Babo4u

i recently purchased the escort x50. yeah i know some people think v1 is better, but i had no money to buy the v1. in any case, i'm not sure if this is working at all.

i have it on factory setup with the pop mode on and its been three days and i have yet never heard it ring. its either all the cops around my area are just lazy and not doing their job, or my radar detector isn't working. does anyone know of a way to test if my device isn't having problems? i don't know whether to keep it for awhile and check a bit longer or take it for a exchange. i saw about 3-4 cops but it didn't ring. i heard that the cops can turn off their radars, is that why it might not be working? 1 of the cops had a siren on and was going somewhere, the 2nd cop was just driving, and the other two cop cars i saw was just parked.
any ideas? thanks.

annaRX8

well it should have rang at least once by now don't you think? I just got mine yesterday (same radar) and just on the drive home it was working fine i think. I can't say it has already helped me but I think if it rings and i pass a cop i'll feel more reassured that it's worth the money. I heard it's one of the best or number one radars though... When you turn it on does it go through all the different bands and beep?

Babo4u

yeah it does all that at the start, its just that its odd that it doesn't ring when i pass by cops.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Because, unlike the V1 and other competitors, it wont simply go off for no reason.
If the cop doesn't pull the trigger, you won't get a warning.

rxtreme

iTrader: (1)

I have the 8500, non-X50 version (bought it off E-bay for $111.00 ). It has yet to really save my ***, but I know it works. I have been driving up hills and it detects cops well on the other side.

It can be a little sensitive, though. You know it's working when you drive past a supermarket or another store with electronic doors and it goes off (sometimes even the K-band). Not to say it's overly sensitive, but I have seen the best give false alarms (including the V1).

I never knew the difference between the 7500s, 8500, and 8500 x50. They say better range, but I am hard pressed to notice a difference.

NgoRX8

iTrader: (1)

where'd you buy? some of the ebay ones are refurbished. my friend had some problems.

lure3o1

Agreed. All the good radar detectors don't get as many false alarms as cheaper ones.

Rader detectors don't go off for no reason. Just cause you see a cop doesn't mean it'll go off. It will only go off (when near a cop) when a cop is using the Laser or Radar gun.

BTW I do have the Passport 8500 x50 and it does work. Saved me a couple of times before. You just got to understand it(takes time).

It is possible you do a faulty one. If you do just exchange it for a new one and see if it works.

Babo4u

hmm i got mine at bestbuy... they have some 15% restocking fee if the package was opened -_-^ bastards...

anyways... today it didn't ring also, and i saw bunch of cops here and there. it cant be possible that all of them have their radar off... right???
is there like a certain mode i have to set it to?
im just using factory settings and right now its just on "auto."
anyway to test if this is working correctly?

Cam

iTrader: (1)

I have the 8500 x50 and mine goes off all the time. I dont have my manual handy, but read it to see if there is a "test mode".

And the police dont always drive around with the radar on. Ive notice around Seattle most cops only turn it on when trying to catch someone.

You might want to check if you have "city" mode on. This mode decreased the sensitivity so it doesnt go off every time you pass a 7-11 or what not.

If the radar doesnt have a test mode the way I would test it is to drive by a grocery store (or any store that has automatic doors). Most stores use X band (which hardly any cops use for speed radar anymore). If it goes off, it works. Also check to see if you didnt disable the X band. X band is the most common warning I get (due to store doors). Mine wouldnt go off very much if I had the X band disabled.

For reference.
X band- Never been radared by the police using this band.
K band- 95% of the police in the Seattle area use this band (% based on my personal experience)
Ka band- Washington State Highway patrol is the only police force to radar me with this band.
Laser- Never been laser radared before.

Babo4u

ah, i think its time for me to go return this and get an exchange... lol
ive been to all kinds of supermarket doors and it wont work at all... hahaha.
thanks everyone for the great info.

Cam

iTrader: (1)

If the xband is on, and you get nothing at a store front, you got a defective model.

lure3o1

Yo babo4u i used to work at bestbuy. If it is within the 14 day return/exchange policy then u can get a new one without paying restocking fee. Its only if you get the exact same one. BTW at the 2 Bestbuys near me my Passport 8500 x50 does go off.
A long time ago when i had just the Passport 8500 it died and it didnt even go off at places it always went off at. Once I got a new one it worked again. I say exchange it for a new one.

Babo4u

haha yeah thanks, i just went to bestbuy and got it exchanged today.
looks like it was a faulty one, the new one works perfectly fine.
thanks everyone for the help.