dchengmd

Expert mode will display how many discrete signals of each band the detector is picking up. You can have it display in bar-graph style (i.e., 2 Ka-band sources and 1 K-band source being detected at the same time will show K | Ka ||), or by the exact frequency of the strongest radar signal. I'm not sure how much more helpful knowing the frequency of the radar signal is, but it is neat to watch it at times.

Expert mode is especially helpful in places where you are already familiar. If you know that you get a strong K signal near your local Shell station, you may be fooled by the cop down the block also blasting cars with his K-band radar gun. Expert mode will let you see the 2 radar sources where you normally would only see one.

Vlad

Expert mode will also tell you the strength of each one signal.

35ounces

iTrader: (5)

Wow! Vlad you are now an official 8500 biggot!

Yes I have an 8500 AND I also have a V1 and I've been driving with detectors since the 80's. Pretty experienced with them. Have owned escorts, BEL's, V1, remote types etc.

Guess what ? I prefer the V1 over the 8500 so I have it hard wired in the Z and my 8500 hardwired in my SUV.

Now I gotta ask you, have you ever owned a V1 ? Have you driven with it for more than a week or two ? It is definitely one of the best detectors I have owned (the best was a BELtronics many years ago but its now outdated) and the arrows DO make it more driveable (and thats what its all about).

By the way for the 8500 users, how many of you use the expert mode ? Do you like it ? Can you glance at it and decode it when driving at excessive speeds ? I have used expert mode but I am not crazy about it. The display is too small and difficult to see at high speeds especially in the daytime.

Vlad

Originally posted by 35ounces
Wow! Vlad you are now an official 8500 biggot!

Yes I have an 8500 AND I also have a V1 and I've been driving with detectors since the 80's. Pretty experienced with them. Have owned escorts, BEL's, V1, remote types etc.


Why do you saying false things about 8500 then? Hate to see people lying with face of an expert.


Now I gotta ask you, have you ever owned a V1 ? Have you driven with it for more than a week or two ? It is definitely one of the best detectors I have owned (the best was a BELtronics many years ago but its now outdated) and the arrows DO make it more driveable (and thats what its all about).


One of my friends have it and I've seen it working. Was not impressed by arrows at all, choose to go with 8500 based on better reviews. And, notice, I'm not trying to teach other people what V1 can and can't do.


By the way for the 8500 users, how many of you use the expert mode ? Do you like it ? Can you glance at it and decode it when driving at excessive speeds ? I have used expert mode but I am not crazy about it. The display is too small and difficult to see at high speeds especially in the daytime.

Me and all my friends with 8500 use it and love it. It's very easy to see and interpret with one short glance. Not like number of leds of all sizes and shapes all over the face of detector. In 8500 information presented in compact easy to understand form. Never had a problem with visibility. Intencity is adjustable btw...

350zluvr

hardwired V1 in my Z and love it! had the same type of radar detector for well over 5 years.

35ounces

iTrader: (5)

Originally posted by Vlad
Originally posted by 35ounces
Wow! Vlad you are now an official 8500 biggot!

Yes I have an 8500 AND I also have a V1 and I've been driving with detectors since the 80's. Pretty experienced with them. Have owned escorts, BEL's, V1, remote types etc.


Why do you saying false things about 8500 then? Hate to see people lying with face of an expert

??? Who said anything bad about the 8500 ??? I never lied about it, I use it in my other car. It is good but not as driveable as the V1.


Now I gotta ask you, have you ever owned a V1 ? Have you driven with it for more than a week or two ? It is definitely one of the best detectors I have owned (the best was a BELtronics many years ago but its now outdated) and the arrows DO make it more driveable (and thats what its all about).


One of my friends have it and I've seen it working. Was not impressed by arrows at all, choose to go with 8500 based on better reviews. And, notice, I'm not trying to teach other people what V1 can and can't do.

Just what I thought! You slam the V1 but have not used it. And you accuse me of saying bad things without experience!!!! Holy cow!

What makes a good radar detector is the ability not only to detect VERY well but also its driveability which is knowing what it is telling you with at most a quick glance at the display. If you have to really look at it then forget it. The V1 has distinct tones that tell you without looking what band it is etc. The LARGE arrows and simple strength meter also help.
Until you have driven with it as your companion in your car for at least a few weeks do not even pretend to know if the arrows are useful or if its a better detector or not.




By the way for the 8500 users, how many of you use the expert mode ? Do you like it ? Can you glance at it and decode it when driving at excessive speeds ? I have used expert mode but I am not crazy about it. The display is too small and difficult to see at high speeds especially in the daytime.

Me and all my friends with 8500 use it and love it. It's very easy to see and interpret with one short glance. Not like number of leds of all sizes and shapes all over the face of detector. In 8500 information presented in compact easy to understand form. Never had a problem with visibility. Intencity is adjustable btw...



Like I said I have one so I know about the intensity settings etc. I like that about the 8500 too. But the expert mode does not do it for me. The V1 is much better in that regard.


Anyhow, end of discussion buddy.

mcclaskz

Vlad, please get a life. Replying to me saying that I am, "self proud" because I feel that the directional capabilities are a proprietary benefit over other detectors is a little silly. If you are somehow implying that I'm being elitest in that I happily paid more for a V1 over another, you are incorrect. Twit...

Phatmitzu

iTrader: (34)

Can the Escort Passport 8500/x50 adjust the alarm volume? or just mute and unmute? Loud?


And where did you guys got yours from??

35ounces

iTrader: (5)

Yes you can adjust the volume as well as MUTE.

I got mine online direct from escort.

