ESCORT 8500ci Passport Long Range Radar Detector Owner’s Manual

DRIVE SMARTER™

PASSPORT® 8500ci

QUICK – INSTALLED PROTECTION

Simple. Easy. Installed.


RADAR · LASER · SAFETY· DETECTOR

Owner’s Manual

Congratulations

Your new PASSPORT 8500ci is a complete supercharged custom-installed radar/laser detector.
The PASSPORT 8500ci includes full X, K, and SuperWide Ka radar capability, Digital Signal Processing 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, your new PASSPORT 8500ci introduces a new level of Radar/Laser defense including:

• Supercharged radar performance, for superior K, and Ka-band sensitivity. 
• Advanced Preferences lets you instantly set up to 6 customized features 
• Exclusive AutoSensitivity™ mode drastically reduces false alarms, plus Highway and Auto NoX sensitivity modes. 
• Ultra-bright alphanumeric display uses 280 LEDs for crystal clear information 
• Exclusive ExpertMeter™ tracks and displays up to 8 radar signals 
• Exclusive SpecDisplay provides numeric frequency for any radar signal 
• Detects and decodes up to 63 Safety Warning Systems signals 
• High-Speed A/D converter dramatically improves radar detection range 
• Miniature display controller allows easy access to information and controls.

If you’ve used a radar detector before, a review of the Quick Reference Guide on pages 4 and 5, and the Preferences section on pages 12 and 13 will briefly explain the new features.
If this is your first detector, please read this manual in detail to get the most out of your PASSPORT’s performance and features.
Please drive safely.

IMPORTANT
INSTALLATION WARNING:
Your new PASSPORT 8500ci requires installation. Although we’ve made this the simplest product to install, we do recommend that you consult a 12-volt professional if you have no experience with 12-volt installations. If you would like professional installation, simply visit our web site.
Attempting to install the PASSPORT 8500ci without expertise in automotive electronic installations can cause personal injury during the installation, or can damage your PASSPORT or your vehicle.

FCC NOTE:
Modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer could void the user’s FCC granted authority to operate the equipment.

Quick Reference Card

Remove card along perforations

PASSPORT 8500ci Quick Reference Card

There are 6 user-selectable options so you can customize your PASSPORT 8500ci for your own preferences.
The buttons labeled BRT and SENS are also used to enter the PROGRAM Mode, REVIEW your current program settings, and to CHANGE any settings as desired. The words PGM, RVW, and CHG are located below the push buttons, and are labeled in light gray graphics.

How to use Preferences

1 To enter Preferences, press and hold both the BRT and SENS buttons down for 2 seconds. The unit will beep twice, and will display the word Prefs.

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 Preferences, simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button. The unit will display Complete, beep and return to normal operation.

Factory Default Settings
To reset PASSPORT to its original factory settings, press and hold the “BRT,” “SENS,” and buttons while turning the power on. PASSPORT’s display will provide a Reset message, accompanied by an audible tone, acknowledging the reset.

An example
Here is how you would turn PASSPORT’s AutoMute feature off.

1 Enter the Program Mode by holding both the BRT and SENS buttons down for 2 seconds. PASSPORT will beep and display Prefs.

2 Then hold the REVIEW button down. PASSPORT will scroll through the categories, starting with Pilot Light (Pilot), then Power-on sequence (PwrOn), then Signal Strength Meter (Meter), and then AutoMute (aMute).

3 Release the REVIEW button when PASSPORT shows the AutoMute item. Since the factory setting is for AutoMute to be on, PASSPORT will display aMute ON.
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 aMute ON to aMute OFF.

5 To exit the Preferences, simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button. PASSPORT will display Complete, accompanied by an audible tone or voice message, and return to normal operation.

