89 Vett

I had the Escort 9500ci installed recently ($1700 + $500 install) in my 89 coupe and have now used it just over 3000 miles. I purchased it in conjunction with the EscortLive. I wasn't sure how good the new Live element would be, but it was only an additional $100 so I included it. I chose Android, but there's an iPhone version available as well.

The detector works like any other. Over a long road trip through 5 states it never failed once to alert me with plenty of notice. I encountered several speed traps, speed cameras, stop light cameras, and highway patrols and was alerted each time.

The unit itself has all the traditional features. You can see some pics of the install in Audio update for 1989 Corvette. The sensors installed around the car make detection more effective but the really impressive part is Escort Live.

Once you connect your phone via bluetooth to Escort Live you're communicating with every other user on the road. Default settings are that any hit on Ka, Pop, or laser are automatically reported to the network, while X and K require confirmation. You can also flag a cop manually using the REPORT button on the device or on your phone. The phone interface is also a more user friendly way to set all the various setting of the radar detector.


I had my phone setup on a windshield mount. It can display in Landscape or Portrait and has two different modes: Map and Dashboard.
I kept mine on Map most of the time. It displays current speed limit, current speed, and compass over a pinch zoomable map. When you're hit you get a pop up that displays signal strength and frequency of radar and the option to Lockout or Report. If you're getting false hits from stoplights and the like you can lock it out or chose report if it's a legit hit.


Overall, the information was very reliable since alerts come with a time stamp. When police are working an area you will see multiple alerts over a 5 mile stretch of highway, giving you a picture of activity even if you don't lay eyes on the actual cop. While cruising Virginia Beach I could literally track police cars around the city from the alerts that would pop up.

You can download the Escort Live app for free and check it out, and use it in conjunction with a cheaper windshield detector like the 9500ix ($450)


The downsides are of course the expense of $2k. The $450 windshield mount is a great option and performs well.

Second issue is Bluetooth. The Bluetooth pairing works as well as any other but was flaky at times. A hard line connection would require installs and drivers so I understand Bluetooth is the obvious standard, but I had to stop and restart the Escort Live app twice in 10 days when the connection didn't establish properly.

Third issue is that map and speed limit info are downloaded on the fly. So when I was out of service area or with very weak signal, the map wouldn't be displayed on my phone. I'd like to see the app update to cache local maps images and a setting to let the phone know how much space it can take up.

markcz

Nice. I just mounted one in my car a few months ago, but I added the DashTronix HUD adapter instead of the Escort Live. I figured I'll probably be keeping the 20k miles car for much longer than my already 3+ year old phone

Have you noticed many false alerts due to proximity devices on other cars? Several different Equinox have made my laser trigger, and Cadillac and Buick crossovers set off radar (K band IIRC). I was on I-26 coming home yesterday and kept slowing down when the radar would beep, eventually I realized it was the Buick I was coming up on from behind causing false alerts.

Where did they mount the control and operator interfaces?

Anyone who can do their own install can contact Dennis at DoubleDmods.com for a possible discount below the MAP MSRP

My thread is HERE.

89 Vett

Not the best picture, but I had to have a center panel made that shifted some pieces around to make room for a large Alpine. The display and control buttons are mounted at the top center. The Escort Live component is tucked in between the carpet of the dash and the center console out of sight until I determine a better location.

I did have two laser alerts that I couldn't confirm. Those could have been false alerts but hard to know for sure. There were many redlights that set it off until I figured out the lockout feature.