The SEMA show, held each November in Las Vegas, is one of my favorite annual automotive events as companies that specialize in speed countermeasure equipment show off their new gadgets designed to outsmart law enforcement speed enforcement technology.

Another plus is that Las Vegas is only an hour and a half flight in my Cessna 182 from our home in Arizona. So on Tuesday, opening day, my wife and I jumped into our bird and headed out.

We lifted off at 7:30 am and with the one hour time change landed at the Henderson Executive Airport at 8:00 am. We tied down the plane, got a rental car and I was at the Las Vegas Convention Center just before the nine o’clock opening.

Blinder Laser Jammers

Outside the convention center I met with Leon Gruner and his wife Bonnie of Blinder USA. Blinder manufactures a device designed to jam police laser.
For those of you not familiar with police laser enforcement let me explain the technology.

Police laser is a very narrow beam of light that of course travels at the speed of light, it is INSTANT!

At 500 feet the beams width is only 18” and when police shoot your car with laser, they normally aim for a reflective area of your car like your front license plate or your headlights.

So if you only have a radar detector mounted on your dash, chances are that your detector will never activate unless it picks up “scatter” and if it does, it’s too late, the officer already has your speed.

I explain laser jamming this way, “Let’s say someone shoots your car with a 5 watt flashlight, you respond by shinning a 50 watt flashlight at them, your flashlight is more powerful and would over power the other flashlight if it had a receiver to calculate speed”

Earlier this year Blinder released their new laser jammers the M-27 and M-47. Modifications included using brighter LED lights and also an interface where you can download the latest software for any new laser guns.

Coyote Interactive Photo Enforcement Detector

A comment I heard at the SEMA show this year was that new photo enforcement cameras are spreading faster than the H1N1 virus, as many cities and states have found a quick way a new to generate money without increasing taxes.

Several years ago the stand alone GPS photo enforcement camera devices hit the market place and then two years ago radar detector manufactures included this technology into their radar detectors. These devices would warn you as you approached a fixed photo enforcement camera such as photo radar or red light cameras with an audible and visual alert.

The one major drawback with these devices was the mobile photo radar vans that are moved, sometimes on a daily or even hourly basis.

Trapster then emerged on the scene, building a social network of users that would notify each other via their iPhone or Blackberry of photo enforcement locations or other high enforcement locations.

Coyote is NOW coming on the scene, merging these two technologies into one device, an interactive GPS photo enforcement detector. Coyote’s system is due to launch February of 2010.

Escort Redline Radar Detector

This summer I had the opportunity to take the Redline for a 8,000 mile cross country review testing the unit against the New Jersey X band radar guns, to Sturgis South Dakota mounted on my “Stealth Hog” Harley Davidson motorcycle, and in my RV across the southwest.

The Redline was developed to take over the long range category that has been dominated by Valentine One.

During a Speed Measurement Laboratories long range test that was held this past summer the Redline outperformed every radar detector in this class.

The one thing I liked about the Redline was the units ability to sniff out the mobile Redflex Ka band mobile photo radar vans that have overtaken Arizona and a few other states.

Passport SC55 GPS Photo Enforcement Detector

Do you have a Valentine One, Escort 8500, Whistler Pro 78 or any other radar detector that you would want to integrate a GPS photo enforcement database into? If so the new Passport SC55 will allow just that.

Designed to integrate into virtually any radar detector on the market today, you simply plug the two units into each other, turning your Escort 8500 X50 into an Escort 9500i or your RX65 into a GX65.

You instantly give your detector a brain so it can now alert to these deadly photo radar and red light cameras.

Passport QI45 Remote Mounted Radar Detector

The Escort Passport QI 45 is a new remote mounted radar detector based upon the design of the Escort 8500 X50.

Unlike more complex remote mounted radar detectors, the QI45 is very simple in its design in that it only has three modules, the antenna that is mounted in the grill, the controller that is mounted under the dash and the display that mounts on the dash.

There is only one wire that you need to feed through the firewall and install can take as little as 30 to 45 minutes!

If you want to install their laser jammer; no problem, the laser heads plug into the rear of the antenna and each head could be installed in under 5 minutes.

As a motorcyclist, I thought of how simple this set up could be to set up a remote mounted radar detector and laser jammer to your motorcycle.

Rocky Mountain Radar

What would a SEMA show be without me poking a little fun at Rocky Mountain Radar?

Well after being successful at getting Michael Churchman kicked out of Best Buy I made a promise to myself that I would lay low.

When I arrived at the SEMA show I was approached by several of the other manufacture reps that Michael Churchman was present at this year’s show and that he was asking if I was going to show up.

Mike had missed the last two years at both SEMA and CES after I sat down with him at a bar at the Stratosphere three years ago and he made the comment that he didn’t care if his C-450 radar jammer worked or not and that he didn’t have the balls enough to take me up on my $50,000 challenge.

So this year I had only planned to take a quick peek at what new devices RMR was scamming the uninformed corporate buyers with and then follow-up with our online campaign to educate these potential new clients.

I noticed that the RMR booth was still missing the Plexiglas display with the police radar gun and the little car with their radar scrambler attached. This had gone missing after I approached Rual, their head engineer, a few years back with cash in hand in challenging them to my test with TV cameras from the UPN network rolling.

During their segment, they proved that Michael’s little display was misleading and potentially defrauding the public as the Plexiglas display did not allow anyone to move the scrambler more than a few inches from the feed horn of the radar gun. In other words the RMR radar jammers would not work against any police radar gun, unless the officer was literally sitting on the hood of your car, with the feed horn of the radar gun against your windshield and the detector within two to three inches from the gun.

With our economy appearing to being on track to recovery, I was pleased to see at this year’s SEMA show that the Speed Counter measurement Industry was strong and developing new products.

Flight Home

Margie and I spent the night catching “Jersey Boys” and flew out the following morning.

A cold front came beat us to our airpark with winds gusting to 25 knots, so we had to divert to Wickenburg Airport (E25) and called a friend to pick us up.

