Real world Passport 8500 testing performed by me
#1
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Real world Passport 8500 testing performed by me
Well, when I headed home for lunch today I noticed that a stationary radar site had been put up on the 4 lane highway outside of my neighborhood to inform people how fast they were going. So, I decided to put this to use and perform some real world testing with the Passport 8500.
I ran a number of different experiments with the following variables:
1) Altered mounting positions: a) as low as possible on the window so that the unit is actually sitting on the "hump" of the dash just before where the defroster vents are, 2) just under the rear view mirror so that the display is just visible from the driver's seat, and 3) to the right of the rear view mirror, as high as possible without hitting the tinting dots.
2) Highway or city mode.
The radar was K band and as I approached it I was going down a gently sloped road that curved slightly to the left which made it impossible to see the radar station when it was first picked up by the detector (and for sometime thereafter as well).
So, here are my results:
1) Both highway and city modes detected the radar at exactly the same distance when approaching from ahead (driving toward the radar source) or when detecting from behind (i.e. driving away from the radar source). This was somewhat unexpected.
2) When approaching the radar from ahead, the first beeps went off at slightly over 0.4 miles away on city or highway mode. Once I passed the radar site, the signal dropped off completely in about 100 yards.
3) When driving past the radar site (going away from it) the rear detector picked up the signal for 0.2 miles, or half as long as if you were coming at the radar head-on.
4) As for the mounting of the detector, it didn't really matter much where it was placed. After all of the runs, it seemed clear that mounting the detector just under the rear view mirror so that the rear sensor was not obstructed consistently gave slightly better results compared to mounting the detector low on the dashboard. However, mounting in the middle of the windshield was more or less equivalent to mounting above and to the right of the rear view mirror.
Compared to the low mounting position (resting on the dash), both higher mounting positions offered between 25-40 yards of increased detection distance when approaching the radar head on, but no real difference could be detected with the other scenarios.
After all of this, my only real question is:
Does anyone know a good aftermarket bracket for radar detectors that is better than the crap that the Passport comes with?
Enjoy.
I ran a number of different experiments with the following variables:
1) Altered mounting positions: a) as low as possible on the window so that the unit is actually sitting on the "hump" of the dash just before where the defroster vents are, 2) just under the rear view mirror so that the display is just visible from the driver's seat, and 3) to the right of the rear view mirror, as high as possible without hitting the tinting dots.
2) Highway or city mode.
The radar was K band and as I approached it I was going down a gently sloped road that curved slightly to the left which made it impossible to see the radar station when it was first picked up by the detector (and for sometime thereafter as well).
So, here are my results:
1) Both highway and city modes detected the radar at exactly the same distance when approaching from ahead (driving toward the radar source) or when detecting from behind (i.e. driving away from the radar source). This was somewhat unexpected.
2) When approaching the radar from ahead, the first beeps went off at slightly over 0.4 miles away on city or highway mode. Once I passed the radar site, the signal dropped off completely in about 100 yards.
3) When driving past the radar site (going away from it) the rear detector picked up the signal for 0.2 miles, or half as long as if you were coming at the radar head-on.
4) As for the mounting of the detector, it didn't really matter much where it was placed. After all of the runs, it seemed clear that mounting the detector just under the rear view mirror so that the rear sensor was not obstructed consistently gave slightly better results compared to mounting the detector low on the dashboard. However, mounting in the middle of the windshield was more or less equivalent to mounting above and to the right of the rear view mirror.
Compared to the low mounting position (resting on the dash), both higher mounting positions offered between 25-40 yards of increased detection distance when approaching the radar head on, but no real difference could be detected with the other scenarios.
After all of this, my only real question is:
Does anyone know a good aftermarket bracket for radar detectors that is better than the crap that the Passport comes with?
Enjoy.
#2
Purchased: April 28, 2001
Re: Real world Passport 8500 testing performed by me
Originally posted by JZ
...
After all of this, my only real question is:
Does anyone know a good aftermarket bracket for radar detectors that is better than the crap that the Passport comes with?
Enjoy.
...
After all of this, my only real question is:
Does anyone know a good aftermarket bracket for radar detectors that is better than the crap that the Passport comes with?
Enjoy.
Note: I have a 1/2 inch rubber foot resting in the bottom/middle of the detector to raise it & eliminate vibration.
What I'm looking for:
A bracket that will fasten to the neck of the rear view mirror, so the detector doesnt' even touch the glass.
#3
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Re: Re: Real world Passport 8500 testing performed by me
Originally posted by edgalang
I'm with you! Till then, I'm stuck with this...
