What are the differences between your radar detector models?
The Passport 9500ix, our latest and best radar detector, can automatically learn and block out fixed position false alarms and incorporates an updatable safety camera (red light and fixed position speed cameras) database. The Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500i, and the Passport 8500 X50 have the same detection range. While range depends on circumstances for any detector, under most driving conditions, the Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500i and Passport 8500 X50 provide significantly longer range on K and Ka band radar than our cordless detector,the Solo S2. The cordless Solo S2 offers radar detection range similar to an earlier Escort corded radar detector, the Passport 7500S. Laser performance is essentially the same on all models.

The Passport 9500ix and Passport 9500i are more "intelligent" than our other detectors. They can vary radar sensitivity based on your vehicle's speed, permanently block out false alerts by location and specific frequency, store locations in memory and provide a reminder as you approach those locations, and increase the alert volume level automatically as ambient noise in your vehicle increases. For more information about how the 9500i's extraordinary GPS-powered intelligence works, please see our Passport 9500i Tech Talk.

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Are radar detectors legal?
Yes! Radar detectors are completely legal to use in non-commercial vehicles in 49 states. Virginia and Washington DC are the only places in the United States that currently ban radar detectors. Radar detector use in commercial vehicles has been prohibited in the U.S. since 1995 and radar detectors are also illegal in most Canadian provinces. We do not track detector regulations in other countries.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides these definitions for commercial vehicles:

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle:

(a) Has a gross combination weight rating of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds); or

(b) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more); or

(c) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or

(d) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in this section (49 U.S.C. 5103).

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination (articulated) vehicle. In the absence of a value specified by the manufacturer, GCWR will be determined by adding the GVWR of the power unit and the total weight of the towed unit and any load thereon.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.

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Should I be concerned about radar detector detectors?
U.S. non-commercial drivers should not be concerned at all unless you drive in Virginia or Washington DC. If you do drive in either of those places, are a commercial driver, or drive in Canada, please note that all of our current detector models except the Passport 9500ci can be detected by the Spectre radar detector detector.

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Do you ship radar detectors outside the United States?
Puerto Rico and the Canadian provinces Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan are the only places we ship to outside of the United States, but we do not accept those orders online due to special shipping considerations. If you require shipment to any of those four locations, please call us at 800-964-3138 to place your order.

If your credit card billing address is outside the United States, we can also take your order by telephone if you can provide a shipping address in the U.S. or one of the four locations above.

We do have a couple of dealers in Europe:

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Can I mount my detector on my sun visor?
We generally do not recommend mounting detectors on the sun visor because the dark tint at the top of most windshields significantly reduces laser detection range, and the GPS-powered features of the Passport 9500i and Passport 9500ix will not function if satellite reception is blocked. So, we do not include a visor mount as a standard accessory. While not recommended, we do offer an optional visor mount that can be seen by clicking this visor clip link.

As a rule of thumb, a lower detector mounting position is better for laser and a higher position is better for radar. But, in most vehicles, the difference in height between the top and bottom of the windshield is not enough to make any perceptible difference in radar reception. It's best to mount your detector where it has a clear field of view front and rear (plus a clear view of the sky for the Passport 9500i), and where you can see it without obstructing your own view of the road.

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What is a direct wire SmartCord?
The direct wire SmartCord is an optional accessory that allows you to connect the Passport 9500i, Passport 8500 X50, Passport 7500S, or the Solo S2 directly to your fuse block or other 12-volt source (leaving your lighter socket free for other uses) and provides an additional mute button, alert light and power indicator light for the detector. The direct wire SmartCord is approximately 11 1/2 feet long overall, with the extra mute button and lights in a module about 8 feet from the detector end of the cord. Our SmartCords are also compatible with the prior Passport 8500, Passport 7500 and Passport 6800 detector models.

There is also a standard direct wire cord (approximately 2 week backorder) available for the same models, without the mute button and lights, that is approximately 9 feet long.

Please note: Unlike our other detectors, although the Solo S2 can use these cords, it would need to be switched on manually even if wired directly to a switched circuit.

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Does your factory warranty apply if I do not purchase directly from Escort?
The Escort warranty is honored on all of our products for purchases direct from Escort, and we maintain direct purchase records during the warranty period as a convenience for our customers.

If you purchase an Escort product from an authorized reseller, the Escort warranty will be honored only if you can provide us with a copy of the original invoice. We cannot honor any third party invoices that you may receive from an individual, auction, internet site or other unauthorized reseller.

Purchases of Escort products from unauthorized resellers are also subject to these Unauthorized Reseller Risks.

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Is POP radar a new band of radar?
POP is not a new band or frequency of radar. It is an ultra-fast, instant-on method of radar gun operation using existing radar frequencies. Radar guns operating in POP mode can get a speed reading of a target vehicle so fast that most radar detectors will not consistently signal an alert. At this time, there are very few radar guns in service in the U.S. capable of POP mode operation.

The Passport 9500i, Passport 8500 X50 and Passport 7500S each have a selectable POP feature, so POP mode radar detection can be switched on or off as desired. You may notice an increase in Ka-band false alerts when POP mode radar detection is switched on.

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What is the difference between the original Passport 8500 and the new Passport 8500 X50?
The original Passport 8500, dubbed the "World's Best Radar Detector" in independent detector tests, has been replaced by the new Passport 8500 X50. Taking advantage of a new antenna design and new circuitry, the Passport 8500 X50 provides an increase in K and Ka-band radar detection range of up to 50% over the original Passport 8500. The Passport 8500 X50 also adds a selectable POP mode to alert you of ultra-fast, instant-on POP radar signals. Due to the limited nationwide usage of the Safety Warning System (SWS), the Passport 8500 X50 does not spell out SWS messages, but will give a K-band alert if a Safety Warning Signal is encountered.