Preferences Details

Press the REVIEW button to go from one category to the next| | Press the CHANGE button to change your setting within a category
---|---|---
PILOT LIGHT
(Power-on indication)| Pilot  HWY
Pilot  H
Pilot  H.>
Pilot  V| Full word: Highway or Auto or Auto NoX
Letter: H or A or ANX
Letter, with scanning dot
Vehicle voltage
POWER-ON SEQUENCE| PwrOn  FST
PwrOn  STD| Fast power-on sequence
Standard power-on sequence
SIGNAL STRENGTH METER| Meter  STD
Meter  EXP
Meter  SPC| Standard signal strength meter
Expert Meter
SpecDisplay
AUTOMUTE| aMute  ON
aMute  OFF| AutoMute on
AutoMute off
VOICE| Voice  ON
Voice  OFF| Voice alerts on
Voice alerts off
BANDS| Bands  DFT
Bands  MOD| Factory default settings
One or more bands have been changed
|

X
K
Ka
POP
SWS
LSR
TSR

| Turn bands “ON” or “OFF” by pressing the V•MUTE button

ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is off)
ON or OFF(default is off)
ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is on)

• Factory Default Settings

1. BRT Button
   Press to adjust display brightness. There are three brightness settings, plus Dark Mode.
   In the Dark Mode PASSPORT’s display will remain dark and only the audio will alert you. Page 9

2. SENS Button
   The sensitivity button, (SENS) toggles between sensitivity modes including “auto” (AutoSensitivity), “Auto Nox”, and Highway settings. In general, we recommend the Auto mode. Page 7
   Preferences
   PASSPORT is preset at the factory and ready to go once it is installed—just turn it on.
   But you can also easily change 6 features for your preferences. Press both buttons to enter the Preferences, then easily Review or Change your settings. Pages 12-15

3. Matrix Display
   PASSPORT’s display will show “Highway”, “Auto,” or “Auto NoX” as its standard power-on indication. Page 6
   If you prefer, you can choose other power-on indications. Page 14
   During an alert, the display will indicate radar band, and a precise bar graph for the signal strength. Page 9
   You can program PASSPORT for ExpertMeter, which displays up to 8 radar signals at once, or choose our new SpecDisplay mode, which provides the actual numeric radar frequency. Page 10-11
   The display can also show Safety Radar text messages. Pages 22-23

4. V•MUTE (Volume Control/Mute) Button
   To set your volume level for alerts, press and hold the V•MUTE button located in the center of the display controller. Once you’ve reached your desired level of audio, simply release the button. Passport will remember this setting even when power is turned off.
   To mute an audible alert, briefly press this button on the display controller to silence the audio for a specific alert. (The audio will alert you to the next encounter.)
   Page 7
   AutoMute
   Passport’s patented AutoMute automatically reduces the volume level of the audio alert.
   Page 7
   If you prefer, you can turn AutoMute off. Page 12

5. Power
   To turn the 8500ci on or off, simply press the power button located on the far left side of the display controller.
   NOTE: We recommend wiring the 8500ci to the vehicle’s ignition switch so it turns on and off with the key.

Controls and Features

Power

The PASSPORT 8500ci was designed to turn on and off with the ignition once it is installed. This is accomplished by connecting the 12-volt Interface to a switched ACC connection at the fuse panel.
(See installation manual for instructions.)
If you prefer, you may also turn the 8500ci on and off by pressing the power button located on the display controller.

Power-on indication

After PASSPORT’s start-up sequence is complete, the matrix display will show “Highway”, “Auto” or “Auto NoX” to show which sensitivity mode has been selected.
If you prefer, you can select alternate power-on displays. See the Preferences section for details

Volume Adjust

To adjust the 8500ci to your preferred audio level for alerts, simply press and hold the V•Mute button located on the display controller. The audio will increase/decrease while it is depressed. Once you reach the desired audio level, simply release the button. The 8500ci will retain this setting in its memory, even if the system is turned off.
When the optional Laser Shifters are connected, (see Accessories section) the V•Mute button can be used to manually stop “shifting” once you have corrected your speed. Simply press the V•Mute twice during the “Laser Shifting” message, and the Shifter’s will cease to transmit. The Shifters will remain in this state for approximately two minutes. Once this time has passed, the Shifters will automatically reset. A reset message will be displayed to verify and acknowledge this reset.

Mute

The V•Mute button, located on the display controller, allows you to silence the audio during an alert.
To mute the audio for a single specific signal, briefly press the V•MUTE button. After that radar encounter has passed, the audio will automatically reset and the 8500ci will alert you to the next encounter.

