| Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector (Red Display) |  | Brand: Escort
Category: CE
List Price: $299.95
Buy New: $242.00
as of 9/6/2010 22:18 EDT details
You Save: $57.95 (19%)
New (23) Used (8) from $180.00
Seller: WestBiz
Rating:  184 reviews
Format: CD
Color: red
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: N/A
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3
Dimensions (in): 6 x 2 x 3
nv: Detection Area: 360°
Dimensions: 1.25" Height x 2.85" Width x 5.32" Depth
Display Type: High-Intensity Red Display
Frequency Band: X-band 10.25 GHz ± 25 MHz
Input Voltage Range: 12 V DC
Laser Wavelength: 0"
Manufacturer: Escort, Inc
Manufacturer Part Number: 8500X50RD
Manufacturer Website Address: http://www.escortradar.com
Marketing Information: Hailed as the most revolutionary radar/laser detec
Operating Mode: Highway
MPN: 8500X50RED
Model: Passport 8500 X50
UPC: 737795085027
EAN: 0037795085028
ASIN: B00028D778
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Sophisticated long-range radar and laser detector reads all police, conventional, and "instant-on" radar | | • | Digital signal processing provides maximum range while minimizing false alarms | | • | Identifies up to 8 radar signals simultaneously | | • | Reprogrammable microprocessor can detect new radar and laser threats | | • | Red matrix display with 280 LEDs; 1-year limited warranty |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
Radar detector manufacturers are constantly playing a game of catch-up with new technologies designed to nab the lead-footed. "Pop" radar is a relatively new instant-on technology that may make a whole generation of radar detectors obsolete. These radar guns operate at low frequency until they are switched on to determine a driver's speed with lightning-fast accuracy. This leaves a radar detector little opportunity to scan and detect the radar signal. Pop radar may sound ominous, but a new crop of radar detectors--including the Escort Passport 8500 X50--offer Pop radar detection. Escort claims that the 8500 X50 is the most powerful and advanced radar detector ever, with the supreme sensitivity required to detect low-frequency Pop radar. Design
Mounting the 8500 in our test vehicle was easy and straightforward. A small suction cup bracket slides into the unit's release mechanism and easily attaches to the windshield with light pressure. The unit is housed in a sturdy plastic case that's low profile and compact--although it is larger and heavier than Escort's wireless offering, the Solo S2. The rear of the unit is dominated by a receiver window and there's a rear-facing laser detector window designed to detect laser signals emanating from behind the vehicle. 
Digital Signal Processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms. | The Escort 8500 has a suprisingly simple control layout. Two buttons on the top of the unit control sensitivity settings and display brightness. They also double as selection buttons when the unit is in programming mode. The left side of the unit sports a volume dial. A mute button is positioned on the front panel next to the large, horizontal LCD display which, during normal use, graphs the intensity of the radar and laser signals the unit detects. Power is supplied by an included Escort SmartCord, which plugs into a cigarette-lighter power socket. The SmartCord features an alert LED, as well as a built-in mute button-- two handy additions. Features
The 8500 can detect all of the radar bands currently in use in North America for speed detection, including the X, K and Ka bands. The unit also features detection diodes for laser detection, but for the most powerful protection from laser detection, Escort offers the ZR3 laser jamming system, which is plug-and-play compatible with the 8500. The feature that separates the 8500 from other Escort radar detectors, as well as the entire previous generation of radar detector technologies, is its Pop radar detection capabilities. Pop radar guns, while still relatively rare in police departments, are used to identify speeding vehicles in traffic. They provide little warning as the radar signal idles at a low frequency until it transmits an extremely short, high-frequency burst to "Pop" a target. The 8500 is equipped with a highly sensitive receiving system and a digital signal processor designed to pick up Pop signals from a safe distance. Pop detection is not enabled by default in the 8500, however; users must turn it on in the settings menu. Escort probably chose to disable Pop detection by default because its increased sensitivity also increases false alerts. However, first-time radar detector users might be in for a surprise if they neglect to turn it on. 
The Passport 8500 X50 provides 3 types of warning displays to choose from. | Audio alerts are the most important feature of any radar detector, and the 8500 doesn't disappoint in this department. Warning tones get progressively louder as a threat approaches, and users can set the unit to deliver warnings at preprogrammed volume levels. Each radar band--including Pop radar--has a distinct tone, making it easy to quickly discern threats. The 8500's "AutoMute" feature automatically lowers the volume level of an alert after a period of time. False alarms are one of the major annoyances of radar detector use. In our tests, the 8500 was surprisingly adept at minimizing false alarms from home garage door systems, as well as home and commercial security systems that commonly operate on X-band radar. The unit's city sensitivity setting decreases sensitivity to X-band sources, while the highway setting does not. We found the unit's powerful "AutoSensitivity" mode the most accurate, however, as it dynamically filtered all types of radar signals and identified which sources were a legitimate threat. We got a few false alarms, but for the most part, annoying chirps from bogus X-band sources were uncommon. The 8500 has nine built-in customizable settings. In the settings mode, the LCD acts as a menu system that lets users control display brightness, automatic mute, audio tones, and power-on modes. There are also settings for disabling detection of selected bands. We liked the expert mode settings, which allow a user to get a constant picture of the intensity of all the radar bands in the area. The SpecDisplay, which is a feature exclusive to the 8500, displays the actual numeric frequency of the radar signal being received. For those living in states that prohibit use of a radar detector, the 8500 does include VG-2 radar detector detector protection, which is designed to both alert the driver and shut down the unit's oscillator. On the Road
We used the 8500 on a 20-mile stretch of busy interstate and were impressed with the low number of false alarms we received. Again, this remarkable level of accuracy is due to the unit's AutoSensitivity feature. While we encountered no police radar, other controlled tests of the 8500's performance have put the reliable range of detection at 2 miles for all bands. Meanwhile, Pop mode tests place the reliable detection range between 500 and 1000 feet. Pros
- Well-designed controls and display features
- AutoSensitivity feature greatly reduces false alarms
- Highly accurate with massive detection range
Cons
- Pop detection not enabled by default
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 184
 really really slow process to ship September 4, 2010
Michael D. Hoang (Houston, TX)
i understand that it needs to take at least 5-7 business day to ship the product to your home but i could not believe and understand why it takes so long for them to process my order. i've never had any bad experience like this with Amazon. it takes Amazon at least 6 days to process my order and then begin to send out to me. i guess it will have to take another week before it gets to me. i will not buy from amazon again due to i guess lack of employees or laziness.
