This may sound retarded but I've never had a radar detector before... What's the GPS acquired for? (in the video)

It allows you to mark a location to watch out for in the future and also reports back on the speed you are going when you get nailed!

Ahhh... Interesting... I've never been pulled over myself. I'm usually very conscientious of my surroundings and usually spot cops out from afar but I may look into this in the future if the cops around here ever get clever and setup half way decent speed traps...

And, if you find an area that gives you a false alarm, you can mark the signal as "False."
Then if you're in that area again, it ignores that particular signal that was labeled "false."

I think I am going to start shopping around for one of these. They may be over a year old now, but that shouldn't mean it has degraded, just maybe available for a better bargain.

Anyone have any issue with extreme temperatures? (Most of you are SoCal, I know, foreign thought :) )

I have lost all confidence in my current detector. There are times that it will not stop going off for literally 10-15 minutes on end. I have a feeling elevated heat on the dash in the summer and bitter cold in the winter have crippled it's internals so it is alerting off my engine/radio/something. It still detects lasers fine (found a few up here), and most radar traps, but it is nearly non-stop false alarms now.

Helps keep me slow, but no real confidence any more.

look into the 9500ix, I upgraded mine recently the thing is AWESOME!! It auto-learns false signals, tells you when you're approaching red light cameras, gives you an arrow in the direction of the camera and counts down the distance until you get there.

ABSOLUTELY amazing detector.


Sorry to hear yours is acting up, the heat might have cooked it. I have mine mounted at all times here and in the summer it sees 100+ and has held up very well. Escort FTW

I completely agree. The 9500ix is a very good way of saving money. Remember, the GPS means it won't bother you with previous false alarms, so it only bothers you when there is a REAL signal!

The range is unbeatable.

Highly recommend this product.

Heh, yeah. Thanks. Of course, when YOU are the false signal, gps doesn't help so much, which is my current problem i think :) I'll look into it.

I actually have been thinking of upgrading from my current Escort X50 (which has been worth its weight in gold), to the 9500i or ix.

One thing that I need to verify is if you can turn off the GPS auto lock out of false signals. Reason being is that I woould prefer to be able to manually select which signals that I lock out. There are a lot construction zones where there are radar drones--but that the cops sit in as well.

Wouldn't want the RD to lock out in that area if there are real threats of radar enforcement mixed in with the drones!! :icon_no2:

YES, you can disable the auto-learn option.

2 Month thread res? not so bad I guess.

the ix locks out threat by frequency and location, so it will disable a frequency found in the same exact location three times, however if a new frequency is present in that location it will notify you. Also, if one of those frequencies is missing when you pass that location it will automatically unlock that frequency.

ex. I pass construction zone, 3 times this week, blocks out all signals from zone, then on day 4 cop hides there, it will alert you to the new signal.

ex2. Cop hides in same location 3 times, yeah, his signal will be blocked (which you can prevent), but as soon as you drive past that location when the cop is not present it will unlock that frequency and make it available to detection once more.

Sorry just wanted to thoroughly explain that. On a side note, its highly unlikely that the same cop will be in the exact location using the same exact gun. So for the most part, you are safe.

Two comments +...

1. 450+ bucks for a radar detector is waaaaaaaaaay more than I'd be willing to pay for a good radar detector. I have a Sensoro Traveler (now PNI Traveler) that my college buddy and retired AF navigator put me on to a few years ago when I was visiting him in Ft. Worth. Costco was selling them for $89.99. At the time, Speed Measurement Labs had tested a bunch of radar detectors. The Sensoro was more sensitive than even the $350 detectors. It has picked up KSP radars when I've been a quarter mile behind them.

2. I don't want to advertise the fact that I have a radar detector to either the cops or mall rats or anybody else. I'd be especially unhappy leaving 450+ bucks hanging off my rear view mirror when I left the car. The darkened area above the rear view mirror is an ideal place to hide a radar detector. I took the suction cups off and Velcroed the support to the windshield. Unless I'm around a big city, I don't think I'll run into a laser...too much effort to aim them and I'll be sticking with the traffic flow anyway.

I've never run across "instant on" radars in IN, TN, NC, MO, IL, AR, GA, AL, FL or TX. But some of the KSP have them. They're a good test to see how fast you can stand on the brakes. I've had the KSP wait at night until I was 300 feet away before they switched on the radar. I was lucky both times. I had a parasite following me and they got burned.

Here's a weird one. A few years ago I was ~30 miles east of Texarkana on I30 when I first picked up a radar. The signal didn't get stronger quickly so I must be behind the cop. I slowed down to 5 MPH over the limit and figured I catch the cop shortly. Geeze! I must have driven 10 miles before I caught up to a white unmarked car with state plates. The reason it took so long was because the car had a small bullhorn shaped radar antenna where the driver side rear view mirror would be and it was pointed to the REAR! Now that is sneaky!

