Watch the video of the Escort X50

vs Multanova Speed Camera

Ka-band 34.3GHz

6 seconds warning

Watch the video of the Escort X50

vs Multanova Speed Camera

Ka-band 34.3GHz

8 seconds warning

 

 

 

Watch the video of the Escort X50

vs Multanova Speed Camera

Ka-band 34.3GHz

29 seconds warning

 

 

 

Watch the video of the Escort X50

vs Dash mounted radar

Highway Patrol Car

K-band 24.150GHz

36 seconds warning

 

 

Watch the video of the Escort X50

vs Dash mounted radar

Highway Patrol Car

K-band 24.150GHz

1.4km distance warning

 

 

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REVIEWS - see all our radar detector reviews here

 

"With more sensitivity and range than Brand V, the Passport 8500 X50 is the only way to go."

 

"...the top of the pyramid for overall radar and LIDAR detection."

 

"The 'Top Dog' of radar detectors...the only detector to report constant on and instant on radar over the hill at the 2 1/2 mile cone."

 

"The Passport 8500 may be the best detector ever made."

 

"Escort's latest detector offers good performance and a long list of features."

 

"In the over $200 category of high-end radar/laser detectors, the nod goes to the Passport 8500."

 

"The Valentine was trounced by the Escort model in Ka-band, which is growing in popularity."

 

"Valentine 1 has been able to name its price, But now there's a less expensive alternative, the Passport 8500, and ample independent test data indicates it's a serious contender.

 

"The new Passport 8500's leading-edge technology raises the bar another notch in high-performance radar and laser detection - the World's Best."

 

"Passport 8500 is every bit as sensitive, and seems to work every bit as good as the V1...in some cases even better."

 

"With the 8500, you can drive in your normal manner and not worry about supporting a community's budgetary excesses. I want one for myself."

 

"I'll keep using my Passport 8500 and Valentine One, both are excellent devices."

 

"Escort has come up with a state-of-the-art detector - the Passport 8500."

 

"We found the Passport 8500 'Pick of the Litter,' with the most useful features and ferocious"

 

"Whether you choose Escort or Valentine, they offer genuine protection."

 

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PRODUCT TESTS

The Escort X50 is one of the 2 best windscreen mounted radar detectors, and is equal in technical performance to the Beltronics  RX65 radar detector. There are some variations, as discussed here:

• The Escort X50 can detect Ka radar band (used by dash mounted radar in Police cars in Eastern Australia up to 17km! The sensitivity is superb to detect weak signals from hidden "over the hill" radar traps and hidden "around the curve" radar traps. Average radar detectors do not provide this level of sensitivity.   The Multanova speed cameras used in Western Australia are also Ka band radar, but they are "Ka-narrow band". The power emitting from these units is far less than the dash mounted Ka band radar guns.  The the Escort X50 radar detector is a good unit for picking up these very weak (low powered) signals - but it certainly isn't the best, as it has a little difficulty picking up the weak reflected signal from a rear facing Multanova speed camera.
  
  The 8500 X50 is also good at filtering out false noise alerts.
   

• Radar - During road testing of the Escort X50 in the United States, Speed Measurement Labs logged a typical 11 mile distance detection of Ka radar. This is extremely good detection range and the very best sensitivity.
  
  False alerts are minimized by turning off X band for Australia, although automatic doors and the like sometimes share K band frequencies.
  
  We noted some POP3 alerts, but this is due to having to detect a very fast, (67millisecond) POP3, burst radar pulse, and having very little time to determine if it is a real radar signal or a false laser signal. The high radar detection sensitivity of the 8500 X50 causes the POP3 false alerts to increase. We recommend POP3 to be turned off in Australia and Highway X to be turned off. This permits fewer false noise alerts and allows the superb detection sensitivity to be used for your protection.
   

