Which radar detector are you using?

[Magnified]

Ahhh, the simpler days when all you had to worry about was X-band, VASCAR and a cop 'pacing' you !

Or lying about it....

 

[carnage72]

Mine used to pick up other vehicles, especially tractor trailers, but the newer ones are really good at weeding the false signals out. Of course, I have all three of mine set to the next highest level of ignoring signals.

And now to my ignorance: What the heck does the Valentine have to do with my phone?
I don't necessarily have the phone on when driving the 'Cat, since I prefer to concentrate on driving, and the Valentine still picks up any threats just fine.

The V1 doesn't have a built in GPS like most of the other ones do so you can connect it to your phone and use their app. Escort also has an app to go with their detectors. I have a Max 2 and a 360. They both have really good range. Of course the 360 has the arrows so I tend to like that one better.

 

[Hemidayz]

The V1 doesn't have a built in GPS like most of the other ones do so you can connect it to your phone and use their app. Escort also has an app to go with their detectors. I have a Max 2 and a 360. They both have really good range. Of course the 360 has the arrows so I tend to like that one better.

ended up going with r7, phone pairing was not required. I agree, the arrow features are pretty sweet.

 

[Jimmy N.]

The V1 doesn't have a built in GPS like most of the other ones do so you can connect it to your phone and use their app. Escort also has an app to go with their detectors.

You'll have to edumacate me here. Yes, there's no GPS in the Valentine, but why should there be?
I use Garmin GPSs to keep track of where I am, and the Valentine to avoid getting caught. And my phone has nothing to do with either.

Except for AlfaOBD, my life is completely app free, and I like it that way.

 

[Magnified]

GPS was initially added back in the early 2000s so the units could learn where grocery store door sensors and other things habitually gave false alarms and ignore them. And evenually, with the internet of stupid shit (or things as some say) it would be integrate in a database and shared across their product line. (like internet enabled sex toys - which can be hacked - WTF). Anyway. If I was traffic cop, I'd find these areas, and then hang out there with my radar and bag these guys six ways from sunday.

 

[Jimmy N.]

The Valentine's ability to show how many signals it's picking up has saved me a number of times.
There are cops that use "normal" signals to their advantage.

 

[Av8ing1]

The Valentine's ability to show how many signals it's picking up has saved me a number of times.
There are cops that use "normal" signals to their advantage.

This is why we need a bogey counter and GPS. The unit knows about the four signals coming from the grocery door sensors and when there is suddenly a fifth signal...its Smokey!!! or a new door.

 

[Jimmy N.]

This is why we need a bogey counter and GPS. The unit knows about the four signals coming from the grocery door sensors and when there is suddenly a fifth signal...its Smokey!!! or a new door.

Doesn't apply to me. If there's a grocery store nearby, I'm not speeding.
While I frequently go twice the speed limit on open roads, I do not speed in towns or cities.

 

[Hickster]

This one uses X band, k band, KA Band, Laser, *TSRF, K Narorrow/ K Wide, Ka Narrow/ Ka Wide *Traffic Sensor Filter by Dot, ** Voltage Meter
Caution: must be used when used de- activating radar bands or laser, if you do not know the type of radar or laser the police in your area are using.
The de- activation of radar or laser could possibly result in undesired performance 0f the unit.

Now what the hell does that mean?? Dosen't work??
Settings on Default OFF
ON Default OFF
K WIDE Default K Narrow
KA Wide Default Ka Narrow
Super Wide Ka Band

Sounds like the Presidental Voting
Screwed up

 

[Hickster]

Pays for ticket and it has a scrambler for instant on.

 

[Slows2k]

V1 user. I’ve found Waze to provide more lead time and location when radar is off.

 

[MikeD1]

This one uses X band, k band, KA Band, Laser, *TSRF, K Narorrow/ K Wide, Ka Narrow/ Ka Wide *Traffic Sensor Filter by Dot, ** Voltage Meter
Caution: must be used when used de- activating radar bands or laser, if you do not know the type of radar or laser the police in your area are using.
The de- activation of radar or laser could possibly result in undesired performance 0f the unit.

Now what the hell does that mean?? Dosen't work??
Settings on Default OFF
ON Default OFF
K WIDE Default K Narrow
KA Wide Default Ka Narrow
Super Wide Ka Band

Sounds like the Presidental Voting
Screwed up

What they are referring to are the various 'bands/segments' or frequency ranges contained within the scope of that radar's overall bandwith.
The wide setting sweeps the entire range, default typically clips some of the fringe freq's at both ends and narrow only scans a select few (most commonly used) bands.

The point of limiting the sweep is 1) faster response time (each sweep takes less time) & 2) tends to eliminate falses/ghost signals
BUT (and this is a BIG BUTT) - if your local po-po's happen to used one of those bands or have a gun out of tune - you will miss the alert & you're dead ! Hence the warning that before you start limiting the sweeps, you need to know for sure what freq's your locals (and anywhere else you plan to drive) are using.

Most newer units allow you to select the specific bands you want to sweep (2, 5, 8 etc.), but since they are all digital now I don't see much advantage to that as scan times are really quick theses days.

This guy splains it much better:

 

[Hickster]

Listened to it 3 times and made no sense out of it. Maybe 4 th time. Dought it. Glass of wine and grouper cheeks. Then watch it. Like having to be a NASA engineer. Still no sence why I got a ticket.

 

[MikeD1]

Listened to it 3 times and made no sense out of it. Maybe 4 th time. Dought it. Glass of wine and grouper cheeks. Then watch it. Like having to be a NASA engineer. Still no sence why I got a ticket.

Think of it like FM radio. The band goes from 88 - 108, with each station selecting a specific operating freq. (like 98.5). Radar guns are the same, with each manufacturer selecting the specific freq's they set their guns to. Individual guns can 'drift' from their target range for a number of reasons, so a gun spec'ed for 98.5 could actually be operating at 98.4 or 98.6 etc. And some can get really out of wack and be way off (old guns or cheap/lazy agencies that do not do reg maint/tuning on their equipment).

Some specific ranges along the 'dial' perform better than others, so manf's tend to set in those ranges. Detector co's have segmented the specific ranges used by the various known gun makers into bands (2, 3, 8 etc.).

Here's how the Ka bands by state (generally speaking) break down & the freq ranges in each band:





Note that CA has band 11 which EU also uses. That is considered Ka2 or Ku or Ka ultra depending on who you are talking to.

You may have been nabbed if they are fooling around 'testing' some new gun in the Ku band or their Ka gun was WAY out of wack or your countermeasures are not working properly.

I would get a traffic lawyer and have him demand the last certification/tuning certificate for the gun in use by that cop on that day.

As for your detector settings of Ka wide / default / Ka narrow, you need to look up the owners manual to see what they are really scanning for as it can vary by manufacturer.
In general tho:
Ka wide would mean the entire Ka range 33.4 - 36.0 (slowest, more falses but safest)
default is probably Ka wide
Ka narrow scans segments 2/5/8 +/- 100 to 120 MHz (fastest, fewer falses, but can leave you exposed to guns way out of wack)

Again, your specific device may vary slightly in the specific numbers and +/- varances !

All this info applies to K band as well (it's just a lower freq band range from Ka).
X band is outdated and rarely used anywhere except for auto door openners, security systems etc. and can be safely turned off in 99.9% of the US.