[BMW335icoupe]

Hi,

As some of you may know I am a huge radar detector and laser jammer fan. I am constanty wanting to try out new products from all of the major companies. As some of you may know Escort has released a new product called the Passport Max. This is a detector that is going to revolutionize the industy. I know that many of you use the 9500ix which for almost everyone is the perfect detector. It offers great protection but also with false alarm lockout. One of the major complaints I hear with radar detectors is the fact that they false and unless you are ready to invest hours into learning how to listen to each signal properly you can end up speeding right passed a cop because you think it is just a Walgreens you are passing whereas there is actually a cop also sitting there. The 9500i and then the 9500ix were the first two detectors to solve this. The Max continues with this.

So onto the review. I put this against the 9500ix since it is the closest detector to it. I spent about 1000 miles testing this and also a few known radar detector speed signs. I used markers on the side of the road in order to mark where the detector went off.

The first area was a forward facing K band source. The Max alerted to it almost 1000 feet before the 9500ix which is astounding and if it was a cop would definitely have been the difference between a ticket and a save. I find this astounding that Escort was able to do this on a detector at this price point.

The second area was a opposite facing Ka source. This means that it was pointing in the direction of the way I was traveling. This can be hard for detectors to pick up because it is relying on a reflection into the detector from a wall or a tree. The Max did astoundingly of course. It was able to pick it up 2500 ft before the 9500ix was. I couldn't believe it!!!!

I did this with the detectors run independently as for them not to interfere with each other.

A few features that I like about the Max.

1. It has an overspeed limit alert which I used during daily driving in order to alert me when I went over the speed limit.

2. The color changing display. You can choose to have the buttons and the display color change to Blue, Green, Red or Amber. I find this nice considering I put this into 3 different cars. They all have different interior light colors and this matches them perfect.

3. Announcing what band it is. A lot of other Escort detectors do this but I appreciate not having to look at the display when I am driving especially for those of you that like to drive through Canyons. Not having to look at it is really great.

4. The user modes. There is a simple mode and an advanced mode so you can give this to your wife or girlfriend who has never used a radar detector and she will have no problem using it.

5. The different meter modes. Standard, spec, expert, novice. Standard shows you one signal and the strength. Spec shows the frequency of the alert. Expert displays the different signals. Novice says to slow down.

My last point in this review will be this. I tested this also against the V1. The Max absolutely won over the V1 it wasn't even funny. On all of the signals it wasn't even close. The Max would be alerting way before on both constant on signals and instant on signals.

So if you were to ask me what is the best overall detector for both city and highway use I would tell you the Max.

I am also including some photos that can be found on my Flickr. I must say that the carrying case included with it is totally a great case. It has a pocket for the detector and one for the power adapter and also the sticky cup. The sticky cup is a great mount that uses a super strong suction cup that actually doesn't fall off even in hot sun.

Also I did a review last year on Escort Live. It is highly recommended and has saved me many times. It basically uses other Escort users and when they get a signal you get alerted even before you get to the officer or your detector goes off. This is especially helpful if you don't want a laser jammer but want laser protection.

Enjoy and ask any questions.

[upstatedoc]

nice anecdotal write up. Do you work for escort?

Here's some testing done by fellow enthusiasts:

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=23787

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=25873

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=25894

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

nice anecdotal write up. Do you work for escort?


Btw. Are you in SYR?
Here's some testing done by fellow enthusiasts:

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=23787" rel="" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.radardete...hp?t=23787</a>

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=25873" rel="" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.radardete...hp?t=25873</a>

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=25894" rel="" target="_blank">http://<a href="http://www.radardete...hp?t=25894</a>

Hmm interesting.

Generally i get that most alerts are ~= to redline but there are 34.7 falses and misses?

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by taibanl

Hmm interesting.

Generally i get that most alerts are ~= to redline but there are 34.7 falses and misses?

a little south of you.

yeah, it looks like it missed a Ka signal which is unacceptable in my book. I'm more of a give me all the alerts and I'll sort 'em out type of guy. Which is why I will not run a GPS detector.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

a little south of you.

yeah, it looks like it missed a Ka signal which is unacceptable in my book. I'm more of a give me all the alerts and I'll sort 'em out type of guy. Which is why I will not run a GPS detector.

+1

I too prefer it be my choice not the detectors's.

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

a little south of you.

yeah, it looks like it missed a Ka signal which is unacceptable in my book. I'm more of a give me all the alerts and I'll sort 'em out type of guy. Which is why I will not run a GPS detector.

Especially against nysp!

[BMW335icoupe]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

nice anecdotal write up. Do you work for escort?

Here's some testing done by fellow enthusiasts:

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=23787

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=25873

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/sh...ad.php?t=25894

Hahaha. No I don't but I did compare it to the 9500ix and not the Redline. I saw a lot of people comparing it to the Redline. I thought that it should be compared to the 9500ix considering it is a single horn and not a dual like the redline.

Thanks for the input.

[BMW335icoupe]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

a little south of you.

yeah, it looks like it missed a Ka signal which is unacceptable in my book. I'm more of a give me all the alerts and I'll sort 'em out type of guy. Which is why I will not run a GPS detector.

Understandable on the GPS. I think that for 99% of drivers they want a quiet detector that when it goes off they know it is real. I started off with a 9500ix and now that the max is here I consider the max the best for almost all drivers.

[randomquickness]

thanks for the write up! My wife and I each have the 9500ix and both love them. It has saved me COUNTLESS times. When wifey asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year it was a no-brainer. Escort Passport Max! She said I want it too! I guess we might just gift each other identical gifts!

[BMW335icoupe]

Originally Posted by randomquickness

thanks for the write up! My wife and I each have the 9500ix and both love them. It has saved me COUNTLESS times. When wifey asked me what I wanted for Christmas this year it was a no-brainer. Escort Passport Max! She said I want it too! I guess we might just gift each other identical gifts!

Awesome. It is great. Enjoy.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by BMW335icoupe

Hahaha. No I don't

Their headquarters are in Westchester Ohio, jus sayin'.

[taibanl]

Originally Posted by taibanl

Hmm interesting.

Generally i get that most alerts are ~= to redline but there are 34.7 falses and misses?

Anyone know why Ka-POP is off by default?

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by taibanl

Anyone know why Ka-POP is off by default?

POP (super quick bursts of radar)is so rare, only used in MPH radar guns, you may never encounter it. NYSP uses Stalker Ka 34.7 radar. Although I've seen Onondaga Co. Sheriff using K band, I don't know the exact gun they use.

[VP Electricity]

Ka-POP is off by default in all Escort products I've ever checked.

[taibanl]

Thanks VP, just learning about this stuff

Spoke with Escort regarding negative reviews and the claim is that any detection issues were resolved prior to mass production.