Escort Passport 9500ix Radar Detector

This is my very first radar detector and I really wanted to love this device. Prior to purchasing, I did weeks worth of researching and scouring the internet for reviews on all types of radar detectors. Through researching, 3 radar detectors kept coming back as the best (Valentine One, Escort 9500ix, and Escort Redline). There was also talk of the Beltronics STi-R+, however that's only available in Europe. Here is a breakdown of all 3. 1. Valentine One - This is the reigning champ since radar detectors became common amongst consumers. It's been around since late 90's and still looks exactly the same since it came out, though the internals and software have been changed. The range on this thing surpasses all other rivals, but because of this people complain it falses too much (too noisy). This is the only device that offers equal extensive range in front and back of you (due to 2 horns positioned oppositely), a bogey counter, and has directional arrows to tell you where the alert is coming from. It also (at extra charge) has an available remote device that gives you everything you need from the device so you can run your device in full dark mode and still get the important information somewhere else. V1 costs $400 straight from manufacture and is available only from the manufacturer. When new upgrade is available, you can trade in the device for new one for $180. 2. Escort 9500ix - Of the so-called top of the line detectors, this one is the only one with GPS functions. With this built in, it can know your location and your speed and can lockout false alerts so your daily commute can be quiet. Also with GPS functionality is a built in database of all the speed cameras and red light cameras, so you get warnings when you come close to one. The database Escort uses is Trinity. However of all 3 devices, this one has the lowest range but from the reviews, it doesn't seem that much. Costs $500 only from authorized dealers, Escort does not honor warranty on devices from unauthorized dealers. They will still do work on it, for extra cost. They have a trade in program, but they give you like $80 dollars for any radar detector. Also, with this purchase you get limited time of updates (I think 3 months) from database, after that you have to pay. 3. Escort Redline - This is Escort's high range device. This device uses 2 horns to sniff out weaker signals, therefore alerting you much soon. There really isn't any frills with this device, it was made to have the highest sensitivity possible without all the bells and whistles. Pretty much, it's their answer to the Valentine. From the reviews I have read, a majority of times it alerted before the Valentine on head to head testing. However, it doesn't have the range from behind as both horns are facing front instead of front/back like the V1. Price is the same as the 9500ix with the same trade in program. So why did I choose the 9500ix? First, a little background information. I'm in northern New Jersey, so there isn't too many highways/freeways like I've seen out west. Most of my driving is through town, with some highways to get to work. According to this information, I leaned towards the 9500ix. Who wants to deal with falses and a noisy device everyday to work? Also, since I go to the city a lot, the red light camera function would be of great use. So the 3 reasons I bought this device: 1. To detect radar - I hate speed traps with a passion. I'm not an aggressive driver and I rarely go more than 10 mph over posted highway speeds. I like to keep with the flow of traffic. I'm not the maniac that you see weaving in and out of lanes to get to their destination 3 minutes earlier. But what I have gotten caught in are ridiculous areas in town where it's like a 25mph zone that's right after a 40. Or a place near my work that's a 25 zone coming right off a highway exit. I'm not driving recklessly or dangerously, it's just these cops are trying to recuperate the state budget cuts by camping in these spots and checking for speed/inspection/insurance/tints/seat belts. After you get the ticket, you can challenge in court but end up plea bargaining for 500+ dollars for no points and having to pay court fees. Tell me this isn't a scam! 2. GPS functionality - I like the idea of it having the build in GPS functionality. Pass by the same signal at the same place 3 times, it assumes its false and locks out. After driving the same path, no more noise except the real threats. Besides that, it knows your speed so when an alert does come up, it tells you exactly how fast you are going. It won't make a sound under a certain speed. It also contains a database with known red light and speed cameras, a bigger threat now. Who wants to pay cops overtime to give tickets when you can install a camera and mail tickets to speeders? You can also mark your own locations for known speed traps and such, so you'll get warning when you get close. 