Would you like to program your Redline EX for maximum performance while also cutting down on the false alerts? Let’s take a look at the different settings and options available with the new Escort Redline EX. You can take a look at everything in the Redline EX Quick Reference Guide. Here let’s go ahead programming the different settings in more detail to both explain and show you what they do.
Now you can adjust these options either through your detector (press and hold the “Mark” and “Sens” buttons to get into the menu) or you can simply use the Escort Live app which is much easier. The order of the menu options is different between the detector and the app, some options are only available through the app, and some options are only available in the detector. (I’ll point out the differences when applicable.) We’ll run through the order of the options as they show up in the app.
If you’d like to watch me walk you through the detector’s settings, here’s the video walkthrough.
Radar Detector Settings
Sensitivity: Allows you to adjust the sensitivity of X band and K band to reduce false alerts or get better performance.
- Highway: Full performance on all radar bands
- Auto: Reduced sensitivity on X and K band below 50 mph
- AutoNoX: Same as Auto, but disables X band too (helpful if you want to quickly switch between X band on and off, if you drive in and out of OH or NJ, for example)
- AutoLoK: Same as Auto, but reduces K band even further. Be careful as performance takes a huge hit, but it can help quiet your detector down even further and could be a good option if K band isn’t used much where you drive.
Brightness: Adjust the brightness of the display. I recommend Auto so it gets brighter in the daytime and dimmer at night. Also adjustable using the “BRT” button on the front of the detector.
Pilot Mode: Enable or disable the flashing bar of lights above the word “Auto” or “Highway” on the display.
Meter Mode: Change what information is displayed on screen when you get an alert.
- Standard: Displays the band and signal strength of the primary radar signal.
- Spec Display: Same as Standard, but adds a frequency display above the signal strength.
- Expert Meter: Shows you multiple signals including band and signal strength, but not frequency. (The frequency of the primary signal can still be seen on your phone via Escort Live.)
- Simple: Doesn’t display info about the radar signal. It simply displays “Caution” when traveling below the cruise alert low speed muting threshold or “Slow down” when traveling above it.
Auto Mute: Alert at full volume for a few seconds and then reduce the volume down to a lower level. You can choose how quiet you want it to drop to.
Audio Tones: Choose the traditional Escort alert tones or more mild tones that sound like a doorbell.
ZR3 Mode (Escort Live only): If you have your Redline EX hooked up to Escort’s laser jammers, you can control whether they are jamming (Shift), detecting only (Receive Only), or disabled altogether (Off). If not using Escort’s jammers, set to Off.
Voice: Announces which radar band (ie. “K band” or “Ka band”) you’re detecting in addition to the alert tones.
Auto Power: If your detector is plugged into a power source that doesn’t turn off with your car, your Redline could eventually kill your car battery if you’re parked for a long time. This tells the detector to automatically shut off after a selected period of time.
Units: Choose miles or kilometers for distance and speed.
GPS Filter: Enable or disable the GPS related features altogether.
Auto Learn: The Redline can automatically learn and filter out stationary false alerts on X and K band after you pass them repeatedly. If you disable this, you can still manually lock out signals by triple pressing the “Mute” button when detecting a false alert.
Alert Lamp: Enable or disable the alert lamp LED above the detector’s primary display.
Cruise Alert: Low speed muting. When you detect any radar or laser signal, the detector will double beep and then go quiet.
Note: If you’re both running Escort Live and have the cruise alert feature enabled in your detector, your cruise alert setting will be ignored and replaced by the speed limit of the road you’re on. I’ve found Escort’s Live’s speed limit to typically be pretty accurate where I drive, but it doesn’t know the speed limit for all roads. Keep in mind it also doesn’t take into account temporary drops in speed limit due to construction zones or school zones so it’s possible to have your detector muting itself while you’re going above the speed limit.
Over Speed Alert: Alert you if you’re traveling over a preset speed. Helpful to remind you if you’re speeding.
Display Color: Choose what color display you want. Options include Red, Amber, Blue, and Green. This also applies to the backlight buttons. This applies to your alert lamp LED above the display too if the alert lamp is set to “On,” but not if the alert lamp is set to “band.”
Speed on Display: Choose if your detector displays your speed on screen. If you disable this, your detector will display your vehicle’s voltage on screen instead.
User Mode: Novice mode allows you to customize basic options such as the units and display color while keeping the other settings at the factory defaults. Advanced mode allows you to customize all the options of your detector including all the different radar settings.
