Just returned from this years Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and had an opportunity to interview John Larson, the president of Escort Radar.

During this 8 minute video, John addresses many of the questions our radar detector community have been asking and discussed some of the new products that they are coming out with this year such as:

• The release of an Escort Live model for their remote mounted radar detectors
• Speculation about a front and rear antenna radar detector now that Valentine One’s patent has expired
• Escort’s new remote mounted radar detector called “Smart Radar”
• And John’s “State of the Union” of the radar detector industry

Imagine owning a car so unique, so special that SEMA decided to give you one of the premier parking spots to show off your ride, right at the front door of the Las Vegas convention center.

This is exactly what has happened to a good friend of mine, Jim Cozzolino.

Jim owns this 1991 FXMD FX TA 1 Wide body NSX that is powered by a custom 3.3, forced induction FXMD FX 500 turbo charged engine.

Jim and his NSX has been featured in various competitions including the Castrol Top Car Challenge, Modified Magazine Tuner Shootout, Super Lap Burnouts and is a regular at NASA-AZ TTU and UMS time attack competitions.

Oh and one more thing, just so when Jim is out on one of his weekend cruises around Phoenix Jim has one of our Escort 9500ix radar detectors installed on the dash and a set of Blinder laser jammers installed in the grill.

Congratulations Jim and on your ride back home, please fly drive safe.

Are you searching for a high performance radar detector that will not break your budget and is affordable?

If so I would recommend the Escort 8500×50 from Passport.

Test after test the Escort 8500×50 is hailed as one of the best and most affordable extreme range radar detectors made today.

The Escort Passport 8500×50 provides extreme range on all police radar bands, instant on including POP mode with minimal false alerts.

And like many of the other higher end Escort units, the x50 also includes filtering with their proprietary Traffic Sensor Rejection software to eliminate those annoying false alerts that you may encounter from those traffic flow sensors that are popping up on many of our roadways.

If you’re someone like me who cannot even program my own TV remote control because it is so confusing, you will find the programming of the Escort 8500×50 a snap to program for its advanced features. Don’t live in an area where X band radar is used or do you want to use the expert meter? Just press two buttons and it is programmed to your specifications.

Some of the more frequently asked questions we receive here at RadarDetector.org about the Escort 8500×50 include;

“Why is the blue display more expensive than the red display and is there any difference in performance” and “Why doesn’t Escort honor the warranty for the detector that I just purchased on Ebay, Amazon or Overstock?”

No, there is no difference in performance over the blue display over the red display. The main reason that the blue display costs a little more is that it is more expensive to manufacture LED’s in a blue color, thus this extra expense is passed on by Escort if you choose the blue display over the red.

As far as Escort not honoring the warranty for your radar detector if you purchase it on Ebay, Amazon or from Overstock is that they require that you purchase their unit from their list of authorized dealers only so you can be assured that your Escort product is not a remanufactured or counterfeit unit.

On our blog we have a post about one customer who did decide to purchase his Escort 8500 from Overstock and found out the hard way after receiving a speeding ticket that his detector was a re-manufactured unit that was not properly serviced and had no warranty from Escort.

To add even more salt to his wound, the detector even cost him an additional $62.00 after Overstock added their service fee to repair the detector several weeks after he purchased it.

If you find the information that we provide to you here on RadarDetector.org helpful I would like to ask you a favor to support our quest by using the links on our website and by purchasing your product on one of our partner websites.

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Are you fed up with all those annoying false alerts from your radar detector?

False alerts are the chief complaint from radar detector users just like yourself and now you can say goodbye to them forever with the Escort 9500ix radar detector.

The Escort 9500ix is a high performance radar detector that incorporates GPS technology and though their patented AutoLearn technology the 9500ix is able to automatically identify these common false alert locations on the roads that you frequently travel and filter them out by marking the exact location and the exact frequency of the device that is causing your unit to alert.

Another impressive feature that is enabled though Escort GPS technology is the ability to alert you of approaching photo enforcement devices such as red light and fixed photo radar cameras.