A few hours later I returned when the winds calmed down and flew our bird back to its nest here at our home:

Several years ago I posted a warning here on our blog warning of the dangers of purchasing a radar detector from unauthorized retailers such those advertising on Ebay/Amazon or even Overstock.com.

A few days ago a user named Carlos found my warning after purchasing two defective radar detectors from Overstock; here is his story along with a chat transcript he had with Overstock.com’s sales team:

Carlo’s  Account on How He Got Screwed By Overstock.com!

I purchased a Escort 8500 X50 w/ the blue display in 5/08 for $277.40.  I couldn’t purchase the extended warranty because I was unaware that overstock.com was on the unauthorized reseller list.  Had I known that I would probably not have purchased it and it was my fault for not researching more.

I went to radarbusters.com several times to look at Radar Roy’s  reviews on radar detectors but was only researching which radar detector would be best for me and the best bang for the buck.  So I the radar detector worked fine for a while.  Then I started getting the infamous “service required” on my radar. Sometimes it would give the error repeatedly on my 45 minute commute to work.  Sometimes it would never error.

I lived with it for a while but finally decided to call Escort to see about getting it fixed.  They told me I would have to pay $60 for repair since I didn’t purchase from one of their authorized sellers.  I never sent it in and low and behold my radar fails me and I get a speeding ticket.  The radar was on but failed to alarm.

I reset the radar as soon as the cop kindly gave me $115 speeding ticket and it alarmed immediately.  So now the radar has cost me $277.40 + $115 = $392.40.  I decide to purchase a new radar.  And again make the mistake of buying from Overstock.

I guess the good prices makes me stupid.  Fool me once shame on you.  Fool me twice shame on me!!  I purchased a Bel Pro RX65 $227.94 on 5/09!!  Great price right?  Poor product!  Horrible detection range for one of what you consider the best on the market. The alarm ramp level was horrible.  Would go from a weak signal to a very strong signal.  Nowhere in between!!  Would even stay alarming way after I would pass a cop!  I sent this one in for repair and it is somewhat better but not what I expected.  So this one cost me $227.90 + $60 repair = $287.60.  That’s a total of $680 for both.  I just did a quote on the radarbusters.com website for both the Escort and Bel radars and got a grand total of $624.94 shipped!!  I have lived and now have learned.  I will never purchase from an unauthorized reseller again.

I just recently had my girl friend purchase a Bel 955 from Radarbusters.  I told her cheaper isn’t always better from Overstock.  Anyways that’s my story.

I contacted Overstock through an online help chat and this is what they had to say.  I have edited some of my personal information but feel free to share this.  I hope some of what I typed on the chat doesn’t seem childish to you but I really wanted to nag and give this rep hell!!  Please respond and let me know what you think.

Chat Conversation With OverStock.com

Chat Information Welcome to Overstock.com Live Chat, you will be joined with a chat representative as quickly as possible.

Chat Information Welcome to Overstock.com Customer Service, you are now chatting with Junior.

Overstock,com:  Thanks for visiting Overstock.com, this is Junior, how can I help you?

Customer: Hello

Customer:  I have purchased two radar detectors over the past two years and recently read an article that units purchased from Over-Stock are re-manufactured units. Is this true?

Overstock.com:  I would be glad to help you with the information which you are looking for.

Customer:  thank you

Overstock.com: That’s not true.

Customer:  Why are Escort Radar and Beltronic Radar detectors on the un-authorized resellers list on both of their websites?

Customer:  Buying from Overstock.com voids the one year warranty that should come with a brand new radar detector.

Overstock.com: We have some items which is stated as ‘Refurbished or Reconditioned Products’.

Overstock.com: We note these products on our site with an icon and the words Refurbished or Reconditioned.

Customer:  I understand that

Overstock.com: Customers return products for many reasons.

Overstock.com: A customer may change his or her mind, not like the product, or have difficulty operating it. Whether it is returned a month later or only the very next day, such an item must be identified as refurbished or reconditioned to be resold.

Overstock.com: Every product targeted for refurbishing or reconditioning must pass a thorough examination.

Overstock.com: After repairing any defect and sanitizing when necessary, the product is repackaged either by the original manufacturer or a reputable professional outside firm may perform the refurbishing, or reconditioning, returning the products to like-new or almost new condition.

Overstock.com:  So if it’s not refurbished why is this important?

Customer: Is It Worth It? BUYER BEWARE! Please be aware of the following risks if you purchase Escort products from an unauthorized reseller: Possible exclusion of Escort warranty due to: * Purchase of stolen merchandise * Inability to validate the original purchase date and ownership with the original sales receipt AND the transfer of ownership with any subsequent bill of sale * Item shipped to you may be counterfeit, forged, or refurbished goods * Item may ship with serial numbers removed or modified * Item may appear new but contain internal water damage or damage from improper use * Item may never ship – contact with the seller may be difficult or impossible * Price may be inflated, incorrect, or changed after you place your order * Inferior product may be substituted for the advertised Escort product

Overstock.com: Would you mind holding for 2-5 minutes while I check on this for you?

Customer: no problem.. I appreciate your help

Overstock.com: Thanks for staying online.

Overstock.com: I apologize for the delay.

Customer:  no problem

Overstock.com: Do you still have the order number?

Customer:  yes let me get it for you

Customer:  ########

Customer: and

Customer: ########

Overstock.com:  Thanks let me check it one by one.

Customer: sounds good

Overstock.com: For security purposes, can you please verify your complete name and the billing address on the account?

Customer:  #############

Customer:  #############

Overstock.com:  Is the order number ######## regarding ‘Escort Passport 8500 X50 Blue Radar Detector’?

Customer:  that’s it

Overstock.com:  I see that ‘Escort Passport 8500 X50 Blue Radar Detector’ is a brand new.

Overstock.com:  Not a refurbished one.

Customer:  The only reason I am asking is because I feel that the two radars I have bought have been unsatisfactory for the amount of $ spent on a piece of equipment that is manufactured from reputable manufacturers. And after doing some research it seems that these are refurbished items and their performance is consistent with this

Customer:  You webpage should state that you are an unauthorized reseller and that the 1 year mfg warranty is void.

