Escort 8500ci Plus Review

Ranked as the 4th Best Remote Mounted Radar Detector

Overview of the Escort 8500ci Plus

The Escort 8500ci Plus is built on the Escort’s M4 antenna design, which enables the detector to have 4 times the capture distance of a police K and Ka radar gun.

The Escort 8500ci Plus includes an internal GPS, which will alert you to fixed photo enforcement cameras and potential speed traps and will also filter out known false alerts.

Also, because the Escort 8500ci Plus is a remote mounted radar detector it is stealth to the eye.

Long Range Radar Detection: 5 Points

The Passport Escort 8500ci Plus is built on Escort’s M4 antenna design, which places the Passport in the Long Range Category, possessing 4 times the capture distance of a police radar gun.

The result is a detector that will provide ample warning of instant on K and Ka Radar miles away.

Sensitivity and Filtering: 8 Points

Because of the Passport 8500ci’s internal GPS, it is able to know exactly how fast you’re going and adjust the sensitivity accordingly.

Why this is beneficial:

When you’re driving at highway speeds, the 8500ci recognizes this and automatically switches to highway mode for maximum effectiveness.

Then, as you drive into a shopping center, which is surrounded by automatic door openers, the 8500ci will dial down the sensitivity

The result is protection when you need it most without being annoyed by false alerts when you don’t.

Your Passport 8500ci also comes equipped with a technology called AutoLearn, which enables your detector to learn and store known false alert locations based upon their exact location and frequency and then filter them out.

The result is a detector that isn’t going to pester you with a ton of false alerts like other radar detectors will.

Photo Enforcement Protection

Automated photo enforcement cameras and speed traps are everywhere today!

To combat this the Escort has equipped the Escort 8500ci Plus with GPS technology and their Defender photo enforcement database, which will alert you as you approach one of these locations.

You can also add your own “hot spots” using the mark location feature.

Clear Tone Alerts

The Escort 8500ci Plus has clear tone alerts, providing you with the information you need without having to take your eyes off the road.

Remote Mounted

Because your Escort 8500ci Plus is a concealed radar detector, it will be stealth to the eye.

High Definition Text Display

The Escort 8500ci Plus displays radar alerts using the older text display.

Easy Advanced Programming

You can program your Escort 8500ci Plus by pressing the buttons on the control module to set the brightness of your display, program the radar bands used in your area, adjust the filtering options, and more.

Online Defender Database Updates

You can ensure that your Escort 8500ci Plus has the latest database updates to protect you from new threats by simply connecting it to your computer's USB port and downloading the latest Defender database updates.

Warranty & Support

Your Passport comes with Escort’s 1-year warranty and Radar Roy's 30-day no risk money back guarantee.

Also, here on RadarBusters Radar Roy has several articles in his help guide section to assist you in getting the most out of your detector such as: How to Maximize the Use of your Radar Detector, How to Update Your Radar Detector, and Defensive Driving Tips for Radar Detector Users.

You’re also welcome to contact Radar Roy direct 24/7 by using the contact form on this website or calling our toll free number during normal business hours.

Included Accessories

Your Escort 8500ci Plus comes equipped with a display and controller module, an easy to interact with interface, a GPS and radar/laser antenna, a quick reference guide, and a 90 day subscription to the Escort Defender database.

Installation

As the Escort 8500ci is a concealed radar detector installation is required.

A typical install can take up to 90 minutes depending upon the vehicle.

Many other websites sell what are called Install Cards, which allows you to go to a local installer like a Best Buy to install the device.

However, because of the low margins the installer is paid, they typically mark up their install after getting you in the door.

Because of this, Radar Roy recommends calling install shops in your area and shopping around for the best quote.

The first place Radar Roy recommends calling is your local Best Buy store.

Why Buy from Radar Roy?

Authorized Escort Dealer: RadarBusters has been an authorized dealer for Escort since 1995, so you can be assured that you detector is covered under Escort’s warranty program and pre-approved for Escort’s 24 month extended warranty program.

Real Reviews: Unlike the other radar detector review websites out there, Radar Roy is a retired cop and certified traffic radar instructor with over 40 years of experience and has his own arsenal of police radar and laser guns. Luxury Automotive was so impressed with Roy’s high standards and qualifications that they dubbed him the “General Schwarzkopf of radar detectors”.

No Sales Tax: You will not be charged sales tax as long as your order is shipped outside of Arizona.

Low Price Guarantee: By becoming a member of Radar Roy’s VIP Club you will receive his 90-day price match guarantee, ensuring that you will get the best price anywhere!

Trade Up – Not In: Considering trading your old radar detector for a new one? DON”T until you watch this video!

Radar Roy Support: Have a problem or concern with your detector? Then email Radar Roy 24/7 and he will PERSONALLY get back with you typically within 12 hours or less!

Escort 8500ci vs. 9500ci

The Escort 8500ci is based on Escort’s M4 antenna design and rated as a 3-star radar detector as it has 4 times the distance of a police radar gun. The Escort Passport 9500ci and the Beltronics STiR are based on Escort’s M5 antenna design and ranked in the 4-star category having 8 times the capture distance. Both the 9500ci and the STiR are stealth to the Spectre RDD while the 8500ci is not.

QI45 vs. 8500ci

The QI45 is an earlier name for the 8500ci, which stood for Quick Install in 45 minutes or less. Same detector but different name.

Do you sell the Escort 8500ci Laser Shifter Pack?

No, and here is why. We feel that both the AntiLaser Priority and the Blinder HP-905 are much better laser jammers.

How easy is the Escort 8500ci to Install?

The biggest challenge however is to run the cabling through the firewall of your car, but if you ever installed a car stereo or any other 12-volt electronic gizmo in your car you should have no problem.

A typical install can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour.

Power Requirement 12VDC, Negative Ground Operating Bands X-band 10.525 GHz ±25 MHz K-band 24.150 GHz ±100 MHz Ka-band 34.700 GHz ±1300 MHz Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth (Optional Laser Shifting) Radar Receiver/Detector Type Superheterodyne, GaAs FET VCO Scanning Frequency Discriminator Digital Signal Processing (DSP) 4-bit high-resolution A-to-D converter Laser Detection Quantum Limited Video Receiver Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes

Display Type HP AlGaAs 280 LED Matrix/Text Bar Graph, ExpertMeter and SpecDisplay Automatic brightness control, plus four levels of fixed brightness, including Full Dark Sensitivity Control Highway, AutoSensitivity and Auto NoX Auto Calibration Circuitry Complete VG2 Immunity Dimensions Display/Controller .59 H x 3.32 W x 1.06 D Interface .83 x 3.90 x 3.61 inches Receiver Unit 1.78 x 3.14 x 4.18 inches