Best radar detector?

[jpeyton]

Just an update. My lowly Shifter ZR4 gave me two solid laser saves since Christmas. Both times I was doing 80 in a 55 after midnight, so there was little traffic on the roads and the cops saw me coming.

Both times, I hit my brakes and slowed down to 60, disabled the jammer, and looked for the cop. Both times, they were perched on on-ramps with their lights off. The most recent save was fun to watch because the cop, after getting jammed on my car, nailed the poor sap 500-feet behind me who didn't have any countermeasures.

In my state, 80 in a 55 is a $400 ticket. Between this and all my prior saves, the 9500ix/ZR4 have saved me from at least $4000 in tickets over the past year. Best purchase ever.

 

[Insomniator]

I like the escort 8500 but I know there are newer models out now... for known speed traps a GPS enabled detector is probably the way to go.

 

[Raizinman]

ESCORT 9500ix BLUE
I purchased an Escort 9500ix Blue about 3 years ago. I paid $499 and then $39 more for 3 years of updates via the Internet. I’m not a speeder, but I worry when going down a large hill and your vehicle tends to speed up sometimes 10 or 15 MPH over the speed limit.

PRO’s = The red light camera data base is great as is the coverage. Unit is updatable via the Internet, just by plugging it into the USB port and your computer. Updates are not free, but are $19 a year or 3 years for $39. They also have European and Australian databases available. This detector has probably saved me from 2 or 3 tickets since ownership. The laser warning is very quick and unlikely to give you any real warning time to slow. I’m not aware of any laser detector that can give you any sufficient laser warning. Once your hit with laser, you have about 1 second to slow down; not really possible. Customer support is fantastic. They allow you to trade in your old detector. I actually traded in my 15 year old Escort. There is an Escort forum with lots of help available from other Escort users. You can program your Escort from menues via your computer once you plug it into the USB. Easy to customize it.

CON’s = It is expensive. Even though you are able to remove stationary false signals, occasionally you get a false X band warning such as when passing a bank or other store and it can’t be removed. I’m told that these are X band alarm signals which have constantly changing frecquencies and therefore the Escort can’t figure out which frequency to lock out.

What is Escort Live?
ESCORT Live uses Bluetooth technology and a unique app for the driver’s smartphone. When alerts are detected, they are transmitted to the ESCORT Live “cloud” and then broadcast across the ESCORT Live network, notifying drivers of potential ticket threats.

Here’s how it works: Imagine departing for the morning commute. Your neighbor’s ESCORT radar detector encounters a laser gun; that alert information is relayed immediately to the ESCORT Live network as a confirmed ”laser detected” threat. Later, as you head in the same direction, even when you are miles away from the waiting laser gun, your smartphone equipped with the ESCORT Live app displays a red “laser spotted” alert before you are in range.

ESCORT Live alerts are displayed with band, signal strength and frequency. Events spotted previously in the network are indicated by an “approaching live alert” message with directional location arrow and distance-to-arrive to the alert source.

Alerts appear at their coordinate location and are marked with an intuitive “heat map” decaying icon that changes color and transparency based on alert relevance.

The ESCORT Live app provides the latest available information on speed cameras, speed traps and speed limit data. Important driving data is displayed for compass heading, vehicle speed and over-speed alerts. Users are automatically updated with the latest detector software to optimize performance and eliminate false alerts. The app features map and dashboard views with multiple alert settings based on user preference.

Escort Live offers an additional layer of protection over what any other detector offers. With Escort Live when you receive an alert on your detector, your detector alerts normally and also alerts on the Live app. The alert information is sent through your smartphone to the Escort Live cloud. Nearby other Escort Live users will see your alerts in real time on their Live app and on their Live connected detector when they are near them. For example, let’s say that bigalinwv gets a laser hit. CJR238, who is several miles behind bigalinwv, is then alerted that laser was recently detected in the area ahead. The app shows when and where laser was detected and CJR238's Live connected detector will also alert.