Overstock.com:  Carlos, I have checked and I see that the item is not a refurbished one.

Customer: Can you please explain why you are on the unauthorized reseller list then?

Employee admitting that the Escort and Beltronics radar detectors that they sold were NOT NEW UNITS and only had a 30 day warranty and that if the customer purchased their “Planinum Protection Plan” for their one year warranty, their total price was $10.00 more for a used unit, then a new factory unit with the same warranty from an authorized dealer!

Overstock.com:  We note refurbished items on our site with an icon and the words Refurbished or Reconditioned.

Customer:  I understand that. I see that ICON on most of your Apple products. So I am aware of the ICON

Customer:  I just feel it is unfair to purchase a NEW item and that the mfg 1 yr warranty is void since overstock is an authorized reseller

Customer:  It’s like you going to buy a new car.. Drive it off the lot and break and the dealership tell you.. Sorry your warranty is void.. You didn’t ask so we didn’t tell you.

Customer:  Dimensions: 2.8 in. W x 1.2 in. H x 5.3 in. D Warranty: 30 Day – Overstock

Customer:  come on

Overstock.com: Carlos, I understand your point here. However, as per the information I see the unit that you have ordered is a new one and not refurbished. We deal in liquidation business due to this nature of business we are not considered as authorized dealers by the manufacturer. Hence most warranties offered by the manufacturer would not be valid. That is the reason why we offer warranty from our side and when available customers can purchase additional warranty as well.

Overstock.com: I’m sorry if this was missed while placing the order.

Overstock.com: Please let me know if you have any other questions for me?

Customer:  Don’t you think voiding the mfg warranty information on the purchasing page would be beneficial to the consumer?

Overstock.com:  Yes, I agree on that. That’s the reason why we list the warranty that is offered on an item on the product description page.

Customer:  you also list the mfg website which says their radars are backed by a one year waranty

Overstock.com:  It’s just for customer’s information. I’m sorry if that mislead. The warranty that would be honored would be the one listed on on our site.

Overstock.com: Do you have any other questions for me?

Customer:  Since you have agreed that the information can be and is misleading what is the possibility of at least returning my most recent purchase for a full refund

Overstock.com:  We would be unable to accept the return for a full refund as it is past the return time frame. You can return it for a partial refund. The refund amount would be decided by the certified technicians at the warehouse once the inspection is done.

Overstock.com:  Shall I proceed with the return on the latest order?

Customer:  I would like this to go through a manager for a full refund since your website is misleading and you have acknowledged that

Overstock.com:  I’m sorry; I did not acknowledge that the information provided was misleading.

Overstock.com:  Let me check on the refund again.

Customer:  thank you

Customer:  I am trying to be reasonable

Customer:  Asking for a refund on the least expensive and most recent

Overstock.com:  Thank you for holding.

Overstock.com:  I have checked on the refund and see that the order # ####### was placed on 05-30-2009. We would be unable to accept the return for a full refund on this due to the reason that it is way past the return timeframe.

Customer:  have you addressed this with a manager

Overstock.com:  Yes, I have check on this with my supervisor. If you wish to keep the item we can help you with a $25 credit either as in-store or back to your card.

Overstock.com: This is the best we can offer at the moment. Else, you can return the item for a refund.

Customer:  $50?

Overstock.com:  I’ll remain available for another minute or two if you need further assistance.

Customer:  full refund?

Overstock.com:  We have two options for you.

Customer:  I’ll do the return for a full refund as you mentioned

Overstock.com:  First if you wish to keep the item, I can help you with a $40 credit. Second, you can return the item for a refund.

Customer:  Full refund or partial?

Overstock.com:  I’m sorry, I never informed about a full refund anywhere. I was referring to a partial refund only.

Customer:  I’m trying to work with you

Customer:  ok

Customer:  how about a $50 refund. That’s $25 x 2 for the two purchases. I’ll agree to that

Overstock.com:  I’m sorry $40 is the maximum we can issue.

Overstock.com:  The other order is almost a year old.

Customer:  yup

Customer:  that’s the yr I lost on the voided warranty..

Customer:  for repair it is $60

Customer:  x2

Customer:  =$120

Customer:  giving me 1/3 of what you took away

Overstock.com: Okay, I’ll go ahead and issue $50 credit on the order # #######.

Customer:  thank you.. is there a confirmation #?

Overstock.com:  Once the refund is issued it should show up on your account within 3 – 5 business days.

Overstock.com:  Yes, I’ll help you with the reference number for this chat.

Customer:  ok

Overstock.com:  Here is the reference # ####-#####.

Overstock.com:  You can use the same if you have any questions related to the credit.

Customer: ok

Customer:  thank you for your patience

Overstock.com: Just so you know that we would be unable to accept the return on the radars once the credit is issued.

Overstock.com:  You’re welcome.

Overstock.com:  Do you have any other questions for me?

Customer:  I thought you said the radar was way past the reurn date?

Overstock.com:  Yes, that’s right.

Customer:  You just said once the refund is credited I couldn’t return it

Overstock.com:  I’m sorry, I meant to say that it cannot be returned for a partial refund as well.

Overstock.com:  Is there anything else I can help you with?

Customer:  ok

Customer:  that’s it thanks

Overstock.com:  Thanks for visiting Overstock.com. Your feedback is important.

Escort and Beltronics had taken over the long range arena several years ago, first with the introduction of the Bel STi-R and then with the Escort 9500ci both of which are remote mounted units and immune to all RDDs.

However many radar detector enthusiasts or “V1 Zombies” that they are sometimes referred to on the popular RadarDetector.net forum discounted Escort and Beltronics achievements as this technology had not been followed through with their M3 platform dash mounted radar detectors.

But then in June of this year rumors began leaking out in the radar detector community about some new extreme long range radar detector that Escort was working on.

