Z-Desperado

Escort 8500 X50 came in last week and I curious to see how it performs compared to the old one. I will probably have to wait until next weekend where the Ohio State Patrol is out in full force before I can tell. I talked to a factory representative and she claims the whole works are redone for better reception up to 50% on the K and Ka. They will upgrade the old 8500 this fall if you send it to them along with a check for an unknown amount until the price is determined. It will only fix some problems like false signals better than the old one and cover more frequencies not a complete new upgrade.
I have a Valentine One and so far I still prefer it to the new X50 because of the arrows. I hope the X50 Escort picks up farther so you can pick up a patrol car spotting a car in front of you giving you more time to react.

Z-Desperado

http://www.escortradar.com/x50.htm
After I got my last Motor Trend magazine I saw an add for the Escort 8500 X50 and was skeptical about it at first until I talked to them. I have had several radar detectors starting with the first Escort in a large aluminum case that picked up only the K and X band. Then I bought the next Escort that was improved in an aluminum case which was better. I then have the Escort 7500, 8500, 8500 X50, Valentine One and some others not worth mentioning. It is getting more difficult to escape the new technology that the Florida and Ohio Patrol use. Florida is going more to lazer guns and motorcycle patrolmen. They will set up traps with one guy shooting you from the back with the laser and the motorcycle Patrol picking people up.

Big Sexz

iTrader: (6)

I am looking at getting the X50 too. I already have the ZR3 Shifter so all I would need to do is run the link cable and it would serve as power and all. Pretty cool. But I cant find any definitive answers on how much better it is. When you get your first live comparison please, please, please share with us.

Thanks,
Jeff
BSZ

Vlad

Can somebody please produce automatic system which will automatically shoot back, but with real laser this time? I think society will do just fine without those "patrols".

Z-Desperado

So far it has rained about every day and I haven’t seen a patrol car with it’s radar on. The only thing which is positive the false alarms are down.

Big Sexz

iTrader: (6)

Thanks for the reply. Once it saves your butt, let us know. Are you running both of them side by side for a comparison? If not, would you?

Thanks.

desiZ

iTrader: (2)

had my X50 on this morning and as I took a turn onto a side-street, my Ka band went wheeeee up to six lights... the street is slightly curved so it took a couple of seconds till I could see a speed trap (the ones which show you "you are going -- mph, speed limit is --mph") about 20 cars ahead ... thats the best i could judge distance-wise ... plus the fact that it picked it up on a curved street was kinda cool.. though this is my first radar detector so I have nothing to compare it too ...

i love the City NoX-band option ...

Vlad

Automatic speed traps using Ka in your area? I never saw anything but X and K...

Z-Desperado

I still have not been clocked by a patrol car but I would say that from your experience that it is improved over the 8500

desiZ

iTrader: (2)

yup.... torrance (CA) cops have all the latest toys.... cause that's all they do all day anyways ... besides stuffing their faces full with donuts

photoz

I can vouch for the new X50 as already saving me twice from tickets. Got the new radar unit before long trip from NC to PA. It saved me on the way back in DE and MD. Lets just say that the Laser detection works very well... woke my fiance up from sleeping and scared the s*%^ out of both of us, :-). The unit also saved me on my way into work... was getting on to the highway from the onramp and I punched it... just behind me as I was getting on, a statie was playing pace car and was just looking for some speedo guy like me to bust out on to the highway, luckily the radar went off and I slowed it down just in time.

well worth the $300 from escort.

kendoll

I recently brought the escort S2 ( I think) From what the sales man said this is supposed to be like the X50 but cordless. Is this true. I research the X50 but not the cordless and I needed one badly (drove to California). But now my whole deal with them (radar, dvd, satelite radio) has gone bad. So I am thinking of returning everything and purchasing a full set up from Audio Express. So any info would be welcomed.
Thanks ahead of time
Kendria

desiZ

iTrader: (2)

my research led me to believe that No cordless compares to a hardwired radar detector, and here's the reason straight from the horse's mouth (a.k.a. radartest.com) = "While it's possible to design a battery-powered detector with every bit of the performance and features of a corded model, it would suck down a set of Double-A alkalines in roughly the time it takes you to back from your garage into the street. This forces designers to walk a tightrope, balancing battery longevity with sensitivity.

To do this, every cordless has a duty cycle; it's shut down a certain percentage of the time to conserve the batteries"

Now imagine a cop passes by when your cordless is " conserving batteries".....

kendoll

ok, well that answered that question thanks.
Is there a better way to conceal the wireing, so that it is not traveling down my windshield?

desiZ

iTrader: (2)

Yes there is, Mike Peronek makes one for the passport 8500... i heard there is a slight change for the x50, check with him before you buy, here's the thread : -
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=46814

personally, i like the wire so that I can keep the radar out of sunlight when I park ... else it will get roasted in the sun ....

Z-Desperado

http://www.escortradar.com/x50.htm
According to Escort the X50 is completely redesigned and that is why it is supposed to pick up K & Ka 50% better. The Solo would not be close to this performance.