K40 Problems

TSi+WRX · #6 (**permalink**) 2009-04-11

^ I'd either go with the STi-R (and thus save the money), or perform an alternate mounting of the 9500ci (i.e. cap-off and store the ZR4 Laser Shifter heads within the vehicle's cabin, while leaving them plugged-in to the control-box, in order to avoid the error notifications upon startup), so as to avoid the laser-falsing issues.

There's nothing that saps ones confidence-in-equipment faster than persistent falses.

Veil Guy · #7 (**permalink**) 2009-04-11

Allen,

While its certainly good to know about such potentials, this may [ultimately] not be the problem at all, in reality.

Why? Because even if his Lexus did have this system (either a lidar-based lane-departure or ACC) and the mounting locations were problematic in this regard, I suspect, they could probably be disabled or "fused-pulled."

If not, at least these new radar detectors have ASICs which can be easily updated by software (ie; firmware) to have the specific pulse trains pre-filtered out. That's one of the great features of the latest generation of radar detectors, field-updateability by the user/owner.

I am already pleased to have experienced that the latest firmware, for both of the remote radar detectors from Beltronics and Escort, has successfully eliminated the falsing created by the POP-profile-like 24.1ghz (K-radar) based adaptive cruise control and/or lane departure systems used in models like Audi's side-assist. Kudos to the engineering teams for effectively mitigating this problem that we first documented nearly two years ago. I was hoping Audi NA would have seen to it (as I communicated directly with their executive management and their senior engineers about this) but am pleased to see Escort/Beltronics take the initiative.

If Escort (and Beltronics) haven't already specifically filtered these lidar sources, they certainly will, soon enough. Whistler has long-ago addressed these systems with their advanced LSID feature of the Whister XTR-695 and future models.

Of course, lidar falses occur on these sensitive laser detectors/laser jammers more so than windshield-mounted models, primarily due to their external mounting locations.

It is fairly common to get a front (or rear false) on either the Beltronics STi-R or the Escort Passport 9500ci when the sun is lower in the sky and being eclipsed by passing trees (whose recurring shadows at a specified frequency/speed) which can create the appearance of a police laser pulse-train (and it occasionally happens on the more sensitive windshield-mount laser detectors, too).

It's something that you get used to. At least with the knowledge that the laser shifters (or laser jammers) are doing their function (and having Veil G4 on as well), there's no urgency to stab the brake when it happens, making you a safer driver, in the process.

Veil Guy

Veil Guy · #8 (**permalink**) 2009-04-11

Randy,

You could certainly run your newest Valentine One inside along with your externally mounted 9500ci. This is something I have been doing for quite some time.

I actually use my Valentine 1(s) as a check-and-balance real-time alert-check to both laser and radar since the V1 is instant-on and off in its alerting nature, whereas both the Beltronics and Escort models (which, each has a different alerting philosophy, tend to trail a little bit even when the radar or laser source is removed) and also as a radar locating guide to the actual source(s) of the radar when they both alert. I tend to drive with the volume way down on the V1, as all I generally need is the visual queues [from its arrows]. In your case, you may even want to disable both POP, X, and (depending on where you drive, K band) on your V1 only, which will effectively prioritize it to only look at the lethal forms of Ka radar and police laser.

By advised, though if you do this, you will definitely transition into being a hardcore user...and once you do get to that place, it's hard to go back.

Passport 9500ci with in-car Valentine 1 Operation

Veil Guy

happya$$ · #9 (**permalink**) 2009-04-11

I have nothing but GREAT things to say about the STI R and 9500CI. One can not go wrong with these RD's

category4 · #10 (**permalink**) 2009-04-11

I love my 9500ci! It is far and away more sensitive than anything on the market. The laser shifters coupled with Veil can be quite effective, but I recommend using a 4 head Laser Interceptor system for front and rear laser protection. I have the ZR4 shifters installed but only use them in receive mode and as backups should the LI's ever fail.

Here are some of my videos of radar encounters with the 9500ci. You can see there is plenty of warning. I also run a V1 and you can see that the ci alerts first every time.

YouTube - Braselton PD running Ka

YouTube - 9500ci K band IO save

YouTube - K Band Encounter I 85 S