A few days later I spoke with one of my contacts at Escort and pressed for more information. He confirmed that they were starting production of a new radar detector unit called the Redline which he compared to a high performance race car stripped of all the bells and whistles found on the Escort 9500ix.

He related that Escort took used their knowledge and knowhow utilized in developing the M4 platform and integrated this into the Redline to develop a dash mounted unit that would be unmatched by any other radar detector currently in production in both range and sensitivity while also being completely stealth to all radar detector detectors (RDDs).

I told him about a planned business trip that I had scheduled in a few weeks to the east coast and of my vacation to Sturgis SD. He related that they would overnight me one of their first units as soon as one became available.

A couple days prior to my trip to the east coast the UPS truck showed up with a spanking new Redline and I packed it up for my trip, thinking that this would be a great opportunity to review the Redline’s performance against the New Jersey State Troopers X band guns.

My first encounter with X band was while I was northbound on the Parkway in Bloomfield NJ. When the Redline first alerted two bars and three miles later increased to five bars, I felt confident that I had scored my first NJ State Trooper. As I approached the state police barracks the Redline was at full alert.

I pulled into their parking lot and at the far end, at the full pumps sat an unoccupied trooper’s car.

I continued north to Route 3 then onto the New Jersey Turnpike south. While on the Turnpike I encountered two more New Jersey State Troopers that were operating X band. In each of these encounters the Redline began alerting several miles away and as I approached the signal gradually ramped up to full alert.

I then headed back to the Garden State Parkway north, and then headed into New York and onto Connecticut.

During my east coast trip the Redline gave me ample warning against K and Ka threats, but how would had these compared to the Valentine, I had to find out.

After returning home I called a “V1 Zombie” that lives in the Phoenix area and made him a deal. If he would let me borrow his new V1 for the next few weeks I’d allow him to test out a new radar detector after its official release announcement, he agreed.

My next journey, Sturgis South Dakota for the 69th annual motorcycle rally .I loaded up my forty five foot Freightliner with my “Stealth Hog” and mounted the V1 on the right hand corner of the passenger windshield and the Redline on the left hand corner of the driver’s windshield to allow for maximum separation as to reduce the chances of any crossover interference.

Perhaps the greatest threat to “lead footed” motorists like myself in Arizona are the Redflex photo radar vans that the state has contracted with for automated traffic enforcement.

When these Redflex vans first made their appearance last year in Arizona, you stood a fair chance of detecting them with a good radar detector. However, it appears since that they have fine tuned their system using lower powered emissions while also changing the polarity.

Making my way north through Arizona and onto New Mexico, I encountered seven of the Redflex photo radar vans.

In each encounter the Redline alerted first of up to a distance of 100 feet prior to the Valentine One.

Outside of Williams Arizona the V1 scored one against the Redline. There was an Az DPS officer parked in the medium using instant on K band. The V1 alerted a second prior to the Redline alerting to this threat.

Later that same afternoon a similar situation occurred when the V1 alerted a second prior to the Redline on short distance instant on Ka.

While traveling up to South Dakota through New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming we encountered a total of eleven verified K and Ka hits, eight of which the Redline alerted to prior to the V1 and during one encounter they alerted simultaneously.

In several of these encounters the difference in range was very noticeable. In one constant on K band encounter in Colorado the Redline had a quarter mile advantage.

After my arrival in South Dakota I installed the Redline radar detector on my Harley Davidson Ultra Glide Screamin Eagle edition that has been dubbed “The Stealth Hog”.

I spent the following week riding over 1200 additional miles through the Black Hills of South Dakota, northwest through Wyoming and Montana to the outskirts of Yellowstone Park, then into North Dakota and finally south back to the Sturgis.

My most interesting Redline experience while it was installed on the Stealth Hog was actually while it was parked in Redford SD, population 25.

Roshford is at the end of a fourteen mile paved county road and is a popular spot for bikers attending the Sturgis bike rally because of the “unofficial” burn out competitions that take place in front of the community store/bar.

Typically officers from the South Dakota Highway Patrol and the local Sheriff’s Office set up radar enforcement on a ridge overlooking the area and once they hear the squealing of the tires and see black smoke they converge down the hill with their ticket books.

The riders coming into Redford were all reporting the road was clear and plans were underway to start that morning’s competition.

As my bike was parked directly infront of the bar and the staging area, I thought it was prudent to move it.

As I started it up and pulled out from my spot, the Redline was full tilt K band!

I flagged one of the participants that was lining his bike up that there was an officer laying in wait somewhere in the area.

About ten minutes later a group came into town on their ATVs advising those in the staging area that there was a deputy’s SUV parked on a ridge overlooking the town, about a half mile out.

On my return trip home from Sturgis I had another unique encounter while driving through Mohab Utah.

In this encounter the Redline programmed in spec mode, where it alerts by the frequency not the band. The Redline first alerted 24.128 (K band) and then alerted 35.75 (Ka Band) and then went back to 24.128 (K band).

A few hundred feet later the V1 alerted, also reporting a double boggie.

Halfway through town I noticed the familiar glow of a speed trailer, but again the frequency changed on the Redline to 35.75 and then back to 24.128.

After I passed the trailer the signal strength decreased on 24.128 but then went full alert 35.75!

I then spotted a white and green patrol unit a few hundred feet after the trailer on the west side of the roadway.

During the course of this review of the Redline, I logged over 8,000 miles travelling through 13 states driving passenger vehicles, a commercially rated motor home, and on a high performance motorcycle.

In over 80% of the encounters when it went head to head with the Valentine One the Redline came out on top.

Another area where the Redline came out on top is filtering. I do give Valentine Research credit by improving their filtering capabilities after Automotive Weekly dubbed the V1 as the “Chicken Little of radar detectors” in 2005.

However the Redline reigns champ in this area, as an example; while traveling through remote areas of Utah the V1 alerted over 12 times to what I suspect were other radar detectors in my immediate area. The Redline only alerted three times to what I would label as a false alert during my entire South Dakota trip.

The Redline has become a permanent fixture on my high performance Screamin Eagle Harley Davidson, but would I recommend the Redline for everyone?  No!