3. USB port - only device of the 3 mentioned that has this. Through this, you can upgrade firmware updates and camera database updates with your computer. So why 3 stars? Well I've had this device now for close to past 3 months. I've used it daily for my commute, around town, vacations, and trips to other states. Here are my opinions against the 3 reasons why I bought it. 1) To detect radar - I knew coming in that this had the least range of all 3, but it was still suppose to be good. However, I didn't feel that was true. Granted, this is my first radar detector so I really didn't have anything to compare to. From the reviews and videos I've seen, my range was no where close to that. I was consistently getting alerts from about 1/4 to 1/3 mile out. If I was speeding on highway speeds, I don't see how that could help me. A lot of times, I had visual on cops at about same time the detector went off. If this is suppose to be like that, then what's the point of having one? Now this could be environment effected too, since most videos I've seen are vast open highways on pure, flat land. My first hit came when I was going southbound and a cop who left his radar on was going northbound. When the detector went off, he couldn't have been more than 400 ft away. I called this a wash since we were both going at highway speeds going towards each other. Another time a cop was stationary and had already pulled someone over, I saw him on the side already and I assumed that he turned his radar off. As I got closer, then the detector went off. Also, the toll booths that I pass everyday sets my detector off. I try to estimate how far I am before going off, looks less than quarter mile. I just don't believe the range/sensitivity is good enough, even my wife said "If it alerts you so late, how can it help you?" Then I did more research and it seems some people out there agree/confirm to what I'm seeing, so it doesn't seem my unit is faulty. I mean it's only maybe a month old when I got it (I checked the manufactured date, 20th week of 2010). It seems this device suffers from "tunnel vision" on the M4 antenna platform. Basically, great range straight out but horrible off-axis. They say the best antenna was the S7 in the old 8500's. 2) GPS functionality - Once you've had this, you really can't go back. In my opinion, this is what makes this device. All the features/capabilities related to this device is really a game changer. I really love that the device is completely quiet (but alarms on the screen) when under certain speed and tells you your exact speed when an alert hits. This way, you don't take a look at device to see the alarm and then look at your speedometer to see if you over or not. And with red light/speed cameras, it's the total package. Now the bad news. Yes, you can lock out false alarms, but it can also lock out real things. Say for instance, a cop is hiding in the same place everyday for a week using the same gun on same frequency. This would get locked out, though the situation is highly unlikely. The device is "suppose" to unlock if you go to same locations and the threat is no longer there, but mine kept the lock and never released until I did it manually. But this wasn't a cop, it was a "your speed is" sign and then I noticed it was off one week. When it was powered back on, I should get an alarm but I saw the spinning satellite icon (meaning it was still locked signal). Yes, the database is great and is updated weekly, but you get 3 month subscription before you have to pay. Yea, the database is updated weekly but how many of the national updates are important to you? Maybe 1 out of your free 3 months. Also, I found the warnings to the cameras were inadequate as well. Most of times, I was pretty close to the light before it went off. Some examples you can find on youtube if you search trapster vs 9500ix. 3) USB port - I thought this would be great to have, especially for firmware updates to make this future proof. But once again, you have to pay for the subscription. I'm not sure about firmware updates, that may be free but from what I've read, firmware updates don't come very often. Plus, will firmware help if the hardware is faulty? From what I've read in the forums, to send item back to fix/flash costs $60 dollars out of warranty (I believe) each time. And you pay the shipping too So in conclusion, yes, I really wanted to love this device but couldn't. In it's essence, it's a radar detector with really cool features but has many flaws. It's a radar detector first and foremost, but the range and the hardware itself limits how great this device can be. It's still good, but not $500 good. The other features are great too, but they themselves have flaws too. After living with the GPS functionality, I can't live without it. I will be getting rid of the 9500ix and will be trying out the Redline for its extensive range. I've had it for a day now and am very impressed with the range. I get slightly more range when coming up to the usual toll booths (so this proves 9500ix was not faulty, otherwise it'd be a monster difference), but it also sniffed out 2 signals that the 9500ix never did. These may be falses, but I'll live with it if it's got the range. If the Redline is all that it's cracked up to be, I will be pairing it with a cheetah C50 to do most of the 9500ix's GPS functions. The only thing it can't do is lock out false alarms. The C50 uses the same Trinity database and gives 1 full year of updates. Lifetime updates are 50 bucks, but also increases your warranty to 3 years. For people not looking to spend the money on C50, you can get Trapster for your smartphone or Garmin or Tom Tom for free. The database is user-based though.