Escort Radar Detectors
Taka Mizutani
net.
First, how good are the Passport 3200 and 3100 Wideband detectors?
I know that the Valentine One got the highest marks in C&D, but how about
the Passport?
Second, does anyone have any experiences with their laser detector? How
does it compare to the one made by BEL and Whistler?
Third, in your opinion, is the package deal that Escort is offering right
now on their detectors a good deal? Any alternatives?
I need full protection, X/K/Ka and laser.
Also, what is the waiting list like for the Escort detectors?
Please e-mail if possible
Thanks,
Taka Mizutani
MIZU...@wharton.upenn.edu
Egan H Greenstein
I purchased an Escort DSP about a year and a half ago. It was my second
radar detector, and significantly outperformed the low-budget (Maxon) one
I had before.
I'd say that in terms of "false" alarms, it had about 2/3 as many, but
the significant thing was that it only registered a one on the LED scale
when I passed a store or bank. My Maxon used to go hog-wild in the same
places. I had the same thing happen on the highways. The Escort just
wasn't as sensitive to the random signals floating around out there, so
whenever I got a signal that registered more than one or two LEDs, it was
a cop, with almost no doubt.
Cincinnati Microwave is a great company (IMHO). They built a quality
product and backed it up with good service. I'm not totally convinced
that their current line is as well made or as accurate as it used to be,
though. I noticed that in their ads they've moved to larger and fewer
LEDs, and it looks like they also started using a plastic case. I may be
wrong, but the Passport 3100 and 3200 don't look as solid as the Escort
DSP does.
Unfortunately, my radar detector was, shall we say, appropriated by some
unseemly element of society recently. If I can scratch up the cash, I'm
planning on giving the Valentine a try soon.
Jim mielo
MIZU...@wharton.upenn.edu (Taka Mizutani) wrote:
>
> Hi, I would like to ask a few questions about Escort radar detectors to the
> net.
>
> First, how good are the Passport 3200 and 3100 Wideband detectors?
> I know that the Valentine One got the highest marks in C&D, but how about
> the Passport?
The escort did pretty well against the Valentine. I'm recalling the
article from memory so it may be a little off. If I remember correctly, the
valentine had a slight edge in X&K. In wideband Ka( stalker) the two tied
and in photoradar, the escort was far behind. In a later letter by
cincinatti micro, the company said that photoradar wasn't their priority
since it's a dying issue. I tend to agree since NJ has outlawed photoradar.
Plus, the machines are expensive and more complex. The big hype about
photorada was it could be set up and left unattended. However, most states
find it impossible to enforce unless a Cop is monitoring it. It seems
sometimes the machine takes picture of the wrong car or sometime the radar
unit displays the wrong speed. In C&D they said one unit actually took a
picture of nothing and said it was going 60 mph or some other speed(not
sure what the actual speed was. Also, its hard to cross exam an camera in
court. Most judges like to have an offocer to talk to when there is a
question of error.
>
> Second, does anyone have any experiences with their laser detector? How
> does it compare to the one made by BEL and Whistler?
I had a uniden rd9xl. The previous champ before this Ka stuff. The
new escort is better in sensitivity by a long shot over the uniden with
about equal false alarms in X&K
I'd avoid the whistlers. They're made like junk plus they emit so
many false signal to other radar detecters that they become annoying. Most
of my Ka falses come from other radar detectors and usually, the guy has a
whistler mounted on his windsheild. Plus they have no real benefits over
the others.
BELs are suppose to be pretty good.
The new unidens should be worth a look too.
>
> Third, in your opinion, is the package deal that Escort is offering right
> now on their detectors a good deal? Any alternatives?
> I need full protection, X/K/Ka and laser.
> Also, what is the waiting list like for the Escort detectors?
>
> Please e-mail if possible
> Thanks,
> Taka Mizutani
> MIZU...@wharton.upenn.edu
James Mielo
Rutgers College of Pharmacy '94
mi...@dorm.rutgers.edu
1990 GTi 8v
Sub Umbra Petri
Steve Bunis Chicago
> In article <MIZUTANT-1...@microlab2.med.upenn.edu>,
> MIZU...@wharton.upenn.edu (Taka Mizutani) wrote:
> >
> > Hi, I would like to ask a few questions about Escort radar detectors to the
> > net.
.
.
> > Second, does anyone have any experiences with their laser detector? How
> > does it compare to the one made by BEL and Whistler?
> many false signal to other radar detecters that they become annoying. Most
> of my Ka falses come from other radar detectors and usually, the guy has a
> whistler mounted on his windsheild. Plus they have no real benefits over
> the others.