As the tech I spoke with when I first became introduced to the Redline, he referred to it as a high performance race car stripped of all the bells and whistles found on the 9500ix.

Living in an area that is saturated with photo radar enforcement I find that the Escort 9500ix is a better alternative as it comes equipped with the photo enforcement database.

Also as my normal area where I drive is in a more urban environment where false alerts are more prevalent I find the GPS filtering capabilities of the 9500ix very refreshing.

However, if you’re a “road warrior” with a spending a majority of your time travelling interstate highways, have a CDL (Commercial Drivers License), or drive in areas where radar detectors are illegal and need a “stealth radar detector” immune to all RDD’s then yes, the Redline is hands down the worlds best super charged extreme long range radar detector made today!

Yesterday Automobile Magazine published a review of the Escort 9500i (really a Escort 9500ix) and the Cobra XRS 9955 radar detectors. While reading it I was SHOCKED on several of the things that the author said about the units, his review and his findings. First off here is the link to the review:

http://budurl.com/9epv

The review opens up with a photo of the an Escort 9500ix and the Cobra XRS 9955 side by side on the windshield and then in his opening copy writes, “After living with each unit successively for several weeks”

Therefore this photo and his opening suggests to me that he did this test with both radar detectors this three week period with them side by side. There is no way that you can perform a radar detector test like this, especially one being a Cobra, one of the “leakiest” radar detectors ever made!

Radar detectors emit RFI (radio interference). The radar detectors would react to this RFI in either of two ways; reduce the sensitivity of the radar detector as attempts to filter out the source of the RFI, or the detector would see the RFI and report it as a false alert.

Then if you click on the photo you will see that the detector he tested was infact an Escort 9500ix and not an Escort 9500i.

Then if you read further in the article you will see that he obtained the unit on Amazon for “just over $400.00”

Well number one, the 9500ix has a blue display and not a red display and secondly the MSP from ALL AUTHORIZED ESCORT DEALERS is $499.95

Therefore the detector that was tested was NOT NEW or purchased from an authorized Escort dealer.

On my blog and on RadarDetector.net I have published several articles documenting unauthorized dealers selling used and/or refurbished units as new. Based upon the writer of this review, I can only assume that he fell victim to a “Slezebay” dealer.

Then the review says “No one, short of a government agency, has the resources to thoroughly evaluate all the detectors on the market.. “I guess he didn’t learn in journalism school to never paint yourself in a corner by never saying never”

If he took the time and did his research before he published his review he would has found our forum www.RadarDetector.net and/or my blog www.RadarRoy.com.

Today we have over 531,298 members which over 11,000 are active radar detector enthusiasts! Together we have published over 44,577 posts reviewing virtually every radar detector ever made starting from the “Fuzzbuster” to the “Cheap Ass Radar Detectors” to the newer GPS enabled units.

This review is so poorly thought-out that I’m troubled that such a prestigious magazine as Automobile allows it to be published on their forum.

What do you think? If you agree or disagree with me I’d love to hear from you and would ask that you do the following:

Comment to this posting

Go to the article on Automobile Magazine website and make your comments

Escort Inc. recently released their new “Radar Detector Tools” program. This program enables owners of Escort’s 9500ci remote mounted radar detector to download the latest firmware and traffic enforcement camera database for their detector and installs them to your detector.

The user also has the ability through this program to change/save/upload the detector’s settings such as band detection, display modes, deactivating/activating Truelock feature and automute settings.

Hats off to Escort, as they are the first radar detector company that I know of that allows the end user to update the detectors firmware.

The following video demonstrates the various options with Escort’s new program.

Over the past two weeks with the Escort 9500ci installed and driving over 1800 miles through the Arizona desert and high country, I can honestly say that Escort has developed the most intelligent and “super charged” performing radar detector/laser shifter that I have ever laid hands on!

Radar Detector Performance:
The 9500ci’s radar sensitivity and overall performance is identical to that of the Beltronics STI-r (STI Remote) that I have been using in my motor home and both are immune to all radar detector detector devices including the latest Spectre RDD.

Many radar detector enthusiasts consider the V1 the baseline, which all radar detectors should be measured; therefore I began my review by hanging a Valentine 1 radar detector (version 3.864) on my pickup’s windshield.

My first “real life” encounter was on a desolate stretch of a divided four lane highway, north of Buckeye Arizona. The 9500ci first alerted Ka then flashed my speed of 67 mph. A few seconds later the V1 began its alert. As I rounded a sharp bend on the highway I spotted a Buckeye PD black and white vehicle parked in the turnout lane.

My second encounter was in the city of Glendale in a densely populated business/residential area early in the morning. The 9500ci alerted K band and displayed my speed of 51 mph and again a few moments later the V1 alerted. During this initial alert I was concerned that this was a false as I had a clear view of the road ahead, but as I approached the next intersection a Maricopa County Sheriff’s patrol vehicle came into view pulling up to a stop sign at a 90 degree angle from my approach.

Most “low end and mid level” detectors would had failed during both of these “extreme off axis” encounters, but both the V1 and 9500ci performed very well, with the 9500ci having a slight edge.

The most dramatic difference between the V1 and the 9500ci was the increased number of false alerts that the Valentine One alerted to over the 9500ci. The ratio was almost 5 to 1 and once the 9500ci automatically registered the false bogies with its GPS Truelock, the ratio decreased to 5 to 0! 

Over the course of the last seventeen days I’ve had additional fourteen “real life” radar encounters with the 9500ci. During each the Escort 9500ci’s long range sensitivity sniffed out the radar traps three to five seconds prior to the V1, providing me with ample time and distance to properly adjust my driving.

GPS Powered Truelock Filter:
False alerts are the chief complaint of radar detector users and the areas that I normally drive are littered with X and K band devices that would drive most motorists crazy. With most other radar detectors I normally deactivate X band and cope with the K band false alerts. However during my review of the 9500ci, I allowed the detector use its “computerized brain” to identify by frequency and mark out the trash.

