You shouldn't run both the Escort and the V1 at the same time. They will interfere with each other.

I do like the concept of running them both. However, I would turn them on and off as needed depending on where you were at. It's a shame there isn't one unit that does it all.

I still can't give up the arrows though. I got saved last week. The highway patrol was doing a major speed trap with a whole bunch of cruisers and bikes. My bogey counter was going through the roof. I would get through one trap and there would be another right after that. Without the arrows and counter there would be no way to tell if there were more traps or if it was the trap you just went through...

As far as your Blinder saves go, I'll say it again.... You don't know if you've been saved unless you pull over and ask! Just because you were speeding and didn't get whacked doesn't prove a thing. Unless you've gone out and tested it, you don't know if it's actually working. And that's not a slam on the hardware as I've seen enough bad installs with good hardware that have ruined the performance. I've done a ton of speed enforcement. I didn't pull over everyone I got a lock on. Sometimes it was just fun to sit out there and watch people slam their brakes on In other words, go out and test your unit and report back!

I would tend to agree on the rear units. It's probably a 1 in 10 chance of getting shot in the back.

Speaking of that though, we went out and tested the rear LI heads on my DD. We got jam to guns with all five different laser units we had available. We also got the same result as always with the fronts... JTG over, and over, and over again.

The blinder is a good "budget" unit. It's certainly the best in it's price point, but not the best available. They were getting punch throughs on the most recent testing with the latest greatest blinder unit that is coming out. And this unit is supposed to be far superior to anything they've had out before... It's definitely the best "bang for your buck" product but I wouldn't bet my license on it Remember, it's a LED based jammer and they have their limitations.

 

This is a good thread, and actually a great site, for those of you that want to learn more about radar and laser countermeasures.

This particular thread covers almost everything we've discussed here. I'm definitely a countermeasure enthusiast, but some of these folks are really serious....

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...rt-9500ci.html

 

That's consistent with what other users have observed. Keep in mind I'm talking about the 9500ci, not the 9500i or ix. The ci has the M3 antenna and dual LNAs. The 9500i/ix has the M4 antenna with a single aperture and LNA. The ci has a significant sensitivity advantage over the i/ix and V1 (based on the testing of users like you, and the guys of lidar too).

From their website:



That's not true (the last sentence). If you understand your detector and it's ramp up, even the Uniden RD-9 that I had back in 1988 would make it very clear that there were more traps ahead. When the signal is getting stronger instead of getting weaker, I think it's pretty safe to assume that you're approaching the source, not driving away from it. You don't need a bogey counter or an arrow to figure that out. If you do, then maybe the V1 is the better choice for you.


Same for the "what if he's coming up behind me" scenario. Well, if he is coming up behind you there are several factors that we can assume:

1. He must be using a Stalker DSR-2X because it's the only detector that will deliver a usable reading in a moving police car. This gun operates at 34.7GHz (Ka band).
2. You're already speeding, or none of this would matter
3. He must be moving faster than you, closing the gap, or your detector wouldn't have alerted at all. So you're both speeding.

Ok, so when your detector delivers a warning on Ka band, what do you do? Would your reaction be different based on the location of the radar source? Do you slow if it's ahead of you, punch it if it's behind you? No. I don't think so. Any regular detector user knows that when they hear a Ka alert, it's not a false signal (because Ka never is). They know that a cop is close so they'd better slow down to a legal speed NOW.

So I don't get it. What's the difference if it's in front of you or behind you? Are you seriously going to tell me that if it's behind you you're going to give chase and punch it? Really? Is this in your best interest? Wouldn't it be smarter to shave off a little speed and bring yourself within the posted limit? Isn't that what a radar detector is for?

Guys, I definitely see value in the arrows. More information is better than less. But as a long time radar detector user I just can't buy all of these "Oh my god, I would have been in trouble if I didn't have the arrows and my bogey counter" stories.

In all fairness to the V1, I've never owned one. Which both reinforces and challenges my claims at the same time. It reinforces them because somehow I've done just fine over the last 20 years of driving without arrows. It challenges them because having never experienced the arrows, my view could be subjective.

It drives me crazy when someone criticizes something they've never experienced for themselves. I have an opinion about the V1 based on theory and testimonials of friends and strangers. I think it's pretty clear that I need to buy or borrow one just so I can gain some first hand experience. I do see the V1 as a high quality product. Just hold one in your hands and it's undeniable. It's performance is legendary and indisputable. I just don't know if I could deal with the constant squawking that has to come with that sensitivity.

 

I've found that forum (this is the one I was referring to earlier) to be an amazing wealth of information on this topic. The thread you pointed out echo's exactly what I've been saying about the 9500ci in regard to laser jamming. It provides protection, but it's not the best.

