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| Mr. Mobile - Info Center - Radar Detectors |
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Radar Detectors are great for those of us that drive a lot, especially on the highways. They give you “Peace of Mind” that allows you to concentrate on your driving, not constantly watching your mirrors.
What is a Radar Detector?
A radar Detector is a device installed in your vehicle that will, via audible and visual alerts, let you know when there is police radar in your vicinity.
How Does a Radar Detector Work?
A radar detector has sensors built in that sense different types of police radar. Police radars essentially send a microwave “beam” out looking for an object to reflect off of. A radar detector senses this “beam” and warns you via audible and visual alerts that there is radar in the area, usually before the “beam” can get a strong enough to “detect” your speed. The better radar detectors have Super Heterodyne receivers that give you extended range, even detecting around curves and over small hills.
What Types of Radar are there?
There are several types of radar police use. These types are:
- X band – This is the oldest type of radar, over 50 years old. This is the easiest to detect. Range is about 2 to 3 miles with a speed reading range of less than 1 mile. X band also is used in such items as garage door openers, certain security systems and other electronics. This can cause “false detection readings” on cheaper radar detectors, but the better once have filters to help eliminate false readings.
- K-Band – The most common police radar is K-Band. These are the radars you may have seen that a police officer uses from a stationary position and point it at vehicles. Newer versions can also be used while the police vehicle is in motion. The detection range is up to 2 miles while the speed reading range of K-band is generally about ¼ mile.
- Instant on K-Band. This is radar that has a range of up to ¼ mile and is aimed directly at the targeted vehicle as it approaches. There is very little warning time. If a car in front of you is being targeted, you may have time to react before you are targeted.
- KA Band – KA band radar is also known as Photo radar. Photo radar senses your speed and activates a camera that shoots a photo of the front of your vehicle. It takes a picture of the vehicle license plate and the drivers face, plus records the date, time and location the photo was taken. Your ticket is then mailed to you. This type of radar has a range of up to 300 feet. It transmits a constant signal, so a KA band detector has a better chance of detecting this type of radar.
- Super Wide KA Band – This is also called “stalker Radar”. Super Wide KA band can be licensed for any frequency range in the KA band spectrum, so radar detectors with Super Wide KA band detection sweep all of the KA band frequencies, as well as the X, K and regular KA band.
- VG-2 – VG-2 is used for the police to detect when a radar detector is being used. This is especially used in area where radar detectors are illegal. VG-2 senses the emissions of the radar detector. The radar detectors with VG-2 detection are better shielded to eliminate these emissions and shut down if they detect VG-2 is in use in the area.
- Laser Detectors – Laser Detectors transmit a series of light pulses that use the difference between the time the light is transmitted and the reflection back to calculate your speed. The Laser guns beam is narrower and more accurate at pinpointing your vehicle than radar. They are also very quick, needing less than 1 second to capture your speed. The drawbacks are they are very expensive, can only be used from a stationary position and the user must be very accurate with the laser to be sure he has the right vehicle. Since the lasers beam widens the farther out it transmits and they are usually used from a distance of 1000 feet or so, a laser detector has a chance to detect the laser before you get in its detection zone.
What types of Radar Detectors are available?
There are several types of radar detectors.
- Corded detectors that plug into your vehicle’s lighter and mount up on your dash or visor
- Cordless detectors run on batteries, so no cords are hanging off of the dash
- Remote detectors – these units have front and/or rear sensors installed outside on the vehicle with main unit mounted inside where the driver can see it. They are invisible to law enforcement officers and thieves, plus they can be installed to give a custom or factory appearance since the small main unit can be mounted in number of places.
What to look for in a Radar Detector
The key things to look for are:
- Range – How far out will a radar detect
- Good filtering– the cheaper radar detectors are more prone to false detection, the better ones have better filtering to reduce false detections
- 360 Degree Detection – has sensors for the front and rear to give to 360 degree protection.
- City Mode – Turns down the range or sensitivity to give reduce false detections as you are driving in urban areas.
- What bands/types of radar will it detect
Things that affect your range
There are things in or on your vehicle that can affect the range of your radar detector such as using metallic window tint. Also GM’s PPG and Everclear and Fords Instaclear windshields plus some higher end imports use metallic treatments that reduce detection 95% or more. In the case of these types of windshields, consider using a remote radar detector that has sensors mount outside on the front and/or rear of the vehicle for the best detection. Only the main unit is mounted inside where the drive can see it. Laser detection is effected by glass and window tinting. The darker the tint, the larger the loss of range.
Now you know more than you wanted to about Radar Detectors it is time to pick which one you want. Go to our Radar Detector page and you can shop and compare all of the radar detectors we carry or you can call or email one of our Mobile Electronics Specialists and they will be happy to help you.
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