AutoMute

Your 8500ci has our patented AutoMute feature. After the 8500ci alerts you to a radar encounter at your selected volume level, it automatically reduces 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 Preferences section for details.

Auto / Highway / Auto NoX

The “SENS” button selects the 8500ci’s sensitivity setting. We recommend the “Auto” (AutoSensitivity) mode for most driving.
PASSPORT’s exclusive AutoSensitivity mode provides long-range warning, with minimum false alarms. In this mode, PASSPORT’s internal computer continuously analyzes all incoming signals and intelligently adjusts the sensitivity—eliminating the majority of false alarms. You can also select conventional “Highway,” which provides the maximum sensitivity. Auto NoX provides the same sensitivity as “Auto” but turns off X-band completely. Full sensitivity is maintained on all other bands.

NOTE: Before using the 8500ci in the “Auto NoX” mode, please make sure your area does not use X-band guns to measure speed.

Display Brightness

The 8500ci’s display brightness is automatically adjusted to suit ambient lighting conditions in your car. (The light sensor is located inside the display controller and may dim the display momentarily when accessing the buttons).
If you prefer, you can press the “BRT” button located on the display controller to set your 8500ci for a fixed brightness level (Maximum, Medium, Minimum, or Dark).

Dark Mode

If you select Dark mode on the 8500ci, the display will not provide any indication that it is on.
NOTE: When the 8500ci is in the Dark Mode, the display will not show visual alerts when it detects signals. Only the audible alert will tell you of detected signals.

Audible Alerts

For Radar signals:
The 8500ci uses a Geiger-counter-like sound or voice announcements to indicate the signal strength and type of radar signal being encountered.
When you encounter radar, a distinct Audible Alert will sound and will increase as the signal gets stronger. 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, the 8500ci alerts you to all laser signals with a full laser alert.

For Safety signals:
If you have turned on the SWS detection in the 8500ci’s Preferences section, the 8500ci 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.
If you haven’t turned on SWS in Preferences, the 8500ci will not decode these transmissions but will still detect them as a K-band radar signal.

Signal Strength Meter

The 8500ci’s matrix display consists of 280 individual LED’s, to provide an intuitive ultra-bright display of signal strength and text messages.
When it detects radar, it displays the band of the radar (X, K, or Ka), and a precise bar graph of signal strength.

ExpertMeter

PASSPORT’s exclusive ExpertMeter option is an advanced display for experienced detector users. Please use the 8500ci for a few weeks to get fully familiar with its other features before using ExpertMeter.
To use the ExpertMeter instead of the standard bar graph signal strength meter, you must select MeterEXP in the 8500ci’s Preferences (see pages 12-15).
ExpertMeter simultaneously tracks up to 8 radar signals. It shows you detailed information on up to 2 Ka-band, 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 operated in an area where there are normally other signals present.

The ExpertMeter is actually a miniature spectrum analyzer. It shows what band each signal is, and its signal strength.
Above is the ExpertMeter Display 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 a signal being detected. The height of each line shows the relative signal strength of that signal. The position of the line shows the relative frequency of the signal within the band.

NOTE: If you use ExpertMeter, the brief signal shown in the power-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.
On very weak signals, there will not be a vertical line at all. This shows a very weak X-band signal.

ExpertMeter 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 representing individual signals continuously change (several times a second) to give you a continuous view of the signal strength of all radar signals present.

SpecDisplay

The 8500ci’s SpecDisplay option is also designed for the advanced detector user. In this mode, it will display the actual numeric radar frequency being received
Display shows a K-band signal at 24.150 GhZ.
Display shows a Ka-band signal at 34.700 GhZ.
Display shows a X-band signal at 10.525 GhZ.

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 use Preferences

There are 6 user-selectable options in the 8500ci’s Preferences. This allows you to set it up the way you prefer.
To access Preferences, simply press the buttons that are normally used for brightness (BRT) and sensitivity (SENS) at the same time. Once you access Preferences, the BRT button is used to review (RVW) the categories and the SENS button is used to change (CHG) items within the category. Pages 14-15 explain each option in more detail.

How to use Preferences

1 To enter Preferences, press both buttons and hold for 2 seconds. The 8500ci will beep and display Prefs. (Brightness is at maximum during this process.)