Band Settings
Laser: Enable/disable laser detection.
POP: Enable/disable Ka band POP detection. Off is generally recommended for better performance and reduced false alerts.
Ka Band: If turned on, the detector sweeps all of Ka band, 33.400 – 36.000 GHz. If disabled, you can now use Ka band segmentation.
Ka Band Segments: Advanced feature to choose which frequencies on Ka band your detector does and doesn’t sweep. This can really help improve the performance of your detector at the risk of not alerting to legitimate police radar if you disable segments that police actually use in your area. (Segments 2/5/8 on is the traditional setup. Some people use 2/5/6/8 for extra protection against out of tune guns.) See here for more information about band segmentation.
- KaN1: 33.392 – 33.704 GHz (You’ll often get false alerts to nearby leaky Cobras here)
- KaN2: 33.704 – 33.896 GHz (MPH brand radar guns)
- KaN3: 33.886 – 34.198 GHz
- KaN4: 34.184 – 34.592 GHz
- KaN5: 34.592 – 34.808 GHz (Stalker brand radar guns)
- KaN6: 34.806 – 35.166 GHz (Stalkers that drift high are found here)
- KaN7: 35.143 – 35.383 GHz
- KaN8: 35.378 – 35.618 GHz (Decatur and Kustom Signals brand radar guns)
- KaN9: 35.595 – 35.835 GHz
- KaN10: 35.830 – 35.998 GHz
K Band: Enable or disable K band detection. Generally recommended to leave enabled since K band is used all across the country. (Can be disabled in CA). If you disable K Band, you’ll have options for K band segmentation.
K Band Segments: Choose small sections of K band to scan or not. This feature is designed for international users who encounter radar guns that operate on very small sections of K band. Here in the US, K band police radar guns can be anywhere within the K band range so it’s best to leave it on. Some people may want to disable certain segments to help cut back on false alarms, but this can be extremely risky since you’re cutting out legitimate radar guns too.
- KN1: 24.050 – 24.110 GHz
- KN2: 24.110 – 24.175 GHz
- KN3: 24.175 – 24.250 GHz
- KN4: 23.950 – 24.050 GHz
X Band: Enable/disable X band detection. X band is still actively used in OH and NJ, and still a few small areas around the country, but in most areas it can be safely disabled.
Strelka (available in RD only): Alert to the Strelka found in Russia. This is an international radar gun not used in the US. (Redline EX will display an “S” on screen where the band would normally be displayed.)
MultaRadar CD (available in RD only): Alert to the MRCD found around the world, including in Canada. This is an international radar gun not used in the US. (Redline EX will display an “M” on screen where the band would normally be displayed.)
MultaRadar CT (available in RD only): Alert to the MRCT. This is an international radar gun not used in the US. (Redline EX will display an “M” on screen where the band would normally be displayed.)
Gatso (available RD only): Alert to the Gatso. This is an international radar gun not used in the US. (Redline EX will display a “G” on screen where the band would normally be displayed.)
TSR: Traffic sensor rejection designed to filter out K band traffic sensors in use alongside many highways. Enable if you experience repeated blasts of K band every mile or so while driving down the highway. This is not needed for BSM filtering (as of firmware 1.3), but can help quiet the detector down on K band nonetheless.
RDR: Radar detector rejection. Enable or disable filtering of nearby poorly designed radar detectors that can lead to false alerts on your detector. Disabling this produces a dramatic improvement to performance so it is recommended to run RDR off. To filter out the false alerts that would then happen, band segmentation is helpful to cut out radar frequencies where legitimate police radar doesn’t exist and only false alerts will happen. See this article for more information.
Marker Settings
Markers: Choose if you’d like your detector to alert you to known fixed trap locations. These locations are updated through your computer via Escort Detector Tools.
- Red Light Cameras
- Speed Cameras
- Speed Traps
- Other
- Red Light Speed Cams: Redlight cameras that are specifically also speed cameras
- Air Patrol: Locations where aircraft are known to patrol
Clear Location: (available in RD only) Deletes specific GPS-based locations that the detector can alert you to. Choose what you want and press the “Sens” button to confirm.
- Marked: Clear all locations that you manually marked using the “Mark” button.
