Escort Passport 8500 Radar Detector User Manual
Contents
1. 4 NOLLVYLSIDSY 140353 A SLOIE OLECIO escortradar com 27 v Rnwvea daa pyppetadias v BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS MAIL PERMIT NO 300 WEST CHESTER OH POSTAGE WILL BE PAID BY ADDRESSEE ATTN CUSTOMER SERVICE ESCORT INC 5440 WEST CHESTER RD WEST CHESTER OH 45069 9789 NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES 28 Warranty and Accessories ESCORT One Year Limited Warranty ESCORT warrants your Passport against all defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one 1 year from the date of the original purchase subject to the following terms and conditions The sole responsibility of ESCORT under this Warranty is limited to either repair or at the option of ESCORT replacement of the Passport detector There are no expressed or implied warranties including those of fitness for a particular purpose or merchantability which extend beyond the face hereof Some states do not allow limita tions on how long an implied warranty lasts so the above limitations may not apply to you ESCORT is not liable for any incidental or consequential damages arising from the use misuse or mounting of the Passport Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you This Warranty gives you specific rights You may have other legal rights which2. Congratulations The Passport 8500 is the most advanced radar laser and safety detector available The Passport 8500 includes full X K SuperWide Ka and Safety Warning System radar capability front and rear laser detec tion digital signal processing DSP for superior range and reduced false alarms our patented Mute and AutoMute audible and visual band alerts and all the performance you d expect from Escort In addition the Passport 8500 intro duces a new level of revolutionary perfor mance and innovative features Breakthrough long range radar and laser detection circuitry Advanced EZProgramming lets you customize 9 features AutoSensitivity mode plus Highw ay and City settings Ultra bright alohanumeric Display with 280 LEDs ExpertMeter tracks and displays up to 8 radar signals simultaneously New SpecDisplay provides actual numeric radar frequency New Programmable Bands on off Detects Safety Warning System signals Includes coiled SmartCord If you ve used a radar detector before a review of the Quick Reference Guide on pages 4 and 5 and the EZ Programming information on pages 12 and 13 will briefly explain the new features If this is your first detector please read the manual in detail to get the most out of your Passport s outstanding performance and innovative features Please drive safely Quick Reference Card R
3. Audible Alerts Signal Strength Meter ExpertMeter SpecDisplay Table of Contents 4 5 oo 1 wo pa mn 1041 EZ Programming How to use EZProgramming Example of Programming Overview of Programming Details of Programming Technical Details Specifications Interpreting Alerts How Radar Works How Laser Works How Safety Radar Works Service Troubleshooting Service Warranty Accessories 12 16 12 12 13 14 16 17 23 17 18 19 20 21 2223 24 28 2425 26 28 28 Quick Reference Guide To begin using your Passport EasyMount Slot T just follow these simple steps Insert Passport s adjustable Windshie mount into this slot Page 7 1 Plug the small end of the power into the side jack of the detector and Rear Laser Port plug the large end of the power cord Receives laser signals from behind the into your car s lighter socket vehicle acc EasyMount Button Press the button and slide the Windshield 3 Rotate the volume thumbwheel on as Passport s left side to turn Passport on one of its four locking positions and adjust the volume Please read the manual to fully understand City Button ee Passport s operation and features Switches betw een AutoSensitivity City and Highway settings In general we recom mend the Auto mode Page 8 2 Mount your Passport on the windsh
4. Details of EZ Programming Options ExpertMeter is setting the meter simultaneously tracks multiple radar signals It can display up to 2 Kaband 2 K band and 4 X band signals at the same time Note The Ex pertMeter feature is ex plained in more detail on pages 10 11 Meter SFE SpecDisplay meter this setting the meter displays the actual numeric frequency of the radar signal received Note The SpecDisplay feature is ex plained in more detail on page 11 AutoM ute AutoMute on In this setting Passport s audio alerts will initially be at the volume you set but after a few seconds Passport will automatically reduce the volume level to keep you informed but not annoyed factory default afiuteQFF AutoMute off With AutoMute off Passport s audio alerts will remain at the volume you set for the duration of the radar encounter Audio Tones Tone STO Standard tones This setting uses more pleasing tones factory default 15 Loud tones This setting uses tones that are more piercing This setting is recommended for louder vehicles City Mode Sensitivity amp TD Standard In this setting when you put Passport i in the City mode X band sensitivity is significantly reduced to reduce annoyance from X band intrusion alarms and motion sensors factory default City Lee Low X band sensitivity In this sting when you put Passport the City mo
