I began this thread and thank all of you very much for your opinions, comments and experiences. I received much great information and greatly appreciate it.

I ended up buying the Escort 9500 xi. While the Escort 9500 ix, V1 and Bell STI are all very good radar detectors, only the Escort 9500 has a GPS in it and the ability to warn you where red light cameras and speed cameras exist. There are so many of these red light cameras and speed cameras going up all over the country, Escort is currently updating the database a couple of times a month!

You just plug your detector into your laptop and download a new update. Escort also has the ability to revise the radar detector firmware and send updates you can put in yourself. Unlike the V1 where it's a paid revision each time you send it in to update. I still plan to purchase a laser jammer system to accomponay the 9500 ix to complete system.

Thank you again for sharing all of your wisdom!

 

I think the 9500 seems to be the best. How much is is custom installed? I was quoted a crazy price in WA.

 

Are jammers legal. I am hearing different things.

 

There are radar jammers and then there are laser jammers.

Radar = FCC so federal laws against jamming.

http://guysoflidar.com/usa-radar-jammer-laws.html


Laser = FDA so only illegal in nine states so far.

http://guysoflidar.com/usa-laser-jammer-laws.html

 

What is the difference between a radar jammer and a laser jammer?

 

The 9500 xi is $499. If you can live with the windshield mount and cig lighter power cord, there is no installation fee. I opted for a hard wire install so that I could avoid the cig lighter coiled cord. A guy on eBay http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Radar-De...__W0QQ_armrsZ1 sells the hard wire kits for the Escort 9500 for like $15 and it includes a mute button. I'm putting mine in this weekend. I'll let you know how it worked out!

 

thanks.

Does that one have jamming capabilities?

 

No it does not. But neither does the V1. A laser jammer is a totally different animal. I'm considering the Escort Zr4 http://www.buyradardetectors.com/Pro...r-Defense.aspx but at this point have not decided. Also, a laser jammer requires professional installation as 2 sensors go up front and another in the rear. Lots of wire to run. I'm guessing another 300-400 for a very clean install. Hope this helps!

 

Last Summer an Indianapolis Escort dealer quoted me $895. for the installed laser jammer.

 

Learn the difference between radar and laser first. Jamming radar is against federal law and could result in a $10,000 fine and one year in prison for the first offense. On the other hand, there are no federal laws against jamming laser and only nine states have laws against jamming police laser.

http://www.laserveil.com/police/radar/

RADAR is an acronym for RAdio Detection And Ranging. Unlike LIDAR, police RADAR directly determines a vehicle's speed by measuring the doppler shift in its returned frequency (such as the increasing or decreasing pitch of an approaching or receding train and emergency vehicle).


http://www.laserveil.com/laser/polic...-police-lidar/

LIDAR is an acronym for LIght Detection And Ranging. A police laser emits a highly focused beam of invisible light, in the near infrared region of light, that is centered at 904nm of wavelength and is only about 22 inches (56cm) in diameter at 1000 feet (300m). Unlike police RADAR which directly determines a vehicle's speed by measuring its doppler shift, police laser-lidar calculates speed by observing the changing amount of time is takes to "see" reflected pulses of light over a discreet amount of time.

 

I understand the differences, but which is more common or used more often?

It's not worth spending the $ for a laser jammer if they only used radar.

 

Go to radardetector.net and ask the members of the forum and they will tell you because it all depends on where you live. They only use laser in Hawaii so a laser jammer would be your top priority over a radar/laser detector. Generally speaking, radar is used more often than lidar because it can be used while the car is moving. Laser can only be used from a stationary and stable location and most of the time it requires chase cars to catch speeders after the cop with the lidar gun shoots them. Also, don't even worry about radar jammers because the only one that could jam Ka band was $1500 and the guy who made them was shut down by the FCC.

I see you are from Washington so check these links:

http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...0-10-08-a.html

Washington

Bellingham: K Ka, Laser, possible X in Blaine area
Camas: K band (C/O, one instance of I/O), ProLaser 3
Clark County Sheriff: C/O K band
Ferndale: X
Grant County: Laser
Kittitas County: Laser
Lacey: Laser
Lynnwood: Laser, KA
Monroe: Laser
Mukilteo: Laser, Ka
Olympia: K I/O, Laser
Redmond: Ka, Laser
Seattle: Laser
Selah: Laser
Snohomish County Sheriff: Laser, Ka
Thurston County Sheriff: C/O K
Washougal: Ka 35.5 (C/O, haven't seen I/O, used to use K (haven't seen it in awhile)
WSP: Laser (PL III, LTI Marksman)


http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...at-states.html

Washington - Pro Laser III, LTI Marksman, Pro-lite


http://www.radardetector.net/forums/...bands-u-s.html

Washington - Laser, K, Ka, POP, Airborn VASCAR, X

 

On a 911, one front laser jammer should be enough, according to K40. Also, K40 advised me not to bother with a rear laser jammer. The tech guy's explanation was that laser is only supposed to be used on an approaching vehicle, so no need to worry about being lasered from the rear. I would also add that since it can't be used from a moving car approaching you from behind, you will have seen the laser-holding cop and slowed down before he lasers you.

 

I've had the V1 for about 3 weeks. I believe what they say about it - more "false" alarms - but I'm glad to hear the alerts - it keeps me off the gas.

I can't tell for sure, but I think it give me a much better range than my old Escort 8500 (that's not to say the new 9500 isn't better, but I don't have it).

So far, I'm liking it a lot.

 

The V1 is definitely better than the Escort 8500 and Escort 8500 X50 and slightly better than the Escort 9500i and Escort 9500ix.

http://guysoflidar.com/august-2007/r...ctor-test.html