Official Passport 8500 X50 radar group buy!!

Is this group buy still on?

Yes it is still open. I will post an update when it is closed.

Just so everybody know..... I SWEAR by this Detector. I have one in my car and i won't go ANYWHERE without it on the dash

Originally posted by Zoomin 3L:
Just so everybody know..... I SWEAR by this Detector. I have one in my car and i won't go ANYWHERE without it on the dash

Yeah, I'm loving mine.

I love mine too. Saved me and a friend in a s2000 last nite.

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
I love mine too. Saved me and a friend in a s2000 last nite.

it's saved me TWICE since I've gotten it. . .I wished more, but I'm slowly realizing I don't drive many routes with cops on 'em. . .

Can't wait to have the ZR3 installed too!!!

Excellent GB. . .

You have laser in your area or just want to be fully covered when travelling? Anybody ever find out if we can get a deal on hard wires,etc.? I might contact him, but I'm still not sure if I want to hardwire or not.

Yeah, this detector owns. I went on a route that has one of those "You're going ___" things, and the x50 picked it up from a mile and a half or so away.

I got the DirectWire kit from some online merchant for $14 shipped. I would have gotten the SmartWire, but figured I wouldn't use the remote enough to justify it. If a use comes up in the future for it, then I'll get it. Took like 15 minutes to tap the fuse box and run the wires to my rearview mirror.

I want the ZR3 also, but it's too expensive right now. This detector plus that piece of equipment seems to be the ultimate in speed trap protection. (I'd love to go past a lidar speed trap at 110, there'd be nothing they can do about it).

Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
You have laser in your area or just want to be fully covered when travelling? Anybody ever find out if we can get a deal on hard wires,etc.? I might contact him, but I'm still not sure if I want to hardwire or not.

There's Laser in the outer regions of houston, and Dallas Fort Worth area. . .better safe than sorry, and I couldn't pass it up for $299 (more than $200 cheaper than MSRP!)

So how do you hardwire everything up? Do you have the radar wired up to behind the rear view? I'm going to have the ZR3 installed soon enough, and the instructions recommend a "professional installer" tackle it. . .

I haven't hardwired yet. If/when I do, I'm going to most likely leave it still in the middle of the windshield for best coverage. I'll probably run the wires through the a-pillar and back down from the dome light.

What did the hardwire kit look like? Are there only 2 wires running to the plug? Got a closeup Picture?

I'm contemplating creating my own SmartCord and put a mute button in next to the clock, or somewhere else convienent.

Originally posted by ssmumich00:
So how do you hardwire everything up? Do you have the radar wired up to behind the rear view? I'm going to have the ZR3 installed soon enough, and the instructions recommend a "professional installer" tackle it. . .

I have mine right below the rearview, a little bit to the right. It's as easy to look at as it is to look at the rearview mirror, plus there's plenty of space for the radar antenna and laser sensors to work properly. I tapped into the radio fuse and grounded to the steering column, and (like Kremit) ran the cable up through the A pillar.

If I understand the ZR3 right, you have three connections going into the main module (two front sensors and one rear), power and ground, and output to your 7500/8500. There's plenty of room around the interior fuse box to put that module, so just wire everything there.

It's probably just as easy, or easier, to install the ZR3 as it is to wire an amplifier. The only problem I can forsee is mounting the front laser sensors, which will probably go in your bumper grill. If you need any hints or help just let me know. I may be getting the ZR3 in the next month or so.

Originally posted by zgendron:
What did the hardwire kit look like? Are there only 2 wires running to the plug? Got a closeup Picture?

It depends on what hardwire kit you're talking about. The SmartCord DirectWire has power and ground going to the mute/alert/on remote, and that thing has the cable that goes to the radar detector. The regular DirectWire just has power and ground going into a telephone jack. It shouldn't be too difficult to craft a homemade version of that thing. If you want remote mute you'll probably have to get the SmartCord. I haven't seen the SmartCord plug, but I'm guessing there are more than two wires in that plug (power, ground, and remote control).

I'm guessing that if you didn't care about keeping the wire that came with the unit, you can just cut it and take the power and ground wire and add wire to lengthen them and just use it to hardwire.

I'll probably use the detector in a different car at some point, where it will be useful to have that cord. Plus, trying to run coiled wire anywhere is a [censored].

Originally posted by Davo7SVT:
It depends on what hardwire kit you're talking about.

Yeah, I know there are 2 different cords. I was wondering how to Direct Wire without the SmartCord. I've taken apart the Smartcord, and plan on making a little circuit to create a mute button, and possibly a light within the dash.

Yet to be determined if I'll put a light in the dash.

I was wondering what the regular (non-Smartcord) hardwire kit looked like. I would like to know where the power and ground wires go.

