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Bob Thompson & Associates
The Exclusive International Distributor of Laser Veil
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Bob Thompson & Associates The Exclusive International Distributor of Laser Veil
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How do I install the Hardwire kit (p/n 206880)? One end of the power cord plugs directly into the detector. Two connectors are located on the other end, the "horseshoe" or "U" connector (ground "-") and a "blade" connector (positive "+"). · Attach the "U" ground connector to chassis ground of the vehicle. This will be a metal area that makes contact with the metal of the vehicle. · To make the detector go on/off with the key, attach the positive wire in one of the following methods: o Locate an optional plug-in connector in the fuse box. Generally this connector is marked with "IGN" or "ACC". Simply plug the spade connector into this jack. If no plug-ins are available on fuse box, go to option 2. o Select a circuit in the fuse box that has power to it only when the key is on (i.e., radio fuse). Remove the fuse selected. Cut the spade connector off the positive wire and strip back the wire about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. Wrap the wire around one of the fuse's metal tabs and replace back in fuse box. · To make the detector stay on all the time, (manually turning it off), attach the positive wire in one of the following methods: o Locate an optional plug-in connector in the fuse box. Generally this connector is marked with "BAT". Simply plug the spade connector into this jack. If no plug-ins are available on fuse box, go to option 2. o Select a circuit in the fuse box that has power to it all the time (i.e., dome light fuse). Remove the fuse selected. Cut the spade connector off the positive wire and strip back the wire about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch. Wrap the wire around one of the fuse's metal tabs and replace back in fuse box. Does the unit work in another vehicle? If not, first thing to check is the fuse in the power cord. The adapter (part that plugs into the lighter socket) has a replaceable 2 amp 3 AG fuse inside it. The end of the adapter, which has the silver tip, unscrews to gain access to the fuse. CAREFUL: Unscrew slowly! The tip contains a spring which may fly out when disassembling. With use, screw cap on plug may loosen. Retighten occasionally. If the unit works in another vehicle, it could be the lighter socket fuse. Check vehicle's owner's manual for fuse location and correct value. If the vehicle is old or the lighter is used often, the socket may be corroded or loose. Replacement of the lighter socket may be necessary. Why does the volume go low after a few alerts? The majority of the newer Whistler models have a feature called "Auto Quiet". This feature reduces the volume to the lowest level or provides a low volume clicking, after several alarms. To enter or exit this mode, simply press the "Quiet" button when the unit is not alarming to any signals. Unit has no audio during self-test but is otherwise ok. Models 1640, 1670LD, 1734, 1740, 1743, 1745, 1748 and new units with Icon/Icon 7 segment displays have an unique feature that mutes the self-test. To engage/disengage this feature, press the quiet button during the self-test. Excluding instant-on radar, you can get enough range to slow down before the officer can get you. We do not publish range in miles or feet due to the various types of radar in use (high power, low power, pulse). If we advertised 1.5 mile range and you came across a low powered radar gun you may only get 800 feet, for example. If that happened, you might get the impression that the detector may appear to be defective when in fact, it was providing detection for the type of radar that was transmitted. For the latest radar detector tests, visit www.speedzones.com , www.radartest.com or www.radarbusters.com. A police radar gun operates by transmitting radio waves at certain frequencies which reflects off objects (your vehicle) and are then picked up by the radar gun's receiving section. When radar waves reflect off a moving target, a measurable frequency shift occurs. The radar unit converts this shift into miles per hour to determine the target's speed. Two basic types