Note: I have a 1/2 inch rubber foot resting in the bottom/middle of the detector to raise it & eliminate vibration.
What I'm looking for:
A bracket that will fasten to the neck of the rear view mirror, so the detector doesnt' even touch the glass.
I'm with you! Till then, I'm stuck with this...
Note: I have a 1/2 inch rubber foot resting in the bottom/middle of the detector to raise it & eliminate vibration.
What I'm looking for:
A bracket that will fasten to the neck of the rear view mirror, so the detector doesnt' even touch the glass.
good review, i have the passport too and mouted like urs, o on the sidenote dont' cover the temperature sensor located in the very middle of the dashboard. In the picture i think ur radar is covering the sensor
#4
Purchased: April 28, 2001
Re: Re: Re: Real world Passport 8500 testing performed by me
Originally posted by bobbydoedoedoe
good review, i have the passport too and mouted like urs, o on the sidenote dont' cover the temperature sensor located in the very middle of the dashboard. In the picture i think ur radar is covering the sensor
good review, i have the passport too and mouted like urs, o on the sidenote dont' cover the temperature sensor located in the very middle of the dashboard. In the picture i think ur radar is covering the sensor
#5
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Re: Real world Passport 8500 testing performed by me
Originally posted by JZ
So, here are my results:
1) Both highway and city modes detected the radar at exactly the same distance when approaching from ahead (driving toward the radar source) or when detecting from behind (i.e. driving away from the radar source). This was somewhat unexpected.
So, here are my results:
1) Both highway and city modes detected the radar at exactly the same distance when approaching from ahead (driving toward the radar source) or when detecting from behind (i.e. driving away from the radar source). This was somewhat unexpected.
The City button selects Passport’s sensitivity
mode. We recommend the Auto
(AutoSensitivity) mode for most driving.
Passport’s AutoSensitivity mode
provides long-range warning, with
minimum false alarms. In this mode,
Passport’s internal computer continuously
analyzes all incoming signals and intelligently
adjusts the sensitivity circuits.
You can also select conventional
Highway and City modes. When driving in
urban areas where annoying X-band intrusion
alarms and door openers are common,
City mode can be engaged to lower X-band
sensitivity and reduce X-band alerts. Full
sensitivity is maintained on all other bands.
You can customize Passport’s City mode
sensitivity. See the EZ-Programming section
for details."
RTFM.
j/k
#6
Six Speeds
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so this maybe a stupid question...but I'll ask anyway. When I first bought the 8500, I mounted it low on the windshield, just like the pics. After hardwiring, I've been using the visor clip and have it mounted on the driver's side visor. Could this be too high do to interference with the black dots? I guess I never really thought about it before, it's just convenient to mount on the visor.
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#8
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Originally posted by flint
I mount my V-1 to the visor and it seems to be fine. I guess mounting it lower might give a better view.
I mount my V-1 to the visor and it seems to be fine. I guess mounting it lower might give a better view.
Shawn S
#10
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Originally posted by darrinb
motor trend did a test and the v1 lost to the 8500
motor trend did a test and the v1 lost to the 8500
http://www.acura-cl.com/forums/showt...hreadid=124840
#14
Senior Moderator
what upgrade is that, flint?
#16
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I always ran my 8500 in highway mode and mounted it right behind the blacktint and covered it w/ the visor. no problemo for me.
Hey, if you want i'll come by w/ my v1 and we can do a realworld 8500 vs v1 front and rear
I get off @ 7:00pm everyday
Hey, if you want i'll come by w/ my v1 and we can do a realworld 8500 vs v1 front and rear
I get off @ 7:00pm everyday
#17
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Originally posted by NOVAwhiteTypeS
Hey, if you want i'll come by w/ my v1 and we can do a realworld 8500 vs v1 front and rear
Hey, if you want i'll come by w/ my v1 and we can do a realworld 8500 vs v1 front and rear
They interfered with each other.
#18
Originally posted by Shawn S
I think KenSteele tried that once and they didn’t get along when operating together in the same car.
They interfered with each other.
I think KenSteele tried that once and they didn’t get along when operating together in the same car.
They interfered with each other.
#19
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Originally posted by Dashmo
ya this is true the 8500 will interfere with the v1, you cant run them together in the same car. now however, if you guys got in 2 different cars and went side by side or one person went and then the other person went... that might be interesting.
ya this is true the 8500 will interfere with the v1, you cant run them together in the same car. now however, if you guys got in 2 different cars and went side by side or one person went and then the other person went... that might be interesting.
hmm, i didn't have a problem w/ the 8500 and the bel 9xx in the same car.
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