I recently completed a custom install (hardwired, concealed wiring) in my 2010 Ram & several days later my old Escort Passport 8500 (not the X50) decided it was tired and died (spend too many days in the hot Texas sun). - No, there's nothing wrong with the install, my 7 yr-old 8500 simply bit the dust so I'm in the market for a replacement. I've read several reviews, of course every manufacturer claims theirs is the best and has a litany of testimonials all singing the highest praises.

What's recommended? Escort will give me 40 bux trade allowance for my old 8500, even in non-working condition. I've been kind of intrigued by the features of the Bel GX65, which I understand is the same unit as the Passport 9500ix (Both have the GPS & database feature). I've seen "deals" for both on eBay, but have been cautioned that these are unauthorized resellers and thus the warranty will not be honored.

Thoughts, comments, suggestions welcomed.

 

Well I know I didn't wait long. After driving with a good quality RD for the past 7 years, driving the past few days without one felt a little unnerving.

I picked up an Escort/Passport 9500ix - Blue today after fiddling with one in a friend's car yesterday. Nice unit, albeit kinda pricey (499). With some research I did learn that not all 9500ix's are equal. Apparently there was a recent hardware upgrade that now allows you to perform the flash firmware & periodic database upgrades without needing a separate 12v power source to power it indoors (or taking your laptop out to the detector in the vehicle). All that's needed with the most current model is a USB cable (which Escort strangely does not furnish).

Can't find out when this production change was implemented, but mine has it (ser No. 330284xx) and also bears a date code of 0412 which I assume means the 4th week of 2012.

The 9500ix is GPS-linked so among other things it can also display your own speed. It was reassurring to see that the GPS speed display seems to be right-on with the vehicle speedometer, as I noted no error, tho I only compared readings at 20 mph (school zone) and 80 mph. I also like the auto-dimming display (optional setting) that compensates for ambient light. No more having to manually dim-down at night. Still not sure about the voice alerts, I've tried both with voice on and voice off. Right now I'm back to voice on mode. Volume of course is adjustable and for anyone like me with poor hearing, this sucker can be set LOUD. There's tons of reviews on line so I'll stop here.

 

You'll be happy with the 9500ix. It has most the features of my 9500ci (built in escort radar/laser jamming unit), and I've been running that a few years now and been extremely pleased.

For future reference- Beltronics and Escort are the same company, so they are extremely similar and have a lot of overlapping tech.

They are also really helpful if you call the main office/support.

I think you did well, and albeit pricey, the lack of false alerts makes it alll worth it!

 

Thanks. I still run around in 'NoX' mode in town, but you're exactly right, the 'autolearn' feature quickly silenced the several false 'K-band' alerts (Home Depot & some CVS Pharmacy locations) that had previously plagued my 8500. I have quickly come to love the ix and am now toying with the idea of replacing the Solo S2 in my wife's Acura (TL) with another one. (her Solo is also hardwired-in, so no battery issues)

I briefly considered the laser jammer, but thought about it, laughed about it then forgot about it. We're in one of the western suburbs of Houston and have only seen one laser speed trap and on those occasions when I see it, it's always at the exact same place on the Westpark Tollway operated by Pct. 6 Constable's office. I've since learned that the laser gun may actually belong to the cop (his personal property) so if challenged in court you might be able to beat the ticket, but why take the chance?

One of the "goodies" in the box with my new ix was a complimentary copy of Craig Peterson's book "Driver's Guide to Police Radar" which is a veritible compendium of information (even though the book was written in 2007) - it really opens your eyes as to the lethal capabilities of some of the newer police radar units.

 

Up here in Ohio its all laser. I rarely see radar. Without the jammers its hard to justify a radar detector unless you drive to Kentucky or Indiana (which I do)... There it seems like its all radar.

The few places that use radar down by me use X band... who would have thought? haha.

Thats nice that you don't have that issue down in TX! Makes sense to skip the jammers, but here I get hit multiple times PER DAY with laser, even when I'm going under the speed limit! Enjoy iy@ (the autolearning feature is annoying for the first few months, but then its great. What I did is just manually saved every alert I received for the first month or so, and then if I saved a false alert, then it auto-unlearns again. That way I didn't have to wait for the auto-learn to learn!

 

Thanks! That's something I didn't know (that it also unlearns a location). What surprises me is that the Texas tollway system hasn't installed Speedcams in the automated tolling lanes. It's be a perfect opportunity to both grab 'instantaneous' speed through the tolling lane along with a VASCAR speed measurement between toll booths. I'm sure they'll get around to thinking of it. Texas is one of the few states with no state income tax, so they're always looking for addt'l sources of revenue. Only a matter of time.

It would be nice to have a kind of database of the various types of speed enforcement technology deployed in the various states. Somewhere I bet someone has already done that.

 

I know some of the guys who work at escort... I bet they have that info because they have that whole database. If I get around to it I'll ask them about it.