Below are key Escort Live! features:

- Ka and Laser alerts are automatically sent to the Escort Live! cloud to alert other Escort Live! users. No user intervention is required for Ka and Laser alerts.
- TrueLock. X and K alerts can be marked as threats or as false alerts on the app, smartcord, or detector by pressing the mute button three times.
- Live alerts and Defender alerts are displayed on the app and on the connected detector.
- The Live app has two displays. Dashboard and map views. Map view shows all nearby Live and Defender locations placed on the map.
- Live alerts are shown by color, red, orange, or yellow. At a glance you can see how much time has passed since the Live alert was reported.
- Includes Defender database locations of red light cameras, speed cameras, and speed traps throughout North America
- Real time traffic data
- Speed limit data where available
- Over speed feature
- Compass direction displayed on app
- Dashboard app screen has music player controls
- Nearly every feature is user configurable. Only want to receive Live laser alerts? Not a problem.
- Radar alerts are shown on the app with strength and frequency data. Every alert is stored with band and frequency, when it was detected and if it was marked as a false.
- Ability to update the detector's firmware through the SmartCord Live

Escort Live compatible detectors: 9500ix, RedLine, X50Black, X50 (M4)*
The following Beltronics detectors will be compatible with Escort Live: RX65, GX65, STi Driver, STi Magnum.

To Summarize: There are millions of Escort and Beltronic radar detectors in use in cars today. Using Live, will allow them all to ‘network together’ to help each other, sort of like the CB radio of yester-year. I have been using Escort Live for the last 2 months and even though I only bought this to play with, I was notified by Live of numerous radar traps that were quickly set up. Laser is one of the hardest modes to detect, and getting any advanced warning on Laser is helpful. Whether you speed or don’t speed, this makes the radar detector much more fun and accurate. One feature I really liked was the overspeed notice. The detector will tell me verbally when I go 5mph over the posted speedlimit. Often you will be driving and not notice the changed posted speed limit. The smart app will verbally tell you if you are ever 5mph over the limit.

 

[JMapleton]

Escort Live is awesome. The new "top detector" is a Escort Redline with Escort Live. That turns the Redline into a 9500ix but maintains the super long range of the Redline.

 

[vshah]

oh nifty, looks like i can get escort live for my x50. one question for anyone who has the android version - can the app run in the background and still alert you? because i'm usually playing pandora or spotify on my phone on long drives, so the escort app would be in the background...

 

[Raizinman]

I have been using Escort Live since its inception in November 2011. I use an android HTC EVO 3G Sprint Phone. To answer your question: Yes, it does work in the background. You can also answer your phone and do other things while this app is running. I will say that it does tend to suck the battery life. I work close to home and even in the 20 minute drive home, it will suck a third or half the battery life. On longer drives I plug into the cigarette lighter. The app is a full GPS program with streets and such. You cannot program in a location to drive to like a TomTom, but as you drive, you see the various streets and can zoom in as needed. Also, I purchased a vent mount phone holder. You need a place to mount your phone so that you can view it easily while driving. You can purchase a vent mount phone holder for about $6 on Ebay. All the bugs have not been worked out of Escort Live, but as more and more people give their feedback to Escort, they are constantly tweaking the program to work better. You might check out their forum which will give much more information that what I can offer.

 

[bruceb]

I for one, would not want Escort Live. As said, it kills battery life and I would think it also uses some of your data plan allotment for your mobile phone. If you have an unlimited plan, that would be ok. If you are on a limited amount of data, maybe not. Also, in a lot of states, including NJ, you can not use a mobile phone while driving. So the only way this would be of help is to have the smart phone in a holder where you can read the screen without having to hold it. The app would be of more use in an unfamiliar area or in a small town, where the speed traps and red light cameras are not known to you.

