Escort PASSPORT Max Radar Detector Review

Escort PASSPORT Max Radar Detector

Introduction

Do you enjoy receiving speeding tickets? Do you get exciting at the thought of points on your license and your insurance rates going up? If so then this is not the product for you.
If you aren’t a big fan of those things, then you may be interested in checking out Escort’s newest radar detector, the PASSPORT Max. Touted as one of the most powerful detectors on the market with new “High Definition” performance and accuracy, this little gadget should help you avoid those pesky tickets once and for all. With a host of features including radar detection in the X, K, and Ka bands as well as Laser, a multi-color OLED display, GPS assistance, and access to the Defender database of known speed traps, speed cameras, and red light cameras, this detector sure does seem to pull out all the stops. Read on to see all of the features and of course how well it actually performs on the road.

Key Features

•  Fastest Response & Remarkable Accuracy – Our all-new receiver incorporates advanced military technology called Digital Signal Processing (DSP). This unique method of scanning enables the PASSPORT Max to identify real threats faster and more accurately than any other detector. Quicker response time means more advanced warning against instant on radar threats.
• New Multi-Color OLED Display – The new multi-color graphic display is stunning. Brilliant new graphics illuminate intuitive icons that identify the type of threat at a glance. In addition, user-selectable backlit colors allow you to choose a color that works best with your vehicle’s interior gauges.
• AutoLearn: Artificial Intelligence Protection – Intelligence is also packed into this ticket-protecting marvel. Our patented AutoLearn technology uses the power of GPS and the exact frequency to learn and automatically reject unwanted door openers and other fixed position false alarms. The result is the most accurate long-range protection in the industry and a permanent solution to false alarms.
• DEFENDER® Database – Speed traps and camera locations are everywhere! We’ve addressed the increasing number of “safety” cameras installed throughout the U.S. and Canada by pre-loading the PASSPORT Max with our exclusive DEFENDER® Database of active red light and speed camera locations throughout North America. As you approach these locations, the MAX will alert you in advance, you can even add your own “hot spots” using our exclusive Mark Location feature.
• High-Performance Laser Protection – PASSPORT Max’s multiple high-performance laser sensors provide maximum laser warning, with superior off-axis protection.
• Variable Speed Sensitivity – On Demand Performance – Our patented GPS technology allows the detector to provide alerts based on what the vehicle is actually doing. At highway speeds you need the best long range sensitivity you can get. At slower speeds, the sensitivity can be adjusted to further reduce unneeded alerts, especially when you’re not at risk. We’ve even changed the actual alert to a short double-tone when your vehicle is moving less than 20 mph.
• Crystal-Clear Voice Alerts – PASSPORT’s unique voice alerts provide clear communications for alerts and menu options. Now you can keep your eyes on the road without unnecessary distractions.

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, Varactor-Tuned VCO Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
Laser Detection	Quantum Limited Video Receiver Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes
GPS Reciever	SiRFstar III
Display Type	Graphic OLED
Power Requirement	12VDC, Negative Ground Escort SmartCord® Included
Sensitivity Control	Highway, Auto, and Auto No X
Dimensions	1.3″ H x 3.2″ W x 5.3″ L

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Packaging and Accessories

The Max’s box includes a wealth of information on the back, listing virtually every feature and spec you could possibly need.

Aside from the unit itself Escort includes a small soft carrying case so that you can easily stow away the detector and all of its accessories when you travel.

The “SmartCord” included with the detector does a little bit more than just provide power by also lighting up when you are receiving an alert and also providing an easy to reach mute button. You also get a sticky cup windshield mount.

The Unit

The first thing you notice when you pull the Passport Max out is the size and weight. This thing is hefty and about the size of a smartphone (but about three times as thick).
One the front we see the OLED display, which is relatively small compared to the rest of the unit. On the right side is the power jack (a standard phone plug), a headphone jack, and a Mini USB jack (for updating on your PC).

Around back we see the business end where cop beams come in, some magic happens, and beeps come out, with an end result of no speeding tickets. Above the main “eye” you can see the small bump for the laser detector.

All controls are located on the top of the unit which might prove tricky if you mount it right under your rearview mirror.
Each buttons is large and easy to press, allowing for quick and precise changes so you keep your eyes on the road.
The MRK button is to mark a location, the BRT button adjusts the brightness (min, med, max, auto, or off), and SEN adjusts sensitivity (auto, auto no x, or highway).

The small opening you see above the “eye” is where your mounting clip snaps in. You then press the button above that to release.

The “sticky cup” portion of the mount is extremely strong and more than capable of holding the detector up, but the insanely small clip that actually slides in to the unit is a joke. When you have a device that weighs as much as this does bouncing up an down in a car, a thin sliver of plastic mounted to only one end just doesn’t cut it.
Going down anything but the smoothest of roads causes the detector to shake and bounce quite noticeably. Every time I hit a pothole I was afraid the mount would break and my expensive detector would smash to the floor.