5. LIDAR gun s range will be decreased by anything affecting visibility such as rain fog or smoke A LIDAR gun cannot operate through glass and it must be stationary in order to get an accurate reading Because LIDAR must have a clear line of sight and is subject to cosine error an inaccuracy which increases as the angle between the gun and the vehicle increases police typically use LIDAR equipment parallel to the road or from an overpass LIDAR can be used day or night How Safety Radar Works How Safety Radar Works Safety Warning System or SWS uses a modified K band radar signal The SWS safety radar system has 64 possible messages 60 currently allocated The SWS messages your Passport can display are listed on the facing page From the factory your Passport is programmed with SWS decoding ON If SWS is used in your area your Passport will display the safety messages associated with the signal If you do not wish to detect this system use the EZ Programming feature to turn Passport s SWS decoding OFF Note some of the safety messages have been condensed so that each message can be displayed on one or two screens on Passport s eight character display Since Safety radar technology is rela tively new and the number of transmitters in operation is not yet widespread you will not receive Safety signals on a daily basis Do not be surprised if you encounter emer gency vehicles road hazards and railroad crossings
6. Pilot gt Pilot ooo Purr Purr Meter Meter Meter aMute City STD City City Brt LAST Brt Brt Brt Brt DARK LAST DARK LAST Bands Bands Press the CHANGE button to change your setting within a category Full word Highway or Auto or City Letter H or A or C Letter with scanning dot Symbol or or Letter with scanning dot Scanning symbol Vehicle voltage Standard power on sequence Fast power on sequence Standard signal strength meter Expert Meter SpecDisplay AutoMute on AutoMute off Standard tones Loud tones Standard City mode sensitivity Low X band sensitivity in City Mode No X band sensitivity in City Mode Last brightness used Minimum brightness when turned on Medium brightness when turned on Maximum brightness when turned on Dark Mode when Passport turned on Standard Dark shows HD AD CD All Dark no display AII bands enabled One or more bands are disabled Turn bands ON or OFF by pressing the mute button OM or OFF OM or OFF Ka ON or OFF LSR Sus OM or OFF OM or OFF Quick Reference Guide Installation Power Connection Mounting Location Windshield Mount Controls and Features Power and volume control Power on indication AutoMute Mute Auto Highway City Switch Dim Dark Switch Dark Mode
7. Service Representative If the detector has been damaged abused or modified the repair cost will be calculated on aparts and labor basis If it exceeds the basic repair charge you will be contacted with a quotation If the additional payment is not received within 30 days or if you notify us that you choose not to have your Passport repaired at the price quoted your Passport will be returned without repair Payment can be made by check money order or credit card Mail Passport and Power Cord To ESCORT Customer Service Department ServiceOrderNumber _ _____ 5440 West Chester Road West Chester Ohio 45069 For your own protection we recommend that you ship your Passport postpaid and insured Insist on a proof of delivery and keep the receipt until the return of your Passport 1 0989 5141 Burseuound 10 uoseay p adUd 9120 0922 E aes JequinN 2195 spo uonsenb e eseo uj jequinN dz o ssoJppy 1827 PHUL epp WOO epeJJO0S9 MW SseJppe JNO euijuo 19151691 JO SN pue SIU 1no eseejd 10059 WO Jojoerep Jno aseyoind jou pip lt NO 5 LYOOSA gt Register online Www 0 peau JOU 10259
8. also used to enter the Program Mode REVIEW your current program settings and to CHANGE any settings as desired The words PROGRAM REVIEW and CHANGE are located on the top of the detector and are highlighted in dark blue graphics Pages 14 16 explain each option in more detail How to use EZ Programming To enter Program Mode press and hold both top buttons down for 2 seconds The unit will beep twice and will display the word Then press the REVIEW button to review the current settings Y ou can either tap the button to change from item to item or hold the button to scroll through the items Press the CHANGE button to change any setting Y ou can either tap the button to change from setting to setting or hold the button to scroll through all the options To leave the Program Mode simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button The unit will display Complete beep 4 times and return to normal operation 12 An example For example here is how you would turn Passport s AutoMute feature off 1 Enter the Program Mode by holding both the city and dim buttons down for 2 seconds display Fr f 2 Thenhold the REVIEW button down Passport will scroll through the categories starting with Pilot Light ilot then 3 Release the REVIEW button when Passport shows the AutoMute item Sinoe the factory setting is for AutoMute to be on Passport will display OH If
9. and how to interpret what it tells you The specific type of radar being used the type of transmission continuous or instanton and the location of the radar source affect the radar alerts you receive The following examples will give you an introduction to understanding Passport s warning system for radar laser and safety alerts Alert Passport begins to sound slowly then the rate of alert increases until the alert becomes a solid tone The Signal Meter ramps accordingly Passport emits short alerts for a few seconds and then falls silent only to briefly alert and fall silent again Passport suddenly sounds a continuous tone for the appropriate band received All segments in the Signal Strength Meter are lit A brief laser alert Passport receives weak signals These signals may be alittle stronger as you pass large roadside objects The signals increase in frequency Passport alerts slowly for awhile and then abruptly jumps to a strong alert 18 Explanation You are approaching a continuous radar source aimed in your direction An instant on radar source is being used ahead of you and out of your view An instant on radar source or laser source is being used nearby This kind of alert requires immediate attention Laser is being used in the area Because laser is inherently difficult to detect any laser alert may indicate a source very close by A moving patrol car with continuous radar is o