The DirectWire (non-Smart) kit just has a positive spade lead and ring terminal for the ground, with a telephone jack on the other end. I put the positive on the radio fuse and the ground on the steering column.

Originally posted by Davo7SVT:
The DirectWire (non-Smart) kit just has a positive spade lead and ring terminal for the ground, with a telephone jack on the other end. I put the positive on the radio fuse and the ground on the steering column.

Thanks for your help. I understand that it has this. However, I want to know which wire leads to which prong of the telephone jack. If you look at the top of a telephone jack, there are 4 prongs (sometimes only 2). Which prong is Positive, and which is ground?

There's a red and a green wire in the plug. You can probably assume red is positive, but I'm not about to rip the cord apart to find out for sure.

Nor would I expect you to.

You can't see the wires through the plug? (as in which color is which). You can with the original Smartcord. Just look at the plug.

Those colors should run through the whole cord and out the other end. Do you know which you attached your ground to?

Also, are there 4 prongs on the plug, or only 2?

Which is the red, and which is the green (on the plug)?

Damn dude! Why is this more complicated than it should be? Two wires in the plug I can see through: red and green. Those two wires go into insulation and at some point join up with the positive lead and ground wire. Like I said, to prove which is which in the plug would require me to rip the insulation off where the wires join.

Originally posted by Davo7SVT:
Damn dude! Why is this more complicated than it should be? Two wires in the plug I can see through: red and green. Those two wires go into insulation and at some point join up with the positive lead and ground wire. Like I said, to prove which is which in the plug would require me to rip the insulation off where the wires join.

Dude, all I want to know is where are the green and red wires on the plug? What's so hard about that? A phone jack has up to 4 prongs on a plug. Where are these 2 wires on the plug? Middle two?

Which one is red and which is green? I'm not talking rocket science here, just looking for some details.

Ordered mine last night. Around here stores wants $620 CDN for them

With the exhange rate it ends up costing $320 CDN. This is a damn good deal!

I am definitely going to do this GB, however it is a birthday present for someone in October, so I would prefer to hold off buying till the last minute. (I'm really bad at gifts - I buy them, I'm so excited to give them that I ruin the whole surprise). I don't think I'd be able to wait till October to give it, so please let us know when this buy is about to end. I would hate to miss it!

PS I don't expect that this buy will continue until October, but if its gonna end next month, I'd need to know. Thanks!

You might want to just call David up and ask him. But as far as I know this is indefinite.

Just get one for yourself.

Damn you guys...I just bought one!

I think my old Cobra has earned a retirement, and the reviews on this thing are hard to ignore - especially for a lead foot!

Originally posted by Stazi the Aussie:
Damn you guys...I just bought one!

I think my old Cobra has earned a retirement, and the reviews on this thing are hard to ignore - especially for a lead foot!

You won't regret the 8500 and its features. One thing that I haven't seen anyone mention is that it can be set to be very loud. Loud enough for a friend in a convertible driving beside me to hear it going off over my no muffler exhaust and 60mph wind.

I have mine set to loud and I don''t think anyone next to me could hear it.

Still waiting for mine to come in... I missed UPS so now I am looking at Tuesday or Wednesday. Can't wait to test it out!

my friend works at best buy, he got his for $170 with employee discount, I like valentines though, the arrows on it are unbelievable, been pulled over 7 times and cops hate that thing

Goonz, I'd suggest soliciting votes for Kerry in correct grammar if you think it may be a way for someone to prove they're smart.

Just got my X50 Blue in... waiting to see how it performs.

Do what I did:

Get online with the tracking number, redirect it to your work place and write in the comments "It's ok for the mailroom to sign for it". Got it the next day delivered to my desk.

Placed my order this morning with David. Very cool guy. Just a quick bump to let everyone know that the deal is still active so get your detectors asap.

Wassup! Haven't seen you in a while.

Originally posted by TommySVT:
Wassup! Haven't seen you in a while.

Yes, its been awhile since I last spoke to you. HOws the car running?

Originally posted by Tkhov:

Originally posted by TommySVT:
Wassup! Haven't seen you in a while.

Yes, its been awhile since I last spoke to you. HOws the car running?

It's running great, thanks.

FYI,

You can also purchase the Escort Solo S2 cordless from SBH...the price is $285 shipped. I already own an 8500 and needed a cordless for the other car (I am unable to run a hardwire up the A pillar b/o the headcurtain airbags).

Anyways, SBH sold me an S2 for an excellent price and wanted me to pass this info to the rest of the site...

I got my 8500 X50 a few days back and finally got a chance to try it out. On the highway doing about 140 KMH in a 100 zone, got one beep and nailed the brakes. The beeping got progressively faster as the scale climbed reaching max as I past a cop with his radar on, then it slowly went back down to nothing.

