Visor Radar Detector InstallCard Review
InstallerNet Radar Detector InstallCard Review
The InstallCard represents an easy, convenient, and cost-effective way for consumers to purchase high-quality professional installation from a local provider at a pre-determined price without having to find and negotiate with the installer themselves. Each InstallCard represents a defined scope of work for a specific product or category for a fixed price. Just purchase the appropriate InstallCard that corresponds to the product that you bought, follow the simple directions to activate the InstallCard on-line or toll-free, and schedule your installation at your convenience. InstallerNet's friendly and courteous Installation Coordinators are standing by to ensure that your experience is quick and convenient; if you do need extra help, toll-free customer service is available 24/7.
Professional installation from InstallerNet can save you time by giving you a one-stop solution for all of your Consumer Electronics installation needs. InstallerNet takes the guess work and worry out of finding the right installer for your installation needs. InstallerNet saves you money by establishing national flat-rate pricing that the installers have agreed to, which can save you up to 30% compared to arranging the installation on your own. InstallerNet provides you with peace of mind by finding and pre-screening the best local installers and then giving them the technical information they need to perform your installation perfectly every time. In addition, every InstallerNet installation is backed with a national installation labor warranty in the business, three years for in-home installations, and for as long as you own the vehicle for in-car installations.
Professional installation from InstallerNet will ensure that the Consumer Electronics product that you bought will provide all of the performance that it's capable of for many years to come. Products that have been professionally installed work better, last longer, and are easier to use than if they're not properly installed. Let InstallerNet help you get all the performance you paid for.
Visit www.InstallCard.com for more information.
Q: Why should I purchase installation vs. installing the product myself?
A: Professional installation from InstallerNet will ensure that the Consumer Electronics product that you bought will provide all the performance that it is capable of for many years to come. Products that have been professionally installed work better, last longer, and are easier to use than if they're not properly installed. Let InstallerNet help you get all the performance you paid for.
Q: Where will my installation take place?
A: InstallerNet has a large network of more than 3,000 installers with coverage of the entire United States. After receiving your scheduled date and time, InstallerNet matches you with the closest available installer near your shipping address. Click to view a map of InstallerNet's coverage area or to visit InstallerNet's Installer Finder to see potential installation locations in or near your ZIP code (opens a new window).
Q: What if I need to change my installation appointment after I schedule? Who do I call with questions about my installation?
A: Simply call InstallerNet at (800) 950-9869 and have your InstallCard number available (which was sent to you via email) to reschedule or ask additional questions.
Q: What warranty is provided on the work performed?
A: InstallerNet provides a nationwide installation labor warranty for as long as you own your vehicle. Please call InstallerNet at (800) 950-9869 if any issues arise after the installation.
With this InstallCard a professional Mobile Electronics installer will install your aftermarket Radar/Laser Detector into your vehicle. Installation includes powering the unit through the ignition key, mounting an external receiver in the front of the vehicle and a control module inside the cabin. Some vehicles may require optional mounting brackets or additional labor due to the complexity of the vehicle. Visit InstallCard.com for more information.
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Escort Passport 8500 X50 Radar and Laser Detector (Red Display) Review
Design
Mounting the 8500 in our test vehicle was easy and straightforward. A small suction cup bracket slides into the unit's release mechanism and easily attaches to the windshield with light pressure. The unit is housed in a sturdy plastic case that's low profile and compact--although it is larger and heavier than Escort's wireless offering, the Solo S2. The rear of the unit is dominated by a receiver window and there's a rear-facing laser detector window designed to detect laser signals emanating from behind the vehicle.
 Digital Signal Processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms. |
Features
The 8500 can detect all of the radar bands currently in use in North America for speed detection, including the X, K and Ka bands. The unit also features detection diodes for laser detection, but for the most powerful protection from laser detection, Escort offers the ZR3 laser jamming system, which is plug-and-play compatible with the 8500.
