Red or Blue display?

[Klackey]

I am seriously thinking of getting a Escort 8500x50 radar detector. I had an unfortunate conversation with CHP last week so now I have to be extra, extra good for 18 months. Though a RD might help keep me informed to where the watchers are. Anyway, the display comes in either blue or red. The blue is $40 more and I just wanted some real world feedback on any advantages/ disadvantages of either display? Which is better in the direct sun? Better at night? Any other relevant info or ideas would be great. Thanks…….

[Kelly Cox]

I used to have the red display (I say "used to" have one; my son left it displayed in his windshield, and got it stolen). I didn't use it on a bike, so don't know how well it would do in the direct sunlight, but for normal car usage, the red was great. I never could figure out why blue would be worth $40 extra, so passed on it...even though it probably looks pretty cool. The model you're buying is very good at giving warnings....I learned to quit discounting it...even when I couldn't find the fuzz, I eventually saw them hiding in the bushes, etc. So, trust it as much as you dare...it's a good one.

[Rob Hephner]

I have the Red 9500i and use the audio output, but the screen has been visible for me without issue.

Didn't get the blue because I figured I'd use the extra money somewhere else. LOL

[Medicine Bear]

I heard the blue led's were more expensive to manufacture hence the higher price. It comes down to what you like rather than functionality.

Fred :03biker: :confused:

[electrajoe]

Fours ago I had a Sharper Image $100 gift certificate, they only had the blue 8500 X50, my out of pocket was about $240.

The blue is real good at night and in day light. The 8500 gives good visual and audio, through helmet speakers. Saved me probably a 100 times. Oh, yes you get a built in volt meter. Easy to hard wire, use regular telephone cord, inside pins are hot, use a volt meter to check polarity. Or use cigarett lighter smart cord.

[GodFather]

I am seriously thinking of getting a Escort 8500x50 radar detector. I had an unfortunate conversation with CHP last week so now I have to be extra, extra good for 18 months. Though a RD might help keep me informed to where the watchers are. Anyway, the display comes in either blue or red. The blue is $40 more and I just wanted some real world feedback on any advantages/ disadvantages of either display? Which is better in the direct sun? Better at night? Any other relevant info or ideas would be great. Thanks…….

Go the speed limit (or just little over the flow of traffic) for the next 18 months and save your money. With the money you save, get a great farkle. :)

[juddspaintballs]

I have no opinion on that radar detector, but it's my personal preference to not use blue LED's as part of any dashboard display or anything on the dash. I find blue LED's to be very annoying at night but haven't had a problem ever seeing red during the day. So I would choose red even if they were the same price.

[Rob Hephner]

Go the speed limit (or just little over the flow of traffic) for the next 18 months and save your money. With the money you save, get a great farkle. :)

That is great in theory, but falls down in practice as the flow of traffic around here will get you tagged time after time in the city due to speed cameras. (We have more in out Metro area than anywhere in the US.)

Then move into some of our canyons where the speed limit is 40 MPH or 25 MPH and you'll find it impossible to not be at risk.

[markbxr400]

I have the 9500i with Blue display. I actually found a local authorized dealer in Houston (Car Stereo Outlet on I45 north) that sells the red 9500i for $375 and blue for $399. I haven't found them at this price or cheaper on the internet, including eBay. I just preferred the blue. It does have 3 different dimming levels, so you can reduce the glare sufficiently at night. I can see the blue great also during the day, which I had more difficulty with my last red RD.

Also, since the 9500 has a built in GPS - a lot of cool features:
- when it alerts, it immediately displays your speed
- it will let you lock out annoying alerts from alarm systems, etc
- it will let you mark speed trap areas, red light camera areas, etc
- it detects the normal X, K, Ka and Laser, as well as has POP
- it will also let you continuously display speed if you wish (and accurately shows the ST speedo registering the patented 10% over actual speed).
I've only had it a month so far, but am very pleased with the sensitivity and the low rate of false alarms. I am seeing that about 7 or 8 alarms out of 10 are real, so I pay attention when it goes off. By blocking some of the routine store alarms I pass, I'll move this success rate up.

Regards,

Mark

[STingray]

I have the 8500 x50 in blue. It was offered to me at the same discounted price as the red, so I figured "why not". In retrospect, I wished I had opted for the red. The blue is not bad mind you, but it conflicts a bit with my LED "Visual Alert" which is red, and MUCH MUCH brighter.


http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Marcs-Visual-Alert-p-17169.html

[SoloTotoCoyote]

I would go with the red from the night vision point of view. Your eyes can easier adjust from red to darkness. The blue might look cool at night, but it may give you a moment of night blindness as your eyes adjust. I would look into a headsup LED. Aerostitch has one that fits inside the helmet. You'd get an instant heads-up that way.

[Klackey]

Thanks for the feed back........... This is just an idea I am bouncing around...... I have been doing ok, avoiding the "watchers" for many miles but now I just want more information about the world around me.......

[st1300r]

Blue is not a good color for an indicator in my opnion.
Red is better night or day.
Blue leds do cost more to produce and can be less reliable, but 40 beans is excessive.

[roginoz]

I have the 9500 with the red display. It's quite visible, day or night. My old Escort had a green power indicator, which I couldn't see in the daylight - I was afraid that there might be similar problems with the blue display on the 9500 in direct sunlight. Red works great and costs less, which answers the question for me. I don't mind paying more, but I expect something for the extra bucks.

[ChipSTer]

Don't blue flashy things cause the police heartburn??? :confused:
:cool:

[TRICKYRIC5474]

I agree, RED light for night vision preservation. Check the pilot house of any commercial vessel or many "serious" level private vessels, they use two way cabin lights, red bulbs for underway, white (clear) bulbs for when not underway. The trick is remembering which way to flip the switch so you don't accidently night blind the operator.