 

[JMapleton]

I for one, would not want Escort Live. As said, it kills battery life and I would think it also uses some of your data plan allotment for your mobile phone. If you have an unlimited plan, that would be ok. If you are on a limited amount of data, maybe not. Also, in a lot of states, including NJ, you can not use a mobile phone while driving. So the only way this would be of help is to have the smart phone in a holder where you can read the screen without having to hold it. The app would be of more use in an unfamiliar area or in a small town, where the speed traps and red light cameras are not known to you.

I don't think you need to hold your phone or even see it while using Escort Live. Just have it out. The detector should alert you when there is an alert. I could be wrong.

 

[Raizinman]

I for one, would not want Escort Live. As said, it kills battery life and I would think it also uses some of your data plan allotment for your mobile phone. If you have an unlimited plan, that would be ok. If you are on a limited amount of data, maybe not. Also, in a lot of states, including NJ, you can not use a mobile phone while driving. So the only way this would be of help is to have the smart phone in a holder where you can read the screen without having to hold it. The app would be of more use in an unfamiliar area or in a small town, where the speed traps and red light cameras are not known to you.

Keep in mind that battery life has just as much to do with the phone and battery as it does the application. I do not know how much data is actually downloaded for people on a limited download plan. I could not imagine it being very much.

The New Jersey law does not say you cannot use a mobile phone while driving. Whereas New Jersey does have one of the strictest cell phone laws in the nation, being Hands free Cell phone ONLY while talking and no texting or video, the Escort Live does not really require any hands on usage. Once you turn it on and set it, you really do not have to touch it any more. It will warn you verbally such as: “Radar Trap Reported in 1 mile”. Likewise, you will also be able to see on the phone exactly where the radar trap is without touching your phone.

If you do not want to mount your cell phone in a visible place, you can leave it on the seat. This way you can still hear the warnings and it is not a distraction while driving.

Again, this is new technology for avoiding police radar. All the bugs have not been worked out of the system, but Escort is addressing bugs and concerns quickly. I only purchased mine as I am sort of a techie and just wanted to see how it works. Like the CB Radio of yesteryear, when the CB radio first came out there were not enough people to speak with, and in a few years it became saturated. Escort is going through this same phase and right now there is not enough people to get complete valid readings yet. Perhaps in another year or so it will be much better.

 

[rh71]

my last ticket for a 75 in a 50 was "estimated" by the cop. I determined this because of the code he referenced in the ticket. I guess it would be too obvious if he used the word "estimated". A $500 radar detector would be supplemented by that ridiculous fine I would've paid the state (but I paid an attorney and court fees instead). Either way I lost.

As someone mentioned... common sense works... go the speed of traffic and don't go blowing by any obvious hiding spots. He caught me at an obvious spot, but I was too fvck-it-if-a-cop-is-actually-there at the time. I knew I was busted and just started slowing down so he could catch up to me - had my family in the car. Those blacked-out Dodge Chargers are mean-looking.

 

[Tr4nd]

ESCORT 9500ix BLUE
I purchased an Escort 9500ix Blue about 3 years ago. I paid $499 and then $39 more for 3 years of updates via the Internet. I’m not a speeder, but I worry when going down a large hill and your vehicle tends to speed up sometimes 10 or 15 MPH over the speed limit.

PRO’s = The red light camera data base is great as is the coverage. Unit is updatable via the Internet, just by plugging it into the USB port and your computer. Updates are not free, but are $19 a year or 3 years for $39. They also have European and Australian databases available. This detector has probably saved me from 2 or 3 tickets since ownership. The laser warning is very quick and unlikely to give you any real warning time to slow. I’m not aware of any laser detector that can give you any sufficient laser warning. Once your hit with laser, you have about 1 second to slow down; not really possible. Customer support is fantastic. They allow you to trade in your old detector. I actually traded in my 15 year old Escort. There is an Escort forum with lots of help available from other Escort users. You can program your Escort from menues via your computer once you plug it into the USB. Easy to customize it.

CON’s = It is expensive. Even though you are able to remove stationary false signals, occasionally you get a false X band warning such as when passing a bank or other store and it can’t be removed. I’m told that these are X band alarm signals which have constantly changing frecquencies and therefore the Escort can’t figure out which frequency to lock out.

