Escort C65 User Manual

ESCORT Inc.

544 0 West Chester Road

West Chester OH 4 5069-29 50

T H E R A D A R A N D L A S E R E X P E R T ST H E R A D A R A N D L A S E R E X P E R T S

Owner ’s Manual

Customer Ser vice:

800. 543.1608

ESCORTRadar.com

©200 8 ESCORT Inc.

Manufact ured and Printed in Canada.

ESCORT C6 5

R A D A R•L A S E R•S A F E T Y•D E T E C T O R

Congratulations

The ESCORT C65 is the most advanced
radar, laser and safety detector ever
designed by ESCORT.
The ESCORT C65 includes full X,
K, SuperWide Ka, and Safety Warning
System radar capability, front and rear
laser detection, digital signal processing
(DSP) 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, the ESCORT C65
introduces a new level of revolutionary
performance and innovative features.

• Superior long-range radar and laser
detection, including new “POP”
mode alert

• Advanced Programming lets you
customize 7 features

• AutoScan mode drastically reduces
false alarms, plus Highway and City
settings

• Ultra-bright alphanumeric Display
with 280 LEDs

• Exclusive Threat Display tracks and
displays multiple radar signals,
including signal strength.

• Tech Display provides actual
numeric radar frequency for any
radar signal

• New Programmable Bands (on/off),
including International and North
American settings.

• Detects and decodes Safety
Warning
System messages

• Includes new coiled SmartCord

If you’ve used a radar detector before,
a review of the Quick Reference Guide on
pages 4 and 5, and the Programming
information on pages 12 and 13 will
briefly explain the new features.
If this is your first detector, please
read the manual in detail to get the
most out of your C65’s outstanding
performance and innovative features.
Please drive safely.

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 

ESCORT C65 Quick Reference Card

There are 7 user-selectable options so you
can customize your C65 for your own
preferences.
The buttons labeled CITY and BRT are
also used to enter the Program Mode,
REVIEW your current program settings,
and to CHANGE any settings as desired.
The words PROGRAM, RVW and CHG are
located on the top of the detector, and are
highlighted in graphics.

How to use Programming

1 To enter Program Mode, press and
hold both CITY and BRT buttons down
for 2 seconds. The unit will beep twice,

and will display the word Program.

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.

 Remove card along perforations 

4 To leave Program Mode, simply wait
8 seconds without pressing any
button, or press the PWR button. The

unit will display Complete, beep, and
return to normal operation.

Factory Default Settings

To reset C65 to its original factor y
settings, press and hold the “CIT

“BRT” buttons while turn ing the power

on. The C65’s display will provide a

Reset message, accompanied by an

1

audible alert, acknowled ging the reset.

Y” and

An example

Here is how you would turn C65’s
AutoMute feature off.

1 Enter the Program Mode by holding
both the CITY and BRT buttons down for 2

C65 will beep twice and display

seconds.

Program.

2 Then hold the RVW button down. The
C65 will scroll through the categories,
starting with Pilot (
(Voice), then Power-on sequence
(PwrOn), then Signal strength meter
(Meter), and then AutoMute (aMute).

3 Release the RVW button when C65
shows the AutoMute item. Since the

factory setting is for AutoMute to be on,
C65 will display aMute ON.
If you accidentally don’t release the
RVW button in time, and the C65 goes to
the next category, hold the RVW button
down again, and after C65 scrolls
through all categories, it will begin again
at the top of the list.

4 Press the CHG button to change from

aMute ON to aMute OFF.

5 To complete the Programming, simply
wait 8 seconds without pressing any
button, or press the PWR button.

will display
to normal operation.

Pilot), then Voice

Complete, beep, and return

Programming Details 

The C65

Quick Reference Card

Table of Contents

ESCORT C65 Quick Reference Card

Press the RVW button

to go from one category

to the next

(Power-on indi cation)

POWER- ON SEQU ENCE

SIGNAL S TRENGTH METE R

AUTOMU TE

CIT Y MODE SENSI TIVITY

* Factory Default Settings

 Remove card along perforations 

Press the CHG button
to change your setting
within a category

PILOT

Pilot HWY

Pilot H
Pilot V

VOICE

Voice ON
Voice OFF

PwrOn STD
PwrOn FST

Meter STD
Meter THT
Meter TEC

aMute ON
aMute OFF

City STD
City LoX
City NoX

BANDS

Bands ALL
Bands MOD

X ON or OFF
K ON or OFF
Ka USA or Intl or OFF
POP ON or OFF
Ku ON or OFF
LSR ON or OFF
SWS ON or OFF

* Full word: Highway or AutoScan or Cit y
L etter: H or A or C
Ve hicle voltage

* Voice alerts on
Vo ice aler ts off

* Standard power-on seque nce
F ast power-on sequence

* Standard signal streng th meter
T hreat Display
Te ch Displ ay

* AutoMute on
A utoMute off

* Standard City mode sensi tivity
L ow X band sensit ivity in City Mode
N o X band sensiti vity in City Mode

* All bands enabled
O ne or more bands has been modi fied

Turn bands “ON” or “OFF” by
pressing the VOLU ME/MUTE button

 Remove card along perforations 

Quick Reference Guide 4-5

Installation 6-7

• Power Connection 6

• Mounting Location 6

• Windshield Mount 7

Controls and Features 8-11

• Power and Volume Control 8

• Voice 8

• Power-on indication 8

• AutoMute 8

• Mute 8

• Highway / AutoScan / City Switch 8

• Brightness and Dark Mode 9

• Audible Alerts 9

• Power Connector

• Signal Strength Meter

• Threat Display

• Tech Display

10

10

11

11

Programming 12-16

• How to use Programming 12

• Example of Programming

• Overview of Programming

• Details of Programming

Technical Details 17-23

• Specifications 17

• Interpreting Alerts

• How Radar Works 20

• How “POP” Works 20

• How Laser Works 21

• How Safety Radar Works 22-

Service 24-28

• Troubleshooting 24-25

• Service 26

• Registration 28

• Warranty and Accessories 29

32

12

13

14-16

18-19

23

Quick Reference Guide

To begin using your C65,
just follow these simple steps

1 Plug the small end of the power cord
into the side jack of the detector, and
plug the large end of the power cord
into your car’s lighter socket.