10. control is in Highway mode display is in Dark mode page 9 C Sensitivity control is in City mode display is in Dark mode page 9 Passport is in the Dark mode and is programmed for Dark All page 9 16 One of the many programming messages pages 12 16 One of the many Safety Radar messages pages 22 23 Passport has detected a Safety Radar Signal but the signal isn t yet strong enough to decode the specific safety message page 22 23 Passport has been programmed in the ExpertMeter Mode page 10 11 Passport is running a self calibration test Passport has failed the calibration test Contact Escort for repair 25 Service Service Procedure If Your Passport ever needs service please follow these simple steps 1 Check the troubleshooting section of this manual It may have a solution to your problem 2 us at 1 800 543 1608 We may be able to solve your problem over the phone If the problem requires that you send your Passport to the factory for repair we will provide you with a Service Order Number which must be included on the outside of your shipping box Enclose The Following Information With Your Passport e Your Service Order Number e Yourname and return address e Your daytime telephone number e description of the problem you experiencing 26 Out Of Warranty Repairs For out of warranty repairs include prepay ment in the amount you were quoted by the Escort Customer
11. that are unequipped with these transmitters As Safety transmitters become more prevalent the number of operating transmitters is grow ing every day these Safety radar signals will become more common For more information and details about SWS safety radar visit their web site at WW W safetyradar com SWS Safety Radar Text Messages SWS Text Messages 1 Work Fore 33 2 34 3 35 4 36 5 37 6 38 7 39 8 40 9 41 10 42 11 43 12 44 13 45 14 46 15 47 16 48 17 49 18 50 t 19 51 20 52 Delay 21 53 Delay 22 54 23 55 24 56 25 57 26 58 27 59 28 60 29 61 30 62 31 63 32 64 23 Problem Passport beeps briefly at the same location every day but no radar source isin sight Passport does not seem sensitive to radar or laser Passport did not alert when a police car was in view Passport did not provide a Safety signal while within range of an emergency vehicle Passport s display is not working Passport s audible alerts are less loud after the first few alerts Passport bounces or sags on wind shield Passport s power on sequence reoc curs while you are driving Your 14 year old son has changed all 9 of the EZ Programming options Troubleshooting Solution An X band motion sensor or intrusion alarm is located within range of your route With time you will learn predictable patterns of these signals Make sure that windshield wipers do not block P
12. up nearby How Radar Works How Radar Works Traffic radar which consists of microwaves travels in straight lines and is easily reflected by objects such as cars trucks even guardrails and overpasses Radar works by directing its microwave beam down the road As your vehicle travels into range the microwave beam bounces off your car and the radar antenna looks for the reflections Using the Doppler Principle the radar equipment then calculates your speed by comparing the frequency of the reflection of your car to the original frequency of the beam sent out Traffic radar has limitations the most significant of these being that it typically can monitor only one target at a time If there is more than one vehicle within range itis up to the radar operator to decide which target is producing the strongest reflection Since the strength of the reflec tion is affected by both the size of the vehicle and its proximity to the antenna it is difficult for the radar operator to deter mine if the signal is from a sports car nearby or a semiruck several hundred feet aw ay Radar range also depends on the power of the radar equipment itself The strength of the radar unit s beam diminishes with distance The farther the radar has to travel the less energy it has for speed detection Because intrusion alarms and motion sensors often operate on the same frequency as X Band radar your Passport will occasionally receive non police rada
13. vary from state to state This Warranty does not apply if the serial number on the housing of the Passport has been removed or if your Passport has been subjected to physical abuse improper installation or modification Escort Extended Service Plan Escort offers an optional extended service plan Contact Escort for details Accessories The following accessories and replacement parts are available for Passport 8500 Standard Coiled SmartCord 29 95 ESCORT Designed and printed in the USA Escort Incorporated 5440 West Chester Road West Chester Ohio 45069 Sales 800 433 3487 Service 800 543 1608 Fax 513 870 8509 WW W escortradar com 2000 Escort Inc Escort Passport AFR SmartShield AutoSensitivity ExpertMeter and SpecDisplay are trademarks of Escort Inc SWS is a trademark of SWS L C Features specifications and prices subject to change without notice