It gave so much warning though! It saved my but!

save my ass on the NJ turnpike and I-95 this weekend 9 times!!!

It didn't get ONE cop. . .but as I passed by, I noticed his gun was off and he was asleep!

So, I'm 12/12 so far. . .

Has anybody turned POP detection on? I turned it on today and it seems to be sorta, not accurate. Like a known x band area set POP off. Also a normal cop's radar was detected as POP. Also, either my detector isn't accurate as far as frequencies or cops' radars aren't accurate, or my information on K band radar isn't accurate. All I've seen from many nights of internet research is that 24.150 is the only legal k band that can be used, and although that is what usually regestirs from a cop, I've also seen 24.166 and 24.323 or 6.... Anyways.....

I turned POP on and it has falsed a couple of times, but other than that, it has worked beautifully.

Originally posted by ssmumich00:
save my ass on the NJ turnpike and I-95 this weekend 9 times!!!

It didn't get ONE cop. . .but as I passed by, I noticed his gun was off and he was asleep!

So, I'm 12/12 so far. . .

i was in the car with him when this happened...
and dam without that he woulda been screwed!

You guys drive like morons if you've been "saved" that many times by a radar detector.

Originally posted by Davo:
You guys drive like morons if you've been "saved" that many times by a radar detector.

or maybe not all of us drive like grannies?
if you honeslty drive 65 on the turnpike... go ahead someone would probably take out a shotgun and shoot u..
out in nebraska i am sure the speed limits are a tad higher and the volume of cars is probably alot lower than the NJ/NYC area..

yeah seriously Davo-
Lay off man, being saved by a radar detector doesn't make us morons, means we were driving fast and our asses were saved. . .and given the TERROR alert in Washington and NYC over this past weekend, the place was teeming with cops. . .there aren't any terror alerts in Nebraska because. . .well, no one lives there, terrorists don't give a f%ck about the midwest. . .and don't ask me why law enforcement thinks terrorists speed. . .

Originally posted by ssmumich00:
there aren't any terror alerts in Nebraska because. . .well, no one lives there, terrorists don't give a f%ck about the midwest. .

this is true.
hmmm
own3d?

I don't see how you could encounter 12 speed traps in 2 days unless you're actively seeking them out. Unless you're really lying about that.

EDIT: And I should inform you that when the radar detector beeps, it doesn't always mean there's a speed trap and that your ass was saved by the thing.

Originally posted by ssmumich00:
yeah seriously Davo-
Lay off man, being saved by a radar detector doesn't make us morons, means we were driving fast and our asses were saved. . .and given the TERROR alert in Washington and NYC over this past weekend, the place was teeming with cops. . .there aren't any terror alerts in Nebraska because. . .well, no one lives there, terrorists don't give a f%ck about the midwest. . .and don't ask me why law enforcement thinks terrorists speed. . .

I don't really know the skill or smarts of the NYPD, but I sure wouldn't fight terrorism by sitting on the side of the road with my radar gun on. I figure terrorists are more dangerous than speeders. But what do I know.

Originally posted by Davo:
I don't see how you could encounter 12 speed traps in 2 days unless you're actively seeking them out. Unless you're really lying about that.

EDIT: And I should inform you that when the radar detector beeps, it doesn't always mean there's a speed trap and that your ass was saved by the thing.

Davo-
I took 495 from DC to I-95 to NJ Turnpike to Garden State

At I-95, there were 5 speed traps, on the turn pike, there were 7 more. This is a round trip number, so it includes my trip back to DC from NYC.

You should drive it some time.

And yeah, I know, when it beeps, it doesn't mean there's a cop, but in this case, the numbers I included weren't false positives.

The X50 doesn't get many false beeps anyways, just at weight stations i noticed.

[quote=ssmumich00]
The X50 doesn't get many false beeps anyways, just at weight stations i noticed. [/quote]

I disagree. I get alot of X Band in the city, including NYC (in City Mode). I'm actually contemplating disabling X Band since nearly no one uses it up here anyways.

That said, this new toy has saved me a few times. Definately already paid for itself in possible insurance premiums, let alone tickets.

- Zack

I get X-band in the city also. I'm thinking about disabling that band, as it's pretty much extinct anymore anyways.

Originally posted by Davo:
I don't see how you could encounter 12 speed traps in 2 days unless you're actively seeking them out. Unless you're really lying about that.

EDIT: And I should inform you that when the radar detector beeps, it doesn't always mean there's a speed trap and that your ass was saved by the thing.

anyone who has driven on the GS pwky can vouch for the # of cops..
even on a normal weekend you will see the camo ones in the bushes...the unmarked ones and of course my favorite the big expeditions ...