2 Mount your C65 on the windshield
using the supplied windshield mount.

3 Press the PWR button, located top
left, to turn C65 on.

4 Press and hold the Volume/Mute
button to adjust the volume.

Please read the manual to fully understand
C65’s operation and features.

QuickMount Slot

Insert C65’s adjustable Windshield mount
into this slot. Page 7

QuickMount Button

Press the button, and slide the Windshield
mount into one of its four locking
positions. Page 7

City Button

Switches between AutoScan, City and
Highway, settings. In general, we
recommend AutoScan. Page 8

Power Button

Press the PWR button to turn the C65 on
or off. Page 8

AutoMute

C65’s patented AutoMute automatically
reduces the volume level of the audio alert
after a brief period. Page 8. If you prefer,
you can turn AutoMute off. Page 8

Programming

C65 is ready to go, just plug it in and turn it
on. But you can also easily change 7
features for your preferences. Page

12-16

Radar Antenna and Laser Lens

The rear panel of your C65 should have a
clear view of the road ahead. For best
performance, do not mount the C65
directly behind windshield wipers
or tinted areas. Page 6

Alphanumeric Matrix Display

C65’s display will show Highway,
AutoScan, or City as its power-on
indication. If you prefer, you can choose
other power-on indications. Page 12-14
During an alert, the display will
indicate radar band, and a precise bar
graph of signal strength. Page 10
Note: In the Dark Mode the display
will not light during an alert. Page 9
The display can also show Safety
Radar text messages. Page 22-23

Rear Laser Port

Receives laser signals from behind the
vehicle.

Earphone Jack

Accepts standard 3.5mm earphone.

Brightness Button

Press to adjust display brightness. There
are three brightness settings, plus Dark
Mode.
In the Dark Mode, the power-on
indication will be changed to a dim “AD
“HD

,” or “CD” (indicating AutoScan, Dark,
Highway Dark, or City Dark). In the Dark
Mode, C65’s meter will not display during
an alert, only the audio will alert you.

Page 9

Power Jack

Plug the SmartCord into this connector.

Pages 6

Volume / Mute Button

Press and hold to adjust the volume level.
Briefly press this button (above the
display) to silence the audio for a specific
alert. Page 8

,”

4

5

Installation

Power Connection

To power C65, plug the small end of the
SmartCord, (telephone-type connector)
into the modular jack on C65’s right side,
and plug the lighter plug adapter into your
vehicle’s lighter socket or accessory socket.

C65 operates on 12 volts DC negative
ground only. The lighter plug provided is a
standard size and will work in most
vehicles. However, some vehicles may
require the optional European sleeve to
ensure a snug fit. If so, simply call our
service department to order one. This
sleeve slides over the SmartCord’s lighter
plug adapter. Of course, your lighter socket
must be clean and properly connected for
proper operation.

NOTE: Depending on your vehicle, the
lighter socket power may either be
continuously on, or it may be switched on
and off with your ignition switch.

Optional power cords

See the Accessories section for details on
our optional Direct-wire SmartCord.

Mounting Location

WARNING: ESCORT cannot anticipate the
many ways the C65 can be mounted.
It is important that you mount C65 where
it will not impair your view nor present a
hazard in case of an accident.

Where to mount C65

For optimum detection performance, we
recommend the following:

• Using the Windshield QuickMount,
mount your C65 level, and high enough on
your front windshield to provide a clear
view of the road from the front and rear.

• Mount C65 away from windshield
wipers, other solid objects, and heavily
tinted areas that might obstruct the radar
antenna or laser lens.

Windshield QuickMount

C65’s QuickMount windshield bracket is
designed for unobtrusive and hassle-free
mounting.

1 Depress the QuickMount button on
the top of C65 (by the word ESCORT) and
slide the QuickMount bracket into the slot
until it is locked into the position which
best fits the angle of your windshield
(there are four settings available). For
extremely horizontal or extremely sloped
windshields, the QuickMount bracket can
be bent.

To ensure that the suction cups adhere to
the windshield firmly, be sure to keep
both your windshield and the suction cups
clean.

2 To adjust C65 on your windshield, use
the QuickMount adjustment button
located on the top of the C65, and slide
C65 forward or backward to obtain a level
horizontal position.

When installed and adjusted properly, the
back top edge of the C65 should rest
solidly against your windshield.

Caution!

A few vehicles (including some Porsches)
have windshields with a soft anti-lacerative
coating on the inside surface. Use of
suction cups will permanently mar this
coating. Consult your dealership or the
vehicle owner’s manual to determine if
your windshield has this coating.

User’s Tip

You can leave the QuickMount bracket in
place on your windshield, and easily
remove the C65 by pressing the
adjustment button and sliding it off the
mount. Again, be sure to position the
bracket where it won’t present a hazard in
the event of an accident. Additional
mounts are available.

6

7