What To Check For When Buying A Radar Detector

rnDISPLAY- Both units have the choice of dim, medium, bright, dark along with auto mode. The Escort 9500ix has blue lights. The background of this unit is black, but glows blue around the figures, to a point of skewing the display a modest bit. At night, it is easier to read. The Beltronics GX65 has red lights with a pure black surroundings. The GX65 display is crystal clear, day or night. Advantage Beltronics GX65. Significance - Reasonable. POWER CORD- Whilst sitting behind the steering wheel, the Escort 9500ix flex plugs in on the left hand side of the detector unit. The Beltronics GX65 cord plugs in on the right hand side. Depending upon the set up of your vehicle, SPECIFICALLY THE LOCATION OF YOUR POWER SUPPLY, this could make a large difference. Both of the detectors contain a dark display mode, where the display goes totally black (for night use, so other drivers can't observe your detector). While using dark mode, the only thing that lights up is the very end of the power cable, where it plugs into the power supply. The unit still makes sound, but only you may be able to see the light at the power supply. Very ingenious idea! Advantage to neither. It depends upon the position of your power supply. Importance - Moderate SIZE and BUTTONS - Both units of virtually the equal size, however, I for my part favor the shape and button layout of the Beltronics GX65. Importance - Low WINDOW MOUNT - Both the 9500ix and GX65 use the identical exact window mounts. For an classy $500 dollar radar detector, I think that the mounts are awfully cheesy. . Importance - Moderate GPS "LOCKOUT" Functionality - Both units have the capability to "Lockout" any false signal. While you know the detector is sensing a false signal, all you require to do is tap a push button three times and it will permanently lock out the false signal. This is an extremely fantastic attribute. Both detectors as well have the facility to inform you of red light cameras, photo cameras and speed traps. This is also a good improvement. You can manually set the detector to notify you of some known speed trap in your area. Good feature! The only GPS negative is when you're driving along the expressway and you drive over an intersection with a red light camera. The detector could sound, even though your not going through the light. This is the only negative I've found regarding the GPS system. Significance - VERY HIGH AUTO LEARN - This feature is only on the 9500ix. You drive a false signal 3 times and the 9500ix will automatically lock out the signal permanently. For any proactive person (most people who acquire a radar detector!), this feature is not that significant. The moment I drive through any false signal, I lock it out right away. Why would I wait to drive by it three times? It just takes 3 taps of a push button. On the other hand, for someone who is electronically challenged, this feature might be a lifesaver. With this feature, theoretically, following a few weeks of driving, you should be able to drive around your home area, never touch your detector and all false alerts may be locked out. As a result, no more false alarms, Police warnings only! Advantage: Escort 9500ix. Significance - Moderate SENSITIVITY - This area is the most essential of all. The critiques and tests I've read on-line, showed the 9500ix as being somewhat more responsive to Ka, K band and laser. It's only a few 100 feet, although that may be the difference between a speeding ticket or not. These results are not precise, but in every situation encountered, the 9500ix picked up true police radar a second to a few seconds earlier than the GX65.