Hey Jedi,

I know this is pretty old thread, but I finally got my 9500ix. One of the things I thought was very cool was the startup sequence in that old video you posted, in which the voice says "GPS signal acquired." However my 9500ix does not say this during startup, or at least I haven't seen a way to change it.

Do you know if this is something Escort changed from the original 9500? I even noticed that in the instruction manual, one of the sections mentions a startup sequence option, but it is not there in other parts of the manual - nor can I find it on the detector itself. Not a huge deal, but I was just very curious about it, since it was one of the things I remembered about the 9500 when I first saw your video a couple years ago! Any idea?

In the meantime, I'm taking a road trip tomorrow and we'll see how it does!

Hey Olorin2:

I noticed that as well when I upgraded to the 9500ix and as cool as the original start up sequence was, to be honest I quite prefer the newer version becaues the prior start up sequence got 'old' after a few months of having her tell me "gps signal acquired" every time I turned on my car.
Like a nagging wife or something... :lol2:
The ix simply gives you an audible beep when the signal is acquired but it loses the signal she'll quickly let you know.

I've had my ix for quite some time now and I LOVE the way this detector works, IMO it's the best overall detector on the market and worth every penny.
do you have the database subscription? If so, make sure you get the new version of Detector Tools as you no longer need to enter your serial number in every time you want to download the newest locations, it scans the RD and does it automatically.
Also, it had been a few months since I'd updated mine and there were two software updates available so check for that as well.

Being able to update my radar detector from my own garage is priceless. (and coolness the Valentine 1 users don't have) :cool:

Yeah, I can see how the voice on startup might get a little old, haha. I haven't even had a chance to look into my database subscription, but I think it came with 3 free months. I'm coming from the 8500 X50, which I've had for a couple years now and really the only reason I upgraded was for the GPS features on this one. Can't wait to test it out.

Btw, do you know if the detector takes any mini-usb to USB cable? If not, I'll have to get one from Escort's site.

Thanks for the quick reply!

any Mini USB will do, no sense in over paying for anything 'special'.
If you didn't purchase the subscription, you could always look into it down the road. I believe my subscription is expiring soon and the rates are fairly cheap for what you get.

I was out near Vegas this past summer with a few other RX-8 owners and as we were making our way down the freeway at about 85 mph, m RD alerted me to a speed camera up ahead. We slowed down to the limit, passed the camera, and all was well. :cool:

Major thread bump!

I'm currently planning on getting an Escort 9500ix because I'm sick of not having one for the 3.5 hour drive I have to and from school, which has a descent amount of cops on 101. Although I know a lot of tricks cops use for hiding, better safe than sorry for not having a detector. After getting pulled a few months ago by CHP down here for 78 in a 65, which I thankfully got let off, it's time.

Anyways, I'm planning to get one of those radar mounts for the 9500ix, but I'm kinda confused on the size? My 8 is an 04 with a homelink mirror. It says on the site that it's 3/4 inch, but someone here said a 0.9in? This year I've been driving my mom's '06 Civic for school because I refuse to bring my 8 to school until I get a house next year. Well I was wondering if the 0.9in will work in both cars if that is the size for the 8? The Civic is 3/4 in. for sure, so it makes sense that it would just hang a little lower in the Civic, but still be held on securely? Any help clearing this up would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

The mount, which many here have already:

http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/350Z/escortmount.htm

I went with the blendmount and then i hardwired my 9500ix into homelink with a stealthcord.

Yeah but what size blendmount did you get? That's what I'm trying to find out. And what exactly is a stealthcord? Is that the hardwire kit?

I got mine from http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/Conn...arDetector.htm. It looks like they have a newer adjustable mount now, but I went with the original Escort mount and hardwired my detector up and around to the fuse box.

The correct size for this mount is 3/4", which fits stem sizes 709inches to .768inches or 18MM to 19.5MM. It's a very clean setup with my 9500ix and I've had a lot compliments!

Good to know. Thanks.

Did you get the stationary or adjustable one? Does the adjustable one just let you swivel the radar up and down on the mount? I'm thinking I just want stationary because I don't want to always adjust it. Only want it to move with the mirror when I adjust that.

^^^ in that case, the standard mount is probably the way to go.
The adjustable mount looks like it would be more beneficial for cars such as BMW that have the 'clown nose' button underneath the mirror.

Yeah, I don't see a real need for the adjustable one either, since we can get enough up and down adjustment just by moving the mirror. Sounds like the standard mount would be perfect for you.

Ok stationary it is. Thanks guys. Greatly appreciate it.

I've had the stationary mount for a good 5 years. Makes it a real clean install. I need to eventually upgrade to a new radar detector though. My x50 8500 is becoming obsolete. haha

One question I have for you... With this mount, does it have like a quick release or something so you can take the detector off and hide it when you park your car?

No quick release. You bolt the bracket that comes with the detector onto the mount so you can release it using the button on the detector. However, you still have to unhook the power cord for it as well if you plan to hide it.

