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Best Radar Detector


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So nobody is running the IQ? Its kind of pricy, but if you figure the cost of a good GPS plus the cost of a good radar detector it makes it a little more attractive, at least to those of us without GPS already in the dash.

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So nobody is running the IQ?  Its kind of pricy, but if you figure the cost of a good GPS plus the cost of a good radar detector it makes it a little more attractive, at least to those of us without GPS already in the dash.<br />

 

I have a Valentine with the fancy mirror mount and wired into the back of the mirror in my Shelby GT-500 and love it. However I also have a Passport IQ that I use in my 1970 Mach 1. I mainly use it as my speedometer (yeah, pretty funny and expensive speedometer). However since my speedometer is off about 10 to 15% depending on speed, the large screen sitting in the middle of the dash showing a big mph readout comes in handy. Also it's a decent GPS, although not as many features as much cheaper units and it's a Detector, although not a good a unit as the Valentine or many much cheaper units for that matter. But it's not a bad overall unit in the fact that it does three functions in my case. However in my Shelby I use the Valentine and a much better stand alone GPS.

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I know this is late but just joined and this is one area I think I am pretty good at. First let's start off by saying that a Radar detector is only as good as the person that is using it. They will prevent tickets if you remember two rules. Always run a rabbit (car in your line of site) and always leave yourself enough space to get below triple digits when it goes off. Plain and simple. I have had one ticket in 20 years and it was two months ago breaking the very rule stated above. Jumped out of our gated community, jumped right on the 4 lane (HWY 90) and punched it to 80 and BEEP BEEP BEEP. Busted. Cause for ticket. No traffic (rabbits) and it was dark and I did not have time to see him and he used instant on radar. 175 bucks for that stupid 7 sec press on the gas. I also read some of the mounting points some of the guys are choosing. Above the mirror is not so good, especially if you have tint apllied. You have just about removed or limited rear and laser protection. Below the mirror, run dark mode at night so you do not pick up tag ons that want to use you as the rabbit. Mount it just below the mirror and allow your rear sensors to see out the back window. Take it down when you park to deter theft or just rely on the VIper to take care of that. You can hard wire the 9500is witht he Smartcord and mount your controls anywhere with in arms reach. I saw a couple of the cordless detectors. They are really good but remember that the ones on a cord are more powerful because they do not have to conserve energy in areas the cordless ones do. They just do not have the long range after a short time of use. I believe Mr. Valentine prooved that issue. With that being said.

 

Two radar detectors in my opinion are great. One of this is awesome. The V1 will pick up a cop on the moon, laser worked pretty good also. But with out the GPS learn capability and the stupid thing picking up every door in every town and every cheap radar detector on the highway, it was annoying. Interstate or back roads, if it beeped. You shut it down and put it on cruise because some time in the next 6 miles (The furtherest I ever picked a HP up is 13 miles) you are going to find a poe poe. Does it work, hell yea it worked. Will it drive you nuts, yep it will make you want to turn it off in town or throw it out the window. No Automute!!!!!!

 

The 9500ix is freaking awesome. Smart, as it learns after three passes doors, alarms systems, and ect and mutes them forever. It has automute, talks to you and has the same range as a Valentine one. (Picked up HP out of Lake Charles at 8 miles) But the best thing about it is the smart cord. 99 bucks without buying a detector or 49 if you purchase a smart detector from Escort on the site. The smart cord also works on the high end Bel detectors as they are the same company and to me the top of the line Bel's are Great. What the smart cord does is allows those of you that have sync and a smart phone to connect the detector to the smartphone via bluetooth and as long as you are using bluetooth or USB for music from your phone to your sync, you hear the radar alerts come over the stereo. But the best part is the ESCORT LIVE. Real time updates of radar hits and speed traps from other drivers. Red light camera database is built in. Works awesome in larger cities and busy interstates where there are more units out there running the smart cord. Example, you and I are in seperate cars 4 miles apart or 400 (does not matter) and my detector gets hit with KA, it shoots a signal to the data base which immediately shows up on your smart phone Escort Live App. When you get within whatever range you selected, let's say 1 mile, it will tell you "Live Police Alert" and start counting you down in feet to that spot where my detector was hit. It is Awesome. Running between Biloxi and Houston which I do quite often, the Escort Live Map which looks just like a GPS map shows all the red dots where someone has come through and detected radar. It also gives a time stamp on how long ago it was. The dots or emblems change color the older they are so you know if it 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour or whatever. I love my 9500ix. Interstate driving in large cities is fun becuase you know where every speed trap is way before you get there. Helps out tons on Laser since it is such a B to detect anyway and it is usually to late by the time your detector screams at you. If you have a 9500ix, (or any high end Escort or Bel) get the smart cord. Radio wide open, broad daylight, you know about that baby going off because you hear her come over the speakers. That is my favorite part about it. And with the new Shelby being such a pain to keep in the 80 and under zone, it's overspeed limit alerts help remind you that you are really going 100 MPH in a 75. The V1 is great but having an entire network of 9500's at the touch of a Iphone App is awesome. You have to pay for the database subscription but it's liek 20-30 bucks for three years or something. Cobra has a system like this and it is free and not very good from what I have heard. You know the alerts are real because people are paying to use this service. Every week Escort send out Database updates to download to your detector. It keeps your detector totally up to date in the event you are not running the Live. Hope you guys don't mind me getting long winded, but I thought it was something that you might want to think about investing in. Just don't be stupid like me and jump out there without checking out to see who's hunting ya. Instant on radar sucks.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Sounds like the 9500ix is the way to go....does it go off like crazy when you juice the supercharger....I have a cheaper passport and a 13 GT500 that goes nuts when the supercharger is on. Thinking about going with the top of the line so your observations would be appreciated.

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Sounds like the 9500ix is the way to go....does it go off like crazy when you juice the supercharger....I have a cheaper passport and a 13 GT500 that goes nuts when the supercharger is on. Thinking about going with the top of the line so your observations would be appreciated.

 

 

Mine never has.

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Sounds like the 9500ix is the way to go....does it go off like crazy when you juice the supercharger....I have a cheaper passport and a 13 GT500 that goes nuts when the supercharger is on. Thinking about going with the top of the line so your observations would be appreciated.

 

No problems with mine.

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Sounds like the 9500ix is the way to go....does it go off like crazy when you juice the supercharger....I have a cheaper passport and a 13 GT500 that goes nuts when the supercharger is on. Thinking about going with the top of the line so your observations would be appreciated.

 

No problems with mine.

 

 

Sorry for the double post can't seem to delete

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Canada

Regardless of whether they are used or not, police there may confiscate radar detectors, operational or not, and impose substantial fines in provinces where radar detectors are illegal.[9] Quebec penalizes $500 CAD for use of a radar detector, along with confiscation of the device.[10]

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Thanks!! Very informative.

 

Now I just need to figure out: 1. - do I even take a radar detector on the trip to Woodward and 2. - if I do - what to do with the detector when I enter Canada.

 

What makes it even more problematic is that we are planning to reenter the U.S. in Maine and drive back through the Northeast. Will be a very long trip unprotected if I don't take a detector.

 

Guess I could take a post-paid box with me and drop it in the mail before I enter Canada. Send it to someplace in Maine and then pick it back up when I reenter the country?

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  • 2 years later...

I know I'm late to this thread, but I absolutely have to say that Valentines customer service is hands down one of the best I have every interacted with for any type of consumer good. They've gone above and beyond each time, and I feel obligated to share this even if its on an outdated thread. I swore by an escort 8500 for years, but gave the V1 a chance and haven't looked back. its a matter of best vs bestest. you won't regret either purchase.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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