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

This is our first radar detector and it did not disappoint. As with any detector, it requires a little skill to use but it has never failed to alert to a real "threat". The GPS speed verification is a pretty decent plus and the ability to lock out false signals related to a location is excellent.

The only negative is the pretty crummy means to mount the detector to the windshield. The suction cups work OK if you apply the lick-n-stick method but don't overdo the licking or the detector will slide on the windshield.

The manual cautions that you have very little time to react to a laser indication. Make that "NO TIME" to react. I got hit with a laser and it was a darn good thing that I was doing the limit at the time because the cop was less than 100 feet away from me at the time. I'm guessing that if I'd been "haulin'" at the time I'd have been busted. The unit DID alert but by that time I'm sure it was too late. This isn't a negative but more of a warning to behave in congested areas such as construction zones.

The features on this detector are very nice, I find it very sensitive and and handy for remebering the many locations of speed traps, red light/speed cams, and what not. Only draw backs include 1) placement is slightly limited due to the GPS function because the whole unit must be under glass for it to work properly, and 2) I have actually purchased two of these now because it is apparently a hot ticket item for thieves as well :(

I've had many radar detectors over the years, but what really separates this detector from everything else is the GPS capability comhined with superior auto-sensitivity in the 9500i.
These two features combined give the 9500i the ability to give fewer false positives than any detector I've ever owned, including the V1. If it ever does give a false positive, you can train the detector to ignore that particular signal based on its geographic location and frequency. It also tracks multiple signals, so even if you lock out some X-band signal from the local grocery store, you can still pick up other bogeys in the same area.
Conclusion: Definitely worth the money

The 9500i works pretty good except on laser speed units. With laser it just tells you that you can prepare to get a ticket. I works pretty good on radar if you can manage to keep it stuck to your windshield.

What would seem to be a fairly simple problem Escort is not willing to address. The unit weighs 8 oz. It hangs from your windshield with 2 small thin cheap vinyl suction cups for only a short period of time. A hot day will have your 9500i bouncing off of your dash and falling to the floor; so will a cold day. Over a few weeks the cups start losing their ability to hold the detector to your windshield and it falls on the floor. I have tried proping it with the rear view mirror or spraying the cups with hair spray (a customer support suggestion) to make them hold. This works for only a little while. Customer support will send you a dozen or so suction cups if you talk to them; sales is only too happy to sell them to you without even telling you to go to customer support. They will also sell you a visor clip but the 9500i needs to be positioned so that the top of the unit has an unobstructed view of the sky so that gps satilites can comunicate with the unit.

All of the buttons controling the unit are on the top of the unit and not visible to the operator. So now it up to you to try to remember which button does what. Good luck. Or fumble around trying to remove the unit and put it back so that you can read the buttons.

It appears that Escort/Passport is trying to live on their laurels and fails to address some vary simple issues. I would look around for a company more concerned with addressing their customers legitimate complaints.

I won't say much here except this 9500i is fantastic. I was very hesitant in getting the GPS part of the marketing push. I figured bad weather and satellite positioning would reduce the effectiveness of the unit. I wasn't sold on the "marking" the areas where nuisance "x band" was present in shopping centers and such.

Wow, did Escort prove me wrong. Everything that is advertised works exactly as it is advertised. Sort of rare nowadays.

I used to turn off my Escort 8500x50 because of the constant nuisance false alarms going off in city areas. Let me tell you that forgetting to turn your detector back on will cost you plenty of $$$ (don't ask me how I know this, please don't) The step to mark and eliminate each and every single false alarm area is the icing on the cake for me. No more turning the unit off just for some peace and quiet.

From what I remember, Escort did say it was upgradeable via the internet when upgrades were available. I even registered with Escort and being a year later still have not heard or seen anything. I have heard the newer 9500xi is upgradeable and they seem to be promoting that and stopped with the original 9500i option. I'll have to check further into this.