Once the 9500ci alerts to the same frequency the third time at the exact location identified by GPS, the detector emits a short beep indicating that the frequency and location were marked as a false. Subsequently, if you drive by this same location after the location was marked as a false, and the detector does not sense the same signal, the location is deleted from memory.

During the last seventeen days my 9500ci has automatically marked thirty seven positions as false alert locations.

Safety Camera Database:
Red light and fixed photo radar cameras are becoming more prevalent each day as cash strapped municipalities install these cash cow devices to raise cash under the guise of traffic safety.

The 9500ci has an internal database of most, if not all the fixed camera locations in North America. Based upon your speed the 9500ci will alert you ten seconds prior to arriving with an LED read out of the camera type and distance.

My wife is often critical of my fervor to radar detector testing and she first grudgingly rode with me during my initial review of the 9500ci. However her viewpoint quickly changed and commented that she never knew the abundance of the red light and speed cameras in the vicinity of our home nearby shopping centers and wanted to know when I could buy and install a 9500ci in her car.

To update the database on the 9500ci, you first must register your unit online on their website. But once this is done, you simply download the database (and any other firmware updates) to your computer and then connect the 9500ci with a USB cable.

Laser Shifter:
During my fourteen day review of the 9500ci I did not encounter any laser enforcement by police. However as noted during my testing of the ZR4 and our install of the 9500ci, the shifter did a respectable job of jamming police laser on my large profile F250 pickup at my test facility.

During the previous test of the ZR4 on our Toyota Sequoia, a midsize SUV, the ZR4 jamming performance was awsome with numerous “Jam to Guns” on many of the laser guns tested.

Closing Comments:
I have to admit, I have a pretty neat job. Radar detector and laser jammer manufactures send me their latest gadgets to test, I write a review discussing my personal experiences and if I like the unit it remains in my vehicle until the next bigger and better detector/jammer comes out.

However in the case of the new Escort 9500ci I find it hard to imagine that anyone, even the engineers at Beltronics/Escort, can ever top this. Yes, the 9500ci the most expensive radar detector on the market today, but worth every penny!

By making an investment in purchasing the most advanced radar and laser defense system ever made you’ll have the first smart radar detector with its own brain to knock out false alerts and warn you well in advance of radar, laser and fixed camera enforcement traps you’ll encounter.

The downside; once your “better half” finds out about the all the features and performance you maybe purchasing a second 9500ci for their car, as I am doing now!

Radar Roy’s Badge Rating
Five Stars

This morning RacerX from the RadarDetector.net forum came over and I installed the 9500ci radar detector into my Ford F-250 Harley Davidson Edition pickup while RacerX videotaped the process.

I begin this online video by reviewing all of the accessories that are included with the Escort 9500ci remote mounted radar detector and then start the install by installing the Escort Shifter ZR4 laser jammer heads.

I then install the radar detector antenna on top of the radiator shield and then demonstrate running the various cables through the firewall.

Next I install the 9500ci interface under the dash, plug in the various accessories and install the controller, the display, amplified speaker and the GPS antenna.

I tie off all the cables, apply power to the interface and turn on the ignition and the Escort’s new remote mounted radar detector comes to life.

We tape the ramp up of the detector by shooting a K band radar signal to the unit and then we head out to my private airstrip and perform test the laser jamming capabilities of the unit.

Initially I was very hesitant to perform laser jamming testing with my truck because of the size of the front grill area, but we had jam to gun with the LTI 100 and had only 45’ of punch through with the Pro Laser III. However the deadly Stalker ate my truck for lunch and that was the only laser gun we had any difficulties with.

Off camera I did testing with the Spectre III and the 9500ci was completely stealth, immune to detection.

Over the next couple weeks I will be doing additional testing with the 9500ci and videotaping and posting the results here on RadarRoy.com.

The new Escort 9500ci radar detector has been creating allots of buzz on the radar detector forums and has become the most anticipated speed countermeasure device by detector enthusiasts since its introduction at January’s CES show. Therefore I was very excited when I found out that I was one of three reviewers selected by Escort Inc. to test drive one of their final production units prior to its release to the public.

Yesterday my UPS driver pulled up lugging what I first thought was a case of radar detectors because of the size of the package but inside I found a single retail 9500ci package containing Escort’s new radar and laser defense system!

Inside the retail box I found three other packages each containing the modular parts and accessories for Escort’s system along with three manuals. After installing countless radar detectors and laser jammers during my career I’m not one to normally read a manual. But after eyeing all the various cables, interfaces and accessories I sat down in my office for an hour reviewing each.

Included with the manual is an Escort product key code card for registering your 9500ci online and allowing access to their online database for software updates and their enforcement camera database.

In a separate package there is a USB cable that interfaces with the 9500ci which allows you to connect your computer to install the software and enforcement camera database updates.

In box one the Control Module, Display Module and speaker is packaged. The LED display is “brilliant blue” in color and the control module has five buttons used to adjust the sensitivity, the volume, to mark locations into the GPS, to power the unit on and off and to mute the detector.

The second box contains the 9500ci’s interface, the radar antenna and an external GPS antenna. The radar detector antenna is the same used with the Beltronics STi-r making it completely undetectable to all police radar detector detectors, including the Spectre.

The interface unit which tucks under the dash is labeled and color coded making it easier to confirm that the correct device is plugged into the correct port.

The external GPS antenna is magnetic and includes a windshield mount to allow mounting in the interior of the car.

The third box contains the ZR4 shifters, two heads for the front and one head for the rear. The front shifters have the “ratchet” style mounting system attached and included are secondary mounting brackets. During my previous install and test of the ZR4, I found that I could not properly level the front shifter heads using the “ratchet mounting” system as I was between adjustment points. The proper placement and leveling of the Shifters are of extreme importance and I would encourage anyone doing this install to watch my ZR4 video prior to attempting it.

The 9500ci’s manual states that by default that the Shifters are programmed in receive mode only and must be programmed to active the laser jamming capabilities. I suspect the reason for this is to allow the sale and install of the 9500ci system in states that prohibit such active laser jamming devices.