The feature that separates the 8500 from other Escort radar detectors, as well as the entire previous generation of radar detector technologies, is its Pop radar detection capabilities. Pop radar guns, while still relatively rare in police departments, are used to identify speeding vehicles in traffic. They provide little warning as the radar signal idles at a low frequency until it transmits an extremely short, high-frequency burst to "Pop" a target. The 8500 is equipped with a highly sensitive receiving system and a digital signal processor designed to pick up Pop signals from a safe distance. Pop detection is not enabled by default in the 8500, however; users must turn it on in the settings menu. Escort probably chose to disable Pop detection by default because its increased sensitivity also increases false alerts. However, first-time radar detector users might be in for a surprise if they neglect to turn it on.
 The Passport 8500 X50 provides 3 types of warning displays to choose from. |
False alarms are one of the major annoyances of radar detector use. In our tests, the 8500 was surprisingly adept at minimizing false alarms from home garage door systems, as well as home and commercial security systems that commonly operate on X-band radar. The unit's city sensitivity setting decreases sensitivity to X-band sources, while the highway setting does not. We found the unit's powerful "AutoSensitivity" mode the most accurate, however, as it dynamically filtered all types of radar signals and identified which sources were a legitimate threat. We got a few false alarms, but for the most part, annoying chirps from bogus X-band sources were uncommon.
The 8500 has nine built-in customizable settings. In the settings mode, the LCD acts as a menu system that lets users control display brightness, automatic mute, audio tones, and power-on modes. There are also settings for disabling detection of selected bands. We liked the expert mode settings, which allow a user to get a constant picture of the intensity of all the radar bands in the area. The SpecDisplay, which is a feature exclusive to the 8500, displays the actual numeric frequency of the radar signal being received.
For those living in states that prohibit use of a radar detector, the 8500 does include VG-2 radar detector detector protection, which is designed to both alert the driver and shut down the unit's oscillator.
On the Road
We used the 8500 on a 20-mile stretch of busy interstate and were impressed with the low number of false alarms we received. Again, this remarkable level of accuracy is due to the unit's AutoSensitivity feature. While we encountered no police radar, other controlled tests of the 8500's performance have put the reliable range of detection at 2 miles for all bands. Meanwhile, Pop mode tests place the reliable detection range between 500 and 1000 feet.
Pros
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Cobra XRS-9730 12-Band Radar/Laser Detector Review
The XRS-9730 detects six different radar signals, including the Ku wavelength band that is widely used in Europe and that has been recently approved for use in the United States. In addition, the XRS-9730 is completely invisible to the VG-2 and Spectre radar detector detectors while it alerts you if either the VG-2 or the Spectre is in use in your area.
The XRS-9730 is also sensitive to four different laser signals, and with its LaserEye feature giving you a 360-degree detection range, you'll always be able to tell if you're driving through a surveillance area. And perhaps most importantly, for your own safety and the safety of other drivers sharing the road with you, the XRS-9730 detects two emergency alert systems to give you advance warning of road hazards, keeping you prepared when emergency vehicles are nearby. In addition to detecting the Safety alert system, the XRS-9730, like most of Cobra's Radar/Laser detectors, offers Cobra's exclusive feature of detecting the presence of the Strobe alert system, which emergency crews use to control traffic signals.
Other features include a voice alert, a power-saving automatic shutdown when you turn your ignition off, and an easy-to-program menu. So get the Cobra XRS-9730 Radar/Laser Detector for your car or truck, and you'll be prepared for just about anything when you're behind the wheel.
Note: Radar detectors can be used without restriction in well over 40 states, but restrictions apply in a few states. Please check with your state department of motor vehicles or highway patrol if you have questions about whether there are restrictions in your area.
What's in the Box
XRS 9730 radar/laser detector, windshield bracket, coiled power cord, hook and loop fasteners, and owner's manual.
Cobra 12 Band High Performance Digital Radar/Laser Detector with Digiview, 8 Point Electronic Compass, Voice Alert and POP Mode Detection