On one occasion I put a Whistler and the 3200 on the windshield to check out sensitivity. On X band it seemed that the Whistler was super-sensitive, to
the point of being annoying. I felt the 3200 gave plenty of notice without
driving me nuts with excess low signal beeps. On the Ka band the 3200 fairly
often will give off a single or double signal (low intensity response) for
no apparant reason. I hadn't thought about it possibly being from other radar
detectors on the road. How sure of this are you? I do know that plugging in
the Whistler would peg the Ka detection on the 3200 during the Whistler's
power up test. On K band it seemed that the 3200 was a bit more sensitive
with no falses that I could detect.
I haven't had the Laser go off yet, so can't say anything about it! You
will know it when it does though, definitely a different sound!
.
.
.
> > Third, in your opinion, is the package deal that Escort is offering right
> > now on their detectors a good deal? Any alternatives?
> > I need full protection, X/K/Ka and laser.
> > Also, what is the waiting list like for the Escort detectors?
The package deal saves you $40 over buying each separately. I think thats a
good deal assuming you know you want both. I bought the 3200 and the Laser
just recently and delivery was within 10 days.
I'm thinking about another detector for my motorcycle. I've got to believe
that Escort will be coming out with a combined Laser/X/K/Ka/Stealth/PhotoRadar
unit soon :^). For my car I don't really mind having the two velcroed together
but I wouldn't want to do that on the bike.
> >
> > Please e-mail if possible
> > Thanks,
> > Taka Mizutani
> > MIZU...@wharton.upenn.edu
>
> James Mielo
> Rutgers College of Pharmacy '94
> mi...@dorm.rutgers.edu
> 1990 GTi 8v
>
> Sub Umbra Petri
---
Steve Bunis, Sun Microsystems ***DoD #0795***
Itasca, IL
Marc Blackwood
detector. Very nice, but can't find a price on it yet.
Remeber: the k band has been widened. The escort wideband are now old
technology. The kand band is now 33.4-36.0 Ghz previously 34.2-35.2 Ghz.
ma...@access.digex.com
Sean Reifschneider
>LEDs, and it looks like they also started using a plastic case. I may be
>wrong, but the Passport 3100 and 3200 don't look as solid as the Escort
>DSP does.
I agree that the old Escort DSP seems to be built like a tank compared to the
newer passports. Heck, even the old passport was built much better. But the
times are changing... I'm thinking of getting another DSP while they're still
seemably gettable. Nice detectors...
So yours got misappropriated? Sorry to hear that. HOpefully at the time it
was falshing with less than 10 hours to ge before it stops? :) I guess that
warning on the back of the detector didn't deter folks from taking it. You
do know though that if you report it stolen to Escort and it's returned for
service, they will ship it back to you.
(hoping they didn't get your key with it)
Sean
Donna Martz
>So yours got misappropriated? Sorry to hear that. HOpefully at the time it
>was falshing with less than 10 hours to ge before it stops? :) I guess that
>warning on the back of the detector didn't deter folks from taking it.
Thanks for setting up the soapbox for me: Cincinnati uwave definitely
gets a hardy burst of sloppy wet rasberrys for implementing this "key"
idea. I can't think of one other consumer product "feature" which has
caused me as much inconvenience as this so called deterrent. Did the
wit who thought of this really believe that a prospective thief would
give one shit about the longevity of a device they were about to
steal? Personally, I purchased a SOLO radar detector because it is
portable between the vehicles that I own, and I loathe the added
complexity that they have introduced by having to carry a detector
"key" also. I know that this is a revenue generator for them - one
I resent. I also know that the designer was glad that they were not
around on one long distance trip, when the SOLO battery died - and the
requisite key was on a key chain at home!!!!
w0...@desire.wright.edu
>
>> > I'd avoid the whistlers. They're made like junk plus they emit so
>> > many false signal to other radar detecters that they become annoying. Most
>> > of my Ka falses come from other radar detectors and usually, the guy has a
>> > whistler mounted on his windsheild. Plus they have no real benefits over
>> > the others.
>>
>> On one occasion I put a Whistler and the 3200 on the windshield to check out sensitivity. On X band it seemed that the Whistler was super-sensitive, to
>> the point of being annoying. I felt the 3200 gave plenty of notice without
>> driving me nuts with excess low signal beeps. On the Ka band the 3200 fairly
>> often will give off a single or double signal (low intensity response) for
>> no apparant reason. I hadn't thought about it possibly being from other radar
>> detectors on the road. How sure of this are you?
>
> other detector was before the test radar detector picked it up. The way the
> detectors work is by emitting their own signal to compare the incoming
> signal too. This id how the radar detector detectors(VG somthing or others)
> work. They pick up these signals. Thats why the stealth stuff is big. I get
> some falses that come towards me and then go away. Usually, I can see the
> other guys detector. I rarely get full alerts because of this but C&D say
> the whistlers are the worst. The one time this happened that I was able to
> see the other guys radar detector it was a whistler.
