Home > Consumer Reviews > Escort Passport 9500i Radar and Laser Detector

The first thing I want to say is that I ALMOST bought the passport 8500 because of what I read from one of the other reviews about a side by side test between the 9500i and the 8500. I read more about the topic and discovered that you can not compare the sensitivity of radar detectors by sticking both of them on your windshield and driving down the road. When they are that close to each other, they interfere with each other.

Boy am I glad I got the 9500i. The GPS functionality is great and I have blocked out all the false alarms on the usual routes I travel. So easy to do it, just hit the mute button on the device or the smart cord three times and you never have to hear that false alarm again. Sweet.

This thing has great range too. It picked up radar up to 5 miles away from one particularly well hidden detector along the Ohio turnpike.

Also, with the GPS function, it displays the speed you were going when you got "pinged" with the radar, so you can tell if you need to slow down or not. I know what you are thinking, but just because the detector is going off doesn't mean that someone with a radar gun can tell your speed. For a radar gun to detect speed, it must hit your vehicle then bounce back. This is only good for a mile at the most and under prime conditions. The detector just has to pick up the radar reaching it, so it can pick up from much farther away.

When you first get the alarm, it is usually with one bar on the detector. You can safely slow down (No slamming on the brakes) before you pass the radar source and the 9500i will keep you informed about how strong the signals are.

Another great thing about the GPS function, you can mark those pesky vascar spots. See, vascar doesn't use radar...so with any other detector, you are not protected when you pass over the white lines on the road. With this device, you can mark that spot so you know where it is next time, and it will warn you that it is coming in the appropriate amount of time depending on your speed. Sweet again.

The only down side that I can find in the 9500i after taking it around where I live and down the highway about 20 hours worth is that when the first warning shows up you can never be sure if it is a false alarm or not. You have to wait and see if it goes up high, or just stays a low signal...false alarms are almost always low signals. However, once you pass that low signal and it goes out of range, you can not...after the fact...still mark it as a fake signal to be blocked. It would have been nice if the device would allow you to still mark the most recent alarm a minute or two after you pass it. Obviously, you can mark it the next time past, but I'm just saying.

Mounts easy, comes with a nice case, extra suction cups, smart cord is awesome, and the dark feature (audio only, no light) can't be beat at night.

Overall, a GREAT device, can't recommend it enough. It has already saved me a ticket and I've only had it 2 weeks. Paid for itself.

p.s. Just so you know, radar detectors are legal in pretty much the entire country except for a few states (as long as you don't have a commercial driver's license). You can read about it on the Escort website.

This is an amazing device. Everyone knows the protection you get from owning a Passport radar detector, but let's face it, it can also be a pain in the rear around town. There are WAY too many false alarms.

Well, this can virtually eleminate them. Whenever you encounter what you know if a false alarm (be sure!) you can program the unit to know this signal in this location is a false alarm (total of 3 keystrokes, not hard). You will never again get that alarm in that spot. Amazing.

It is also "smart" and knows how fast you are going, auto adjusting the sensativity on the unit, again reducing false alarms.

If you drive much and want to avoid "revenue generation" tickets, this is a virtual must have purchase.

Have used the 9500i for about a month now, and appears to be a lot more sensitive than my "top of the line" Bell detector I bought 3 years ago. I still like Bell, but the GPS features of this unit made it a must have.

Pros:
* Wow!, I have detected constant scans, instant, and pop radars, sometimes a mile before I see the patrol car. I almost think I have a false scan, but when I see the patrol car I know the 9500i was not lying to me. (One time I got hit, so I shut it down, the guy behind me really didn't like that, so I let him by and he passed me like I was standing still, he got nailed, see, radar detectors can be fun).
* Allows you to see your speed on the detector, so you can use it as a "heads up" display.
* Allows you to lock out false signals from a certain area. (Nice, but see Cons).

Cons:
* A Lot more false scans than my Bell unit. On the upside, you can lock these out, so basically it's "trial and error" until you determine you have a false signal and decide to lock it out.
* At it's lowest brightness level, it's still to bright (compared to my Bell). I don't like advertising to everyone around that I have a radar detector, cops really don't like them, and will pull you over for something else if they can't get you speeding.

Note: If your alone on the road, speeding, and get scanned, there is no radar detector in the world that will save you. The cop units are good, some are very good. Your only hope is that when you detect a scan, the cop is scanning another vehicle, not you, if it is you, forget it, your getting a ticket. Just thought I would throw this in here if anyone thought radar detectors are a perfect solution.

This is certainly every bit of and should have been a 5 star rating on this product. I spent well over a month reading everything I could find on all detectors out there and this was hands done the one all that research left me buying. Since buying it I've logged a lot of drive hours into using it and getting to know it intimately and it's been just extraordinary. "Ka Band" Radar is what most people are going to find they run into and the Ka detection of the 9500i has been perfectly tuned to not over extend it's range, while still giving you plenty of warning time. The GPS capabilities to lockout false signals (very common) has worked flawlessly for me. I have numerous X and K band false signals locked out so they don't annoy me, while an actual police radar in the area still triggers an alert. GPS location marking of the 9500i is also your only defense against VASCAR speed traps where aircraft and stop watches are used with markings on the road side, other detectors can't do either of these GPS must have features for you.

I knocked them 1 star on my rating though not because of a problem with the device, but because 1 year after being on the market now Escort still does not have the software available to allow use of the built in USB port on this detector. I considered knocking them a second star as well because if you buy this on Amazon or that other popular auction site the manufacturer, escortradar dot com, will void your warranty. Search around and you'll see the real reason why, this manufacturer practices price fixing, anyone (like Amazon) selling this product for less than the set price finds their name on the manufacturers "Do Not Buy From, Warranty Will Be Void", list which can be found at their website.

I have used radar detectors for 22 years, and the introduction of a gps is the best. I the first week in school zone I was watching my speed and got lasered the 9500 showed me 27 mph 2 over i new i was safe!! On the way to work i pass 3 false, now i have marked and removed the noise. I have marked speed traps all over Greater Denver. I think it's the best.