of radar are used - stationary and moving. Stationary radar must be used from a static site, typically a patrol car parked along side the road (See above figure). But with a single antenna moving radar, an officer can clock approaching vehicles while driving on patrol. Moving radar with two antennae - one facing forward, the other aimed out the back of the cruiser - can also clock vehicles even after they have passed by, headed in the opposite direction. How does a radar detector work? A detector is a radio receiver tuned to specific frequencies used by police radar. It is extremely sensitive, often able to hear radar from over a mile away, far beyond the range at which radar can clock a vehicle's speed. In evaluating a detector, the two most important performance criteria are sensitivity and selectivity. Sensitivity is a measure of a units detection range. Selectivity refers to a unit's ability to reject non-police microwave signals and is an important feature because of the many sources of "electronic pollution". Note: Automatic door openers and some burglar alarms operate on X-band, which is a police band. A radar detector cannot tell if a store is opening a door or a police officer is checking speed. I saw the police car but the detector didn't go off. Why? A detector can alert you of a police presence only when they are transmitting a signal. The officer may have a radar or laser gun in the car but the device may not have been turned on. No detector can alert you if no signal is transmitted! How common is the use of police radar? Since the mid seventies radar has served as the tool of choice for speed enforcement. Over 100,000 radar units are in service by police in all 50 states and account for over 37,000,000 speeding tickets each year. In fact, there are so many radar guns on the road today, your speed may be radar monitored more than fifteen times during a single trip from New York to Los Angeles. Except for a few early units, X band (10.525 GHz) was the only frequency used for police radar until the mid 1970's. In 1976 radar guns using K band (24.150 GHz) were introduced; this led to the development of the first dual band (X/K) radar detectors. A proliferation of radar guns using Ka band frequencies began in 1987 with the introduction of photo radar (34.3 GHz) and was followed by the Stalker (34.2 - 35.2 GHz) in 1991 and the BEE 36A (33.4-34.4 GHz) in 1992. Why are radar detectors described as dual band, triband, wideband or superwideband? Early detectors needed only to listen for X band radar. When K band arrived, dual band models able to receive both frequencies (X and K) were required. The introduction of Ka band photo radar (34.3 GHz) led to the development of triband models able to detect X, K, plus a small portion of Ka band. A fourth category of radar receivers called wideband, with X, K and "wideband" Ka (34.2 - 35.2 GHz) detection capabilities reached the market following the introduction of Stalker radar. And finally, in response to the BEE 36A a new generation of radar detectors were developed termed superwideband, which cover all radar guns operating on X, K or "superwideband" Ka (33.2- 36.0 GHz). A number of transmitting devices are also allowed to operate on the same frequencies used by police radar. These are not considered false signals. For example, the automatic door openers commonly used by businesses are low powered X band transmitters. They produce signals that appear legitimate to a radar detector and cause it to alarm. Other sources produce "harmonics" signals, ghosts or look alike K or Ka band radar signals which make a radar detector give a false alert. A better radar detector reduces these types of false alarms. What is "pulse", "instant on" or "POP" radar? When radar detectors proved easily capable of sniffing out radar from miles away, radar gun manufacturers responded by producing instant-on radar or unofficially called "Pulse" radar. In the instant-on mode, the radar's transmitter is placed on hold, ready to fire but not yet producing a signal for detectors to hear. The officer waits until his target is very close (brings a new meaning to "wait till you see the whites of their eyes") then releases the radar from stand by mode and gets a speed reading within a second or so (pulse). In this situation, no detector offers much warning.
