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1. Short testing range
Since radar detection distances can easily be five miles or more, most
testers use very long roads to compare radar/laser detector range.
Car and Driver uses a two-and-a-half mile straightaway at the Chrysler
Proving Grounds near their headquarters in Michigan. When they set up for testing, they
"adjusted the radar strength so even the best detector could not find the signal at
the far end of the 2.5-mile straight." This is a different technique than that used by
other testers, and obviously produces different results.
2. K-band weighted 60%?
Car and Driver weighted K-band radar as a full 60% of their sensitivity
score. Most of our customers tell us that low-power Ka-band radar is their biggest radar
threat. At the minimum, we'd weight Ka-band and K-band radar equally. (This would
change the overall scoring.)
3. Selectivity scoring
The Passport 8500 and the Valentine One had the same number
of false alarms over the 14-mile urban loop, but Car and Driver's scoring system gives the
Valentine 15 points, and the Passport only 10. (So the Passport performs equal to the
Valentine, but gets fewer points.)
4. "Porkiest?"
Car and Driver called the Passport 8500 "the porkiest
detector," but they weighed the detectors with their power cords. However, our power
cord weighs more than the others, for two very good reasons.
Passport has the longest coiled cord by far (fully extended,
Car and Driver measured it at 124 inches, versus the Valentine's 72 inches), and of course
Passport's standard SmartCord (with its built-in power-on light, alert light and mute button)
is heavier than a standard lighter plug.
5. Features ratings
Car and Driver says the Passport has a "6-segment LED meter."
Actually, our text/graphic display has 280 segments, allowing us to display much more
information than a conventional bar graph display. Choose our ExpertMeter option, and Passport's
display shows eight separate 7-segment signal strength meters at once.
Passport has many more features than the Valentine, including Dark Mode,
EZ-Programming (lets you customize 9 features), Safety Warning System (SWS) detection with text
display (significant in areas like Tampa where there are hundreds of SWS transmitters on school
buses), ExpertMeter (displays band and signal strength of up to 8 signals), text display for
easy and intuitive operation, plus SmartCord and high-quality carrying case as standard
equipment
Nonetheless, Car and Driver gives the Valentine One 13 points versus
Passport's 12. (Different rating of the features would change the overall scoring.)
6. EZ-Programming - not?
Car and Driver says Passport "can be reprogrammed to
the user's tastes, but it's not duck soup - you'll need the owner's manual." Most
other detector users and testers would disagree.
RadarTest.com says, "It's the most intuitive programming method we've
seen, and the only one that doesn't require prior consultation with the owner's manual."
European Car says, "Escort calls the options 'EZ Programming,' and
after using it we can see why."
Motorcycle Consumer News says, "We have come to appreciate its easy-to-use
programming and display options."
7. eBay recommendation?
Car and Driver says "brand-new" Passport 8500's
can be found discounted on eBay. Well, maybe. But it's hard to know who you're dealing with
and it's impossible to know if what you're buying is "brand new."
We can also say for a fact that any such units are sold without our factory
warranty, regardless of what the seller maintains.
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