. where are you putting GSP sensor? how are you mounting laser jammers in front? etc....

they start shipping in april.... but since i've ordered one recently, thought i'd see if anyone else has thought about this as well...

thanks.

[HaroldC]

$1599? Wow that's expensive! And it's based on their ZR3 laser shifter, which didn't do that well in the GOL tests:
http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html

I have the V1, which is still the best out there (directional arrows are priceless!) hardwired. I'm looking for the laser jammer, I have the Lidatek on my M3 which is awesome (saved me a bunch of times!). But they seem to no longer make it, so I have been looking for what to put on the X5. The front surface area is much larger than the M3, so performance of the jammer is more important.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by HaroldC

$1599? Wow that's expensive! And it's based on their ZR3 laser shifter, which didn't do that well in the GOL tests:
http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html

I have the V1, which is still the best out there (directional arrows are priceless!) hardwired. I'm looking for the laser jammer, I have the Lidatek on my M3 which is awesome (saved me a bunch of times!). But they seem to no longer make it, so I have been looking for what to put on the X5. The front surface area is much larger than the M3, so performance of the jammer is more important.

Escort cannot compete with the V1, IMO. Don't waste your money on that particular setup. This is comming from an owner of the previous generation Passport 8500 X50, which was highly rated when I bought it. It has let me down 3 times with regard to Laser. One of those times it did not even go off. The radar protection has been pretty good, overall.

I am going to buy a V1 and add a Blinder laser jammer when I get the opportunity. You really need a laser jammer to get the most protection available from Laser, which is much harder for the V1 or the Passport to pick up. If you are willing to spend that much on the Passport system, you should really look into the V1 and a Blinder jammer.

http://www.blinder.net/

[marcx5]

Originally Posted by FSETH

Escort cannot compete with the V1, IMO. Don't waste your money on that particular setup. This is comming from an owner of the previous generation Passport 8500 X50, which was highly rated when I bought it. It has let me down 3 times with regard to Laser. One of those times it did not even go off. The radar protection has been pretty good, overall.

I am going to buy a V1 and add a Blinder laser jammer when I get the opportunity. You really need a laser jammer to get the most protection available from Laser, which is much harder for the V1 or the Passport to pick up. If you are willing to spend that much on the Passport system, you should really look into the V1 and a Blinder jammer.

http://www.blinder.net/

i don't think you understand which radar detector this is... this is not the 9500.. it's the 9500ci... very different. i have researched these detectors heavily... and used the previous SRX version for many years.... the passport one clearly, by far, is better than any other detector i've seen on the market for numerous reasons, plus it's completely undetectable and is the only one with GPS.

[HaroldC]

Originally Posted by marcx5

i don't think you understand which radar detector this is... this is not the 9500.. it's the 9500ci... very different. i have researched these detectors heavily... and used the previous SRX version for many years.... the passport one clearly, by far, is better than any other detector i've seen on the market for numerous reasons, plus it's completely undetectable and is the only one with GPS.

ummmm....... I think it is you who is mistaken. The 9500ci is just a 9500i that is designed for a custom install and includes the laser shifter. I do hope that the 'new' ZR4 is better than the ZR3, which didn't even detect the Laser Atlanta Stealth lidar gun on GOL's lidar jammer test:

http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html

The 9500i also did not perform as well as the V1, as you can see from the GOL's latest radar detector test:

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

But hey, it's your money. I'm all for spending it the way you like. I myself will probably end up spending less for more.

[marcx5]

Originally Posted by HaroldC

ummmm....... I think it is you who is mistaken. The 9500ci is just a 9500i that is designed for a custom install and includes the laser shifter. I do hope that the 'new' ZR4 is better than the ZR3, which didn't even detect the Laser Atlanta Stealth lidar gun on GOL's lidar jammer test:

http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html

The 9500i also did not perform as well as the V1, as you can see from the GOL's latest radar detector test:

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

But hey, it's your money. I'm all for spending it the way you like. I myself will probably end up spending less for more.

appreciate your response but the 9500ci is NOT just the same electronics as the 9500 dash unit. The 9500ci is new in many regards... the internal circuitry is a combination of both escort and bel... they claim it is entirely new and not simply redone 9500.... but i agree that's bad branding and they should have changed the number further.

i guess we will have to wait for some reviews...

[xwith5]

Originally Posted by HaroldC

ummmm....... I think it is you who is mistaken. The 9500ci is just a 9500i that is designed for a custom install and includes the laser shifter. I do hope that the 'new' ZR4 is better than the ZR3, which didn't even detect the Laser Atlanta Stealth lidar gun on GOL's lidar jammer test:

http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html

The 9500i also did not perform as well as the V1, as you can see from the GOL's latest radar detector test:

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html

But hey, it's your money. I'm all for spending it the way you like. I myself will probably end up spending less for more.