14. you accidentally dote t release the Review button in time and Passport goes to the next category hold the Review button down again and after Passport scrolls through all categories it will begin again at the top of the list 4 Press CHANGE bunor to change 5 complete the Programming simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button Passport will display Compete beep 4 times and return to normal operation Overview of EZ Programming Options Press the REVIEW button Press the CHANGE button to go from one category to change your setting to the next within a category PILOT LIGHT Full word Highway or Auto or City Letter or A or C Letter with scanning dot Symbol or Letter with scanning dot Scanning symbol Vehicle voltage Standard power on sequence Fast power on sequence Standard signal strength meter Power on indication POWER ON SEQUENCE SIGNAL STRENGTH METER Expert Meter SpecDisplay AUTOMUTE AutoMute on AutoMute off AUDIOTONES Tone STD Standard tones Tone LOUD Loud tones CITY MODE SENSITIVITY city 5 Standard City mode sensitivity City Low X band sensitivity in City Mode City No X band sensitivity City Mode BRIGHTNESS Ert ast brightness used Bri Minimum brightness when turned on Ert Medium brightness when turned on Ert Maximum brightness when turned on Ert Dark Mode when Passport turned on DARK MODE DARE Standard Dark shows HD AD CD DARE All Dar
15. Dark mode with the Dim switch Passport changes to a very inconspicuous power on indication a very dim AD HD or CD In this display the A H or C indicates Auto Highway or City and the D indicates Dark When Passport is in the Dark mode the display will not show visual alerts when Passport detects signals Only the audible alert will tell you of detected signals If you prefer you can have Passport s display totally dark see the EZ Programming section and use the visual alerts on the SmartCord Audible Alerts For Radar signals Passport uses a Geiger counterJike sound to indicate the signal strength and type of radar signal being encountered When you encounter radar a distinct audible alert will sound and occur faster as the signal gets stronger When the signal is very strong the audible alerts will blend into a solid tone This allows you to judge the distance from the signal source without taking your eyes from the road Each band has a distinct tone for easy identification X band beep tone K band raspy brap tone Ka band double brap tone For Laser signals Since laser signals are a possible threat no matter how weak Passport alerts you to all laser signals with a full laser alert For Safety signals Passport will alert you to these signals with a double beep tone and a corresponding text message A complete listing of the text messages is on page 23 Controls and Features Power Connecto
16. assport s radar antenna and that the laser lens is not behind tinted areas Determine if your vehicle has an Instaclear ElectriClear or solar reflective windshield which may deflect radar or laser signals Passport may be in City Mode VASCAR Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder a stopwatch method of speed detection may be in use Officer may not have radar or laser unit turned on Safety transmitters may not be commonly used in your area Pressthe Dim button to deactivate Dark Mode Passport is in AutoMute Mode See page 8 for details Passport is not making contact with the windshield to provide stability While holding down Passport s EasyMount button slide Passport further back toward the windshield so that the back top edge makes firm contact A loose power connection or dirty lighter socket can cause Passport to be briefly disconnected You can return all of the programming options to the factory defaults by holding down the City Dim and Mute buttons while you turn Passport on 24 Troubleshooting Problem Solution Passport will not turn on Check that volume control isON Check that vehicle ignition is ON Check that vehicle lighter socket is functional Try Passport in another vehicle Passport feels very w arm t is normal for Passport to feel warm Ex planation of Displays Zu Sensitivity control is in Auto mode display isin Dark mode page 9 HO Sensitivity
17. d Mount mount your Passport level and high enough on your front windshield to provide a clear view of the road from the front and rear Mount Passport away from windshield wipers other solid objects and heavily tinted areas that might obstruct the radar antenna or laser lens Windshield Mount Windshield Mount Passport s EasyMount windshield bracket is designed for unobtrusive and hassle free mounting 1 Depress the adjustment button on the top of Passport by the word ESCORT and slide the EasyM ount bracket into the slot until it is locked into the position which best fits the angle of your windshield there are four settings available For extremely horizontal or extremely sloped windshields the EasyMount bracket can be bent To ensure that the suction cups adhere to the windshield firmly be sure to keep both your windshield and the suction cups clean 2 adjust Passport on your windshield use the EasyMount adjustment button located on the top of the Passport and slide Passport forward or backward to obtain a level horizontal position When installed and adjusted properly the back top edge of Passport should rest solidly against your windshield Caution A few vehicles including some Porsches have windshields with a soft antitacerative coating on the inside surface Use of suction cups will permanently mar this coating Consult your dealership or the vehicle 5 manual to determine if you