Instant-On radar
just took on a whole new meaning in 2003! There are new guns out there that
operate just like the instant-on guns of the past but with a very tough new
twist - POPTM mode! This new gun is a normal K and Ka band radar gun
detectable by most radar detectors made in the past 30 years, until this gun is
placed in POP mode. When the gun is in POP™ Mode and activated, a brief burst of
energy, less than 1/15 of a second, is transmitted and the vehicle's speed is
quickly acquired. A detector without POP™ Mode detection capability cannot
respond to this brief transmission. Whistler models, 1758, 1773, 1776, 1778,
1783, 1788 1793SE, XTR SERIES (Except XTR-105, 140, 260) and all PRO Series have
POP mode detection capabilities! Can I use my detector overseas? Yes and No! Some countries use the same frequencies as we do. Some countries use K band combined with other bands not used here. Before bringing a detector overseas you need to first determine what frequencies are used in that country. For information on overseas radar visit Whistler's International Sales Representative's web page. Just a word of warning for those overseas planning on visiting the USA. While visiting, you may want to purchase a radar detector over here but be careful. Some retailers may mark an inexpensive unit and say that they are "Euro Ready" or "Retuned for European radar". Whistler does not sell European units in the USA, nor do we "retune" them for sale in the USA. We have overseas distributor (See link above) to handle these types of sales. As most consumer advocates warn - "buyer beware". Laser speed guns transmit short bursts of invisible light which bounce off a target vehicle and return to the laser gun. By timing the outgoing and return trips of the light bursts, it can compute the target's speed. The laser's biggest selling point is its narrow beam-only about three feet wide at a distance of 1,000 feet - a feature that provides nearly foolproof target identification. (In comparison, a radar's beam is about 250 feet wide at 1,000 feet.) Laser guns must be used from stationary position and are most effective at short range, usually when targeting traffic at 600 to 1,200 feet. How does a laser detector work? Since laser guns use a specific light frequency, or wavelength, it is possible to detect a laser's signature light pulse rates. Different laser guns operate at different light pulse rates. Some competitors call them "bands". All Whistler radar/laser detectors receive all current laser guns in use, these include; · Pro LaserTM I, II and III · LTI 20-20 · Ultra Lyte · Stalker LZ-1 · Laser Atlanta L-1 Keep in mind that laser detectors act differently than radar detectors. Since the narrow laser beam produces very little "scatter"- random bits of electromagnetic energy bouncing down the road -it is much harder to detect than a powerful radar gun that blankets the countryside with easily detectable microwave signals. Laser guns operate exclusively in instant-on mode and usually target vehicles at short range. Similar to instant on radar, if you are the target vehicle don't expect much warning. The result is your laser detector usually will offer less advance warning because at 1000 feet the beam is only 3 feet wide and that the officer aims at your license plate or headlights. The distance from where your detector is mounted to the license plate can be greater than 3 feet. This will be outside of the laser beam. If the officer is not steady while targeting vehicles, scatter laser signals can result, giving a possible signal to detect. How common is the use of laser for speed monitoring? Less than 1,000 laser guns are in service in 45 states at present. Most are used by city police on urban multi-lane roadways although some state highway patrols-Illinois and Ohio to name two - have dozens of units spread throughout the state. The use of laser guns for speed monitoring is expected to increase, but will remain limited due to their high cost-four times that of a moving radar-and limited attractiveness to agencies that favor the convenience, offered by conventional moving radar. Currently, laser guns account for less than 5% of the total number of speed monitoring guns (radar and laser) sold in the U.S. annually; during the next five years, this figure is expected to remain under 8%. Laser guns will likely be in service in every state within a few years. Will laser guns replace radar? No. Their premium price, limited applications (compared to moving radar), and more complex operation will keep sales of laser guns at a much lower level than radar. Do laser detectors "false" like radar detectors? Top selling detectors use sophisticated signal processing and optical filtering to almost totally eliminate laser falsing. Because of the design's incredible accuracy, assume any laser alert received as valid. Unit falses with laser when I rev up the engine. Has the vehicle had a recent tune up? If not, it is possible that the distributor cap is to blame. An old and worn cap will allow the "spark" to leak from the cap and this is what the laser receiver is detecting. Replace distributor cap with a factory original. If your unit still falses, please email us. What frequency does Laser transmit on? What is a nanometer? Laser transmits an invisible light beam at a frequency (actually it transmits a "Wavelength") of 905 nanometers. A nanometer is how a light wavelength is measured. Same idea applies to a TV signal or radio signal. These signals are measured in hertz - megahertz to be precise. What is a radar detector detector? What is VG-2 or Spectre? A Radar Detector Detector (RDD) is a microwave receiver used by police to detect signals radiated by the local oscillator (A circuit inside the detector) of a radar detector. The trade name of the commonly used RDD manufactured is Interceptor VG-2, most often simply referred to as VG-2. A newer device in this field is called Spectre and it can detect most of the "Undetectable" radar detectors that are on the market! Spectre has upgraded their RDD twice so far, to catch other detectors that tried to "hide" their emissions. Currently, the latest version is Spectre III (6/04). An officer using a RDD typically parks next to a busy freeway and aims the device at a 45 degree angle across the traffic stream. The RDD acts just like a radar detector when it hears an approaching radar detector, increasing its audio alert rate and progressively lighting more LED's in its visual display. By observing the traffic and watching how the RDD responds, the officer can make an educated guess as to which vehicle is using a radar detector. Some detectors are "noisier" than others and can be detected by the RDD from as far away as 4,000 feet.