These photo enforcement cameras are becoming more and more popular each day snapping your photograph and then mailing you a citation in the mail to your home or business.

The 9500ix comes preloaded with thousands of these camera locations stored in its memory through their Defender database for North America so as you approach one of these devices the 9500ix begins alerting you well in advance.

If you’re currently a Valentine One user you know how expensive those updates can be and because you have to mail it back to them you can be without your radar detector for weeks.

Well problem solved with the Escort 9500ix because it is one of the few radar detectors that is Internet ready so it can never become obsolete.

Need to update your photo enforcement database or update your radar detectors firmware, just plug it into your computer and download. It is that easy and quick.

In our testing of the 9500ix for range and sensitivity on the X, K and Ka radar bands the 9500ix performed exceptionally well thus you can feel confident that this unit will provide you with more then enough warning to slow down when approaching any police radar speed trap.

These are the main reasons that I’ve categorized the Escort 9500ix as my number one pick in the dash mounted radar detector class for the typical North American driver.

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive at RadarDetector.org in regard to the Escort 9500ix are:

Should I activate the Ku band function on my 9500ix?

If you only are driving in North America no, you should not activate Ku band as this frequency is not used at all by any police agency in North America. However if you do travel overseas into Europe or Asia with your radar detector you may want to consider activating this band.

If the 9500ix marks a location as a false alert location, will the detector pick up a real threat at this same location later?

Yes, the 9500ix marks a false alert location by both the location and exact frequency of the threat. At some common false alert locations you may encounter there maybe multiple devices that are causing the false alerts, an example would be a shopping center with multiple automatic door openers.

Each of these devices will be on a slightly different frequency, thus it may take a few passes before your 9500ix registers them all. However after it does, if a new frequency is encountered at this same location it will alert you of the threat.

Are you looking for the very best in performance to protect yourself from costly speeding tickets and photo enforcement cameras? If so you have only one choice, the Escort Passport 9500ci remote mounted radar detector.

Being involved in the speed counter measurement industry for over the last fifteen years, I have tested virtually every radar detector marketed in North America and hands down, the Escort 9500ci is the best and my detector of choice which I use in my own personal vehicle.

The Escort 9500ci radar detector is a custom installed radar and laser defense system, coupled with GPS technology, which is completely stealth to all radar detector detector devices.

The 9500ci comes equipped with a 360 degree radar detector antenna which is typically mounted behind the front grill that detects all police radar bands used in North America which is X, K and Ka bands.

Two ZR4 laser shifter heads which mount to the front and a third laser shifter head which is mounted to the rear which once activated will jam all police lidar guns.

A GPS Antenna that typically mounts on the roof of your vehicle, which will provide your 9500ci with the ability to alert you of approaching photo enforcement cameras such as red light and fixed photo radar and one added feature in which the 9500ci is able to identify and filter out known false alert locations.

A remote mounted amplified speaker that is typically installed under the dash.

And then the controller and display head which are typically mounted on the dash.

These devices then all interface with the Escort 9500ci Interface, which is tucked away under the dash area of your vehicle.

The 9500ci also comes equipped with a bi-color LED light that you can affix within your dash area for that truly stealth to the eye install.

Over the past two years I have used the 9500ci as my detector of choice in my Ford F-250 logging tens of thousands of miles throughout the western US and the 9500ci has never let me down.

Because of the extreme range of the 9500ci it has saved me countless times when officers were using instant on radar miles ahead, giving me more then ample time to slow down.

The 9500ci comes programmed with thousands of fixed photo enforcement cameras stored in its Defender database and a three-year subscription so you can download and update your unit.

In our testing against most of the top radar detectors sold today, including the dash mounted Valentine One, the 9500ci came out at top for its range and sensitivity.

In testing for filtering the 9500ci’s performance was also at the top of the list, tying for the coveted first place position along with the Escort 9500ix and the Passport IQ, which also uses the same GPS smart filtering technology as the 9500ci.

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from people just like you is if I buy the 9500ci online can I install it myself or where can I bring it to have it professionally installed.