I think it is pretty clear that the battle between these two detectors is going beyond logic. The Valentine 1 is a cool detector, but it is simply nothing new, and it is old technology. They are stil hanging on to the profound idea that was released in the 90's, and for some reason people still buy it (avid users, I assume). Hell, it took them until just a couple years ago even to add in POP detection. Sure, you might know the direction of the signal, but a smart driver will slow down NO MATTER WHERE THE COP IS, so the only real use for the arrows would be to filter out false alarms (which the 9500ci will do for you)!

Let's also consider that the Valentine 1 has a worse flase alarm rating than both high end Bels and Escorts, and the V1 is detectable by Spectre RDD, (whether you admit it or not, even cops in states where detectors are illegal will wait for a RD signal and use POP radar to pin you). I find it funny in your analysis of the two, all you do is compare distance of detection. In the link you provided, They compared the V1 with the 9500i, and there was univerally less than an average of about 40 feet difference in detection, which at 60mph is about .3 seconds! This is not an adequate measure of comparison and certainly does not hold up as an argument for the V1 over the 9500i. Furthermore, the 9500ci is remote mount, and will have slightly better detection range, as all remote mounts do (an average of around 100 feet), which means your test falls apart anyway.

So, let's compare -
V1 has arrows and is cheaper
9500ci is undetectable, shifts lasers, elminates false alarms, detects speed traps, uses variable speed signalling smart mute

It's really what is important to you. A majority of radar detector analysts will choose the 9500i over the V1 (they are the same price). Do the research. When it comes to the 9500ci, we are talking about a different price range and a different ball game altogether, and it is simply a joke to even compare the V1 to it.

[FSETH]

Originally Posted by marcx5

i don't think you understand which radar detector this is... this is not the 9500.. it's the 9500ci... very different. i have researched these detectors heavily... and used the previous SRX version for many years.... the passport one clearly, by far, is better than any other detector i've seen on the market for numerous reasons, plus it's completely undetectable and is the only one with GPS.

I know which escort model you are talking about. The stealth mounted one with the 360 degrees of detection. Not the traditional window mounted unit. I was just giving my opinion on Escort as a company. I have lost faith in their products and will not purchase them in the future. Mike Valentine helped design one of their products years ago and said F'it I can make this better and has been doing so for years now. Sure, the box for the V1 looks out dated, but the technology inside is new (except GPS of the Escort). V1 keeps thir box style because it was a better design form the start with the arrows. Another reason it is unchanged is becasue V1 offers upgrades for older models when new technology is utilized to keep even older detectors relevant.

Look, the Escort 9500ci didn't test nearly as well as the other traditional jammers. You really can't go wrong with a V1 and a good quality stand alone jammer. It will cost less and be far more effective. At the end of the day, it is your money and choice. The Escort is less protection for more money, but if it makes you happy that the cop writing your ticket doesn't see your inferior laser/radar detection, then by all means get the stealth Escort.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by FSETH

Mike Valentine helped design one of their products years ago and said F'it I can make this better and has been doing so for years now.

Actually, I believe Mike Valentine was a co-founder of Escort (Cincinnati Microwave was the company name), and then sold his share of the company in the 1980's. He signed a "non-compete" clause when he sold his share of the company, and after it expired got back into the business founding a new company to sell the Valentine One.

[marcx5]

Originally Posted by HaroldC

$1599? Wow that's expensive! And it's based on their ZR3 laser shifter, which didn't do that well in the GOL tests:
http://guysoflidar.com/march-2007/la...mmer-test.html

I have the V1, which is still the best out there (directional arrows are priceless!) hardwired. I'm looking for the laser jammer, I have the Lidatek on my M3 which is awesome (saved me a bunch of times!). But they seem to no longer make it, so I have been looking for what to put on the X5. The front surface area is much larger than the M3, so performance of the jammer is more important.

you can find the detector cheaper than $1600... but even at that price, i think it's worth it if it saves you from a couple tickets. I've had the SRX (previous model) and it clearly saved me a lot, especially laser jamming.

The ZR3 did WELL in most the tests i read online, i can look for links later... but this is even the newer version, called ZR4. Also, the GPS functionality adds a lot when you really learn the benefits... and there is no doubt this is the best detector on the market. Having it remotely installed is a huge advantage also... because if you do get stopped the cops are much more likely to give you a ticket if they see you are using a detector.

The arrows might be nice on the Valentine... but that detector is greatly outdated, imo.