2 Then press the RVW 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 CHG 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 the Preferences, simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button. The unit will display Complete, beep and return to normal operation.
To quickly return to all of the factory defaults, press and hold the BRT and SENS buttons while turning on the unit.

An example
Here’s how you would turn the 8500ci’s AutoMute feature off.

1 Enter Preferences by holding both buttons down for 2 seconds. The 8500ci will beep and display Prefs.

2 Then hold the RVW button down. The 8500ci will scroll through the categories, starting with Display (Disp), then Pilot Light (Pilot), then Power-on sequence (PwrOn), then Signal Strength Meter (Meter), then AutoMute (aMute).

3 Release the RVW button when the display shows AutoMute. Since the factory setting is for AutoMute to be on, the 8500ci will display aMute ON.
If you accidentally don’t release the RVW button in time and it goes to the next category, simply hold the RVW button down again until aMute is displayed.

4 Press the CHG button to change from aMute ON to aMute OFF.

5 To complete this change, simply wait 8 seconds without pressing any button. The display will provide a Complete message, accompanied by an audible tone or voice announcement. This is an indication that the 8500ci has returned to its normal operation.

Overview of Preferences

Press the REVIEW button to go from one category to the next| | Press the CHANGE button to change your setting within a category
---|---|---
PILOT LIGHT
(Power-on indication)| Pilot  HWY
Pilot  H
Pilot  H.>
Pilot  V| Full word: Highway or Auto or Auto NoX
Letter: H or A or ANX
Letter, with scanning dot
Vehicle voltage
POWER-ON SEQUENCE| PwrOn  FST
PwrOn  STD| Fast power-on sequence
Standard power-on sequence
SIGNAL STRENGTH METER| Meter  STD
Meter  EXP
Meter  SPC| Standard signal strength meter
Expert Meter
SpecDisplay
AUTOMUTE| aMute  ON
aMute  OFF| AutoMute on
AutoMute off
VOICE| Voice  ON
Voice  OFF| Voice alerts on
Voice alerts off
BANDS| Bands  DFT
Bands  MOD| Factory default settings
One or more bands have been changed
|

X
K
Ka
POP
SWS
LSR
TSR

| Turn bands “ON” or “OFF” by pressing the V•MUTE button

ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is off)
ON or OFF(default is off)
ON or OFF(default is on)
ON or OFF(default is on)

*Factory Default Settings
To reset the 8500ci to its original factory settings, press and hold the “BRT” and “SENS” buttons while turning the power on. The display will provide a Reset message, accompanied by an audible tone, acknowledging the reset.

Details of Preferences Options

Pilot Light (Power-on indication)

NOTE: When you are using the Dark Mode, the display will be completely dark.

PilotHWY (Full description)
In this setting, the 8500ci will display Highway, Auto, or Auto NoX as its power-on indication. (factory default)

Pilot H (Letter)
In this setting, the 8500ci will display H for Highway, A for Auto and Anx for Auto NoX.

Pilot H.> (Letter with scanning dot)
In this setting, the 8500ci will display H for Highway, A for Auto, and Anx for Auto NoX. In addition, a single dot will continuously scroll across the display.

Pilot V (Vehicle voltage)
In this setting, the 8500ci will continually display H for Highway, A for Auto, and Anx for Auto NoX, plus the vehicle’s voltage.
NOTE: If the vehicle’s voltage drops below 10.5 volts, a low voltage warning will be displayed, followed by an audible alert. A high voltage warning is also given when the vehicle’s voltage goes above 16.5 volts.

Power-on Sequence

PwrOnFST (Fast power-on)
This setting shortens the 8500ci’s start up sequence to a single beep. (factory default)

PwrOnSTD (Standard)
In this setting, each time you turn on the 8500ci, it will display Passport, 8500ci, LASER, Ka-band, K-band, X-band, followed by a brief X-band alert.

Signal Strength Meter

MeterSTD (Standard meter)
The meter displays the band, and bar graph showing signal strength. (factory default)

MeterEXP (ExpertMeter)
The meter simultaneously tracks up to 2 Ka-band, 2 K-band, and 4 X-band signals.

MeterSPC (SpecDisplay)
The meter displays the actual numeric frequency of the radar signal being received.
NOTE: See more details on pages 10-11.