Although Escort does not recommend self-install, if you are comfortable installing other 12-volt electronic devices such as car stereos or a CB, you shouldn’t have a problem at all with the 9500ci.

In fact, the interface for the unit is color coded to match up with the various devices that you will be plugging into it. A typical install will take you two to three hours.

However, if you don’t feel comfortable installing the 9500ci yourself then I’m sure that there are several 12 volt installers in your area such as Best Buy, Mobile Toys, or Fry’s Electronics.

However I would suggest that you call around first and get an estimate. I’ve heard of installs as low as $200 and as high as even a thousand.

Another frequently asked question is in regard to the radar antenna in that if it is mounted in the front of the vehicle how can it also pick up radar from the rear?

Police radar is well radio waves and because of the design of the 9500ci antenna it can pick up police radar in a 360-degree pattern.

Your choice is clear!

If you want the very best in protection it is the Escort 9500ci radar, laser and photo enforcement defense system.

Are you a professional driver who requires a radar detector that not only offers extreme range but is also stealth to all the radar detector detectors such as the Spectre used by police?

The Spectre RDD is a device that police use to sniff out commercial vehicles, which are using radar detectors, and also in states areas such as Virginia and Washington DC where radar detectors are illegal.

If you’re a professional driver and if you’re nabbed with one of those cheap “leaky” radar detectors the fine can be very steep and your commercial license can be in jeopardy.

Well now you can have peace of mind driving those long Interstate Highways knowing that you’re radar detector is totally undetectable while also having a detector that holds the long range title with the Redline radar detector from Escort.

The Escort Redline radar detector is a dash mounted radar detector that you can easily conceal in your vehicle and during a recent test done by Speed Measurement Laboratories the Redline stole the crown from Valentine as being the new long range king by detecting police radar as far as 13 miles away.

The Escort Redline is able to accomplish this feat by utilizing their patent twin antenna design that is tuned for each radar band, including the deadly POP radar guns.

The Redline also includes their proprietary Traffic Sensor Rejection software to eliminate those annoying false alerts that are so commonplace with virtually every other radar detector that is manufactured by other companies outside of Beltronics and Escort.

If you’re a professional driver then your choice is clear, as the Escort Redline is my number one choice.

Are you looking for a high performance remote mounted radar detector that will not break your budget?

A few of the main advantages of having a remote mounted radar detector is that you don’t have your dash and windshield cluttered with devices and also that you’re not advertising to other drivers, police and even thieves that your car has a radar detector.

High performance units such as the Escort 9500ci can cost you close to $2000.00 by the time you buy the unit and have it professionally installed. And then those cheap remote mounted radar detectors sold by other companies well they lack the sensitivity and performance that you need to avoid those costly speeding tickets.

Escort QI45 to the rescue!

The Escort QI45 is Escort’s newest remote radar detector system that was developed by you, the consumer.

Let me explain, folks just like yourself have been asking radar detector manufactures for years for a remote mounted unit that was affordable, easy to install but yet affordable. Well Escort listened and they have integrated all of those features people like yourself have been asking for.

The combination radar detector and laser sensor antenna mounts easily in the grill area of your car. You then only plug in one cable that you run through the firewall into the easy to connect interface which mounts under your dash.

Plug in the display and controller; connect the interface to a 12-volt power supply such as your fuse box and your done!

A typical install can take less than 45 minutes and in fact that is why they named the unit QI45 for Quick Install 45.

Here on our website RadarDetector.org have a two video segment where I walk you though the installation of the QI45 and the optional shifter pack.

Now lets cover the performance of this unit.

If your familiar with Escort’s high performance with the Escort 8500 x50 you will not be disappointed because the QI45 was developed using this same platform and in our testing we have found that the range, sensitivity and filtering are the same.

And in our testing the QI45 against lower priced remote mounted detectors from Whistler and even higher priced remotes sold by some of those 12-volt installers the QI45 left them all in the dust.

My wife has been so impressed with the QI45 she selected it as her radar and laser defense system in her Toyota Sequoia.

