Escort Inc. Passport 8500 Radar Detector

• Multiple high-performance laser sensors
• Reprogrammable digital signal processing for upgrading for use against new detection systems
• Intelligent AutoSensitivity mode automatically reduces false alarms
• Sales restricted to the United States and shipment is prohibited to addresses in Virginia and Washington DC
• FCC Identification Number QKL8500

Radar detector manufacturers have always promised the ultimate in traffic ticket protections, but for years they delivered something less than adequate when comparing the final product to the advertised claims.

Some of this is still evident, even with this fine model, such as the claim to have increased response time to "instant on" photo-radar by 200%. This is supposed to be a good thing and make you feel more protected, and in a sense you are, but the mere fact that instant on radar is so quick that if you are the targeted vehicle and you are speeding, you are done. It happens so fast that a 1000% increase would not help you in that scenario.

But, every millisecond counts!

This unit does not have voice alerts (Low importance for me) or a built in compass (a fading feature that I like).

Fast driving, tech savvy drivers like me have always used our radar detectors as a tool in our speed driving kit. I don't rely on it exclusively, but I do learn the road and where I will here a beep and where I don't. I try to drive so that the radar signal I am intercepting is being aimed at a car in front of me so that I can take time to react because if they are aiming at me, it is a slim chance that I can react fast enough to help.

Twenty years ago these devices were very expensive, promised the world and delivered a lot of useless noise. With this model of Passport, I believe these units have evolved into a useful tool for everyday driving and interstate speeding.

I've been testing this unit out on the highways on New England and had great results. The most important feature is the lack of false alarms. Before I bought this unit my old radar detector gave me so many false alarms I simply grew used to the sound of it chirping. Now, when I hear a noise, I know it is most likely something I need to react to.

The range is terrific and actually does a nice job of giving you a little warning before you reach the speed trap. Pay attention to this unit because it gives out a lot of information that you can use.

Features I like:

· Using the multi-source expert mode, it can monitor more than one signal at a time: A lot of traffic lights up here are so seldom used that they incorporate a X-band radar unit to know when a car is waiting at a red light. I have driven over a one lane bridge recently that had a sensor on both sides and a speed trapping state trooper hidden in the brush waiting to catch me. This unit alerted me to each signal, along with the relative strength as expressed in a strength meter. This was very nice, I felt like I was in total control, knowing how many sources were transmitting and allowing me to figure out what to do. Your readout will show all of the alerts at once, each with its own strength bar.

· You can set it up to tell you the numerical frequency of the transmission. This is very nice for you hard core tech heads out there. I'd like to see this feature exploited further and have it learn the unique signatures of different devices and report them (imagine a warning: state trooper, same one as yesterday!). It is also a way of seeing different sources, though different than the multi-source expert mode described above.

· You can set it up to monitor your system voltage and give you a constantly updating readout, unless an alert is triggered and then you wont see it again until all radar sources are gone. Wow, I can't tell you how impressed I am with this feature. To sum it up in one word, troubleshooting. It's just as good as hooking up a fluke to your electrical system and monitoring it while driving. In a couple of drives you can evaluate your battery, alternator and electrical system, all the while monitoring for radar traps. Who thinks of this stuff!

· You can have the display do some cool scanning type graphics. All tech type people like to impress their under funded, low knowledge friends and girlfriends with this graphic trick that makes your radar detector look more like the eye piece for a Xylon warrior from the old Battlestar Galactica (by your command....) It gives you a comfortable feeling that the airwaves are being scanned, and the device is functional. This is a good thing, since you will rarely hear from it.

. This unit is very customizable and can be programmed easy. You can read the official reviews to get the details, but I will tell you that it is very easy.

Also, forget what you thought about radar detectors of the past. This unit is actually heavy and reflects the amount of circuitry and detection equipment that was installed.

Never forget that radar detectors are a tool for you to use. They gather information about your surroundings. They are not fool proof and cannot be relied upon exclusively. I've spent several hundreds of dollars on detectors over the years, but this is the one I have been looking for.

By the way: Do not buy a radar jammer. They simply do not work. I've owned them, I've used them, I've thrown them out the window.

