sch@dedalus.UUCP (Steve Holzworth) (08/08/85)
I presently have a CMI Passport. I ordered an Escort originally, but
returned it and ordered the Passport. The Escort and Passport work
equally well. Why did I change my order? I drive an Rx7, which has a
steeply sloping windshield. I discovered that if I hung the Escort from
the visor, it was nearly touching my head. The only viable alternative
was to mount it on the instrument cowling. This wasn't real great because
it forced the detector to point down slightly, reducing the effectiveness.
So I shipped it back (within the free return period).
I am VERY pleased with my Passport. It is extremely small, approx.
the size of an audio cassette. It has a led bargraph meter which is much
easier to read in a hurry (!), and much easier to read at night. The Passport
also has additional functionality in that you can momentarily silence the
alarm and/or disable the signal strength bar graph. The former is useful
if you want the damn thing to shutup when you drive past known targets,
such as shopping center door openers, or when you have already spotted the cop.
Also, Escorts and Passports self test when you turn them on by simulating
an alert, thus the lights light and the alarm alarms. If you have an
Escort, you just sit there and endure it; if you have a Passport, you flick
the mute switch (a momentary, the alarm will remain silent until there
is a loss of signal for four seconds, and will then re-arm).
The bargraph disable is nice if you don't want the bears to sneak up
behind you and trigger their radar, looking for some response by the little
box on your visor (hear that Virginians?). The audible alarm will still
sound, but the alert light and bargraph won't do anything.
And finally, I've never been fond of leaving my radar detector in the
car. Because of the Passport's small size, I can clip it to my belt via
the visor clip, just like a pocket pager. Final analysis: Passport is worth
the wait and the extra bucks.
Steve Holzworth
mcnc!ikonas!dedalus!schstern@inmet.UUCP (08/11/85)
[]
One very easy solution to the steeply sloped windshield problem is
to get something known as a "glass clip" -- an aluminum bracket bent
at a 45 degree angle, with adhesive on one side and suction cups on
the other. You stick the adhesive part on the top of your Escort, near
the "back" (away from the meter end) and then use the suction cups to
hang it on your windshield.
I bought one for $22 and love it. It is adjustable, so you can use it
in just about any car. It keeps the Escort up off of the dash, so it
works pretty well. It is shock-mounted, so you don't have to worry
about rattling it off when you're driving through town. And best of
all, it pulls off in 2 seconds, leaving *no* traces what so ever.
You can get one from Speedmark, Inc, of Cambridge, MA. If you don't
live in the Boston area, they have an 800 number you can call to place
orders using your favorite credit card. I don't have the number here,
but 800-information will give it to you if you tell them you want
Speedmark on Alewife Brook Parkway in Cambridge. Locals can send me mail
for directions/more comments.
--Hal Stern
Intermetrics, Inc
{ihnp4, harpo, ulysses, ima}!inmet!sternlws@hou2d.UUCP (L.SAMOCHA) (08/16/85)
ICW detector brackets for slope windscreens: The bracket is also available from V. POLAK of Portland OR 1-800-547-1788. Its $17.95. I adapted it for a Spectrum, but it cam be used on virtually any detector. LWS @ ATTBTL
bsisrs@rruxe.UUCP (R. Schiraldi) (08/19/85)
Cinncinati Microwave has known about those windshield mounts for a while.
They provide one with each Passport sold. (they had a minor problem
with the windshield mounts in the first runs of the Passports but corrected
the problem and shipped all owners of Passports new ones. FREE!! :-) )
Rich Schirald1
rruxe!bsisrs