As laser enforcement is now gaining more acceptance by police agencies throughout North America, you’ll be pleased to know that Escort also has an optional ZR4 Shifter pack that you can plug into the QI45 that will jam all police laser guns, making your car invisible to this type of enforcement.

Each of the two front facing shifter heads simply plug into the rear of the radar detector antenna again making the install of this unit very simple.

Some of the most frequently asked questions we receive from clients who are interested in the QI45 are;

Is the QI45 immune to those radar detector detectors that police use such as the Spectre?

No it isn’t so if you live or drive in Virginia or Washington DC or in Territories in Canada where radar detectors are illegal, I wouldn’t recommend the QI45. Instead I would recommend the Escort 9500ci , Escort Redline or the Beltronics STi all of which can defeat the Spectre.

Another frequently asked question regards 360-degree protection of the QI45.

The radar antenna that mounts in the front does have full 360 degree protection meaning that you will receive alerts if police are using radar enforcement in front, or to the rear of your car.

However, the optional laser shifter pack that installs with the QI45 only has two heads, both of which should be installed to the front.

Therefore, the rear of your vehicle would not be protected against laser police enforcement.

However, in 95% of all laser enforcement police typically use the front of your car as a target point.

If you do desire front and rear protection for laser, you do have other options however, such as installing a separate Blinder or Laser Interceptor system.

The Passport IQ from Escort is a game changer….

When I was first introduced to the Passport IQ last at Escort’s headquarters last month I was so impressed that the first words out of my mouth was, “this is a game changer…” Escort has integrated the very best in radar detection technology into a fully functional GPS.

What Escort has done with the Passport IQ is basically create a device that includes a high performance radar detector that is on par to their Escort 9500ix, with a full color five inch display GPS while also offering optional bluetooth capabilities for hands free calling, live traffic reporting and also designing the unit so it can integrate with other services that are planned for the future.

For the past four weeks I have had the honor of being one of the first to do an independent review of the Passport IQ prior to the unit becoming available to the general public, here are my findings;

Radar Detection Performance:

How Escort was able to integrate a radar detector into the body of a GPS while still being able to offer a high sensitivity and performance in radar/laser detection is a story onto itself, as this was one of the most difficult engineering feats I’m sure the Escort engineers have ever faced.

During the past several weeks I have tested the Passport IQ against our own arsenal of radar and lidar guns in a controlled environment while also logging over 1200 miles in real world driving throughout the southwest.

In a nut shell, I would rate the performance and sensitivity of the Passport IQ on par with the Escort 9500ix and slightly below that of an Escort 9500ci.

In every instance during our real world driving test, the Passport IQ alerted almost at the same exact time as the Escort 9500ix. One particular alert that stood out was an instance of an Arizona Highway Patrolman operating a Ka gun in instant mode several miles in front of us.

Both units began chirping for a few seconds then stopped and then a few moments later they both began alerting again for a few seconds and stopped. I suspected from the nature of this alert that there was an officer up ahead operating his radar gun in the instant on mode by only activating his radar gun when he had his victims within range.

A few miles later my hunch proved correct as again both units went to full alert as I spotted the highway patrolman hidden in the median.

Photo Enforcement Capabilities:

This I would certainly say is one of the strongest points for the IQ as Arizona is littered with those photo enforcement cameras that snap your photo and send you a ticket in the mail.

One thing that stood out to me during my review that the Passport IQ only alerted to cameras that were in my direction that I was traveling, case in point Chino Arizona.

The Chino Police Department has several fixed photo speed enforcement cameras on each side of the highway at different locations. The Passport IQ only alerted to those cameras that were on the same side of the road that I was approaching and ignored those on the other side of the road that were not a threat.

What also impressed me was that the type of photo enforcement camera was also displayed on the GPS screen with its exact location; example red light for red light cameras and photo camera for fixed photo radar locations.

GPS Features:

I’ve owned several dash GPS units from Garmin and Tom Tom and one of my chief complaints with all of them has been that annoying “nag screen” that always pops up when you turn the device on. This “nag screen” will also pop up the first time you use the Passport IQ but what is nice there is an option from that point forward to deactivate it, which I have done.