Another note: The price you see here on Amazon is a good one. You will be hard pressed to find it any cheaper and many places cannot even get them. I would not trust the refurb units you see on [other websites], but even those are going to be within [range]of this unit.

Buy Escort Inc. Passport 8500 Radar Detector Now

I have had several other brands of radar detectors ranging from $50 to $150. None can even compare. Of course none were the brand escort either. I do not know if this quality is standard among their product line but this radar detector is awesome. It has an auto feature that automatically senses where you are at while you are driving. It minimizes false alarms and its range is unbelievable. Around corners, long straight-aways, hills, you name it, it does it. The only thing it lacks is a voice alert which I like but is not needed.

Read Best Reviews of Escort Inc. Passport 8500 Radar Detector Here

I bought a Passport 8500 to replace a BEL 610i, mainly to eliminate falsing. I routinely drive an Interstate that is a microwave corridor and the BEL was nearly useless in this area. The 8500 was astounding at rejecting false signals. I have experienced one "instant-on" scan of my speed and the detector response was quite good. What impressed me was it's ability to detect laser lidar. The 8500 went off, and I thought it was my phone. I reached for it, then realized that the ring was continuous. I saw the 8500 display and the LASER warning, and only then did the officer-user of the lidar come into sight just over a gentle hill. The 8500 detected the lidar from, I assume, scattering. And this was driving south into a partly sunny sky.

Despite the price, I am very impressed with the 8500.

Want Escort Inc. Passport 8500 Radar Detector Discount?

Continuing its fine lineup of radar detectors, Escort has unveiles its latest, the 8500. Encased in anodized aluminum silver, this package is one piece of art. Dont let looks fool you though, this baby performs. It has all the standard features of your hi-end radar detector: X, K, Ka and Laser detection, VG2 undetectability, multiple modes: City, Highway and Auto which is their logic mode that lets the CPU decide between bogeys and false alarms. It also is programmable that lets you customize your preferences like turn off x or k band detection. It comes with its SmartCord too that allows you to kill the display on the radar and have an indicator light in its mini-panel on your cigarette lighter. It also has auto-mute that automatically lowers the audible signal after a few seconds. Its best features are the SWS messaging and rear detection. SWS lets you know of road conditions ahead like constructions and crossing firetrucks. The rear detection feature has a tiny sensor mounted on top of the radar that detects rear threats.

It's a real great product, it does what it is supposed to do and that is to detect radar. It does it too well though, picking up false alarms like automatic doors and burglar alarms even in auto mode. My office faces a Home Depot and it constantly sounds off whenever i park facing it. Well at least it reminds me to take it off the dash when i park because its silver finish just attracts too much attention

Pros: It has excellent radar detection from miles away. It also has really superb kA detection.

Cons: Limited rear protection. Rear protection can be maximized by placing the detector high and aimed between the seats on your front windshield.

The Bottom Line: Considering BEL and Escort have merged, you can expect nothing but good to come from both now. Buy it!

Recommended: Yes

I received my Escort Passport 8500 one week ago. I love it more as time goes on. I used to be very nervous about the local state patrol on our main highway to the next town. My last detector wouldn't read the signal until we saw each other. I finally got this detector after a lot of reading and after visiting testing sites, like radar test dot COM. First day that I got to try this thing out I was blown away by the distance it was able to detect the radar. I made sure to take note of the distance to the officer by checking the odometer. The officer was using kA band radar. This was the same officer that had stopped me before going 24 over! One more offense from him or another I could loose my license for a little while. It turns out that I got his radar from an unbelievable seven miles away. I really couldn't believe this at first, because I thought it could be a false. I finally realized it was reading true when the signal kept getting stronger. It sure took a while to get to the state patrolman. I would have loved to see his reaction when he knew he couldn't get me. My second experience was on a winding hilly road. I got this officer a mile off going around a curve! I really like all the programmable options I get with this. I personally like to use the expert mode for getting multiple signals from those speed traps. Not to mention those road checks that they do. You can't go wrong if you buy this detector. It has a 30, or 60-day money back guarantee. They value this offer very well.