 Hardly works September 1, 2010
LWALLZ88
This would never pick up any K band. Never picked up cops. And i just got pulled over doing 122 and the thing never went off. WTF.
 Complete Radar Detection Package for $300.00 or so. August 17, 2010
undertheradar
After reviewing the specs, features and real-time performance the Escort-Passport 8500 x50 unit offers, I simply had to upgrade to a REAL, user-friendly, out-of-the-box & ready for business radar detector. This is THE unit to have if you want to stay within the $300.00 price point, if not, buy the 9500ix, and OWN the road you travel. With a comprehensive and verified list of outstanding features including a microprocessor that is upgradeable (COOL; would have been really COOL about 10 yrs ago), consistent road-tests and evaluations that produce measureable and observable results along with the on-going praise and "Outstanding Performance" reviews relative to measuring, verifying and explaining all of the features and functions the Escort 8500 x50 proudly claims to have from Radar Roy's Site (his reviews are highly favorable of course), coupled with the numerous real world driving experiences and favorable reviews from a friend, my brief 'test-drive' with this unit was all that was needed to convince me to switch from an older, dated Whistler model to something that was actually manufactured this decade that really does offers an easy-to-program unit that will outperform anything you've been using (unless, you've already crossed the $300.00 threshold).
This particular unit combines nearly everything required for true 'protection' and 'detection' of multiple radar units utilzing virtualy all available frequencies and gadgets regardless of road or weather conditions. It's a true "Long Range" model that has provided me with more than ample time to 'adjust' my current driving situation. I use the Expert Mode to access a easy-to-see and understand visual graph depicting info on up to 8 bogeys along with their related strength meters; the Smart-Cord is just that, listen to it or mute and continue; the minimal 'false' alarms is a welcome relief from other previously utilized units and the choice of 'colors' (red or blue) is helpful as well. I selected the RED unit as it is still common practice for current military vehicles, aircraft and boats or other situations requiring adequate night or low-light vision to use RED lights. Red light measures about 700 nm; Blue light about 400-500 nm. Thus, they occupy nearly opposite ends of the 'light spectrum' we as humans can perceive. As we have both rods and cones for visual perception / function / acuity, using RED light allows the rods to work under low light situations or 'scotopic' (dark vision situations i.e. cockpit of your ride)instead of relying on cones, whose job is bright, day light work with color discrimination. Blue LOOKS COOL and IS; RED is FUNCTIONAL and logical; operational. Buy this one or the 9500ix, PERIOD. A Great Device. A.Womack
Passport Escort 8500 X50 Blue June 19, 2010
Steven C (Baton Rouge, La)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've had one of these for the past 3 years, and my dad's on his second one now. They're GREAT detectors. They can pick up Ka band from so far away, giving plenty of time to slow down. Haven't gotten a speeding ticket in the past 2 years since having this. The only issue we have with this radar, and its a big one, is that they don't last more than 2 years. So keep in mind buying this device, you're paying over $100 a year for piece of mind and no speeding tickets. In the end, i think its worth it, coming from a guy who has gotten 8 speeding tickets in about 3 years, and none since purchase. It still really sucks having to buy one every couple of years though. Only downside
necesary in michigan June 9, 2010
roylopez (usa)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Given that a magazine recently rated southeast Michigan number one in the nation for speed traps, its good to have a nice radar detector. The mandate for the local sherriffs is two "contacts" per hour. Since tickets are typically $100 and up (except seat belt tickets) 16 contacts assuming two warnings would yield a minimum of $1400 per eight hour shift. Ah that doesnt include driver responsibility tickets where drivers are fined twice from the state for certain offenses. It continually amazes me where the sheriffs sit. I've seen them in bank parking lots, government offices, restaurants, gas stations, side streets, medians, businesses, pulling people over all day long.
One local police department ended up with a deficit in their court budget when the officers cut back on ticket writing during salary negotiations. the city settled and officers are back to business.
The escort 8500 seems like a nice detector. i've replaced the power cord but it works way better than the whistler detector i've used.
Again i wouldnt go 20 feet in southeast michigan without a radar detector.
The brilliant minds in lansing are trying to extend the drinking hours to 4 am as a money generating scheme. Hopefully the citizens will have some rationallity and reject this idiotic scheme. Granholme has "blown" us away. Amazingly she has a law degree from Harvard. Apparently college is not what it used to be.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 184
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