On Screen

The OLED display is crisp, bright, and actually fairly pleasant to look at compared to most other detectors.
When you are driving down the road the display will look like one of these three pictures depending on which sensitivity mode you are in.
The number on the far left is your overspeed limit which, when exceeded, will cause the detector to give a small alert. It can be adjusted/disabled easily. Next to that is your current speed as calculated by GPS.

In the auto modes the sensitivity of the unit is adjusted according to your speed. This is a great feature because if you are going 35 mph around town you don’t need to be alerted of the automatic door 2 blocks away. As speed increases, so does sensitivity. The NoX just means that X band is filtered out which helps to greatly reduce false alarms (since almost no cops use X band radar anymore). Highway mode gives max sensitivity, allowing you to detect those bogeys long before they can get to you.

Display color can be changed between red, green, blue, and amber so you can match it to your gauge lights for extra style points.

Meter mode allows you to adjust how advanced you want your display. I preferred “spec” mode as it gave a good balance between too simple to be of use and overly complicated. You get a bar graph showing signal strength, the band next to that, and the frequency above.

The AutoMute feature will alert you of a signal at full volume for the first few seconds and then turn down the volume some so that you can still hear it but it isn’t as obnoxious.

The AutoLearn feature automatically store and locks out false alarms. This feature helps to dramatically reduce false alerts on routes you take often.

The GPS Filter setting just enables or disables GPS.

Band Enables allows you to choose which bands you want to detect. Most people will want to leave this alone.

City Performance

Now we are down to the nitty gritty, the performance. A detector can have every feature imaginable but if it can’t detect well it’s useless. Luckily the Max does detect well, very well actually.
In the city maximum sensitivity is not nearly as important as reducing the number of false alerts. It’s unlikely you will be going too far over the speed limit so you probably only need a few seconds to check your speed and slow down if necessary. Almost all police have phased out X band so I found that driving in Auto NoX gave significantly less false alerts from doors and such.

As an example, I was driving down a city highway keeping up with traffic doing 52 in a 45 when suddenly I hear a beep, then another, then a voice says “KA Band”. The beeps get progressively quicker for about 5-6 seconds until they became a solid tone and only then did I finally see the motorcycle cop hiding behind a hedge at a gas station. At the next block 3 cars were pulled over. The Passport MAX gave me more than enough time to let off the gas and coast down to 45, preventing a costly ticket.

On routes that I travel often, the AutoLearn feature reduced the false alerts significantly. By using the GPS it can calculate that you are getting hit by the exact same signal, at the same strength, in the same place over and over and knows that is obviously not a cop. After just two or three days of driving my false alerts virtually disappeared.

The red light and speed camera alerts may also be beneficial to some by telling you when you near a known camera location.

Highway Performance

The highway is where the MAX really shines. Out on the open road you want high sensitivity so you can detect those faint, distant signals, but with that sensitivity you also need to be able to filter out the junk interference and return alerts quickly. I found that the MAX does this very well, giving me plenty of time to slow down and move over, but with very few false alerts. If they were shooting head-on they never stood a chance as the MAX would pick them up a mile away, but even when they got a little sneaky and hid behind cover shooting at the back of cars the Max was still able to pick up those rebounding signals and alert me with enough time to bring it down to the limit if need be.

The overspeed protection came in handy on longer trips in light traffic when your mind starts to wander a little and before you know it you are doing 10-15 over. The onscreen speed indicator will turn red and a voice will say “overspeed” to remind you to scrub a little off. This feature can be adjusted for your preferred speed or turned off all together.

Final Thoughts

Pros:

• Amazing detection
• Has almost every feature you could need
• Crystal clear display and voice alerts
• Easy-to-use interface
• Great filtering means less false alerts

Cons:

• Wimpy mount
• Price

Overall I am very impressed with the PASSPORT Max. You get pretty much every feature you could need and the ability to customize/enable/disable those features. The screen was crisp and thanks to the color changing option can be set to match your dash. Alerts were loud and clear, snatching your attention at first but then, with the AutoMute feature enabled, settling down into a non-obnoxious volume level. The interface was easy to use, with large buttons on the top of the unit and straight forward menus. Thanks to the amazing filtering and AutoLearn feature, false alerts became much less of an issue, letting me focus on the real alerts. The only downfalls the Max has is the wimpy mount which is much too thin for the weight of the unit, and the high price. At a whopping $550 this is not a cheap accessory for your car, you have to be serious about ticket prevention to spend this kind of money on a detector.

All of that said, you get what you pay for, and the PASSPORT Max is a quality radar detector. If you are looking for a detector that can do it all and do it well and you don’t mind dropping the money, Escort’s PASSPORT Max would be the way to go.