One of the most anticipated features of the Escort 9500ci is its GPS capabilities allowing the user to mark their own locations, use Escorts speed enforcement camera database and the units ability to sniff out and identify false alarms on its own.

The 9500ci comes preloaded with a database of fixed US traffic enforcement cameras. As camera locations are frequently moved or added by cities and towns I strongly encourage users to download the latest database from Escort’s website on a monthly basis.

By pressing the “Mark Location” on the control module, the user has the ability to add their own locations to the database such as “Speed Trap” locations, “Speed Camera” location, “Red Light Camera” locations and other places of interest.

The Auto Learn/Auto Unlearn feature is for X and K band only. If the exact radar frequency is detected at the same location three times, the 9500ci will automatically lock out this location as a false alarm location. Once this frequency is locked out no alert will be given at this location unless it detects a new signal on a different frequency. Also once a location is self programmed as a false alarm location, if on a subsequent pass that same frequency is not detected the 9500ci removes it from the database.

I suspect that many radar detector enthusiasts will be testing the “Lockout” feature after installing the 9500ci. My experience in doing this type of test is that the user must leave the area prior to doing any subsequent radar tests. From experience the detector remains in “lock out mode” registering other radar alerts until the detector determines through its GPS that the unit has left the “locked out area.”

This coming week I will be installing the 9500ci and performing various radar and laser tests. I plan on videotaping the install along with the alerting features including the detectors ramp up upon detection of a signal.

Over the past several months there has been quite a bit of debate regarding the enforcement of patents in the radar detector and laser jamming industry on RadarDetector.net

Wikipdedia states that the elements of patent infringement includes any party that manufactures, uses, sells, or offers for sale patented technology during the term of the patent and within the country that issued the patent, is considered to infringe the patent.

As the operator of RadarDetector.net, I have come under fire from radar detector enthusiasts for censoring messages relating to devices that I suspect violate patents and by manufactures for not censoring enough of these messages because they feel the messages themselves encourage the illegal importation and use of these products within the USA.

Today while searching the net for cases involving the speed countermeasure industry, I was surprised to find a recent filing by Escort Inc. against Cobra Electronics for patent infringement regarding Escort’s new 9500i radar detector.

In December of 2003, Escort Inc. filed patent number 6,670,905 (905 patent) for a GPS enabled radar detector that aids in the management of unrelated or otherwise unimportant sources (false alerts) and also maintains a list of the known stationary sources in nonvolatile memory. After the patent was grated to Escort, I would suspect that they used it in the development of their new 9500i radar detector.

I was aware of Escort’s patent and was one of the select few that had an opportunity to test and review the Escort 9500i’s before its release at the 2007 CES Show in Las Vegas. Therefore it was somewhat of a surprise to me (and several others in the radar detector industry) that several weeks prior to the CES show, Cobra Electronics issued a press release of having the first GPS enabled radar detector, the XRS R9G. 

It was then that I asked contacts that I had inside Escort if they had any comment about Cobra’s infringement on their patent. Then the official “off the record comment” was that they needed to look at Cobra’s new detector and their patent and let the attorney decide. After ten months of not hearing any follow-up I figured that the topic was dead, how wrong I was.

Today I located Escort’s complaint 1:07-cv-852 filed October 12, 2007 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against Cobra Electronics alleging that Cobra had violated Escort’s  905 patent with Cobra’s manufacture and sale of the XRS R9G.

On November 11th, Cobra Electronics filed their response to the court disputing Escort’s claim of infringement and filed a counter claim against Escort alleging that Escort violated their “279 patent” entitled “Electronic Signal Detector with Mute Feature” in development of the 9500i.

As both sides are now locked in litigation, it is doubtful that I can get either an official or unofficial response from either side. So we will keep watch for any new legal briefs or filings in this court until the case settles.

Albuquerque to Henderson

This weekend kicks off the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival and as we were leaving the hotel we saw dozens of balloons already in today’s morning sky. Breakfast and starting line was at Saint Pius High School on Coors Blvd and Saint Joseph’s way. The morning school schedule was arranged to allow the students time to come out to see cars and crew.

The official count of entries for this years rally was at seventy five the evening of the pre-race. However eight cars, including my sponsored TransCon Ambulance dropped out from the starting line because of mechanical difficulties. Starting this morning leg we had forty eight cars left in the rally.

After we pulled into the parking lot, a group of students escorted us to their cafeteria where they served us a hot scrambled egg and bacon breakfast. After eating we came out to the lot just as the students were being released from their classes.

Once they laid eyes on the Bat Mobile, students twenty deep circled. Neil the owner and driver of the Bat Mobile fired up the rear jet engine (a large propane burner) and a four foot blue and yellow flame blew out of the rear. Neil then loaded up the rocket launcher and shot a projectile across the parking lot. All the students applauded and cheered.

The Albuquerque police department began mobilizing for their escort of our group while the Arch Bishop led the drivers and crew in prayer. The mayor of Albuquerque then gave a short speech and then started the race by waving the green flag.

The Albuquerque police had shut down northbound traffic on Coors Blvd. and all west bound traffic on I-40 (during morning rush hour) and we had clear sailing to the outskirts of town.

Being from Arizona I was very familiar with today’s route and even had a pretty good idea what today’s challenges laid ahead. At the New Mexico and Arizona state line I knew of several Indian souvenir shops that included the Chief Sitting Bull’s store and the Tee Pee Cigar store. I had commented to Bob and to the Blinder Xtreme team the evening before that I would expected one clue would be to find the chief and have a seat next to him.

I also figured that about lunch time we would be pulling into Winslow Arizona and commented that we would be standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona eating lunch.

As I was the designated driver for today’s leg, Bob as my navigator had the privilege to open the sealed envelope with today’s clues;

Clue One: find the big tee pee, put on a head dress and strip down to your skivvies and sit Indian style in front of the doorway.

Clue Two’s clue was on a prerecorded CD. Bob stuck the CD into his player and the Eagles song “Take It Easy” began playing.