Originally posted by izzodesh:
anyone who has driven on the GS pwky can vouch for the # of cops..
even on a normal weekend you will see the camo ones in the bushes...the unmarked ones and of course my favorite the big expeditions ...

So if "anyone" who has driven that road knows about the cops on it, why would you need the radar detector to save you?

Originally posted by Davo:

Originally posted by izzodesh:
anyone who has driven on the GS pwky can vouch for the # of cops..
even on a normal weekend you will see the camo ones in the bushes...the unmarked ones and of course my favorite the big expeditions ...

So if "anyone" who has driven that road knows about the cops on it, why would you need the radar detector to save you?

I'm sure the cops aren't on every bit of that road so there are still areas to speed, but you need a radar detector to know when there are cops. Davo, why do you have a radar detector if you keep complaining about other people not needing them?

I think you just want to argue.

Well I'm not really complaining. If people are going to come on here and say the radar detector saved their ass 12 times on one drive, then you have to question whether they were saved 12 times by the radar detector or if they're making it all up to seem cool. If they really did go blazing down a road that they know has cops all over it, then they're driving like idiots. And that was my point.

I have the radar detector to keep me aware of speed monitors. That doesn't mean I go blazing down every road at full throttle because I have the radar detector to tell me where all the cops are. It's mainly for interstate driving, so that lone cop can't pick me off with his radar. I won't speed through known areas of speed traps because I know the cops use techniques that the radar detector can't make you aware of.

And yes, I do like to "just argue" whenever the chance arises.

I think you just want to argue.

i think this all can be settled if you take a nice drive dwon 95..
i am sure you'll love it..

btw this is a group buy and we were just coming back to post a happy report...so i think you should quit with the random midwest insight

Btw cops tend to hide in bushes (no jk)
and you can't exactly memorize all of the positions...as they change constantly..
i am starting to think that ppl in nebraska drive 55mph and dont have more than 1 cop of all of their highways..

If you take a long trip, you usually see a lot of cops. I don't see it unusual for seeing 12 cops roundtrip to another state and back.

I (and I'm guessing most everyone else on here) doesn't go speeding around on every road. I do however go fast when ever conditions permit. And I do go "blazing" when I really have to get some where and it's really safe, still need the radar detector to do this though. I'm sure most people don't speed through known speed traps, but I believe they were just saying there are a lotta cops on a certain road, not necessarily speed traps that are always in the same area.

I like to argue too, but I normally try to argue with a decent point in mind and fully understand other people's positions.

Originally posted by izzodesh:

btw this is a group buy and we were just coming back to post a happy report...so i think you should quit with the random midwest insight

Blah blah blah we northeasterners are superior beings blah blah blah blah

Originally posted by izzodesh:
Btw cops tend to hide in bushes (no jk)
and you can't exactly memorize all of the positions...as they change constantly..
i am starting to think that ppl in nebraska drive 55mph and dont have more than 1 cop of all of their highways..

Blah blah blah blah Actually, I believe we have the highest speed limits in the country here. We don't have cops everywhere around here because they know people aren't stupid enough fly everywhere like they do in the northeast.

shhhhhhhhhhh..
we are playing the quiet game..

I'd really hate to lock this.

ouch, what is the deadline?

Davo, seeing 12 cops doing speed checks on a long trip in the Northeast is not unusual. I had 4 speed traps while on my 25 mile commute to work on Monday. In the Philly area, the top speed limit on the highways is a measly 55mph while most of Nebraska is 75. The cops love to enforce it. Try driving 55 on a highway in Nebraska and those crazy truckers will run you off the road.

I drove from Philly to Denver and on that trip I encounted like 5 speed traps on the PA Turnpike ( speed limit heavily enforced at 65mph) and a couple in Ohio. I didn't see one cop in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska or Colorado.

You think I can still call this guy?

Can't hurt.

Originally posted by R_G:

So, did you call?

Originally posted by TommySVT:
I'm going to order one on Monday. Probably the red one since I can't see how the blue could be worth the extra $$$.

... i love my Valentine One, its the best

Originally posted by 3733csvt:

Originally posted by TommySVT:
I'm going to order one on Monday. Probably the red one since I can't see how the blue could be worth the extra $$$.

... i love my Valentine One, its the best

Speaking of "not worth the extra $$$"...

Find a friend in best buy and you can get the escort 8500 x50 for 150 dollars. ( they have an accomodation going)

I'm getting the Escort SR1 with Phasing capabilities (retail 1599) for 550.

(yes it is worth bribing a best buy associate) This is available to all best buy associates with the accomodation form.

Anyone here work at Best Buy?

Just got mine off Ebay for 290 delivered.

Originally posted by CSVT985:
Anyone here work at Best Buy?

my friend did, he got me mine for $180