markjrenna's Full Review: Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar Detector
I have had five radar detectors during my 25 years of driving.
I am not an expert, but I can offer an opinion on the X50.
During my 25 years, radar detectors have improved. Each detector I owned seemed to be better than the prior, until the Escort Passport 8500 and now the Escort Passport 8500 X50. These detectors are not like any of the others I have owned.
Here are the reasons why:
Range: Most of my driving is suburban and not much on the highway. In my opinion suburban driving is the most difficult for a detector to perform and here is where the X50 out performs. Driving on one or two lane curvy hilled roads provides a very short line of sight. Numerous times the X50 has gone off before I see the radar source.
ExpertMeter: This is one feature that all detectors should employ. ExpertMeter is a means of displaying X, K, and Ka bands simultaneously with each signal's strength. Why is this good? Well, I have come across a situation in a local town where they deploy one of these mobile radar units. You may have seen one, where the mobile unit is on the side of the road indicating your speed. What this town did was use the wide X band for the mobile unit and then uses the much narrow Ka band in a police car just up the road. In a radar detector without the ExpertMeter you will probably think you are being hit with the mobile unit as you pass, and of course speed up. With ExpertMeter I was able to identify the strong X signal and the weak Ka signal. I continued to notice the Ka signal increase. I cautiously maintained my speed and just over the hill was the Ka source! A very sneaky trick, but not for the X50’s ExpertMeter!
SmartCord: This comes in handy! SmartCord is the power cord but with two exceptional features. It has a MUTE button and an LED for indicating radar detection. In my car, my X50 sits way forward on the windshield. Located there it is not easy to reach every time I want to mute it. Hence, SmartCord, all I do is move my hand to mute button by the gear shifter and push the mute button! I love this feature!
The X50 with its Outstanding Range, ExpertMeter, SmartCord, and Blue Display are features I had to have!
I don’t believe there is a radar detector sold in this or a less price range that can beat the Escort Passport 8500 X50.
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