We made a beeline for the state line while other Fireballers were trying to obtain clues on their laptops before they got out of range of the Albuquerque cell network.

I had hoped to do a comparison test of the 9500i during this trip; however my only Escort 9500i radar detector was sitting on the dash of the TransCon Ambulance that had broken down outside of Orlando.

Also over the past several days, other Fireballers that were using some of those “cheaper brands” were impressed with our arsenal of the high end units and begged us to borrow them as over one third of the group during yesterday’s run were pulled over and cited.

So today our arsenal was whittled down to our old trusty Bel STi and the Cobra remote. We plugged in the STi hoping that we wouldn’t have another 33.8 encounter as we had the evening earlier, pledging that we would send the unit in after our return for the firmware upgrade.

It wasn’t far outside of Albuquerque when we received our first hit on 24.1 K band. A half mile later we observed a white Sheriff’s car east bound on I-40 moving in our direction.

At mp 48 on I-40 we received our first laser hit during the rally when the Blinder laser jammer and the STi went full alert as we approached an overpass. We slowed down and looked over, under and around the overpass and never saw a trooper, false alert?

At 11:40 MST we arrived at the Arizona New Mexico border pulled off the exit and drove to the Tee Pee Cigar store. Bob stripped down to his under ware, put on his cowboy boots and head dress and sat at the front door for his picture.

We then drove next door and picked up the Navaho Times published in Window Rock Arizona and took off for the Arizona welcome sign on the highway.

After snapping the welcome sign we headed for the corner in Winslow Arizona.

A few minutes after arriving into my home state, we received a text message that an Arizona DPS officer was sitting in the median at mp 305 running 35.5 Ka. At mp 307 the Bel STi gave a short alert of 35.5 and then again as we neared mp 306. The detector then remained silent as we approached, giving us a good indication that the trooper was using radar in instant on mode.

We entered Winslow at and I drove to the corner of 2nd and Kinsley and located the Fireball Staff tent. Before we could receive our stamp, we were told that someone from our car had to sing the tune that put Winslow on the map. I started signing and a member of the Winslow Chamber asked me to stop because if anyone heard me, they would take the town off the map, she then gave us our sticker.

We had a quick lunch and were then handed an envelope containing the location of the finish line of today’s leg, the MonteLago Resort in Henderson Nevada.

The evening prior my daughter Erin called me saying that she had broken her leg and was in the emergency room. She expected to be released later that night, but the doctor told her she would have to remain in bed until she could be looked at by a specialist on Monday. She now lives in Flagstaff, so I thought that I would quickly stop in for a visit.

Also while in Flagstaff I figured that we could stop by the DPS Northern Command Center to get our trooper scooper photo.

Just after leaving Winslow, at mp 130 our Beltronics STi alerted to 34.1 and a short time later observed a white Sheriff’s Office vehicle parked in the median. Then at mp 148 we received our second 34.1 and a mile later observed an Arizona Trooper parked in the median.

After arriving in Flagstaff we got on Old Route 66 and drove to the Arizona DPS center. A few minutes after arriving we spotted a trooper. I badged him requesting a photo and he obliged.

We then drove to the west end of Flagstaff to my daughter’s townhouse and paid a visit. She was glad to see us and we spent a few precious minutes relating the events of the past several days.

Heading back onto the freeway and Bob and I began discussing plans on how we could make up lost time, as now we were at the rear of the pack. As we were going to cross into Nevada at Boulder Dam, I knew that there were no stores in the area of the dam to purchase a Nevada newspaper for our state sign assignment. I called Bill, a friend of mine in Kingman and asked him to call around the area to find a store that sold any Nevada newspapers. He called back in a few minutes relating that the Flying J Truck Stop in Kingman had a pile of Nevada newspapers. I asked if he could call back and ask the clerk to put one on hold for me, as I knew that any Fireballer ahead would take the entire stack.

We had clear sailing on I-40 leaving Flagstaff. We did get a text message after leaving the town limits that there was a DPS trooper at mp 65, but we figured that he would be long gone before we closed the 100 mile gap. However at mp 66 the STi alerted 35.4 and there at mp 65 we spotted the officer.

We flew into the Flying J for our newspaper and surprised the clerk when we gave her a five dollar tip as we had the last Nevada newspaper left in the store.

At this point in the today’s run I commented to Bob that my legs were beginning to cramp from sitting behind the wheel the last five hours and asked if he would drive the remainder of the trip. He jumped behind the wheel and I took over navigation.

I knew the location of the report from prior trips into Vegas, but I was interested in seeing what our GPS would estimate our arrival time at based upon our location. I was surprised to see that my recently updated Garmin was giving a route on the Boulder Highway as the fastest route as I knew a much faster one using Lake Mead Hwy.

Traffic was unusually light crossing the Bolder Dam and we stopped at the Nevada welcoming sign to take our state sign photo.

Bob and I had made up some valuable time while on 93 from Kingman and we had passed a third of the group up prior to our arrival at the Dam. I knew that these Fireballers didn’t think of getting their newspaper in Kingman so they would be forgoing today’s state sign bonus points. However this would give them an opportunity to catch up with us.

Sure enough as we drove into Boulder City we saw five Fireballers behind us. I commented to Bob if our GPS showed Bolder Highway as the route to the resort, I would suspect that theirs did too. So we tried to figure out a plan to ditch them so they would take the longer route.

We attempted several times to slow down to allow them to pass, but they knew I was from the area and we suspected that they wanted follow behind.

As we approached the Boulder Highway exit, Bob sped up and began merging into the turning lane. All the Fireballers behind us followed suit. Then at the last second, Bob turned left back onto the highway, while the remaining group remained on the exit.

We continued on to Lake Mead Highway and turned off to head to the resort.

We pulled into the resort seeing that at least half of the other contestants had been us on today’s leg. However family first, my daughter was glad that I took a few precious minutes away from this rally to spend it with her.

Tomorrow is track day number two, and then we are off to Hollywood!