What is Escort Live?
ESCORT Live uses Bluetooth technology and a unique app for the driver’s smartphone. When alerts are detected, they are transmitted to the ESCORT Live “cloud” and then broadcast across the ESCORT Live network, notifying drivers of potential ticket threats.

Here’s how it works: Imagine departing for the morning commute. Your neighbor’s ESCORT radar detector encounters a laser gun; that alert information is relayed immediately to the ESCORT Live network as a confirmed ”laser detected” threat. Later, as you head in the same direction, even when you are miles away from the waiting laser gun, your smartphone equipped with the ESCORT Live app displays a red “laser spotted” alert before you are in range.

ESCORT Live alerts are displayed with band, signal strength and frequency. Events spotted previously in the network are indicated by an “approaching live alert” message with directional location arrow and distance-to-arrive to the alert source.

Alerts appear at their coordinate location and are marked with an intuitive “heat map” decaying icon that changes color and transparency based on alert relevance.

The ESCORT Live app provides the latest available information on speed cameras, speed traps and speed limit data. Important driving data is displayed for compass heading, vehicle speed and over-speed alerts. Users are automatically updated with the latest detector software to optimize performance and eliminate false alerts. The app features map and dashboard views with multiple alert settings based on user preference.

Escort Live offers an additional layer of protection over what any other detector offers. With Escort Live when you receive an alert on your detector, your detector alerts normally and also alerts on the Live app. The alert information is sent through your smartphone to the Escort Live cloud. Nearby other Escort Live users will see your alerts in real time on their Live app and on their Live connected detector when they are near them. For example, let’s say that bigalinwv gets a laser hit. CJR238, who is several miles behind bigalinwv, is then alerted that laser was recently detected in the area ahead. The app shows when and where laser was detected and CJR238's Live connected detector will also alert.

Below are key Escort Live! features:

- Ka and Laser alerts are automatically sent to the Escort Live! cloud to alert other Escort Live! users. No user intervention is required for Ka and Laser alerts.
- TrueLock. X and K alerts can be marked as threats or as false alerts on the app, smartcord, or detector by pressing the mute button three times.
- Live alerts and Defender alerts are displayed on the app and on the connected detector.
- The Live app has two displays. Dashboard and map views. Map view shows all nearby Live and Defender locations placed on the map.
- Live alerts are shown by color, red, orange, or yellow. At a glance you can see how much time has passed since the Live alert was reported.
- Includes Defender database locations of red light cameras, speed cameras, and speed traps throughout North America
- Real time traffic data
- Speed limit data where available
- Over speed feature
- Compass direction displayed on app
- Dashboard app screen has music player controls
- Nearly every feature is user configurable. Only want to receive Live laser alerts? Not a problem.
- Radar alerts are shown on the app with strength and frequency data. Every alert is stored with band and frequency, when it was detected and if it was marked as a false.
- Ability to update the detector's firmware through the SmartCord Live

Escort Live compatible detectors: 9500ix, RedLine, X50Black, X50 (M4)*
The following Beltronics detectors will be compatible with Escort Live: RX65, GX65, STi Driver, STi Magnum.

To Summarize: There are millions of Escort and Beltronic radar detectors in use in cars today. Using Live, will allow them all to ‘network together’ to help each other, sort of like the CB radio of yester-year. I have been using Escort Live for the last 2 months and even though I only bought this to play with, I was notified by Live of numerous radar traps that were quickly set up. Laser is one of the hardest modes to detect, and getting any advanced warning on Laser is helpful. Whether you speed or don’t speed, this makes the radar detector much more fun and accurate. One feature I really liked was the overspeed notice. The detector will tell me verbally when I go 5mph over the posted speedlimit. Often you will be driving and not notice the changed posted speed limit. The smart app will verbally tell you if you are ever 5mph over the limit.

Was looking for this, great review