- Lockouts: Clear all stored GPS lockouts
- Defender: Clear all Defender database (RLC/speedcam) info
- Format: Clear all marked locations, lockouts, and defender database info
Recommended Settings
Finally, if you’re wondering how you should program your Redline EX, here’s a great starting point. They’re certainly not necessarily perfect for everyone in every situation (which is why we have lots of customizable options), and so you may want to customize things further like changing the display color, changing the cruise alert low speed muting threshold or overspeed alert level, enabling X band if you’re in OH or NJ, disabling K band if you drive in CA, and so on, but they’re an excellent general starting point. 🙂
Finally, if you don’t have the detector yet but you’d like to get one, here’s where to get one, depending on which country you’re in:
USA: Click here to purchase the Redline EX.
Canada: Click here to purchase the Redline EX. (Save $25 with the coupon code “VortexRadar“)
| This website contains affiliate links and I sometimes make commissions on purchases. All opinions are my own. I don’t do paid or sponsored reviews. Click here to read my affiliate disclosure. |
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How do you get to all the settings I can’t get to all the bands what am I doing wrong
U turn Ka off and it go into custom mode
I will be in the Eu in a month can I get the detailed way how to activate the EU bands Redline EX
I’m curious, why did you turn off Ka band?
Author
So that you can enable individual segments for band segmentation.
Set up the escort redline ex just like the way you could for Edmonton Canada… But I drove by a photo radar truck today and no alarm went off? Please help… What other settings do I need?
Author
Make sure you have MRCD enabled. You can keep MRCT, Gatso, and Strelka disabled. They’re not always shooting radar and issuing tickets when they’re on the side of the road (fortunately) so you’ll only get alerted when they are.
Thanks for the info.. Another question… Does the redline ex combat the LIDAR? and what setting would I use?
Author
It detects laser, but doesn’t help you defend against laser. That’s what laser jammers are for. See here for more info: https://www.vortexradar.com/2017/10/best-laser-jammer-reviews/
When you talk on the CB it makes my detector go off and trying to set it up after the x band setting it Jakob’s the next steps can you e mail me step by step on what to do for a commercial truck
How do you find what firmware is currently on the radar?
Author
Hold down Mark & Mute when powering on the detector. Think M&M.
I have Redline EX and it doesn’t do anything but give me alerts on speed and redlight cameras. I drive by construction radar which is K bandand not a peep. Drove 1000km not even one fslse alert. What.do I have set up wrong? Does the detector when programming with Bluetooth make changes immediately? No send button. Also my set up looks a little different. Latest update. There are speed settings. What do they do in regards to radar operation? Thanks Radar Guru
Author
Do you have K band on? If you turn it off, you’ll be using the K band segments to choose what regions of K band it alerts to. Adjusting the options via Bluetooth changes the options immediately. No send button needed.
Well I have it off but all segments picked. I have Ka band off as you say to do and the 4 segments needed selected for Alberta. Mrcd does Nothing Either. When I use app to change settings and go back in it is like nothing has changed and everything is off. Finally went in using detector and made changes but still does nothing. It’s an 800 dollar redlight camera notifier.
Author
You can go into the detector itself through the normal menu to verify that all your settings are set appropriately. You should also be able to drive up to an automatic door opener and have it false to K band. If you’re not seeing it alert, you should reach out to Escort for service.
Thank you for your help
Very interesting ,could you do the same in depth setting procedure for Australia . We have very little guidance with this new EX . I am sure we all would be most grateful . Queensland Australia Thanks ,Kind Regards Briand
For Queensland I Run Ka segment #6 only, laser on
Turn everything thing else off including k band.
I think the new trailer mounted cameras maybe either MRCD or some form of K, but get too many false alerts and not worth having them on.
Hi Brian what your saying is quite true , we need as much assistance as possible down here in Brisbane ,things are getting beyond it speed traps every where , we have to study every car ,ute van on either side of the road . Did not think the situation in N Qld would require a ex Ian
I’m kinda of an escort fanboy and like the options on thier detectors. I looked at the unidens but just don’t like no auto lockouts and I prefer the bells and whistles from escort.
If price was not a factor, what escort would you recommend for best performance and most options? Is the redline ex really that bad now?
Author
The Redline EX is better now than it was before.
I understand how you turn off Ka band so you can customize the individual narrow bands, but how do you base what bands you enable or disable? I do not understand how to tell what each bands cover but i would be using the detector primarily in Illinois. Is there a website that explains these narrow bands? I want o make sure I do not disable something that I may need active. Thank you for your help.
Author
This will explain more: https://www.vortexradar.com/2015/12/band-segmentation-and-custom-sweeps/
Thank you so much, that is exactly what I was looking for!
