Escort 9500ix performance?? or V1?? or ???

[spectrumphoto]

Anyone have the Escort 9500ix Radar detector??? Im curious about its performance. I know quite a few here like their Valentine 1 detectors but I think that living/working mostly in Metro LA a unit with the 9500ix features may be better suited. Am I wrong? Am i going to be giving up too much performance in comparison to the V1??? (especially for those Napa or Vegas trips)

Just curious on current owners opinions?? (as i have read several threads here on the V1 with little to no mention on alternatives like the 9500ix)

T.

[JIO]

The nice thing about the V1 is the directional arrows. I have the V1 and I love knowing for instance that the cop is behind me shooting cars rather than in front. If it wasn't for the "arrows" I would probably go with the Escort 9500.

[lvwirelessguy]

I have the 9500ix, couldn't pass up testing it since they give you 30 days.

This is my first detector, and I love that it has built in gps. It eliminates false alarms all the time, and can detect cops that I cant even see

It has a mini usb jack so you can not only upgrade the software, but also load nationwide data on speed traps, traffic light cams, ect

The V1 is still considered the fav, but I prefer to have my tech bleeding edge style

[Zirenz2006]

I will vouch for the 9500 as well. I have it and love it.

[SS32]

Arrows > gimmicks

There's a reason they're patented. The V1 is simple, and it works.

[ferrari6891]

i dont remember exactly where it is, but there was a test done and posted on this forum...the V1 came out ontop

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by Zirenz2006

I will vouch for the 9500 as well. I have it and love it.

I just ordered the 9500. In the reviews that I read, it exceeded the performance of the Valentine 1, and had considerably less false alarms.

Valentine used to work at Escort anyway.

[UltimateBMW]

You all talk about false alarms. Honestly, they don't bug me. If you don't want to hear there extra chatter on a V1 then just hit the mute button. (You know, the only button on the thing.) But I like having it be active and giving me feedback.

Also, I'm not personally convinced that the false-alarm prevention gimmicks are foolproof. Whether they could potentially make a mistake or not though, I would rather err on the side of caution and let all signals be alerted to me through my detector. Also, like said above the Arrows are invaluable. You can even see when you pass by the source of the signal. The arrows will track from front side then rear as you go by. Coming around a bend, the arrow alerts you to if the ignal is in front of you out of line of sight or if you had passed by a camped out trooper on the side and he tagged you.

As far as performance of detecting a signal, they are pretty similar. If one of better than the other it is probably more a circumstance of the condition than the actual hardware of the detector.

The wise decision is to get the detector with the greatest potential of conveyed information. And that is the V1. Directional arrows, bogey counter, signal strength readout of the strongest detected signal, and signal type.

Then again, I'm a pretty big technogeek. I enjoy information input, the more the better. If they made a full radar system for a car with a terrain readout so I could pinpoint locations in relation to my position, I'd most definately buy it.

[J08M3]

I like my V1. It does make a lot of noise, but the arrows and bogey counter usually make it easy to decipher what is false and what is real pretty quickly.

[KKSigs]

I have had no problems with the 9500 i and am planning to get a 950ix

[ihyln]

V1 all the way no question about it

[e46e92love]

I'm a 9500i guy, but I think either are probably almost equal, each having its own slight advantages.

[RafTheWeasel]

http://radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

The review shows the advantages and disadvantages of three well known radars. I know the 9500 isn't in the review, but you get the picture. I havent looked around the site well enough, but looks like its got some good reviews and details for you to research.

[Keto]

Originally Posted by RafTheWeasel

http://radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=9090

RadarTest is a worthless site for reviews. They've been caught trying to rig other site's reviews. Essentially the guy is upset Valentine didn't pay him to sell detectors like the other companies did.

That being said, when the patent on the arrows expires, what will Valentine do? They need some new tech.

[yahtzee]

Originally Posted by Keto

RadarTest is a worthless site for reviews. They've been caught trying to rig other site's reviews. Essentially the guy is upset Valentine didn't pay him to sell detectors like the other companies did.

That being said, when the patent on the arrows expires, what will Valentine do? They need some new tech.

+1 http://www.guysoflidar.com/march-2007/sabotage.html

[ismelllikepoop]

just wondering what difference it makes what direction the cop is in?

[ihyln]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

Let's compare 'conveyed information:'
__________________+Valentine _9500 9500
__________________________V1 ___xi __ci
Arrows on radar___________ Y ___N ____N
Arrows on laser___________ Y ___N ____Y
POP Alerts________________ Y ___Y ____Y
Bogey count (# of sources) Y ___Y*____Y*
Strength Meter____________ Y ___Y ____Y
Strength meter per band___ N ___Y ____Y
GPS ______________________ N ___Y ____Y
GPS Speedometer __________ N ___Y ____Y
Database of photo radar___ N ___Y ____Y
Upgradeable database______ N ___Y ____Y
Mark false signal locn's__ N ___Y ____Y
Mark photo radar locn's___ N ___Y ____Y
Autodetect/mark false sigs N ___Y ____Y
SWS Compatible____________ N ___Y ____Y

* Doesn't actually count, but in the advanced display mode will show signal strength for each detected signal type -- thus indirectly giving the same information.

Look at all of those "N's" in the V1 column. So if you're a technogeek and want a detector to convey the maximum amount of information...then I guess you'll be switching to one of the 9500's pretty soon.

To the OP, see my signature below for a write-up and pictures of a 9500ci installation.

The Bogeycount in the Escort is not only not the same thing but not anywhere near the ability of the V1 to convey the proper information to you. For example, there is a strip mall that always puts up a 2 on my V1. Quite a few times cops have sat there to hide with the other signals eminating from the door openers. Many times I've crested the hill and my V1 spiked from 2 to 3 or at 3 if the cop just left his gun on. Where mere seconds count the V1 saves the day. I couldn't care less about the GPS speedo, or the false database, sws (sws is not even necessary as most roadways have automated boards providing traffic information and the iDrive also does the same).

You have a full laser jammer system with the escort so I can see the value of it in YOUR case. But for the rest of us the V1 is far superior in terms of performance and the ability to keep you aware of your surroundings.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by PencilGeek

The only legitimate use I've ever heard is when one cop passes you from front-to-rear, but there's still another cop in front of you also using radar. The V1 will show both arrows simultaneously.

To me, that's the only bonafide benefit of these arrows. And considering how rare that situation will actually occur, I consider it an effectively useless feature.

Not taking anything away from the V1, it is obviously a great detector, but I agree that while I am fully aware of the purpose that the arrows supposedly serve, in the end they still seem a little "gimmicky."

[ihyln]

I'm not saying he is using the same frequency as the door opener I'm saying he is hiding in the noise to fool most detectors that simply go "beep" and the user thinks "oh it's just another mall".

[AMPowerJ]

Over time the speed camera database will prove to be a major feature IMO.

[monsta]

V1 FTMFW!!!!

end thread

[BRDHNTR]

9500ci is the best detector on the market period. Unfortunately, the 9500xi is not as sensitive and doesn't have the cloaking feature the the ci and the Bel STi have. It is still a good detector, but if you have the means go for the big upgrade and get the ci.