• Laser - During testing, we have encountered a few laser speed traps.  The difficulty with detecting laser is that the laser beam is so narrow it may not even trigger your laser detector.  Laser is typically aimed at the front number plate, as the plate offers a good perpendicular reflective surface for the laser beam. Since the Escort X50 is mounted on the windscreen, and the laser at the number plate or headlights, at close ranges the laser beam is so narrow that none of it will "spill" over the bonnet and trigger your detector - especially if your radar is mounted up high on the windscreen, such as behind your rear-view mirror.  For this reason, it is our opinion that a laser detector is a waste of time, on its own, as it essentially is a "ticket notifier".  By the time your detector has (if indeed it does) gone off, the police has your speed.  We recommend partnering your detector with a good laser countermeasure.

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TECHNICAL DETAILS

Passport 8500 X50 Blue Passport 8500 X50 Red Specifications:   Operating Bands (All bands can be programmed on or off) X-band 10.525 GHz ± 25 MHz K-band 24.150 GHz ± 100 MHz Ka-band 34.700 GHz ± 1300 MHz Ka POP 33.8GHz ± 200 MHz Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth Radar Receiver / Detector Type Superheterodyne, Varactor Tuned VCO Antenna Scanning Frequency Discriminator Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Laser Detection Quantum Limited Video Receiver Multiple High-Performance Laser Sensors Display Type AlGaAs 280 LED Matrix/Text, Brilliant Blue Bar Graph, ExpertMeter™, or SpecDisplay™ 3-Level Dimming, plus Dark Mode     Power Requirement 12VDC, Negative Ground SmartCord MuteDisplayTM Included Programmable Settings Power-On Indication Power-On Sequence Signal Strength Meter AutoMute Audio Tones City Mode Sensitivity Display Brightness Dark Mode Radar / Laser Bands Sensitivity Control AutoSensitivity, Highway, and City Mute and AutoMute Auto Calibration Circuitry SmartShield® VG2 Immunity Compact Size 1.25" H x 2.85" W x 5.32" L

