I was wondering if anyone here has used the PNI SENSORO Silver Bullet RADAR DETECTOR RX7500. I read it was a good detector on many sites. It retails under 150 dollars but can RD's under 150 be that good. What do you use and if you have this one what are your thoughts.

 

Suck it up and pay the 399 for a V1. You will not regret it.

 

Take a look at the February 2004 (I think that was the date) issue of Motor Trend magazine. They did a shootout of sub-$200 versus over-$200 radar detectors and the consensus was that although you can get decent performance from the cheaper models, you eventually do get what you pay for in terms of range, sensitivity, and features.

I'd recommend getting any of these:

Escort Passport 8500
Escort Passport 8500 X50
Valentine One
BEL 985

All of the above were top ranked by Motor Trend (with the 8500 #1) and were extremely close in performance. My personal recommendation is the Passport 8500, as it slightly outperformed the V1 and was $100 cheaper (it may be even cheaper now that the X50 is out). If you can live without the directional arrows, go for it.

 

8500 !!!!

I can't stress how much I love mine!!

It has paid for itself countless times!

One thing you have to be careful of is it will detect from so far away, that if you are driving the opposite way as a cop running instant, you might get a little for a second, and then it will go away, then about 10 seconds later, even 1/4-1/2 mile down the road, and then you see him running it again on instant...

I have picked cops up from over a mile and a half away, over two hills!! I'm not kidding!

One good thing about the 8500 and V1, and maybe others, is the ability to treack multiple signals, this is VERY useful as that feature has saved me twice. A lot of times, you will get one strong, and one weak, from a guy running front and rear... but... there was one instance where I was passing infront of a walgreens, which always sets it off a little, and I was getting radar, but then all of a sudden, I started getting a second signal.... then, I kept driving, the first signal went away, but continued to get the second signal... sure enough, a cop about 1mi down the road parked in the median. The 8500 has many "display" modes, one such mode is the "expert" which is what allows you to see the different signals you are getting, such as two Ka signals, and one K signal all at the same time for example... Also, when "idle" the 8500 has a neat feature where it shows you your electrical system voltage to the tenth of a decimal, but I think it might be off slightly, I measure it at the radar detector with a very high-end tektronix meter and it was about .2 V off.

Another feature is you can see the frequency of the radar signal that you are getting. anyhow... get the 8500, you will not be unhappy!! now they even have the x50 or something, which might even be better, but even if it isnt, for $30 extra or something you can get one with a blue display instead of a red display!

 

V1 only. You will not believe how much the directional arrows will save you. Once you have one, all others pale in comparison. Its unique ability to track multiple signals with direction gives you the most information of any radar detector. The sensitivity is great. You can also sometimes find them used for a little less. Well worth it.

 

Im pretty happy with my 8500. I hardwired it too and it looks nice

 

Passport 8500 in Expert Mode!!!
Best doesn't have to be most expensive (you can get it for $250 or so)

 

That obviously shows that you never used and don't know and don't want to know anything about top detectors. Usual for self-proud V1 owners.

 

I went with a good cheap detector.

paul (cant afford a V1)

 

v1 user here and love it

 

Escort Passport 8500 was my choice. 400 bucks was just too much. I got mine delivered to my door for 260.00 and haven't recieved one ticket yet.

I drive our SUV and feel naked without it when my car is in the shop or whatever, you really start to rely on it.

It's like having a cell phone for a year and then not having one. You never really miss it till you have one then don't have it.

You can never truly understand how great a good detector is until you roll South on I5 to LA for about 400 miles and get saved about 5 or 6 times in one day!

 

Same here! Expert mode is the bomb. It tracks bogeys like the V1 just with no directionals. In my mind I don’t care what direction it is coming from . . .if I get a K or Ka signal I make sure I am "in line". I also have X band turned off. There is really no one using this anymore besides the automatic doors. Chances are if a officer is still using x band I will be able to out run his 80's model cruiser .

I have only been hit by laser once, yes it resulted in a ticket. Laser warning means most likely you should just go ahead and pull over. If it happens again with or without a ticket, I will get the ZR3 Shifter (laser jammer) that hooks up with the 8500.

 

I have X off too and get lots of false K's near Shell gas stations. Anyone else get this?

Sounds like I should try expert mode since I have had mine for awhile. What exactly am I missing in expert mode?

I have never saw a laser alert yet here in California.

 

8500 user here... for $220 (brand spankin new)... i cant complain

I've been saved so many times... and my insurance is better than ever...

 

the lowest price on a passport 8500 x50 was $250. I thought that was a reasonable price. Where did you get yours . Did you get the x50 or the older pass 8500. Do you have a link to the site or where did you get that price.

 

My K goes off at all the new BP stations . . .I think it is the doors because it goes nuts when I pull up to them!

 

I have learned where they are at and just hit my automute button on the cord behind me.

 

yep my v1 does too..

and i got lasered once on i65
i pulled right over, i didnt even see the cop...
he didnt even have to put his lights on lol
he came to the door laughing and i told him

"yep, u lasered me "
lol

got off with a warning

 

My laser got off today in the middle of nowhere, scare **** out of me... Out of city, rural one-line-each-direction road I use everyday... farmer fields aroudn... 4 or 5 cars I could see... and no cop at all. It happens to me once in half year... anybody else?

 

yeah mine happens at random times too.

its weird...
o well