Passport Max2 Radar Detector Review
Did you know that police departments across the US are updating their old analog radar guns to digital and that your older radar detector may not be able to detect them?
Here is why.
These digital radar guns use a lot less power and measure a cars speed based on a 12-inch travel distance rather then a 10 or 15 car length distance used by analog guns.
This enables the officer to target your car at greater distance and in some situations over 2 miles away!
To address this issue the engineers at Escort have borrowed technology developed by NASA to communicate with their equipment in deep space called digital signal processing and integrated it with their newer radar detectors.
The result is that Escort’s newest radar detector, the Passport Max2, is able to sniff out real police radar based on the DNA profile, while also filtering out all those annoying false alerts.
This enables the Max2 to have over 8 times the capture distance of a police radar gun!
False Alerts from Cruise Control Sensors
Now here is another big benefit of Escort’s patent DSP technology.
Many of the newer cars today come equipped with Adaptive Cruise Control, which uses the same K-band spectrum police radar uses.
Because of this most radar detectors are almost rendered useless because of the over abundance of false alerts.
Here is an example.
Back January of 2014 Car and Driver Magazine did a comparison test of the Valentine One and the Max radar detector.
This was their comment regarding the Valentine One:
“One annoyance is incessant false alarms—the Valentine’s filtering isn’t very effective. On our 22-mile loop, the V1 called out 53 threats”
Think about that for a moment, that’s over 2 false alerts per mile.
Now here is their comment regarding the DSP technology used by the Max2.
“The Passport’s near elimination of false alarms provides a higher level of real-world protection. It’s user-friendly for a first-time buyer but powerful enough for the most hard-core user.”
Another feature that sets the Max2 apart from all the other high-end radar detectors out there is it’s internal Bluetooth chipset that enables it to connect directly to the Escort Live Community.
This enables your detector to share real time alerts from other members of the Escort Live community.
Escort Live
One question you may be asking yourself is “how popular is this Escort Live”
Well in July of 2014 Escort Live celebrated it’s 22 millionth save and this clip shows one of them where I was alerted of a VASCAR speed trap, between Phoenix and Flagstaff in August of 2014.
And another advantage the Max2 has is it’s internal GPS, which enables you detector to do two things.
One it’s ability to automatically filter out known false alert locations based upon the exact location and frequency of the false alert.
And the other is that your Max 2 comes equipped with the Escort defender photo enforcement database, which will alert you when you approach fixed photo radar and red light camera locations.
And updating your Max2 is a snap, just download Escort Live to your computer, plug in your Max2 using a USB cable and your detector will be updated with the newest firmware and photo enforcement database.
20 Responses to “Passport Max2 Radar Detector Review”
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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.
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
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
One detector that is stealth is the Escort Redline: http://www.powersportsus.com/Escort-REDLiNE-Radar-Detector-p/redline.htm
There are also the Sti, the StiR and the 9500ci
How do you know the Police in the video were using VASCAR, and not just out there chilling to show presence?
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
How much of an upgrade over a 9500ix? Cost/availability?
You will have about 25% better range and filtering, this graph would explain it the best with the Max being a 5 star and the 9500ix being a 3
http://www.radarbusters.com/Radar-Detector-Performance-and-Review-Overview-s/2431.htm (half way down)
We are taking pre-orders now:
http://www.radarbusters.com/Passport-Max2-Radar-Detector-p/passport-max2.htm
ships the 14th
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
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
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
Digital radar is being used and any of the newer Escort, Bel units will detect it fine. Since you drive in VA would recommend that you check out the Redline or any of these other stealth radar detectors.
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.
Well Terry Spammer to bad you don’t take the time to do your research before you spam our site(s): https://www.radarbusters.com/Escort-vs-Valentine-One-s/2475.htm
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
I’m fix’en to drive from fla to ca. what to know which system is the best money can buy?
Would recommend the Passport Max2 Chris – https://www.radarbusters.com/Passport-Max2-Radar-Detector-p/passport-max2.htm
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
Well a lot depends if you want a remote mounted, windshield mounted and a laser jammer Chris. – On this page I rank all the detectors by performance and by user satisfaction: http://www.radarbusters.com/Radar-Detector-Comparison-Guide-s/2461.htm
Let me know if you have any questions
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.