VandyZ

iTrader: (2)

I have used them both an I prefer the 8500. Everyone has a choice. They flip flop every year which one is best . . .depending on advertising money for sure.

Like Vlad I found the alerts more difficult to interpret on the V1, except for the directionals (those are very easy to get on first glance). I also do not like the dimming feature of the V1. You may be able to turn that off but for the time I used it (several hundred miles) I did not look into it. One last thing was I could not get the volume loud enough on the V1.

Make no doubt about it I wanted the best radar detector. I thought the 8500 was the best for me.

Some things I dont like about it compared to the V1 is it does not have soft rubber window bumpers, wich sometimes causes a rattle against the glass. I have since mounted on the custom mount that attaches to the rear view mirror pillar. Also the mute button is kind of awkward.

We are all out to accomplish the same thing . . . to keep from getting pulled over when our car tells us its time to pick up the pace!

35ounces

iTrader: (5)

I agree about the auto dimming - the 8500 has better display brightness control. It has better options setting in general and the BAND display is better (though I dislike the expert mode).

I find the V1 louder though. It seems plenty loud too even on the highway with the windows open. My 8500 seems quieter and I have been known to miss it unless I have it set really loud. You can actually pump the V1 alert out another source if your so inclined. The possibilities with that seem endless.

Also, if you use the smart cord with the 8500, the mute button on the cord works much better - not as clumsy.

If you have used the V1 for any amount of time you must admit the arrows are VERY useful. I dont know how you can go back to a detector without them. As far as the other (BAND) LEDs on the V1 though, you dont need them. The sound tells you everything you need to know and you can monitor the strength meter well enough so theres no real issue there. If they had a small display with K, Ka, X, L it would be pretty close to the perfect detector in my book.

Vlad

Originally posted by 35ounces


??? Who said anything bad about the 8500 ??? I never lied about it, I use it in my other car. It is good but not as driveable as the V1.

I didn't say it was you. I said I hate when people doing it. Actually it was mcclaskz who said

Its unique ability to track multiple signals with direction gives you the most information of any radar detector.

This statement consists of many false claims. "Unique ability" and "most information" to start with...

Just what I thought! You slam the V1 but have not used it. And you accuse me of saying bad things without experience!!!! Holy cow!

Well, I DID use it. I've ridden in a car with V1 on. I evaluated it for me. Do I have to sit in drivers seat to qualify?


What makes a good radar detector is the ability not only to detect VERY well but also its driveability which is knowing what it is telling you with at most a quick glance at the display. If you have to really look at it then forget it. The V1 has distinct tones that tell you without looking what band it is etc. The LARGE arrows and simple strength meter also help.
Until you have driven with it as your companion in your car for at least a few weeks do not even pretend to know if the arrows are useful or if its a better detector or not.


Again, I don't have any problems with reading all the info in expert mode with one quick glance. And I know I'm not alone.

Vlad

Sorry, I have to repeat it... but what usefull about ARROWS? If you see signal coming from behind or from left, than you keep speeding as nothing happened?

I'm an easy scared guy. So if I hear K or Ka I slow down first and analyze second. If I don't know the source of signal I keep the limit until safely away. If I had V1 I'd do the same. So I find arrows quite useless. They have some entertament value, but not practical.

35ounces

iTrader: (5)

Thats just it Vlad there are plenty of circumstances where the arrows are very useful but you'll never understand that. You saying they are useless does not make it so.

MY350Z.COM

iTrader: (2)

I'm a longtime V1 owner. I love it. Highly recommend it.

I just bought a new Escort 8500 X50 (blue display) on eBay. Let's see how they do side-by-side.

Victor

dchengmd

I agree with this. Although I'm a very satisfied 8500 owner, I can understand the utility of the directional arrows.

What it boils down to is this: performance-wise, based on recent magazine and independent reviews, both the V1 and 8500 (not the new X50) are virtually neck-and-neck, with a very slight nod going to the 8500 for detection distance and resistance to falsing (based on the 2/04 Motor Trend shootout). Also, speedzones.com reports that the V1 fails to detect Ka-POP mode (a new form of instant-on) while the 8500 does. This can probably be fixed with a software update, however.

So what potential buyers need to decide is whether the directional arrows are worth the extra $100+ to you. That's it.

Whichever unit you buy will perform well. If you want to spend an extra C-note to have the directional arrows, that's your call. Nobody else can say you made a bad decision. They're both excellent, top-rated detectors.

I wonder how well the new 8500 X50 will do in the next major shootout. If there's a significant difference, I'll trade in my 8500 for it.

Vlad

Me too. Isn't it easier to sell on ebay though?

Ed 718

iTrader: (32)

Well boys and girls I ended up purchasing the Passport 8500 x50. I just need to find a way to extend the cord or tap it in to my battery since my 03 has only 1 plug in.

350zluvr

I had my V1 hard mounted using Mike Peronek's mount (see thread ) and I think it looks and works great - especially for the money. I had the wire run up along with the wires for my rear view mirror to connect to inside map/reading lights. Paid someone else to do it for $20.00 and everything looks very clean. Mike does sell mounts for other radar detectors such as the 8500 and X50. Hope this helps you out.

P.S. The only negativity with connecting anything to the map/reading lights is that whatever you connect will always be "hot" (always stsy on) unless you turn it off manually. I've gotten quite used to turning my radar detector off and on when I climb into the Z or out.

Vlad

I hard wired mine to the cig later near the fuse box. I know other people connected it to the mirror wires (autodim). In both cases its automatically off when car is off. You see, buy letting somebody esle (who doesn't have a clue) do it, you have to switch it off manually all the time...

About that mount to the mirror. Does it really have to be 2 or 3 inches wide???