Hi, I have the new redline ex aswell as the previous version, today I put both detectors on the windshield to compare sensitivity and range of new and old, I found a cop running stationary Ka band, on the first pass both detectors basically went off at the same time, second pass, there was no alert from the ex, but the older redline alerted as it should, this occurred the 3 rd and 4th pass, any reason why the ex was not alerting?!
Only bands I have turned on both detectors is laser and the ka segment that is used in my area.
My Ex don’t work at all. I put redline ex on windshield Running along side my 9500 CI. 3 different K band frequencies set off 9500 and EX did nothing. Two different KA band alerts and EX just sat there looking pretty. Set it at factory default cause thought maybe I messed up settings. Sending it back to Escort. Piece of junk.
Author
You realize that the newer Redline EX is much better at recognizing and filtering out the many false alerts you’ll otherwise see with older detectors like the 9500ci, right?
Got the EX yesterday and is a huge disappointment, set up just like my ix was setup, according to vortex radar, which worked fantastic. This thing would not stop alerting k band for even one half of mile. Drove to work with nothing but false alerts for 37 miles. As I said earlier, this is setup per vortex reccomendation which was great with ix, but I may have to return this thing, very dissapointed.
To reply to my own reply, update out of box was unsuccessful. I now have the EX properly updated and is working fine. Detector is much better at filtering out the false alarms than the ix. This thing is so quiet it’s almost scary, now I am very satisfied, thanks again vortex radar for the recommended settings.
I have been considering that. It has went off a few times. Maybe it does work. Just used to previous radar detectors always giving off false alerts.
Been in touch with Escort and they have agreed to take a look at it. I will give it a couple more months to see I guess.
Hi Shawn why does my ex not warn me when approaching a fixed camera , it did for several times now it does not . However I get a warning on the way back from the other direction . This warning is of no major importance . C an any body help with this problem . Thanks regards Brian
Author
It depends whether or not the camera is in the database. It is also designed to only alert you if you are traveling in a direction that the camera enforces. If you’re traveling by a camera that’s not issuing tickets in the direction you’re traveling, the detector is designed to stay quiet.
Thanks for your reply , the camera must have been in the data base at one point because it warned me on approach to the camera several times as it is a local camera . All of a sudden the is no warning now , nothing at all on this camera , except on the other side of highway I get a spoken caution from 500 metres back, I don’t mind that warning although its nothing to worry about . How can the database loose information . I told my supplier the unit the ex is faulty ,but they argue it is not , my point is its simply not working as it should . D o you feel its faulty ,and have you heard of this type of problem before . Thanks Regards Brian
Author
Contact Escort to let them know and they can re-add the camera back into their database in a future update.
Thought I had this detector figured out and was hoping on updates from Escort, but now it goes full tilt with all the new Honda Crv’s, Acura, Honda Odyssey, and even new model Chrysler vans. Talked with support but they claim to be aware of this and will have future updates. I have never seen a detector for this price produce so many false alerts.
Every time I talk on the CB it sets off my detector and I have to unplug it before it goes away what is going on
Hi,
Can you disable the GPS or bluetooth of the device?
Can the alert tones in the Reline EX be set up so it can be heard through your Bluetooth earpiece when you are using Escort Live with an Android phone?
Author
You can have the Escort Live app duplicate the detector’s audio so that it plays them through your Bluetooth earpiece.
I have scoured the internet (Escort website, youtube, forums, etc.) and I am unable to see how I can have the Escort Live app duplicate the detector’s audio. Any help or direction will be greatly appreciated. I really would like to hear the alerts on my bluetooth earpiece; prefer passengers not hear the Reline Ex alerts.
Seriously wish Escort (Bell-scort) would allow Ka-band lockout areas. Colorado has tons of them. Perhaps I can analyze the segments and lock those…
Hi, thanks for all the great info. I live in Canada the province of BC. I bought the Redline EX set it up as you suggested but lately I’ve had 3 radar guns pointed at me and nothing is being detected. Not sure what’s going on any ideas? One other thing that’s different from your video is with the app it allows me to also change MultaRadar CD, CT, Strelka, and Gatso without going into the settings.
I used mine for 9 months and was suspect that it wasn’t working. Finally one day I got the hand signals to slow down as I met a cop. Radar did nothing. Sent it out and it didn’t say what they found but sent me a new detector. This one works as should.
I followed a new Chrysler Pacifica for127 miles, the red light was on the whole 1.5 hours.
