Product Review: Passport 9500ix Radar Detector.. "Say Hello To My Little Friend"

[Pirate]

Newbie here.. Hola, my fellow speeding amigos. . Just got my 9500ix a few weeks ago.. Love this little sucker...

If anyone is interested.. I posted a preliminary review in our latest newsletter.. Thought I'd share...

http://pirateslair.net/newsletter.htm

Scroll down to... Product Review: Passport 9500ix Radar Detector.. "Say Hello To My Little Friend"

[EscortRadar]

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for linking to your 9500ix review. It's an excellent read and an interesting website. It's good to hear that you are enjoying the 9500ix. Of all of our products it is my best friend too, although I have to admit the ZR4 is gaining ground quickly as the weather gets warmer and laser is being used more.

I noticed your opinion of driving in Ohio. I guess it's no surprise that Ohio is the radar detector capital of the world. I regularly get detection of actual threats on every radar band plus laser.

Take note about Expert and Spec Meter modes on your 9500ix. I'm particularly fond of ExpertMeter.

[CJR238]

Love my 9500ix, Expert mode rocks! Nice review.

[Nine_c1]

That has to be the best quality photo of a Radar detector I have ever seen! Escort needs your services!

Very well written article.

[Pirate]

Glad you like the photo... That shot was actually taken with my little point and shoot...I usually shoot with a high dollar foofoo Canon.

As for your comments... I couldn't disagree with you more on the Valentine 1. I may or may not have mentioned that I have been using a V1 almost exclusively for the last 4 years.. Always had the latest updates, too. While a V1 does give slightly better distance detection when compared to my wifes 8500.. it doesn't compare to the 9500ix in any way that I can discern... And as for the V1's "lighting fast response times"... I'll assume you were being sarcastic.

I live in the mountains of NC right off the BRPW.. 99.5% of my riding is in the twisties... The new Passport gives me (I'm guesstamating now as an expert ticket magnet)..at least a full 2-3 second quicker warning and/or up to 300+ft warning over my old V1. 300ft isn't much on the interstate or Ohio but it's a big deal when you are in the curves. That's almost enough time to relax and eat a sandwich. No BS...

Originally Posted by Nine_c1

That has to be the best quality photo of a Radar detector I have ever seen! Escort needs your services!

The mighty M3s and Valentine One are alone in the class leading radar detection category. The M3s belong there for their unparalleled range and the V1 for it's esquisite balance of range and lightening fast response times. In my humble opion......okay, scrap the humble BS.......the added sensitivity on these platforms is more necessary in the twisties and becomes rather superfluous in the flatlands.

[CJR238]

Originally Posted by Pirate

Glad you like the photo... That shot was actually taken with my little point and shoot...I usually shoot with a high dollar foofoo Canon.

As for your comments... I couldn't disagree with you more on the Valentine 1. I may or may not have mentioned that I have been using a V1 almost exclusively for the last 4 years.. Always had the latest updates, too. While a V1 does give slightly better distance detection when compared to my wifes 8500.. it doesn't compare to the 9500ix in any way that I can discern... And as for the V1's "lighting fast response times"... I'll assume you were being sarcastic.

I live in the mountains of NC right off the BRPW.. 99.5% of my riding is in the twisties... The new Passport gives me (I'm guesstamating now as an expert ticket magnet)..at least a full 2-3 second quicker warning and/or up to 300+ft warning over my old V1. 300ft isn't much on the interstate or Ohio but it's a big deal when you are in the curves. That's almost enough time to relax and eat a sandwich. No BS...

I will have to agree, the new 9500ix's are more sensitive than older V1's. And though i haven't tested my new V1 against my 9500ix, both the V1 and 9500ix seem to lag behind my 9500ci about the same. However the V1 does beat my ci in some scenarios.

[Pirate]

I have a question which will showcase my ignorance.

I am in the high performance motorcycle industry... Almost without exception my customers have radar detectors and we discuss them in great lenght often... Not only have I never heard of the M3 mentioned in this thread but never in all my years of talking to thousands of customers about high-end radar detectors have I heard anyone mention the M3.... ??

Can someone provide a clue?

[CJR238]

Originally Posted by Pirate

I have a question which will showcase my ignorance.

I am in the high performance motorcycle industry... Almost without exception my customers have radar detectors and we discuss them in great lenght often... Not only have I never heard of the M3 mentioned in this thread but never in all my years of talking to thousands of customers about high-end radar detectors have I heard anyone mention the M3.... ??

Can someone provide a clue?

Older Escort 8500's and some older 8500x50's use a S7 antennas, newer 9500ix's and 8500X50's M4 antenna and the new 9500ci & Redline use a M3 antenna.

[Nine_c1]

Originally Posted by Pirate

I have a question which will showcase my ignorance.

I am in the high performance motorcycle industry... Almost without exception my customers have radar detectors and we discuss them in great lenght often... Not only have I never heard of the M3 mentioned in this thread but never in all my years of talking to thousands of customers about high-end radar detectors have I heard anyone mention the M3.... ??

Can someone provide a clue?

It's not ignorance, your just not afflicted yet with RDOCD (Radar Detector
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)! Turn back now, before this disease takes over your life!

Seriously, I have to apologize again for being an a$$ and imposing my opinions in your thread. It really is a very well composed article on the 9500ix and didn't need any quantifying from me. I went back and edited my posts to just what was pertinent to your original post.

As CJ stated, the M3 is the antenna design used in the Bel STi Driver, STi-R remote and Escort 9500ci and RedLine detectors. It's actually a dual antenna with one horn dedicated for X-Band and the other dedicated to K/Ka reception. The primary virtues of the M3 design are Stealth (cannot be detected by Radar Detector Detectors) and great sensitivity across all Radar bands. Here is a good picture of the M3 as posted in another thread by DJRAMS80.

[Pirate]

Thx!! Guess you guys are tech junkies... Most of us mortals don't get that deep into the specifics.. Duly noted. I am enlightened.

Originally Posted by CJR238

Older Escort 8500's and some older 8500x50's use a S7 antennas, newer 9500ix's and 8500X50's M4 antenna and the new 9500ci & Redline use a M3 antenna.