Interesting. But I read that in Car Audio and Electronics Mar or April 92'
that Whistler was one of the highest rated detectors. In order of ranking,
the BEL fourband with stealth. Whistler 3000 remote that comes in two pieces,
and then the Whistler Spectrum 2SE. Of course they did not take into
consideration of the Cincinnati Microwave & Valentine Research companies which
was a poor misfortune. Because we all know how well these two companies have
performed.
Question? Do you think anybody really cares whether or not their
detector sets off others' detectors? I doubt that this would be a major factor
unless you were driving in places where detectors are illegal.
jay
JR Wilner
the Bel blows it away. The Whistler constanly falsed and its range was poor.
Buy the Whistler at your own risk. I can't sing the praises of my Bel more.
The range is excellent, and even in the city, the sucker just doesn't false.
In response to your question, does your car have a muffler? It would
perform much better without one. I would guess that your car does, and the
reason it does is so that the racket doesn't bother everyone else. Same with
your detector. The fact that your detector sets off everyone else's may not
bother you, but it sure pisses the hell out of everyone else. By buying the
Bel, not only will you save yourself a lot of grief, you'll also save the rest
of us a lot of trouble.
That's my 2 cents,
Jonathan Wilner
University of Texas-Austin
Donna Martz
be overridden using chewing gum and baling wire? Just temporarily attach
two short leads (euphemistically referred to here as baling wire) from
the battery contacts to a "backup" 9-volt, carefully remove the low power
battery from the unit and just as carefully install a fresh battery.
Remove the leads to the backup power source and wipe any chewing gum
residue from the unit, replace the cover - it works. Of course a thief
would never go to all this trouble, only a legitimate owner who forgot
to always carry the ridiculous key would resort to this foolishness.
A thief would toss the unit and steal another one.
Sean Reifschneider
>se...@lobo.rmhs.colorado.edu (Sean Reifschneider) writes:
>
>>So yours got misappropriated? Sorry to hear that. HOpefully at the time it
>>was falshing with less than 10 hours to ge before it stops? :) I guess that
>>warning on the back of the detector didn't deter folks from taking it.
>
>Thanks for setting up the soapbox for me: Cincinnati uwave definitely
>gets a hardy burst of sloppy wet rasberrys for implementing this "key"
>idea. I can't think of one other consumer product "feature" which has
>caused me as much inconvenience as this so called deterrent. Did the
I have never had a problem with the key. I have used my DSP on 23 hour
each way trips at the longest and neverbeen inconvenienced. Every 50
hours or so you have to put the key in. And I don't even carry the key
with me. I like the feature because you can use it with the other feature
that C Uwave has to hopefully get back your detector. And if somone
buys a stolen detector and it quits working after 20 hours of use, they're
probably not going to pay $50 or $100 for another one and opt for a
new one instead...
The other feature that I am talking about is that if you report it stolen
to C uwave and somone returns it for service, they check the serial number
and return it to you. I also like to know they if somone buys it
stolen, they won't get much use out of it.
Sean
U59...@uicvm.uic.edu
ke that. I have the key and all the accessories. If anyone is interested, pleas
e email me. Please give me your best offer. I don't know what the going price i
s so make and offer and I'll see if I'm willing to part with it to the highest
bidder.
Whistlers are soooo annoying! I currently use a Valentine One. And (as Car and
Driver discovered), my detector gets set off at an incredible range by Whistler
s. I think C&D measured it out to consistently over 4000 feet. And, as I was dr
iving to school one day, my detector went crazy. Multiple radar sources, all be
hind me and all at a high enough level to demand serious attention. I drive thr
ough this part of town everyday on my way to school and my detector almost neve
r goes off in this location. After frantically swiveling my head around for sev
eral minutes, I determined the car behind me has a Whistler detector on. I veri
fied this fact by accelerating really fast away from it at a red light. Sure en
ough, as I pulled away the signal faded and my detector was quiet. AT the next
light, when he pulled up behind me, my detector went crazy again. Annoying to s
ay the least.
Just a little anecdote for your amusement. If anyone has questions on how the V
alentine is doing, drop me a line.
Thomas
Donna Martz
>>
>I have never had a problem with the key. I have used my DSP on 23 hour
>each way trips at the longest and never been inconvenienced. Every 50
>hours or so you have to put the key in. And I don't even carry the key
>with me.
I should be so lucky!! It seems as if the only time my SOLO detector
requires the key is when I'm on a long trip. By now that machine has
ALMOST got me trained!
