20 Responses to “Passport Max2 Radar Detector Review”

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  1. Paul C

    I’m a little confused about your statement about the HARD system and working with LIVE. Do the two not work together? I’m planning on mainly using this on my bike. Also, I have a BMW F800gt any recommendations on the best mount for that particular bike.

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    Feedback: 3 positive, 1 negative
    • If you have the EXTERNAL Live interface, no, it will not work with the HARD system. There is work around that I tried but it didn’t work out as I expected it would. However with the new Passport and Max2 having internal bluetooth, the HARD works fine with Escort Live

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      Feedback: 3 positive
  2. ludlow steadford

    I live in Canada and I want to know which radar detector can not be seen because as radar detector get smarterso so does police radar detectors detector

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    Feedback: 1 positive
  3. andrew

    How do you know the Police in the video were using VASCAR, and not just out there chilling to show presence?

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    Feedback: 1 positive, 1 negative
    • Well I am a member of a LEMC and a few members are Yavapai county deputies and I followed up with them about this encounter

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      Feedback: 2 positive, 1 negative
  4. How much of an upgrade over a 9500ix? Cost/availability?

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  5. Chet K

    Roy,
    Is it true that even in stated where radar is legal, police have ability to detect you have a radar detector and will more likely use instant on technology if they detect your radar detector? In my mind the stealth models would then be more desirable. I have the Magnum Sti from you… love the detector, but broke after 2 years..dissapointing.

    thanks
    Chet

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    • Well the RDD technology is expensive so unless there is a need such as commercial vehicle enforcement officers would not have a Spectre.

      However sorry to hear about your STi is on the fritz

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  6. Ed

    Roy, I’am looking to purchase a new radar detector my old one just passed away (escort) I have the Blinder Jammer 4 head system. I drive a CTS-V (my Summer Drive) poppy about 750HP and if I don’t focus she tends to creep up to 100 easy. For the winter I have a 540HP Esclade also with Blinder jammers. No tickets so far (knock! Knock! on wood) I know there are no jamming devices for radar I live and travel in the mid Atlantic region so I have many challenges DC, Virginia and up to New England so many law enforcement dept. can afford new equipment.I also have read that Digital Radar is new and being used.
    What top 3 detectors could meet this challenge

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  7. Terry Spammer
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    Radar Roy, I like how you only post review on escort radar because those are the only radar that you sell. If you are a true radar “king” why not post review on the valentine one? Is it because you don’t have any to sell thats why you aren’t going to review it.
    It’s a shame how you provide false informations just to make a quick sale.

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  8. i’ve had the max2 for a few months, here are my thoughts
    gps feature is great
    i prefer my v1 because it has the directional aspect
    escort live is almost useless.. constantly alerting in a metro area
    redlight cam feature is a great idea but doesn’t work well — driving down a local highway it will report a camera

    summary, it significantly reduces the false alert (a big place) — but the v1 is a better detector

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    Feedback: 1 negative
  9. Chris

    I’m fix’en to drive from fla to ca. what to know which system is the best money can buy?

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  10. Chris

    I’ve posted yesterday asking for the absolut best system that money can buy. something that I’ll be completey covered. I don’t want hearsay or snake oil. Idon’t know much about this stuff and my exeriance level is nominal. I’m a set- it forget it kind of guy. It’s not broke – don’t fix it. Not very tech savvy with electronics I don’t have the patience to be playing with this stuff too. I feel that’s make me a good candidate to be taken advantage of. I have a ram 3500 that is my daily driver. I don’t use my truck as a race car. I travel alot ( coast to coast). It sure seems that police don’t do much policing anymore, just have become revenue chasers. They are the ones that have endless budgets and access to cutting-edge technology.

    I want to take back the control & my truck to be 100% stealth!

    thank for your assistance and looking for a prompt reply?
    Chris

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  11. Radar Roys Rating Not Rated Sensitivity
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    After six months or so with the Max 2, which replaced my old Beltronic RX 65 I have the following comments:

    Summary: Technical performance seems to be great. Everything else is mediocre. For the price, I expected better.

    Pros:

    1. Much better and more consistent detection. Picks up signals farther away and seems to get all signals.

    2. Much better filtering.

    3. Escort Live is helpful, but watch out for power usage, see below.

    Cons:

    1. Mounting sucks. First one broke the case of the detector (literally fell off the windshield in two halves) revealing cheap plsstic construction. Replaced under warranty (thankfully Escort stood behind it). Replacement magnetic version is better but bounces all over on even slightly rough roads. The problem is that it is cantilevered way out from the mount, which attaches almost at the very back of the unit. If you live in the West, or in snow country, or where the roads are less than pristine, the detector bounces around so much it is a distraction and a worry that it will fall off. And, it does fall off once the suction cup gets even slightly dirty.

    2. Poor ergonomics. Buttons are not raised enough from the case and are not separated enough for my fat fingers. This means that you can’t feel what you are pushing on — I will frequently dim or brighten the display rather than change the filter from Highway.

    3. Audable alarm not loud enough. If you like to rock out while you drive, better get a different radar.

    4. Screen not bright enough. Hard to see in bright light. Somewhat forgivable if you have the Escort Live running, but . . .

    5. Power usage of Escort Live sucks iPhone battery dead. I don’t know what wattage my 2012 toyota Camry provides through its USB port that syncs with the entertainment system, but it is clearly insufficient to even replace the power being used by Escort Live and the Toyota Entune software. If you’ve got a six or seven hour drive you better have a high powered usb plugin or your phone will die.

    6. Escort Live GPS does not work in background on iPhone. Phone will show notifications of alerts from detector, but unless it is on the screen, the GPS stops and then cycles over to current location. Makes you wonder whether your missing warnings.

    Re rating: We don’t have photo radars in my part of the world, so can’t comment on that performance.

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