Oh ok. But you can release it relatively easily, correct? Just don't want it to be a PIA every time I disconnect it. Do any of you guys actually leave your detector in plain site and not worry about it? I'd be afraid of someone smashing my window for it.

I've never worried about it, but that depends a lot on the area.

I have never taken it out off the bracket except for when it has gone in to the bodyshop or when I have to stop by a police station. lol.

There is a release button on the top part of the escort detector and you slide it off the bracket that it comes with. If you can live with that and unplugging the power cord, I guess you can do that everytime. Get the detector first, you'll understand what I mean. The radar mount actually bolts to the suction mount bracket that comes w/ the detector.

I have my detector mounted touching the homelink mirror under pressure, because the detector tends to wobble/bounce on rough roads when just hung. But the way I have it makes it a hassle to remove because the mirror would have to be adjusted everytime.

Oh ok. I get what you mean now about the bracket now. Thanks.

Where I live, it's a pretty nice area, but every now and then cars get broken into, not like it doesn't happen everywhere else too. Lol.

I'm currently attending Cal Poly SLO and although I'm parked in a parking structure, I still worry about some kind of punk noticing the detector and smashing a window. Car alarms go off so often here that no one would think anything happened even if a window was smashed. I figure better safe than sorry.

I have a descent amount of friends at home that have detectors in there car, so I may just ask what they do with theirs when they aren't in the car. I think they just leave theirs attached.

i leave my detector attached. they are harder to notice when they are literally mounted right up on the rearview mirror. its a lot easier to notice the ones that are held on by suction cups and i think thats what most thieves are looking for.

I've also always left my detector(s) mounted, unless the car goes in the shop or it's parked somewhere I don't trust. It is kind of a pain to reach the release button, since mine is also sitting pressed up against the homelink mirror - but you get used to it. I don't have to move my mirror each time I take it off.

By the way Nopstnz8 - love those GT-S gunmetal wheels. Those are still my first choice if I upgrade (and if I can afford them)!

Yeah you have a good point about thieves looking for the suction cups.

Yeah you're right. I'll probably just do exactly that, leave it hooked up unless I go to some sketchy place like the mall or something.

Oh and thanks about the wheels. It took me forever to decide on them, and the fact that I would be spending that much money while I was still in high school, but it they were definitely worth it compared to my last ones. I guess some people could say they're a little heavy, but regardless they're lighter than the crappy 20's my car came with. I have mine on R comps, which improved handling dramatically, and saved my ass when going over pot holes since the sidewalls don't flex. I've AutoX'd my car with these wheels and the weight didn't pose a problem to me at all. They do attract a lot of attention though :) I honestly haven't found a person who didn't like them, so to me, I think they were worth it.

One last question about the mount... So at my school we are required to have a parking pass hanging from our mirror when we parking in the parking structure near my apartment. I park there everyday. Anyways, I was trying to figure out if it's possible to hang that tag a certain way so it doesn't block the radar reception? It's about 5"long x 3" wide. It has to be visible because our school is gay like that and will give you a ticket otherwise. I may be able to lay it on the dash, but I'd have to ask about that. Otherwise, I figured I'd just take it down every time I use the radar and put it back when I park in the structure. I definitely don't trust anyone on campus, so the radar will NEVER be visible when parked on campus.

Sounds like to me you should want the tag blocking the radar when you are parked there. So do it that way.

You're getting too paranoid over a simple radar detector placement before you even have it. lol.

you live in SLO, one of the safest cities in all of California, stop being paranoid.
My brother lives in SLO, I'm up there all the time, you'll be fine.
I've never removed my RD, have been in much worse areas and have never had issues.

+1
:rofl:

Ha. Ha. I guess you guys are right. SLO is pretty safe, just like Pleasanton, where I'm originally from.

And Ngo... That's a good idea about leaving the tag on to cover the radar when parked. I mean it's pretty obvious, but since I don't have the radar yet, I didn't even think of it. Lol. I'm just kinda lazy and didn't want to move the tag all the time, but I'll eventually figure something out when I get it. Thanks.

finally ran into an issue with my 9500ix.
For those that remember, I originally purchased the 9500i but in November of 2008, I had Escort upgrade it to an ix.

On Friday the detector was working great, I went to update the online database, connected to my laptop just fine but come Saturday morning, the unit no longer powers on.
It's been hard wired for almost 4 years so I doubt it's the power source but I switched to the OEM power supply, and NOTHING.
Just got off the phone with Escort and it's going back for inspection & repair, I should have it back in about 2 weeks or so.

I would say overall this Radar Detector has been AMAZING!

I'm actually about to buy a second 9500ix for my Bimmer as well, that's how much I love this thing. I considered the Redline and the Valentine but I think both of those are far too sensitive so for X-mas, I should have twins. :cool: (now that they FINALLY have a red LED 9500ix)

oh, and for those who haven't noticed, they do have a few 'limited edition' 9500ix's available right now:

https://www.escortradar.com/limited-...ssport-9500ix/

still thinking of getting the fake cf one Jorge? I know you are