>I like the feature because you can use it with the other feature
>that C Uwave has to hopefully get back your detector. And if somone
>buys a stolen detector and it quits working after 20 hours of use, they're
>probably not going to pay $50 or $100 for another one and opt for a
>new one instead...
They are probably NOT going to send it in to C. uwave, and I don't
believe prior knowledge of this phenomenon EVER prevented a theft.
>The other feature that I am talking about is that if you report it stolen
>to C uwave and somone returns it for service, they check the serial number
>and return it to you. I also like to know they if somone buys it
>stolen, they won't get much use out of it.
I certainly appreciate the service of returning detectors to their
rightfully owner, but I would be VERY VERY surprised if the deterent
KEY has ever prevented one theft. If Anyone has any evidence to the
contrary I certainly wouldn't mind being corrected!!! Anyone from
Cincinnatti microwave read this? I seriously doubt if even one
bonafide stolen detector ever been mailed in for the lack of the key.
Jim mielo
w0...@desire.wright.edu wrote:
> Interesting. But I read that in Car Audio and Electronics Mar or April 92'
> that Whistler was one of the highest rated detectors. In order of ranking,
> the BEL fourband with stealth. Whistler 3000 remote that comes in two pieces,
> and then the Whistler Spectrum 2SE. Of course they did not take into
> consideration of the Cincinnati Microwave & Valentine Research companies which
> was a poor misfortune. Because we all know how well these two companies have
> performed.
> Question? Do you think anybody really cares whether or not their
> detector sets off others' detectors? I doubt that this would be a major factor
> unless you were driving in places where detectors are illegal.
It's just one more source of false alarms. I'm disappointed in
whistler since all the other detectors tested by C&D didn't emit as much
errant signals. I view this as an area where whistler cut corners and took
the easy way out. If everyone else insulated their units why is whistler so
sloppy?
Donna Martz
>>>se...@lobo.rmhs.colorado.edu (Sean Reifschneider) writes:
>>>I have never had a problem with the key. I have used my DSP on 23 hour
>>>each way trips at the longest and never been inconvenienced. Every 50
>>>hours or so you have to put the key in. And I don't even carry the key
>>>with me.
>><zdem0a.730997126@hgo7> zde...@hgo7.hou.amoco.com (Donna Martz) writes:
>>I should be so lucky!! It seems as if the only time my SOLO detector
>>requires the key is when I'm on a long trip. By now that machine has
>>ALMOST got me trained!
>we...@cabot.balltown.cma.COM (richard welty) writes:
>just do what i do: before a long trip, reset the timer with the key.
>there is no rule that says you need to wait for the light to start blinking
>before you use the key. this way you can leave the key at home and not
>worry about needing it during the trip.
The SOLO unit doesn't have a timer; the key is required when the battery
fails. Resetting before a trip would be a useless exercise.
richard welty
>>>se...@lobo.rmhs.colorado.edu (Sean Reifschneider) writes:
>>I have never had a problem with the key. I have used my DSP on 23 hour
>>each way trips at the longest and never been inconvenienced. Every 50
>>hours or so you have to put the key in. And I don't even carry the key
>>with me.
>I should be so lucky!! It seems as if the only time my SOLO detector
>requires the key is when I'm on a long trip. By now that machine has
>ALMOST got me trained!
just do what i do: before a long trip, reset the timer with the key.
there is no rule that says you need to wait for the light to start blinking
before you use the key. this way you can leave the key at home and not
worry about needing it during the trip.
cheers,
richard (happy with my escort dsp)
--
richard welty 518-393-7228 we...@cabot.balltown.cma.com
``Nothing good has ever been reported about the full rotation of
a race car about either its pitch or roll axis'' -- Carroll Smith
Sean Reifschneider
>In <1993Feb25.0...@lobo.rmhs.colorado.edu> se...@lobo.rmhs.colorado.edu (Sean Reifschneider) writes:
>>and return it to you. I also like to know they if somone buys it
>>stolen, they won't get much use out of it.
>
Admittedly I haven't had to try it out yet. Is it just me or do you find it
hard to believe that Cuwave would be that anal as well? I mean first of all
it's a radar detector, and one of the best. Being stolen from a sports car
most likely. So the police's attitude is going to be 'Good for the theif.
One less detector we have to worry about.'
If I have the serial number, and I have the key/key number, they should be able
to return it to me. Especially if I am registered as being the owner of it.
Can't remember if I sent in something saying I had bought one, but they should
have the record of me buying it, especially since I bought it from THEM.
Oh, and when I got my escort, it was right when Cuwave lowered their prices.
Right after that I went into Pace (A warehouse place) and saw it for something
like $50 more than through the Cuwave. That was amusing. :)
Sean