I'm seriously contemplating turning off the X band detection on my Escort 8500 X50, and want opinions on whether or not this is a bad idea.

I've only had the unit for a month, but what I've observed is that every bonafide alarm has either been K, Ka, or laser (and this is among a variety of agencies). All of the X band encounters have been false alarms. I tried setting the X-band to the lower city setting but without any real relief. Thus, I'm thinking of turning it off.

BTW: I AM very happy with the Escort on the K and Ka detection vs false alarms.

 

I did it and LOVE not having any false alarms. I highly doubt anybody these days uses x-band radar...unless it's some small town place in the middle of nowhere w/ some outdated police cruisers.

 

Was just talking about this with Clint (THX723) and he recently shut his off and feels relatively comfortable. I'm contemplating it, but wanna make a few more runs around town when I get the car back (just installed a new V1 after my dad stole my last one a couple of years ago).

I'd probably turn it on for a long distance drive, though. Just in case, you just never know!

-T

 

I have not had mine of for several years now. I don't think the cops are using this band. If law enforcement is serious about catching speeders, they will be using laser.

 

Does anyone else get alot of false detections on POP mode?

 

I have been thinking about doing this for 3 years. In the last 3 years I have never met a cop using X band. I think I'll do it today.

 

A quick question about the whole radar detection system...

The radar detector sounds the alarm when you've been "painted" by the police or when there is radar being used to catch people...I just don't see the functionality of the radar detector if it goes off when you're being "painted".

 

I don't know how effective laser dectors are but radar dectors will pick up any radar being used in the area. It saved my but one year I was coming back from SCCA runnoffs driving from Ohio to Oklahoma. It was 1:30 a.m. in the middle of Missouri. I was doing 95 in my Integra and creasted a hill when I got 2 beeps on my detector. I that it was weird there is nobody around, so I slowed to the speed limit and over the next will was a HIPO. Saved my but. Laser works because dust/exhusat particles scatters the light from the laser.

 

Here is an excellent article that will answer all your questions. One of my buddies works (or did work) for "Radar Roy" and Roy said turning off X is of no concern in our area (Phoenix metro area)

http://www.radarbusters.com/support/...04/Default.asp

Radar is a "dirty" way of measuring speed. It spits out detectable waves as far away as 10 miles and it bounces off of everything. It's _highly_ likely (unless you are the only guy on the road) that if a cop is "painting" people in the area, you'll know _well_ in advance.

 

Ohio State Troopers use X-band because of all the noise! People think its a nothing to worry about and boom you dead!

 

In that respect you are correct. However where the radar detector works it's magic is when you are 4-8 miles (I live in very flat contry) from the radar cruiser and you pick him up. You pick him up over hills and overpasses. You have several cars ahead of you and THEY get painted and you pick that up. The radar will show (in most cases) the car in front of you, or in the case of a larger vehicle next to you (Mack Truck, Motor Home), it will see that and not you. The only thing that can really pick you out is Laser (LIDAR), that has a very small signal size and must be reflected off something (headlights, licence plate, grille) on your car to be read. Laser CAN pick you out of a pack. I don't care what kind of "detector" you run, it won't help against Laser. It's just too fast with it's "instant on". The only protection is the "Jammers" out there. They really do work. Also (impractical) you can leave your High Beams on and it will reduce the "lock on" distance by more than half.

Hope this answers your question.

 

I think it depends on where you live, but for us down here in S. FL, I think it's safe to turn off X-band detection. FHP, tri-county sheriffs, and all the city police in S. Florida all use Ka band and Laser. As a matter of fact, so far, I've only seen K band being used by those huge things parked in the middle or side of the road that visually post your current speed as you near it...they use K band and my Passport 8500 detects it from like 2 miles away. It's the Laser Gun and Ka band that you really need to worry about (especially Laser ). My X-band detection has been turned off since day 1...not worried about it since it's so outdated and rarely used.

 

Yes. The answer is heavily dependant on your geographical location. In my case, Southern California, that was fine. Over 13 some years of using radar detectors (starting from the first V1 in '92), I've got a good running statistics around my part of the woods.

Back in '92, there were X-band threats while the Ks were relatively new and Ka was still quite mysterious. The beauty of X-band was the V1 would pick it off from miles and miles away, giving more than enough advance warning. In just a short year or two ... the X-band threats declined, while more K-band threats immerged. Also around the same time, I did notice an increase in X-band falses from grocery stores, etc. ... signifying the demise of the X-band usage for the local law enforcements. Then come somewhere around '96 ... I started to pick off authentic Ka threats, although still rare. COPS were still heavily armed with K-band guns. Within a year or two ... I started to feel the same old trend as more K-band falses are detected from the newer breed of automatic doors (also operating on K-bands) being implemented by the shops/stores. At the same time, more Ka threats were also detected. Fast forward to present time ... I'd say 98% of the threats I've encountered in SoCal are of Ka. Once in a blue moon I may get a K-threat. X-band was dead! I don't remember the last time I was picked off by the X. In fact after years and years of hearing X falses, my brain has already been hardwired to ingore the X-band chirps and the arms repond by a quick jab at the mute button. It's all 2nd nature. That is actually becoming the same affair for me with the K band as well. I'm so very tempted to disable K-band, but that 2% is not something I'd be willing to gamble with.

So the bottom line is to use your own better judgement in deciding if it's worth the risk to disable a particular band.

Good Luck!

 

I turned off x band the week I got mine. It just got annoying pressing mute every two seconds to shut off the annoying x alert and living in Florida I know the police only use K, Ka, and Laser.

I used to get that at least two times a day and I gotta tell you, it scared the living crap out of me. When POP goes off you will be sure to hear it its so damn loud. After a while I just turned that off too because I figured they were always false alerts and police can't give you a ticket based on that either. So that's my $0.02. Do what you want though but I would turn X and Pop off and just turn them back on for long trips on Highways and stuff like that.
-GoldSport

 

N.J. State Police .........X and only X. No tickets since 1986 and 1,780,000+ miles! Hello Mr. Jinx