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Thread: Regarding Radar...

  1. #1
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    Default Regarding Radar...

    Just wondering if someone can explain to me the different types of radar band, and where each are used? My radar detector apparently picks up a few different ones, and has lights for each... X, K, Ka, and has two other lights, I don't remember what...

    So what are each of these, and who/what uses them? Photo, laser, etc...

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    X is mostly shit - automatic doors etc.
    K is sometimes used by the cops, mostly in older cars
    Ka seems to be mostly used now as far as radar goes, it's also where photo works on
    The other light must be for laser and the other for power (?)

    I believe that is also in order of increasing frequency, not sure though.
    George likes his Kung Pao spicy!

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    Pretty much whatever B17a said was bang-on!

    Peter

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    K band is used by Edmonton Police's Photo Radar vans, whereas in Calgary KA is used for photo radar. The RCMP (at least on Highway 1A haha) also use KA for their windshield mounted radar.

    Other than that, cops use laser for speedtraps. You'll be able to tell, when your detector goes off for laser and you're speeding... you'll see an officer jump in front of you waving you over!

    Look in your manual, and find out how to disable X band, that is never used. On my V1 I disable X and K band, but reenable K band whenever I go out of town on the highways.

    Hope that helps.
    ---

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    Originally posted by kenny
    You'll be able to tell, when your detector goes off for laser and you're speeding... you'll see an officer jump in front of you waving you over!
    Ahh yes, "experience" ...-

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    no, thats never happened to me before speedracer... the KA on highway 1A is "experience" haha.
    ---

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    Hey Kenny

    Is the V1 any good ?? I've heard both good and bad about it

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    works good for me in conjunction with my other toy which I might post pictures of if I ever get bored
    ---

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    Originally posted by kenny
    You'll be able to tell, when your detector goes off for laser and you're speeding... you'll see an officer jump in front of you waving you over!
    I know that one first hand...

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    Thanks for the info guys! Great stuff.

    I havent found the manual for my detector (although I haven't really looked that hard ) but I remember it saying something about picking up emergency vehicle equiptment (ambulance, firetruck) and the light for that one is a W. Anyone know about this one? I've only ever seen it go off once or twice in about 6 months...

    I honestly can't remember what the other letter is... but I know it's not the power light or intensity bar...

  11. #11
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    That's the other one! It's for Warning Radar, which to my knowledge is not used in Canada. In the US, some places set up these radar warnings to alert people with detectors about up coming contruction or accidents or something. That's what it's supposed to be for anyways, not sure how often it's used.
    George likes his Kung Pao spicy!

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    Yes! I totally remember reading that in the manual... It's gone off once or twice since I've owned the thing... but very rarely...

    Could the other light be a warning for radar detector detectors? I vaguely recall reading something about that too... but I could be mistaken... of course, that's something we really don't have to worry about in Alberta either.

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    i want one of kennys special toys

    anyone hear of speeding tickets going up like 10$/km?
    A$$

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    i remember the v1 used to go absolutely nuts whenever a speed trap was ahead. it's funny they warn u because fi u were speeding when that went off, all it really tells u is to watch for the cop waving u over.
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    At least with the warning you begin to decelerate Without it, you'd keep going for another several hundred feet before seeing the officer
    ---

  16. #16
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    Originally posted by kenny
    You'll be able to tell, when your detector goes off for laser and you're speeding... you'll see an officer jump in front of you waving you over!

    Or when the officer pulls a mad U-turn and scares the living shit out of the driver behind the faster car! Phew....


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