AutoMute

aMute ON (AutoMute on)
In this setting, the 8500ci’s audio alerts will initially be set to the volume level you selected. However, after a few seconds, the audio level will automatically be reduced to keep you informed, but not annoyed.
(factory default)

aMuteOFF (AutoMute off)
With AutoMute off, the audio alerts will remain at the volume you set for the duration of the encounter.

Voice Announcements

VoiceON (Voice announcements on)
In this setting, all alerts and instructions are communicated using a voice announcement. (factory default)

VoiceOFF (Voice announcements off)
With voice off, normal tones will be used for alerts.

Bands

BandsDFT
In this setting, all radar and laser bands are covered for North America. These are the factory settings, and it is highly recommended that you use your 8500ci in this mode.

BandsMOD
If the bands are changed from the factory default settings, the 8500ci will warn you with an audible alert, and associated text message, that one or more bands have been changed in Preferences (i.e.”X-Band 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 guns 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)
• 4-bit high-resolution A-to-D converter

Laser Detection

• Quantum Limited Video Receiver

Display Type

• HP AlGaAs 280 LED Matrix/Text
• Bar Graph or ExpertMeter
• Automatic brightness control

Power Requirement

• 12VDC, Negative Ground

User Preferences

• Power-On Indication
• Power-On Sequence
• Signal Strength Meter
• AutoMute
• Voice
• Bands

Sensitivity Control

• AutoSensitivity, Highway and Auto NoX
• Auto Calibration Circuitry
• Complete VG2 Immunity

Dimensions (Inches)

• Display/Controller
  1.00 H x 2.00 W x 0.50 D

• Interface
  2.50 x 4.00 x 0.81 inches

• Receiver Unit
  5.40 x 3.70 x 1.05 inches

Interpreting Alerts

Although PASSPORT has a comprehensive warning system and this handbook is as complete as we can make it, only experience will teach you what to expect from your PASSPORT and how to interpret what it “tells” you. The radar alerts you receive are affected by the specific type of radar being used, the type of transmission (continuous or instant-on) and the location of the radar source.
The following examples will give you an introduction to understanding PASSPORT’s warning system for radar, laser and safety alerts.

PASSPORT begins to sound slowly, then the rate of alert increases until the alert becomes a solid tone. The Signal Meter ramps accordingly.| You are approaching a continuous radar source aimed in your direction.
PASSPORT emits short alerts for a few seconds and then falls silent only to briefly alert and fall silent again.| An instant-on radar source is being used ahead of you and out of your view.
PASSPORT suddenly sounds a continuous tone for the appropriate band received. All segments in the Signal Strength Meter are lit.| An instant-on radar source or laser source is being used nearby. This kind of alert requires immediate attention!
A brief laser alert.| Laser is being used in the area. Because laser is inherently difficult to detect, any laser alert may indicate a source very close by.
PASSPORT receives weak signals. These signals may be a little stronger as you pass large, roadside objects. The signals increase in frequency.| A moving patrol car with continuous radar is overtaking you from behind. Because these signals are reflected (reflections are increased by large objects), they may or may not eventually melt into a solid point even when the patrol car is directly behind you.
PASSPORT alerts slowly for a while and then abruptly jumps to a strong alert.| You are approaching a radar unit concealed by a hill or an obstructed curve.
PASSPORT alerts intermittently. Rate and strength of alerts may be consistent or vary wildly.| A patrol car is traveling 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.
PASSPORT alerts intermittently. Rate and strength of signal increases with each alert.| A patrol car is approaching from the other direction, “sampling” traffic with instant-on radar. Such alerts should be taken seriously.
PASSPORT gives an X-band alert intermittently.| You 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, over confidence 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 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, it is up to the radar operator to decide which target is producing the strongest reflection. Since the strength of the reflection is affected by both the size of the vehicle and its proximity to the antenna, it is difficult for the radar operator to determine if the signal is from a sports car nearby or a semi-truck several hundred feet away.
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.