18. de X band sensitivity is reduced more than the standard setting This will reduce X band alarms from other sources even further but also significantly reduces range to X band traffic radar City X band sensitivity In this setting when you put Passport the City mode Passport will not respond to any X band signals WARNING Only choose this setting if you are absolutely certain that there are no X band traffic radar units where you drive Note These settings only apply when Passport is operated in City mode X band sensitivity is not affected when used in Auto or Highway modes Details of EZ Programming Options Brightness AST last In this setting when you turn on Passport the display will be the last brightness you had selected during operation with the dim button factory default Ened L Ert minimum In this setting each time you turn on Passport the display will be at the lowest brightness Ert MED medium In this setting each time you turn on Passport the display will be at the medium brightness Ert maximum In this setting each time you turn on Passport the display will be at the maximum brightness Ert DARK dark In this setting each time you turn on Passport the display will be in the dark mode This is recommended only when using Passport s SmartCord so you have a visual indication to confirm that Passport is operational Dar
19. emove along perforations Passport 8500 Quick Reference Card There are 9 user selectable options so you can customize your Passport 8500 for your own preferences The buttons labeled CITY and DIM are also used to enter the Program Mode REVIEW your current program settings and to CHANGE any settings as desired The words PROGRAM REVIEW and CHANGE are located on the top of the detector and are highlighted in blue graphics How to use EZ Programming 1 To enter Program Mode press and hold both top buttons down for 2 seconds The unit will beep twice and will display the word Program 2 Then press the REVIEW button to review the current settings You can either tap the button to change from item to item or hold the button to scroll through the items 3 Press the CHANGE button to change any setting You can either tap the button to change from setting to setting or hold the button to scroll through all the options 4 To leave Program Mode simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button The unit will display Complete beep 4 times and return to normal operation Factory Default Settings To reset Passport to its original factory settings press and hold the CITY DIM and MUTE buttons while turning the power on Passport s display will provide a Reset message accompanied by an audible alert acknowledging the reset An example For example here is how you would turn Passp
20. fic alert The audio will alert you to the next encounter Page8 EZ Programming Passport is ready to go just plug it in and turn it on But you can also easily change 9 features for your preferences Page 12 16 Power Connection and Mounting Location Power Connection To power Passport plug the small end of the SmartCord telephonetype connector into the modular jack on Passport s right side and plug the lighter plug adapter into your vehicle s lighter Socket or accessory socket Passport operates on 12 volts DC negative ground only The lighter plug provided is a standard size and will work in most vehicles However some vehicles may require the enclosed sleeve to ensure a snug fit If so simply slide the sleeve over the SmartCord s lighter plug adapter Of course your lighter socket must be clean and properly connected for proper operation Note depending on your vehicle the lighter Socket pow er may either be continuously on or it may be switched on and off with your ignition switch Optional power cords See the Accessories section for details on our optional Direct wire SmartCord Mounting Location WARNING ESCORT cannot anticipate the many ways Passport can be mounted It is important that you mount Passport where it will not impair your view nor present a hazard in case of an accident Where to mount Passport For optimum detection performance we recommend the follow ing Using the Windshiel
21. gnal strength When Passport detects a laser signal the display will show LASER NOTE If you are operating Passport in the Dark mode the display will not light when asignal is detected only the audio and the flashing alert lamp on the SmartCord ExpertM eter Passport s ExpertMeter option is an advanced display for experienced detector users Please use Passport for a few weeks to get familiar with its other features before using ExpertMeter To use the ExpertMeter instead of the bar graph signal strength meter you must select ExpertMeter in Passport s EZ Programming see page 12 15 Passport s ExpertMeter simultaneously tracks up to 8 radar signals It shows you detailed information on up to 2 Kaband 2 K band and 4 X band signals ExpertMeter can help you spot a change in your normal driving environment for example a traffic radar unit being oper ated in an area where there are normally other signals present Controls and Features The ExpertMeter is actually a miniature spectrum analyzer It shows what band each signal is and its sane strength Above 15 the LM if Passport was detecting 2 strong Ka band 2 strong K band and 4 strong X band signals As you can see there are vertical lines after each band designator Each line shows asignal being detected The height of each line shows the relative signal strength of that signal NOTE If you use ExpertMeter the brief signal shown in the po