The member who wrote this is a fair guy who tells it like it is. He owns a 9500ci, a V1 and Laser Interceptors.

BTW - The owners in the table that's in my previous post are members from that forum. The names listed are their forum names.

 

The problem with this particular speed trap is that they were all bundled together, probably spread out over a mile.

My signal strength never went down. It was pinned all the way through the entire area (highway before a bridge) and never dipped till I got past all of them. They appeared to be running their own individual guns instead of one person shooting and the others giving chase. They were on both side of the road too. Remember, it's not just the arrows, it's the counter too. The V1 will tell you what direction, how many sources of radar there, and which is the strongest.

There are plenty of other guns out there (K bands) that will deliver moving radar readings. I only turn x off on my V1. K and Ka are still active.

The reason rear is important, at least on the highway, as that we all know the better detectors can pick up a signal from miles away (line of site, no serious obstructions). I've driven minutes before finally coming up on the radar source. Seeing the signal ramp up could mean one of two things... Either you're closing on him and he's out front, or he's behind and he's closing on you. That's not to say after 5 minutes and the strength doesn't change you wouldn't figure it out, I just like to know right away.

And for two reasons... One. A lot of these traffic guys will leave their radars on. While they're pace clocking. As a matter of fact I got knocked off in this very same scenario two weeks ago (slick top, unmarked SUV). He didn't have his radar on . No ticket though It only takes several seconds for them to get a pace clock going. Knowing it's from the rear can give you an idea of what's about to happen. The other scenario is doing something stupid (like a roll on test) right in front of the cop (not knowing he's there). You're not necessarily speeding but you're doing something for sure that would get you pulled over (we always slow way down below the speed limit when we do nonsense like that to keep the speed down).

Yeah yeah, I know you should just stand on the brakes every time Ka goes off. I just like to know right away where I should be looking. I would find it frustrating to be scanning front and rear trying to figure out where they're at.

Not to mention I've found a bunch of radar traps with the side arrows that probably would have been damn near impossible to pick up otherwise.

Someday there will be a unit that has arrows, a counter, and GPS. When that happens, I'm buying it!! Although I've contemplated running the Escort in the city and the V1 on the highway. The only thing that stops me from doing that is now I'm reading reports of people "locking out" real radar sources. It would be tough to do, but not impossible. I really like the Escort. It's a good unit. I just can't quit my arrows

You can keep the Escort, K40, and Blinder jamming heads though.... I've tested them in person and got PT's with the easiest gun to jam on the planet.

From the most recent GOL test:

 

I know. I've been on there for about a year now

 

So pretty easy to say, if the detector is pinned, it's not a good time to break the speed limit. Agreed?

On a side note, the Escort units dating back to the SRX and 8500 have had a feature called Expert meter that will display a different signal strength meter for up to 8 different 'bogeys'. It's sort of a bogey counter. Its my favorite meter option.

The arrows would be nice. But given the choice between them and all of the enhancements that GPS brings to the table, I have to go with GPS. It will be nice when we can have it all.

 

Blinder used to be the best - about 3 years ago. Looks like Laser Interceptor is the way to go now.

 

Agreed

 

They were the best until the laser diode technology came into play. And they're still okay, definitely the best LED jammer out there. They sell a ton of them because the performance is "good enough" but the pricing is very reasonable.

 

See that... We can agree....

Actually, in all seriousness, I think we agree more than we disagree.

I wish Escort would drop some laser diodes in their shifters. That would make the 9500ci an amazing contender. I spoke to an Escort rep about this and all they would tell me is that they were working on something very exciting and that he couldn't share any more details. I am hoping that means they're working on a laser diode equipped ZR-5.

 

The problem with the Expert meter is that 50% of its display is devoted to X band which is almost never used unless you live out in the boonies. That means that it can only display 2 K band and 2 Ka band alerts regardless of how many sources of K and Ka band are actually there. On the other hand, the Valentine One can display 9 sources of radar regardless of the band.

 

The Passport saved my tail last night. Read more about it here: https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/tuning-modifications/166711-passport-9500ci-product-review-2.html#post2338434

 

My sympathy fpr your family's loss - I lost my younger brother a few years ago so i understand. Great story - I run the 9500xi and the Laser interceptor bought from the 6spd group buy. Very effective and I love the lack of false alarms compared to the V1. I also run a Uniden Bearcat scanner on interstate trips only (too many alerts around town)- usually get a hit on the scanner 1st out here in the wide open west.

 

Thank you.

Nice setup. What do you listen for on the scanner? Are you listening for police chatter? In my area a lot of authorities have gone digital so you can't listen anymore.