Review Escort Solo S3 Radar Detector

Do You Have to Go Cordless?

Cordless radar detectors do solve the problem of dangling power cords hanging all over your dash and are very convenient for business travelers who want the extra benefit of having a radar detector to avoid traffic tickets in a strange city.

However one frequently asked question that we receive is how well a cordless radar detector performs in comparison to a corded detector.

In most cases the performance and sensitivity issues are very different as one of the top issues engineers have on their mind in designing cordless model is balancing the battery life with the overall sensitivity and performance of the detector itself.

As my main source of income today is being a consultant in Search Engine Optimization and Internet Marketing, I do fall into the category of a being a business traveler and this past week I was a guest speaker at an Internet Marketing conference in Connecticut after which I was visiting with a friend of mine in south Jersey before flying back home to Arizona from JFK.

The Solo S3 comes equipped with a lightweight carrying case, which slipped right into my carry on bag for this trip. Also included in case were an extra set of windshield mounts, a manual and two AA batteries.

Once in our rental car I was able to stick the unit onto the windshield and power it up in less than two seconds. The Solo S3 has the same power on sequence that their corded dash mounted units have and I found that their new high resolution OLED display is much easier to read then their earlier S2 model.

As we headed out of the city toward 95 north the unit alerted us on Ka band less than a mile ahead we spotted the white and blue SUV hidden on the side of the road.

A couple hours later we arrived in Bridgeport but before checking into the hotel we powered down the detector and removed it from the dash as to not invite any thieves.

The next morning we placed the unit back onto the dash and drove out to our speaking event. About a mile before the Bridgeport High School on North Road the Solo S3 began alerting to a K band radar signal. We made sure that we were maintaining the 25 M.P.H. speed limit as we approached our second officer on our trip.

After returning to our rental car and driving off, I noticed that they flashing green LED light was no longer active, serving as a reminder that the detector had shut itself down on its own. Once turning the detector back on we headed south to Toms River New Jersey.

The trip to the Garden State Parkway was pretty much uneventful but once getting onto the Parkway it was almost like every State Trooper in New Jersey was on the lookout as every ten miles or so we past trooper after trooper running Ka or even X band!

The Escort Solo S3 radar detector did give us ample time warning during each of these encounters giving us plenty of time to slow down to the posted speed limit.

In summary the Escort Solo S3 by in far holds up to its claim of being the “top cordless radar detector ever made” in that they have been able to find an equitable balance of sensitivity and performance in a cordless platform.

However you may be asking yourself right now would I be willing to give up my corded Escort IQ or my 9500ix for the convenience of going cordless, no way!

The Solo S3 serves a particular niche market, someone that wants a small compact cordless radar detector with good performance, not those in the market for a radar detector that is long on range or has the extra benefit of GPS.

Being from the east coast and knowing my away around I didn’t need a GPS features on this trip, however when I do travel to an unfamiliar city I bring my Escort IQ which combines high performance radar detection along with a full featured GPS which I can depend on to get me to the front door of my destination ticket free.

So here is the bottom line, if you’re considering a cordless radar detector to avoid the cords, consider getting a CORDED radar detector such as the Escort 9500ix or the 8500 X50 and hard wiring the unit. You will have a much better radar detector,  much better performance and no dangling cords.

However if you need something compact that is easy to move from car to car then by all means the Solo S3 as it lives up to its claim as being the Top Cordless Radar Detector made today!