22. ield using the supplied windshield mount Power Volume Control Rotate the thumbw heel to turn Passport on and set the volume Page 8 AutoM ute Passport s patented AutoMute automatically reduces the volume level of the audio alert after a brief period If you prefer you can turn AutoMute off Page 8 Quick Reference Guide Radar Antenna and Laser Lens The rear panel of your Passport should have aclear view of the road ahead For best performance do not mount Passport directly behind windshield wipers or tinted areas Page 6 Alphanumeric Display Passport s display will show Highway Auto or City as its power on indication If you prefer you can choose other power on indications Page 12 14 During an alert the display will indicate radar band and a precise bar graph of signal strength Page 10 Note In the Dark Mode the display will not light during an alert Page9 Earphone J ack Accepts standard 3 5mm earphone Power Jack Plug the SmartCord into this connector Page Dim Button Press to adjust display brightness There are three brightness settings plus Dark Mode In the Dark Mode the power on indication will be changed to a dim AD HD or CD indicating Auto Highway or City Dark In the Dark Mode Passport s meter will not display during an alert only the audio will alert you Page 9 Mute Button Briefly press this button next to the display to silence the audio for a speci
23. k no display BANDS Bands ALL AII bands enabled Bands MOD One or more bands are disabled ractory Default Settings ON Cee To reset Passport to its original Tum 0 by factory settings press and hold p 9 the CITY DIM and MUTE buttons while turning the power ck E Passport s display will ON or OFF provide a Reset mess 2 or CFF accompanied by an audible alert or OFF acknowledging the reset Details of EZ Programming Options Pilot Light Power on indication Note When you are using the Dark mode the display will only show HD AD or CD Highway Dark Auto Dark or CityDark Un Full description in hls sating Passport will display Highway City or Auto as its pow er on indication factory default Filot H Letter In this setting Passport will display H for Highway C for City and A for Auto Pilot H gt Letter with scanning dot In this setting Passport will display H for Highway for City and A for Auto Also asingle dot will continuously scroll across the display Filat Symbol In this setting Passport will display for Highway for Auto and for City Filat Symbol with scanning dot In this setting Passport will display for Highway for Auto and for City Also asingle dot will continuously scroll across the display Fi
24. k Mode Dark 270 standard In this setting when you select the dark 16 mode the only display will be a very dim HD AD or CD indicating Highw ay Dark Auto Dark or City Dark factory default Dark RLL all In this setting when you select the dark mode using the dim button Passport s display will be totally dark without even displaying any power on indication In this setting Passport s SmartCord will provide the only visual indication to confirm that Passport is operational In this setting all radar laser and SWS frequencies are monitored This is the factory setting and it is highly recommended that you use your Passport in this mode In this scing Passport will warn you with an audible alert and associated text message stating which band is turned off i e SWS OFF This warning is displayed during the start up sequence standard or fast WARNING Only modify bands if you are absolutely certain that there are no traffic radar units using that specific band in your area Specifications Features and Specifications 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 Radar Receiver Detector Type Superheterodyne GaAs FET VCO Scanning Frequency Discriminator Digital Signal Processing DSP Iaser Detection Quantum Limited Video Receiver Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes Display Ty
25. lat Scanning symbol In this setting Passport will display for Highway for Auto and for City Each will continuously scroll across the display 14 Filet i Vehicle voltage In this setting Passport will continually display H for Highway C for City and A for Auto and the vehicle s voltage If the vehicle s voltage drops below 10 5 volts alow voltage warning is displayed follow ed by an audible alert A high voltage warning is also given if the voltage goes above 16 5 volts The high voltage warning is also followed by an audible alert Pow Sequence F rn Standard In this setting each time you turn on Passport it will display Passport 8500 LASER Ka band K band X band followed by a brief X band alert factory default If any bands have been disabled a double X band tone and corresponding message OFF will alert you that one or more bands have been turned off FST Fast power on ing Passport will provide a single X band tone if all bands are enabled If any bands have been disabled a double X band tone and corresponding message i e X OFF will alert you that one or more bands have been turned off Signal Strength Meter Me ter TD Standard meter In this setting the meter displays the band of the received signal and a bar graph shows the relative signal strength factory default