How POP Works

Because intrusion alarms and motion sensors often operate on the same frequency as X-Band radar, your PASSPORT will occasionally receive non-police radar signals. Since these X-Band transmitters are usually contained inside of a building, or aimed toward the ground, they will generally produce much weaker readings than will a true 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 “POP” Works

“POP” mode is a relatively new feature for radar gun manufacturers. It works by transmitting an extremely short burst, within the allocated band, to identify speeding vehicles in traffic. Once the target is identified, or “POPPED,” the gun is then turned to its normal operating mode to provide a vehicle tracking history, (required by law).
NOTE: According to the operator’s manual from the radar gun manufacturer, tickets should not be issued in this mode.

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 distinguish between 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 equipment. LIDAR is much more sensitive to weather conditions than RADAR, and a 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 TSR Works

How TSR Works

The 8500ci Plus includes a new boost in anti-falsing software to eliminate excessive alerts from erroneous X- and Kband sources. One example is traffic- flow monitoring systems.
These systems, which are becoming more widely used in cities across the U.S., generate K-band signals to measure the flow of traffic on a given road.
Unfortunately, most detectors see this as a real threat and will alert you to it unnecessarily. Our new proprietary Traffic-Signal Ranking (TSR) software intelligently sorts, ranks, and rejects these types of false alarms automatically. The result is ultimate protection without excessive false alarms.

Since not all markets have this type of traffic-flow monitoring system, your detector has been pre-set with TSR turned off. For details on how to activate TSR, see the Preferences section. These sensors are fully self-contained and roadside-mounted.

How SWS Works

How SWS Works

There are two separate Safety Radar systems in limited use today: Safety Alert, and Safety Warning System (SWS). Both systems use modified K-band radar signals.
From the factory, your PASSPORT is programmed with safety radar decoding OFF. If Safety Radar is used in your area, your PASSPORT will display these signals as K-band radar signals instead of safety radar unless you use the Preferences to turn PASSPORT’s safety radar decoding ON.
The Safety Alert safety radar system has three possible alerts:

• Safety Vehicle 
• Road Hazard 
• Train Nearby

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.
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 relatively new and the number of transmitters in operation is not yet widespread, you will not receive Safety signals on a daily basis and should not be surprised to encounter emergency vehicles, road hazards and railroad crossings that are unequipped with these transmitters and, therefore, fail to provide a signal.

SWS Text Messages

Highway Construction or Maintenance

1 Work Zone Ahead
2 Road Closed Ahead/Follow Detour
3 Bridge Closed Ahead/Follow Detour
4 Highway Work Crews Ahead
5 Utility Work Crews Ahead
6 All Traffic Follow Detour Ahead
7 All Trucks Follow Detour Ahead
8 All Traffic Exit Ahead
9 Right Lane Closed Ahead
10 Center Lane Closed Ahead
11 Left Lane Closed Ahead
12 For future use

Highway Hazard Zone Advisory

13 Stationary Police Vehicle Ahead
14 Train Approaching/At Crossing
15 Low Overpass Ahead
16 Drawbridge Up
17 Observe Drawbridge Weight Limit
18 Rock Slide Area Ahead
19 School Zone Ahead
20 Road Narrows Ahead
21 Sharp Curve Ahead
22 Pedestrian Crossing Ahead
23 Deer/Moose Crossing
24 Blind/Deaf Child Area
25 Steep Grade Ahead/Truck Use Low Gear
26 Accident Ahead
27 Poor Road Surface Ahead
28 School Bus Loading/Unloading
29 No Passing Zone
30 Dangerous Intersection Ahead
31 Stationary Emergency Vehicle Ahead
32 For future use

Weather Related Hazards

33 High Wind Ahead
34 Severe Weather Ahead
35 Heavy Fog Ahead
36 High Water/Flooding Ahead
37 Ice On Bridge Ahead
38 Ice On Road Ahead
39 Blowing Dust Ahead
40 Blowing Sand Ahead
41 Blinding Snow Whiteout Ahead
42 For future use

Travel Information/Convenience

43 Rest Area Ahead
44 Rest Area With Service Ahead
45 24 Hour Fuel Service Ahead
46 Inspection Station Open
47 Inspection Station Closed
48 Reduced Speed Area Ahead
49 Speed Limit Enforced
50 Hazardous Materials Exit Ahead
51 Congestion Ahead/Expect Delay
52 Expect 10 Minute Delay
53 Expect 20 Minute Delay
54 Expect 30 Minute Delay
55 Expect 1 Hour Delay
56 Traffic Alert/Tune AM Radio
57 Pay Toll Ahead
58 Trucks Exit Right
59 Trucks Exit Left
60 For future use

Fast/Slow Moving Vehicles

61 Emergency Vehicle In Transit
62 Police In Pursuit
63 Oversize Vehicle In Transit
64 Slow Moving Vehicle

Troubleshooting

PASSPORT beeps briefly at the same location every day, but no radar source is in sight.|

• 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.