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Why is the Passport 8500 X50 with a blue display more expensive than the red display version?
The Passport 8500 X50 is available with either a brilliant blue LED display or a traditional red LED display. There is no difference in performance or features between the two versions. The difference in price between the two versions is simply due to the fact that blue LEDs cost significantly more than common red LEDs and each display is made up of 280 individual LEDs.

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Does the Solo S2 perform any differently with its optional power cord?
There is no increase in range or sensitivity when the Solo S2 is used with the optional power cord. The S2 has a built-in power converter, so whether you use batteries or the 12-volt optional power cord the S2 still operates internally on 3 volts. If you use the S2 with its optional cord, the power-on indicator will not blink as it does to maximize battery life when running on battery power. In battery mode the S2 display turns off automatically to maximize battery life, but when using the optional power cord the S2 display stays on showing your choice of several pilot options described in the owner's manual.

Please note: Unlike our cord-only detectors, using the Solo S2 with its optional power cord does not mean that it will switch on and off automatically with your vehicle. While the S2 will shut off automatically when the cord loses power, it always needs to be switched on manually with its power button.

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What do I need to know in order to properly select a radar detector - many people claim to be an 'expert' but I just don't know?
To be an expert on picking a good radar detector, everything you need to know about radar detection boils down to 3 things:

Radar experts know that a Really Good Detector (RGD) -

1. Sees them before they see you - we call this range; engineers call this sensitivity. But what you need to know is that the farther your detector can see, the more time you get to respond to the threat, makes sense, right? The radar detector that sees the longest range and gives the longest warning is the best for your protection, right? Escort, Beltronics and Valentine win here.

2. A RGD doesn't cry wolf all the time. A RGD has some type of antifalsing technology, a way to reject the many false signals that share the RD band. A RGD must be able to discern and reject signals from automatic door openers, bank alarms and other stray signals. That's because these ubiquitous signals are in the same band as law enforcement radar guns! If a detector doesn't have advanced antifalsing circuitry, it will go off every time you drive by a gas station or fast food joint or bank or whatever - if it cries 'wolf' all the time, you will begin to ignore, or worse, you'll turn it off and stop using it. Then you're unprotected! Only Escort and Beltronics have advanced signal processing that includes both position and specific frequency analysis for permanently and completely rejecting false alerts. No one else has this same capability.

3. A RGD must see all the guns on the road today. Sounds obvious but most detectors sold today can't see many Ka guns nor can they see the POP radar threat - and that makes them blind to serious threats. You need a RGD that sees everything out there. Here, Escort, Beltronics and Valentine win again.

Though the tips above make some general sense, you're now more likely to choose wisely for complete detection protection - that's because now you are an expert!

Easy, right? You bet! A good place to begin is here: http://www.escortradar.com/detector-school.htm

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I’m looking to buy a radar detector. I have done research on a couple like the Escort Passport and the Valentine One^®. I was just curious what kind everyone is using out there. Any recommendations? Advice? Experiences?

Things to consider when you go to invest in a RGD (really good detector):

1. Like other technologies, you have to spend enough to get capable technology so a visit to the local discount store for a $99 detector is a waste of your time and money as that level of cost v. performance does not cover all the guns, all the bands and w/ enough range to do you any good. So be wise and don't waste your money on a cheap detector.
2. You should consider then, that your investment ought to give you future returns by keeping you safe against all the guns, all the time. When you visit radar detector blogs, many bloggers are correct when they suggest the top brands Escort, Bel and Valentine. All 3 brands see all the guns w/ enough range to help you react in time to take preventative measures and not get stopped.
3. But you should also consider w/ seriousness, the rare but possible, "dead in their sites laser gun" attack - Only Escort and Bel (in our list of detectors to consider) have add-on systems that completely disarm the laser gun and prevent it from targeting and tracking you for purposes of being stopped. Both the Escort and the Bel systems are incredible in their operation and relatively easy to add on once you have purchased their windshield mount detectors. ie, you don't have to buy all the pieces immediately but instead you can always add the 'shifters'/'blockers' when you're ready. All of their models work w/ their affordable laser 'shifting'/'blocking' systems. Valentine does not have this option.
4. Another item to consider, and maybe most importantly (as we are speaking of investments), you need to make yourself aware of the single greatest increasing threat of being stopped today - the rapid placement of red light and speed cameras being deployed all across North America. Thousands are already active w/ more being added/installed every single day. Only Escort and Bel have a detector that is fully prepared to assess and alert you to these threats accurately and only Escort and Bel offer you web ready detectors for instant, easy downloads that allow you to keep your increasing threat database updated on all of these imposing new threat locations. Again, no technology of this type is available from Valentine.
5. One more important point to consider – have you ever driven in an urban area w/ a RD? If you have, as many of your friends in the blogs have, you will get dozens of alerts from your detector ... and none of them will be real threats. That's because many of the security systems installed in many businesses around you and nearly all of the automatic door openers at all of the local stores, businesses and corner gas stops, operate in the same bands as do law enforcement guns. All other brand detectors have no technology to know the difference and so they work as simple receivers (dumb receivers) and alert you to all of these non-threats! Again, only Escort and Bel have patented technology to analyze and eliminate these false alert threats and let you drive w/ a detector that works as a detector and not as a simple, false alert noise generator.

The really cool part about your question is that you have the smarts to know you need a really good detector - good for you. And now you have the opportunity to choose, w/ knowledge, the best choice in complete protection w/ all the options and the technology to meet current and new, increasing threats, all in one brand - Bel or Escort.

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