Reliability. For the price should not have to replace the antenna multiple times.

Product works great but is not realiable. I have purcased two and both have had to have the antenna repaired.

I'll grant you this the Passport 8500 has probably helped me avoid tickets from 5-0. But the unit is plauged with false alarms on the X band. It will routinely go off with a full strength X band signal under the most unusual of circumstances, when there is absolutely no source within range. Also, as for reliability, the mute botton on the plug has no failed (not springing back into it's regaulr position); this causes the unit from time to time to automatically go into mute mode, creating a situation where, if you are not paying careful attention to the visual display, you might be caught easily unaware that you have a signal. Given the cost of this unit I expected much better.

When it works it has very good range for all bands

High failure rate

This detector works well, when it works.
Started having "internal calibration" problems within the first 6 months. As soon as the warranty had expired it began having "servicing Required" messages. Returned to Escort and paid $60 for repair. After I got it back it worked 1 day and then failed with "Service Reqired". Will send it back for a second time.

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Had a Bell once and threw it out the window after I got stopped and it didn't alert me.

Price, Distance

Laser

Got great information first about this radar detector from RadarReviews.Net

Excellent Radar Detector!

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Valentine One

I live in Bend, Oregon and this product rarely works here. I've seen maybe fifty cops in the month I've owned the unit and it hasn't detected a visible car yet, I installed it in the correct position on the dash and have been using auto since the manual recommends it. I asked customer service at Escort and this was their reply-
It is impossible to explain everything our
customers encounter, but I think I understand your recent experience.
In their efforts to increase revenue and "trap" motorists with radar
detectors, the police use "instant on" more frequently than in the past.
With instant on, the officer leaves the gun in a stand-by mode and
there is nothing to pick up until the officer physically pulls the
trigger to clock the speed of the target vehicle. If you are the leader
of the pack or the only one on the road and they tag you with instant
on, there may be no advance warning at all.
With instant on, you are counting on them tagging someone ahead of you.
This is why detectors with the longest range are important. You may
hear the detector giving brief, weak bursts as an alert that might seem
to be a false signal. This is a perfect example of instant on being
used ahead of you, and should be a signal for caution.
All radar guns can be used with instant on, and laser is always used in
this mode.

Detects all bands
Very far detection
Affordable
Easy to wire

None for me.

Ive used the system for over a month and it's saved me NUMEROUS times, the best radar detector I've ever used. The expert mode is great as it shows 4 X bands, 2 KA, and 2 K. This is very helpful when driving through speed traps. The radar detector gives you more than enough time to react to whatever band and signal strength comes up on the radar. The price is very affordable considering how much speeding citations are, and the time you take to go to court and so forth. I paid $143 for a used on ebay and I would've paid5 times that much if necessary. I HIGHLY recomment this item.

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Valentine

None

A lot of false alarms.
Extremely poor reliability.
Costly.
No laser detection.
Poor ka detection.

After reading reviews about this and the Valentine being tied for #1, I decided to buy the X-50. Well, within the first hour of use: "Service Required" came on the display. Off to the repair center... When I got it back I went through laser radar (several times) and it did not go off. The laser alert finally went off one night when I was pulling into my garage!!! Back for repair. Again, when it was returned, no laser alerts, back for repair. Once returned, the laser detection worked!! for about 1/2 an hour. I went through the radar trap and it didn't go off. It is currently out for repair, again...

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Bel
Valentine

Distance and display. Auto Mute

CHEAP mounting bracket

Overall a very good system. Lots of nice user configurable options

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all types of radar detectors

VERY easy to use. It comes right out of the box ready to go--just plug it in and you're protected. Very easy to customize if you want as well. Easy to follow owners manual. The SmartCord is really great!! If you want a great detector that will give you plenty of advanced warning, and one that is loaded with features, ranked as one of the best on market--then the Passport 8500 X50 is the one.

Warning chirp needs to be a little louder, even turned all the way up, it leaves a little to be desired.

I haven't had this detector all that long, but I really like it. Great distance warning, VERY easy to use. Lots of great features as well. Has already saved my butt on numerous occassions from both radar and laser!!

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BelTronics 990 International Radar/Laser/Safty Detector

Auto detection eliminates the hassle of city to highway mode switching, but still leaves you confident in early detection. The mute alert button on the cigarette lighter plug in comes in handy. The suction cup window attachement can stay on the window detaches from the detector to allow you to quickly put it back on in the same place.

Power turns off with a volume knob on the side - would have been nice to have a power button since my car's 12V plugs are still hot after turning off my car. The volume level is a little low for my taste.

Very good radar detector. The auto function works great - Some false alerts but generally filters them very well, and still has a quick enough reaction time to real threats. Even the laser detection worked with ample time to slow down. A little expensive, but you get what you pay for.

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Cobras mainly