What are the differences between your radar detector models?
The Passport 9500ix, our latest and best radar detector, can automatically learn and block out fixed position false alarms and incorporates an updatable safety camera (red light and fixed position speed cameras) database. The Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500i, and the Passport 8500 X50 have the same detection range. While range depends on circumstances for any detector, under most driving conditions, the Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500i and Passport 8500 X50 provide significantly longer range on K and Ka band radar than our cordless detector,the Solo S2. The cordless Solo S2 offers radar detection range similar to an earlier Escort corded radar detector, the Passport 7500S. Laser performance is essentially the same on all models.

The Passport 9500ix and Passport 9500i are more "intelligent" than our other detectors. They can vary radar sensitivity based on your vehicle's speed, permanently block out false alerts by location and specific frequency, store locations in memory and provide a reminder as you approach those locations, and increase the alert volume level automatically as ambient noise in your vehicle increases. For more information about how the 9500i's extraordinary GPS-powered intelligence works, please see our Passport 9500i Tech Talk.

 top

Are radar detectors legal?
Yes! Radar detectors are completely legal to use in non-commercial vehicles in 49 states. Virginia and Washington DC are the only places in the United States that currently ban radar detectors. Radar detector use in commercial vehicles has been prohibited in the U.S. since 1995 and radar detectors are also illegal in most Canadian provinces. We do not track detector regulations in other countries.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) provides these definitions for commercial vehicles:

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle-

(a) Has a gross combination weight rating of 11,794 kilograms or more (26,001 pounds or more) inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds); or

(b) Has a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,794 or more kilograms (26,001 pounds or more); or

(c) Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or

(d) Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials as defined in this section (49 U.S.C. 5103).

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination (articulated) vehicle. In the absence of a value specified by the manufacturer, GCWR will be determined by adding the GVWR of the power unit and the total weight of the towed unit and any load thereon.

Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a single vehicle.

 top

Should I be concerned about radar detector detectors?
U.S. non-commercial drivers should not be concerned at all unless you drive in Virginia or Washington DC. If you do drive in either of those places, are a commercial driver, or drive in Canada, please note that while all of our current detector models are immune to the VG-2 radar detector detector (RDD), our radar detectors can be detected by a newer RDD named Spectre.

 top

Do you ship radar detectors outside the United States?
Puerto Rico and the Canadian provinces Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan are the only places we ship to outside of the United States, but we do not accept those orders online due to special shipping considerations. If you require shipment to any of those four locations, please call us at 800-964-3138 to place your order.

If your credit card billing address is outside the United States, we can also take your order by telephone if you can provide a shipping address in the U.S. or one of the four locations above.

We do have a couple of dealers in Europe:

 top

Can I mount my detector on my sun visor?
We generally do not recommend mounting detectors on the sun visor because the dark tint at the top of most windshields significantly reduces laser detection range, and the GPS-powered features of the Passport 9500i will not function if satellite reception is blocked. So, we do not include a visor mount as a standard accessory. While not recommended, we do offer an optional visor mount that can be seen by clicking this visor clip link.

As a rule of thumb, a lower detector mounting position is better for laser and a higher position is better for radar. But, in most vehicles, the difference in height between the top and bottom of the windshield is not enough to make any perceptible difference in radar reception. It's best to mount your detector where it has a clear field of view front and rear (plus a clear view of the sky for the Passport 9500i), and where you can see it without obstructing your own view of the road.

 top

What is a direct wire SmartCord?
The direct wire SmartCord is an optional accessory that allows you to connect the Passport 9500i, Passport 8500 X50, Passport 7500S, or the Solo S2 directly to your fuse block or other 12-volt source (leaving your lighter socket free for other uses) and provides an additional mute button, alert light and power indicator light for the detector. The direct wire SmartCord is approximately 11 1/2 feet long overall, with the extra mute button and lights in a module about 8 feet from the detector end of the cord. Our SmartCords are also compatible with the prior Passport 8500, Passport 7500 and Passport 6800 detector models.

There is also a standard direct wire cord available for the same models, without the mute button and lights, that is approximately 9 feet long.

Please note: Unlike our other detectors, although the Solo S2 can use these cords, it would need to be switched on manually even if wired directly to a switched circuit.

 top

Does your factory warranty apply if I do not purchase directly from Escort?
The Escort warranty is honored on all of our products for purchases direct from Escort, and we maintain direct purchase records during the warranty period as a convenience for our customers.

If you purchase an Escort product from an authorized reseller, the Escort warranty will be honored only if you can provide us with a copy of the original invoice. We cannot honor any third party invoices that you may receive from an individual, auction, internet site or other unauthorized reseller.

Purchases of Escort products from unauthorized resellers are also subject to these Unauthorized Reseller Risks.

 top

Is POP radar a new band of radar?
POP is not a new band or frequency of radar. It is an ultra-fast, instant-on method of radar gun operation using existing radar frequencies. Radar guns operating in POP mode can get a speed reading of a target vehicle so fast that most radar detectors will not consistently signal an alert. At this time, there are very few radar guns in service in the U.S. capable of POP mode operation.

The Passport 9500i, Passport 8500 X50 and Passport 7500S each have a selectable POP feature, so POP mode radar detection can be switched on or off as desired. You may notice an increase in Ka-band false alerts when POP mode radar detection is switched on.

 top

What is the difference between the original Passport 8500 and the new Passport 8500 X50?
The original Passport 8500, dubbed the "World's Best Radar Detector" in independent detector tests, has been replaced by the new Passport 8500 X50. Taking advantage of a new antenna design and new circuitry, the Passport 8500 X50 provides an increase in K and Ka-band radar detection range of up to 50% over the original Passport 8500. The Passport 8500 X50 also adds a selectable POP mode to alert you of ultra-fast, instant-on POP radar signals. Due to the limited nationwide usage of the Safety Warning System (SWS), the Passport 8500 X50 does not spell out SWS messages, but will give a K-band alert if a Safety Warning Signal is encountered.

 top

Why is the Passport 8500 X50 with a blue display more expensive than the red display version?
The Passport 8500 X50 is available with either a brilliant blue LED display or a traditional red LED display. There is no difference in performance or features between the two versions. The difference in price between the two versions is simply due to the fact that blue LEDs cost significantly more than common red LEDs and each display is made up of 280 individual LEDs.

 top

Does the Solo S2 perform any differently with its optional power cord?
There is no increase in range or sensitivity when the Solo S2 is used with the optional power cord. The S2 has a built-in power converter, so whether you use batteries or the 12-volt optional power cord the S2 still operates internally on 3 volts. If you use the S2 with its optional cord, the power-on indicator will not blink as it does to maximize battery life when running on battery power. In battery mode the S2 display turns off automatically to maximize battery life, but when using the optional power cord the S2 display stays on showing your choice of several pilot options described in the owner's manual.

Please note: Unlike our cord-only detectors, using the Solo S2 with its optional power cord does not mean that it will switch on and off automatically with your vehicle. While the S2 will shut off automatically when the cord loses power, it always needs to be switched on manually with its power button.

 top