I am in Brisbane QLD Australia my EX was giving warnings on mobile cameras but it stooped doing this more or less over night I was wondering whether a update could cause this to happen ,or perhaps the EX is faulty . Please advise thanks Brian
Hey Vortex,
Thanks for all your helpful info.
Like many who have posted and like your September video that references ‘silencing’ my Redline Ex Int just “falls over” … don’t get anything out of it. Appears to be functioning based on pilot bar but can drive hundreds of KMs past Police holding laser guns. Nothing.
What can I do? Factory Reset and update software only work for a few days before it drops dead again..
I’m in New Zealand…does Escort care??
Bryce. Kiwi land.
We are having the same problem
I am seeking some advice on the Redline EX radar detector, I live in Australia and are they illegal to use except in one state only. I am trying to do as much research as possible before I am confident that it is the right machine for me before i make the purchase. I also want to use it on my motorbike.
Can you please provide some feedback on the following
1. If the Redline EX radar detector is blue toothed to my mobile phone , can it communicate to my Sena headset in my motorbike helmet?
2. I need to be discrete and not have the radar detector visible to anyone, if I operate it from inside my bike jacket, would it function ok?
In setting up my Redline EX, I found that when trying to set the “Alert Lamp” the way you suggest, it does not work. My new Redline only offers a box. Choose to check on or leave the box blank. There is no “Band”/”Unknown” selection. The Escort manual says that you should be able to set it to Band, but you can’t. I called Escort and they said that the Engineers must have made a change that didn’t hit the manual.
Author
Thanks for letting me know. Sounds like they’ve changed another option. Since I don’t have a Redline EX on hand at the moment to confirm, is it simply an on/off option now? I guess you can’t customize the color anymore, but rather just turn the light on or off altogether?
It’s a simple box, check it if you want the Alert Lamp on
Author
Thanks for letting me know. I’ve updated the guide accordingly. 🙂 If you notice anything else that needs to be changed and updated, please let me know.
I just got a Redline EX yesterday and I can confirm you are still able to set the Alert Lap colour by band ( you can’t chose the colours but it will show red for KA and Laser, blue for K and I think green for X
Author
What options do you see in your detector and in the app when it comes to setting the alert lamp colors?
Using the phone App and using the detector, both look the same. Under device settings, I followed your instructions on setting it up. Ka (set selective) K (all on) X (off). At the Alert Lamp setting, there is only a box. Check it if you want the lamp or leave it blank. There is no other selection. Is it possible that your new one has an old program in it and it is not updated to the latest firmware? I can’t check mine now. Could you give me your info number and I will check it against mine when I get the unit back. (loaned it to a friend)
Author
Thanks for the info. I don’t have a Redline EX anymore so I don’t have a way to check the latest settings myself. Escort does sometimes change these settings overtime so I appreciate you giving me an updated look on what it’s like now.
I’m new to radar detector and living in Ontario, Canada. Is it not better just to leave everything at ON ? What will it change in performance, is everything on will just give you more false alert ? Is turning off some band will increase the detection capability ? I’m travelling often to Quebec also, what would be the best setting ?
Thanks for your help !
Author
Leaving everything on will reduce performance and give you more false alerts if you’re detecting frequency ranges where police don’t operate their radar. Regarding the optimal settings, you can always take a look at this thread and discuss with fellow Canadians for more info.
Quick question. Just got a used Redline EX for its Stealth and GPS features. I just saw on your site that this Radenso Pro M might be better. I’ll be using it mostly in Ontario, with the odd trip to Florida. Thank you
Author
Well I think the Pro M is a little better overall, but the RL EX will do the job too.
Any way to change the speed display on THE RADAR detector itself from mph to kpm as i am in canada?
I have tried settings on the app and its fine there but not on the detector itself.
Hi Vortex, can you please send a link for suggesting western Washington settings?
VIrtex could you please tell me the best settings for Australia in particular Queensland Thanks Brian
Author
Your best bet is to ask a fellow Australian driver here: https://www.rdforum.org/forums/104/
You know what really sucks? I bought this detector in Mar 2020. I didn’t know anything about these then and I was told it was the latest greatest. What I didn’t know was it was already out for almost 3 years at that point and I paid full price for it from Escort. Now after literally 6 months of trying to get help for the bands showing wrong frequencies, I finally I got a hold of Erica at Escort (She must be the only person there) and she told me they don’t support older units and I have to upgrade. I told her to screw off, I won’t be buying anymore Escort products due to their poor customer service.