passport 9500i

I got the 9500i for fathers day !! So I installed it low on the windshield, in the "designated area" without the metallic tint. The GPS function takes about a minute to lock into the satellites, but I am wondering if that is due to the metallic tint.

I love it. The GPS functions really add a lot in my opinion. It remembers speedtraps, and gives me my speed at all times as well. I am not really getting too many false alarms.
Will post updates...

i have the previous 8500, and when i got the 745, my range had drastically been reduced... ive tried to mount the detector up high in the "open area" of the windshield, however im still experiencing bad performance... is this common for the 7?

the metallic tint is designed to reflect some of the sunlight, and I imagine it affects how much the cockpit radar detectors can detect thru the windshield. one way around this problem would be the external radar sensors that are mounted on the grille....my 9500's range seems to be pretty good (but I am comparing to a much older radar detector)

I had a Passport 8500...

On my last road trip, just for sh!ts and giggles, we had 2 radar detectors running(trying to beat last record of San Jose to Los Angeles in 3.5hrs). I had the Passport 8500 on the front windshield and my friend's Valentine1 on the rear. I was surprised to see how the V1 outperformed my Passport. The V1 picked up KA bands way before my passport did! And this was for a CHP in front of me where the Passport was mounted. The next weekend, I eBayed my Passport and got a V1.

there is a trapazoidal tint cutout on the BOTTOM ( in addition to the top) of the windshield ( about 4 in high and 6-7 inches wide), located midpoint between the two dash humps. I have three passport 8500s in various vehicles and the performance in my 745LI seems comparable with the 8500 hardwired where described above. You need good light/eyes to find it, but once you locate the cutout, you will recognize it.

bob

the 9500i beeps a LOT less on Auto mode compared to City or Highway mode. It is speed dependent, and filters out likely false signals at low speeds.

I just got back from a 1000 mile trip and the Passport worked flawlessly, although it lost the GPS lock a few times in cloudy conditions ( only for a few seconds at a time). The "heads-up" GPS driven "true-speed" display is a great feature. If you have aftermarket rims/tires, your odometer is likely not accurate anymore because of the smaller/larger diameter of the wheel.

Also, it does not matter which direction the police signal is coming from...the response is the same once you get an alert.