Ka dash-mounted radar and K-band radar can be detected to over 10km. Hidden, Over the Hill, radar traps and POP3 detection, NO PROBLEMS! Very few False Alerts compared to other radar detectors. The X50 is a X-Tremely reliable radar detector!! We detected this K band signal with the HWP way out in the distance over the hill. We saw him, before he saw us! Tiger Lily Products tests products each year at Speed Measurement Labs. They also test throughout the year when they go on road trips, by checking new radar detectors to see if performance is the same from batch to batch.  Delonix Radar attended the Speed Measurement Labs test in 2006, and will continue to attend every second year. The above picture shows testing of the Bel STi, Passport 8500 X50 and the Valentine1. Testing in this manner tells us quickly which radar detector alerts first, and if it was a false alert or a real alert. Delonix Radar only offer tested, high performance products! Package includes everything you need right out of the box to protect your vehicle from hidden radar traps.       Performance:   The Escort 8500 X50 offers high performance radar and laser detection, placing it amongst the top 4 detectors in the world.  The X50's high sensitivity means it can alert to hidden radar traps over the top of a hill and around blind curves before you enter the trap. The new brilliant blue display is easy on your eyes at night, very visible during the day, and can alerts to X, K, Ka, POP3 Ka and Laser. The X50 is extremely user friendly to select the desired features. FEATURES X, K, Ka, POP3 radar and laser detection Advanced digital signal processing AutoSensitivity mode automatically reduces false alarms EZ-Programming allows instant customization Selectable POP mode radar detection 3 High-resolution meter modes Ultra-bright matrix display with 280 LEDs Brilliant blue or high-intensity red display Multiple high-performance laser sensors Built-in earphone jack Mute & AutoMute Completely immune to the VG-2 "detector-detector" One year limited warranty X-treme Radar Range The Escort X50's new Varactor tuned radar receiver provides extreme range on all radar; conventional and "instant-on" including POP mode, X-Band, and up to 50% more range on the all-important K and Ka bands than the original Passport 8500. Digital Signal Processing (DSP) provides maximum range, with minimum false alarms. "It sniffed out the lethal digital Ka-band radar gun at 40,222 feet...fully 3.2 miles before the Valentine One" New High-Performance Laser Protection The Escort  X50's multiple high-performance laser sensors provide maximum laser warning, with superior off-axis protection. For the ultimate in laser protection, the Passport X50 should be paired with the Blinder M-20 laser detector. X-tremely Quiet Passport 8500 X50's patented AutoSensitivity™ mode intelligently distinguishes real threats from other known sources of radar - minimising false alarms. Conventional Highway and City modes are also provided. 3 High-Resolution Meter Modes The Passport 8500 X50 provides 3 types of meter displays: standard bar graph, exclusive ExpertMeter™, and our new SpecDisplay™. In ExpertMeter™ mode the Passport X50 can identify band and relative signal strength on up to radar 8 signals simultaneously. Or, choose our new SpecDisplay™ and Passport X50 will show you the actual frequency of the radar signal. Or choose the new "SpecDisplay™" and the Escort 8500 X50 will display the actual frequency of the radar signal. New Reprogrammable Microprocessor Passport 8500 X50's on-board computer can be reprogrammed to detect new radar and laser threats, making it a solid investment. New Advanced easy programming Passport 8500 X50 is ready to use right out of the box. However, you can also instantly customize it for your unique driving preferences. Programmable options include Power-On indication, Meter type, AutoMute, Brightness level (including full dark mode), two levels of Audio tones, and selectable radar and laser bands. Simply hold both buttons to enter the Program Mode, and quickly review or change your settings. (Your preferred settings are maintained in memory, even when the Passport 8500 X50 is turned off or unplugged.) 3 Levels of Brightness Control Choose between Dim, Medium, or Max brightness levels, or full dark mode for discreet night driving. Ultra-Bright Matrix Display Passport 8500 X50's matrix display uses 280 individual ultra-bright Blue LEDs to provide crystal-clear band and signal strength indication, plus text messages for programming. Comes Fully Equipped Passport 8500 X50 comes complete with a comprehensive owner's manual, quick release windshield mount, built in earphone jack, a coiled SmartCord, quick reference card, and an Escort 8500 X50 travel case.     SmartCord (Included) This unique and innovative power cord with SmartCord Mute DisplayTM has a built-in alert lamp, pilot light and convenient mute button. Now everything you need is located at your fingertips. The Escort Passport 8500 X50 radar detector utilizes a Varactor Tuned antenna; the same technology used by Beltronics with the RX65 Pro.  The Escort X50 offers good (but not the best) warning against Ka narrow band radar threats, such as the Multanova speed cameras used in Western Australia.  The only other product better suited for protection against Ka-band Multanova speed cameras is the Valentine One radar detector, which has a Ka narrow sweep setting or "Euro mode".

 

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INSTALLATION

The Escort X50 is easily installed into the windshield by attaching the metal bracket supplied to the 8500 X50, and then pressing the two vacuum cups at the desired position on the windshield.  We recommend mounting the detector in the middle of the windscreen, either up high next to the rear vision mirror or down low at the dash level, as long as it clears any physical objects such as the windscreen wipers.  For a detailed explanation on which position is best to mount it, see our FAQ page

 

 

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ACCESSORIES

Veil Laser Stealth Paint VEIL is the essential addition to your detector, giving you extra critical seconds reaction time to laser... More Information	Veil Laser Stealth Paint $189.00  AUD
Coiled Power Cable With Mute button, power & alert lights on the "Smartplug" that plugs into your cigarette lighter...More Information	Coiled Power cable $59.00 AUD
Hard-Wire Power Cable Hard-wire the power to your radar detector and conceal the cords freeing up your cigarette lighter ... More Information	Hard wire Power Cable $59.00  AUD
Windscreen mount bracket Bracket includes a pair of suction cups for mounting your radar detector on the windscreen	Windscreen mount bracket $15.00 AUD
External Powered Speaker Can't hear your radar detector's alerts over your loud music?  This powered external speaker plugs into the 3.5mm socket on your radar detector and can be mounted anywhere inside your car.  Never miss an alert again!	External Speaker $59.00 AUD

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