Just got the following e-mail from Escort. Would be interested in an independant review before shelling out the $$$.

Exciting news from Escort, Inc., makers of the "World's Best"
Passport 8500!

After years of development, Escort launches the ultimate Laser
Defense System - the all new Laser Shifter ZR3.

Laser technology used to measure speed is called LIDAR (Light
Detection and Ranging), and is extremely difficult to detect. In
fact, LIDAR alerts from some of the best radar/laser detectors may
not always provide enough advance warning. Escort designed the Laser
Shifter ZR3 specifically to help defend against LIDAR threats.

The new Laser Shifter ZR3 requires professional installation and is
sold exclusively through an elite network of high-performance
automobile dealers and car audio specialists.

Get all the details, and find the Laser Shifter ZR3 dealer closest
to you here:
http://www.escortradar.com/zr3.htm

Exclusive for Passport 8500 owners:

Now you can "link" your Passport 8500 to the new Laser Shifter ZR3 -
creating the ultimate protection against speed measuring devices.

Find more information on linking the new ZR3 and your 8500 here:
http://www.escortradar.com/shiftlink.htm

 

WTF are they kidding? $500 for something that's not even going to protect you 100% of the time? No thank you.

Yes, I've been thru laser speed traps and my V1 didn't even sound off but the hell I'm gonna pay $500 so it will...

BTW, I don't know why V1 didn't alert. Not shooting at me, not shooting at all...who knows.

 

500$ BAH...hey...they told me my 8500 can detect lidar...I should get this thing free dammit. I guess this is some kind of passive jammer though; a concept that has never been proven to actually work; by anyone. Rocky mountain radar for example sells 300$ (radar not lidar)Jammers...every test ever performed by any reviewer said they don't work *at all*. Of course the owner of rocky mountain radar said in an interview a while back "I could sell a non functioning black box with lights and alerts and still only get a 30% return rate" ...scammers.

 

not that I'm flaming or anything, don't take it that way. But it's funny that you paid $400 for the V1 when it doesn't protect you 100% of the time. None of this stuff does.

 

I paid $325 for the Blinder which has two transmitters that mount in the front grill. Installed it w/ a friend in about 2 hours and it works. Works great actually, I tested it w/ the local PD. I'm considering one for the back but there really isn't anyplace to mount it without making the rear look bad... so it's a weak spot.

This one probably works and in my case I could justify the $325 considering what tickets run around here and my driving habits. It will payoff for me but $500 not including install is a bit steep. It'll come down.

 

If it has "emitters" (Laser diodes), it is active (regardless on how it processes and generates the return pulse(s)).

There are some active units that work rather well (if the LIDAR unit is not sitting too close)...

Regarding the "non functioning black box..." -- the sucker born quote certainly applies here (How about quack doctors with "funny" wood boxes -- with $10 of resistors and flashing lights -- charging "patients" $200 a pop for BS treatments and the “patients” are happy/content to pay? It applies to all fields and endeavors!)

 

Yep, I know of some very positive experiences with that unit!

 

Oops, that's not exactly what I meant. My V1 will work 100% of the time. If there is radar, the V1 will beep. Always. So with this device, I was meaning to say, if there is laser will it always warn you 100% of the time? That's what I would want. Didn't mean save your ass 100% of the time. Because half the time I drive thru a laser trap, I get nothing--ever. At least with radar, I usually get something, perhaps even after I've already gone thru the trap. If I drive by a radar trap and the V1 never alerts, first thing I would think is "he never turned on the radar". When I drive thru a laser trap and get no alert whatsoever, I get a little concerned. Why? because cops are very selective with [instant-on] radar. But with laser, there's no real reason to go with such a long downtime.

What's ironic? If this was a V1 add-on laser deal, I would already have one by now.

 

I Sent Mike V. an e-mail asking if he was ever going to create something as an add-on for laser jamming. This was a while back, before I bought the Blinder. My thinking was, what a complete package! I guess he has to seriously consider it now that Escort has beat him to it. That would be sweet!

 

What about their remote unit that has laser shifting built in? only $1600. lol. that's the installed price though, so not too outrageous.

http://www.escortradar.com/srx.htm

 

The problem with lidar detection is that at 500 ft the lidar beam is only 18", a radar beam is 30 ft.. Lidar is most commonly shot at the front bumper. So this means that if your detector is in the window it is not going to detect it.

 

I suppose I just assumed it was passive because I heard active jammers are illegal in most states. And with the sucker born every minute thing, yeah I agree for the most part, but really how does the average person test something like that to verify it's functioning properly. Also, from what I hear, Rocky Mountain Radar offers a much higher profit margin for resellers than other brands do; the net effect of which is blatant false claims and advertisement of these products over the web. There really should be a consumer watchdog group protecting people from scammers like that.

 

Well, there is the FTC, and they fine people like zMax, and they let them keep on selling and advertising the stuff... Go figure.

RE: the active jammers being illegal -- I know they are illegal in California (at a minimum). Here it is again:

"CALIFORNIA CODES
VEHICLE CODE
SECTION 28150




28150. (a) No vehicle shall be equipped with any device that is
designed for, or is capable of, jamming, scrambling, neutralizing,
disabling, or otherwise interfering with radar, laser, or any other
electronic device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the
speed of moving objects.
(b) No person shall use, buy, possess, manufacture, sell, or
otherwise distribute any device that is designed for jamming,
scrambling, neutralizing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with
radar, laser, or any other electronic device used by a law
enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects.
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of
subdivision (a) or (b) is an infraction.
(d) When a person possesses four or more devices in violation of
subdivision (b), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who has a
valid federal license for operating the devices described in this
section may transport one or more of those devices if the license is
carried in the vehicle transporting the device at all times when the
device is being transported.