26. located on Passport s front panel allows you to silence the audio alert during a radar encounter To mute the audio for a single specific signal briefly press the Mute button After that radar encounter has passed the mute will automatically reset and the audio will alert you to the next encounter Auto Highway City Switch The City button selects Passport s sensitivity mode We recommend the Auto AutoSensitivity mode for most driving Passport s AutoSensitivity mode provides long range warning with minimum false alarms In this mode Passport s internal computer continuously analyzes all incoming signals and intelli gently adjusts the sensitivity circuits You can also select conventional Highway and City modes When driving in urban areas where annoying X band intru sion alarms and door openers are common City mode can be engaged to lower X band sensitivity and reduce X band alerts Full sensitivity is maintained on all other bands You can customize Passport s City mode sensitivity See the EZ Programming section for details Controls and Features Dim Dark Switch Passport s Dim button selects the brightness of Passport s display There are four settings Maximum Medium Minimum and Dark Press the Dim button to select your preferred brightness If you prefer you can have Passport alwaysturn on at a specific brightness See the EZ Programming section for details Dark Mode When you select the
27. ort s AutoMute feature off 1 Enter the Program Mode by holding both the city and dim buttons down for 2 seconds Passport will beep twice and display Program 2 Then hold the REVIEW button down Passport will scroll through the categories starting with Pilot Light Fi 125 then Power on sequence Purr then strength meter e ter and then AutoMute aute 3 Release the REVIEW button when Passport shows the AutoMute item Since the factory setting is for AutoMute to be on Passport will display astute If you accidentally don t release the Review button in time and Passport goes to the next category hold the Review button down again and after Passport scrolls through all categories it will begin again at the top of the list 4 Press the CHANGE button to change from OM to OFF 5 To complete the Programming simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button Passport will display Complete beep 4 times and return to normal operation EZ Programming Details gt v Remove card along perforations Quick Reference Card v Passport 8500 Quick Reference Card Press the REVIEW button to go from one category to the next PILOT LIGHT Power on indication POWER ON SEQUENCE SIGNAL STRENGTH METER AUTOMUTE AUDIOTONES CITY MODE SENSITIVITY BRIGHTNESS DARK MODE BANDS Factory Default Settings Pilot Pilot H Pilot H gt Pilot Pilot gt
28. pe 280 AlGaAs LED Alphanumeric Bar Graph ExpertMeter or SpecDisplay 34 evel Dimming plus Dark Mode Power Requirement 12VDC Negative Ground SmartCord included Programmable Features Power On Indication Power On Sequence Signal Strength Meter AutoMute Audio Tones City Mode Sensitivity Display Brightness 17 Dark Mode Radar Laser Bands Sensitivity Control AutoSensitivity Highway and City Auto Calibration Circuitry SmartShield VG2 Immunity Dimensions Inches 1 25 2 85 W x 5 32 L Patented Technology Passport is covered by one or more of the following US patents 6 069 580 5 600 132 5 587 916 5 668 554 5 559 508 5 365 055 5 347 120 5 446 923 5 402 087 5 305 007 5 206 500 5 164 729 5 134 406 5 111 207 5 079 553 5 049 885 5 049 884 4 961 074 4 954 828 4 952 937 4 952 936 4 939 521 4 896 855 4 887 753 4 862 175 4 750 215 4 686 499 4 631 542 4 630 054 4 625 210 4 613 989 4 604 529 4 583 057 4 581 769 4 571 593 4 313 216 D314 178 D313 365 D310 167 D308 837 D296 771 D288 418 D253 752 Passport is also covered by one or more of the following Canadian patents 1 295 715 1 295 714 1 187 602 1 187 586 Other patents pending Additional patents may be listed inside the product Interpreting Alerts Although Passport has a comprehensive warning system and this handbook is as complete as we can make it only experi ence will teach you what to expect from your Passport
29. r Passport s power jack uses atelephonetype connector This 4 conductor connector only works with the included coiled SmartCord or the optional Direct wire SmartCord The coiled SmartCord is a special power cord that has a power on indicator which only lights up when the 8500 is turned on a bright alert light that warns of radar or laser and a convenient mute button right on the plug It s perfect for any car where reaching the detector s mute button on the windshield is a stretch For discreet night driving put Passport in the Dark mode and use the SmartCord for your visual alerts Other drivers won t know you have a detector An optional Direct wire SmartCord is also available This version includes a small display module which can be wired directly into your electrical system with a 10 foot straight cord to route to your Passport For more information or to order call us toll free at 1 800 433 3487 Signal Strength Meter Passport s alphanumeric display consists of 280 individual LEDs to provide an intuitive ultra bright display of signal strength and text messages Passport s standard bar graph signal strength meter only displays information on asingle radar signal If there are multiple 10 signals present Passport s internal computer determines which is the most important threat to show on the bar graph meter When Passport detects radar it displays the band X K or Ka and a precise bar graph of the si