The large five inch full color screen is very easy to read even in bright sunlight and the unit is very easy to program and will get you to the address or location you want to go to.

Overall Impressions:

Mounting: The suction cup mounting system that is offered with the IQ is very stable and capable of holding the unit in place on your windshield.

Menu System: There are three separate menu systems for the IQ making programming a snap. Simply touch and navigate though it’s simple and easy to follow menu system to program the advanced features of the radar/laser detector.Map features view maps and current location

-          Go To touch and go to create a route, get directions or find thousands of points of interest.

Driver Information: To Have this much data at your fingertips on a five inch screen is amazing!

-          Current vehicle speed and posted speed limit; Useful to know if you’re exceeding the posted speed limit in real time.

-          Mark Location; Is there a certain location that you would like to mark such as a speed trap in your area? Just press a button, the location is marked for future reference.

-          Current Location and Route of Travel; Stay on course to your destination with easy to follow voice and visual prompts.

-          Photo Enforcement; Alerts you of approaching photo enforcement cameras in advance.

-          Radar and Laser Alerts; Displayed with a bright red LED with numeric frequency of the threat displayed on the five inch screen. You can also select the type of audio alert from tone alert to full voice alerts.

Additional Features:

Optional blue tooth capabilities for hands free calling and live traffic reporting will be offered for the Passport IQ sometime during the 1^st half of 2011.

Potential Issues:

Guys, if you think that you can keep this detector all to yourself you are WRONG! Even though my wife is married to the “Radar Roy” she hates having a radar detector mounted on the dash of her SUV and hates all those annoying false alerts those other radar detectors have. So once she saw the Passport IQ her first question was where is mine?

Another issue is having the cord dangling down from your windshield into your cigarette lighter. Those of you that already own another Escort/Beltronics product who have hard wired your detector will be happy to know that the Passport IQ also uses the familiar RJ-11 power plug. Those of you that have never hardwired a radar detector and are interested in learning how, I would recommend that you watch our video on YouTube on how to direct wire your radar detector.

Overall Findings:

The Passport IQ is truly a game changer for the radar detector industry in that it combines a high performance radar detector, a GPS and more into one unit that easily mounts to your windshield.

What are your thoughts about the Passport IQ? Please have your voice heard by leaving a comment in the comment area below.

Drive Safe and Smart….

Back when I retired from law enforcement and began my new career in the speed counter measurement industry back in 1997 Mike Valentine’s V1 was the very best radar detector on the market.

Since there has been allot of innovation in our industry and it seems that it has flew by Mike unnoticed.

Stealth to the Spectre RDD: The “famous brands” as you like Mike calls Escort and Beltronics were the first (and only company) to figure out how to defeat the Spectre RDD (radar detector detector) with their introduction of the Bel STi.

Mike did place a winning bid on Ebay for a Spectre RDD, but I can only assume it is sitting on his shelf in his lab collecting dust as his V1 can still be detected.

GPS Integration: Then the “famous brands” beat him the punch again with the integration of GPS into their radar detectors with their introduction of the Escort 9500i and the Escort 9500ix.

Long Range Sensitivity: Then last year that “famous brand” Escort company came out with their Redline radar detector which has longer range, sensitivity and filtering then the V1.

Now with 2011 a few months away Mike’s patent on the dual antenna system will expire thus turning his “extraordinary” radar detector as he calls it into ordinary.

But what really leads me to take notice of Mike’s lack of innovation these past years was this recent magazine advertisement that he ran.

It was the same ad that Mike developed over 15 years ago after attending one of Joe Sugarman’s training conferences and published way back then!

Hell, he didn’t even change the testimonials to freshen it up a bit!

Mike has become lazy driving around in his Porsche while his dusty old Spectre sits on his shelf and has reverted to running old magazine ads from 15 years ago.

Those other “famous brands” are famous because of one thing, they INNOVATE!

“Radar” Roy Reyer