PASSPORT does not seem sensitive to radar or laser.|

• PASSPORT may be in City Mode.

PASSPORT did not alert when a police car was in view.|

• 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.

PASSPORT did not provide a Safety signal while within range of an emergency vehicle.|

• Safety transmitters may not be commonly used in your area.

PASSPORT’s audible alerts are less loud after the first few alerts.|

• PASSPORT is in AutoMute Mode. See page 4 for details.

PASSPORT’s power-on sequence reoccurs while you are driving.|

• A loose power connection can cause PASSPORT to be briefly disconnected, and will retrigger the power-on sequence.

Your 14-year old son has changed all 6 of the User Preferences options.| You can return all of the User Preferences to the factory defaults by holding down the City and Mute buttons while you turn PASSPORT on.
PASSPORT will not turn on.|

• Check that volume control is ON. 
• Check that vehicle ignition is ON. 
• Check all connections.

PASSPORT feels very warm.|

• It is normal for PASSPORT to feel warm.

Explanation of Displays

Check Receiver Wiring| There is a problem with the front receiver (it could be an unplugged connection, damaged wiring, or a problem within the front receiver itself).
PASSPORT will continue to display this message, and will not operate until the problem has been repaired.
---|---
PilotHWY| One of the many options in Preferences (pages 12-15)
WorkZone| One of the many Safety Radar messages (pages 22-23)
Caution| PASSPORT has detected a Safety Radar Signal, but the signal isn’t yet strong enough to decode the specific safety message (page 22-23)
X|, or K|, or KA| etc.| PASSPORT has been programmed in the ExpertMeter Mode (pages 10-11)

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 Contact your installing dealer. They will evaluate your unit and arrange repairs if necessary. If you installed it yourself, please contact our customer service team at 800-543-1608.

Warranty

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 limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not apply to you.
This warranty does not cover installation, removal or reinstallation charges.
ESCORT is not liable for any incidental or consequential damages arising from the use, misuse, installation, 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 which 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.

Register
online:
@www

EscortRadar.com

Remove card along perforations

ESCORT PRODUCT REGISTRATION CARD

If you purchased your detector directly from ESCORT, you do not need to fill this out.
If you did not purchase your detector directly from ESCORT, please fill out this section and return to us, or register online at our web address: www.EscortRadar.com

1. First Name:____ Middle Initial Last Name___
   Address____
   City____ State____ Zip_
   E-mail (In case we have a question)___

2. Product Purchased    PASSPORT 8500ci     Serial Number_____

3. Place of Purchase____ Date Price__

4. Primary reason for purchasing this ESCORT product_____

   ---

   ---

5. Would you like to be added to our mailing list?     Yes  No

6. Would you like us to e-mail you with updates?      Yes  No

Remove card along perforations

NO POSTAGE
NECESSARY
IF MAILED
IN THE
UNITED STATES

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

Accessories

SHIFTER PACK

Shifter Pack ……………………………….$249.95

Designed in the USA

ESCORT Inc.
5440 West Chester Road
West Chester OH 45069

Service 800.543.1608
www.EscortRadar.com

©2011 ESCORT Inc. Escort®, Passport®, AFR®, SmartShield®, AutoSensitivity™, MuteDisplay™, SpecDisplay™, and ExpertMeter™ are trademarks of ESCORT Inc. SWS is trademark of SWS, L.C.

Features, specifications and prices subject to change without notice.

References

• Accurate Driver Alert Systems, Drive Smarter! | ESCORT Radar
• Accurate Driver Alert Systems, Drive Smarter! | ESCORT Radar
• Manual-Hub.com – Free PDF manuals!

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