30. r signals Since these X Band transmitters are usually contained inside of a building or aimed toward the ground they will gener ally produce much weaker readings than will atrue radar encounter As you become familiar with the sources of these pseudo alarms in your daily driving they will serve as confirmation that your Passport s radar detection abilities are fully operational How Laser Works How Laser Lidar Works Laser speed detection is actually LIDAR Light Detection and Ranging LIDAR guns project a beam of invisible infrared light The signal is a series of very short infrared light energy pulses which move in a straight line reflecting off your car and returning to the gun LIDAR uses these light pulses to measure the distance to a vehicle Speed is then calculated by measuring how quickly these pulses are reflected given the known speed of light LIDAR or laser is a newer technology and is not as widespread as conventional radar therefore you may not encounter laser on a daily basis And unlike radar detection laser detection is not prone to false alarms Because LIDAR transmits a much narrower beam than does radar it is much more accurate in its ability to distin guish betw een targets and is also more difficult to detect AS A RESULT EVEN THE BRIEFEST LASER ALERT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY There are limitations to LIDAR equip ment LIDAR is much more sensitive to weather conditions than RADAR and a
31. r windshield has this coating User s Tip You can leave the EasyMount bracket in place on your windshield and easily remove Passport by pressing the adjustment button and sliding Passport off the mount Again be sure to position the bracket where it won t present a hazard in the event of an accident Additional mounts are available Controls and Features Power and volume control To turn Passport on and adjust the alert tone volume level rotate the thumbwheel on Passport s left side Turn the control aw ay from you to increase the audio volume When you turn Passport on it goes through a sequence of alerts If you prefer you may program your Passport for a shorter power on sequence See the EZ Programming section for details Power on indication After Passport s startup sequence is complete the alphanumeric display will show Highway City or Auto to indicate which sensitivity mode is selected If you prefer you can select alternate power on displays See the EZ Programming section for details AutoM ute Your Passport has our patented AutoMute feature After Passport alerts you to a radar encounter at the volume you have selected the AutoMute feature will automatically reduce the volume to a lower level This keeps you informed without the annoyance of a continuous full volume alert If you prefer you can turn the AutoMute feature off See the EZ Programming section for details Mute The Mute button
32. vertaking you from behind Because these signals are reflected reflections are increased by large objects they may or may not eventu ally melt into a solid point even when the patrol car is directly behind you You are approaching a radar unit concealed by a hill or an obstructed curve Interpreting Alerts Alert Passport alerts intermittently Rate and strength of alerts may be consistent or vary wildly Passport alerts intermittently Rate and strength of signal increases with each alert Passport gives an X band alert intermittently Explanation A patrol car is travelling in front of you with a radar source aimed forward Because signals are sometimes reflected off of large objects and sometimes not the alerts may seem inconsistent A patrol car is approaching from the other direction sampling traffic with instant on radar Such alerts should be taken seriously Y ou are driving through an area populated with radar motion sensors door openers burglar alarms etc Since these transmitters are usually contained inside buildings or aimed toward OR away from you they are typically not as strong or lasting as a real radar encounter CAUTION Since the characteristics of these alerts may be similar to some of the preceding examples overconfidence in an unfamiliar area can be dangerous Likewise if an alert in a commonly traveled area is suddenly stronger or on a different band than usual Speed radar may be set
33. wer on sequence when you turn on your Passport will also be in ExpertMeter an X with a single vertical line A few more examples will help you better see how the ExpertMeter works Here ExpertMeter shows 1 strong K band signal and three X band signals two strong and one weak Here ExpertMeter shows 1 weak Ka band signal and three weak X band signals 11 On very weak signals there will notbea vertical line at all This shows a very weak X band signal Ex pertMeter Details The band designators X K Ka will stay on the display for a few seconds after the signal has passed This allows you to see what the unit detected even on very brief signals However the vertical lines repre senting individual signals continuously change several times a second to give you acontinuous instantaneous view of all radar signals present SpecDisplay Passport 8500 s new SpecDisplay option is also for the experienced detector user In this mode Passport will display the actual numeric frequency of the radar signal being received SpecDisplay shows one K band signal at 24 150 gigahertz Note Even long time detector users will require a significant amount of time to get familiar with this new level of information about detected signals How to customize Passport with EZ Programming There are 9 user selectable options so you can customize your Passport 8500 for your own preferences The buttons labeled CITY and DIM are
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