In Virginia, the
largest user of the RDD's, officers are not empowered to search a vehicle unless
visible signs are present to support the RDD's guess that a radar detector is in
the targeted vehicle. Important: A missing cigarette lighter plug,
dangling power cord, Velcro on the dash, a mounting bracket on the windshield or
visor will tip the officer as to the possible presence of a detector and allow
him to search for it. If found, the detector isn't confiscated; the officer
notes its serial number, checks to see if it's operational, then hands it back
to the driver - along with a citation for having used it. Where is an RDD (VG-2, Spectre) used? At present the police in Virginia, Washington DC and the five eastern Canadian provinces employ RDD's. Because of the recent FHwA regulation which prohibits nationally the use of radar (and laser) detectors in commercial vehicles, interest in the use of RDD's by law enforcement agencies has increased. NOTE: It is the responsibility of the individual radar detector owner to know the laws in your area regarding the legality of the use of laser/radar detectors. What is Non detectable or VG-2 immunity? These terms identify a radar detector that can not be detected by VG-2. Radar Detectors that are non detectable have their circuitry tuned outside of the VG-2 "listening" frequency or have reduced the emissions emitting from the antenna. Stealth is another term for immunity used by radar detector manufacturers. See important Spectre RDD information above as most detectors once called "Undetectable" are no longer safe. VASCAR (Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder) is a time/distance computer that determines a vehicle's average speed by timing it between two reference points, usually white stripes painted on the roadway. Used both by ground units and aircraft, VASCAR uses no radio waves and therefore is not detectable. Officers typically sit at the top of a freeway on-ramp or other vantage point, timing traffic between the two reference points. It is rarely used at night. Watch for the telltale white stripes across the road that will reveal you're in VASCAR country. What is "pacing? Pacing is the granddaddy of all speed measuring techniques. The officer typically drives up behind the target, accelerating until his speed matches the speed of the target vehicle. His calibrated speedometer then verifies the target vehicle's speed. Although pacing also works when the police cruiser is in front of the target vehicle, some courts consider this approach unreliable and won't allow it. Pacing is especially effective at night, but rarely works when the drivers maintain a close watch in their rear view mirror. How are aircraft used to monitor speed? Using white reference marks on the road, the airborne officer simply times the target between two of the marks to establish average speed. Most states use VASCAR (a few use stopwatches), first programming in the known distance between the marks, then operating the time switch to determine target speeds. Cruisers waiting below stop the violator and write the ticket. Contrary to popular belief, radar cannot be used from aircraft. Laser detectors are completely legal in every state when used in automobiles or light trucks (under 10,000 lbs.). Similarly, when used in automobiles or light trucks, radar detectors are legal in almost every state. Exceptions are Virginia and Washington DC, which have local regulations restricting the use of radar receivers in any vehicle. Concerning trucks over 10,000 lbs., the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) issued a regulation, effective January 19, 1994, which prohibits nationally radar and laser detector use in these types of vehicles. Prior to the FHwA regulation, laws existed in the state of New York restricting the use of radar detectors in trucks over 18,000 lbs... and in Illinois in trucks over 26,000 lbs. These laws remain in effect. In Canada, radar detectors and laser detectors are illegal to use in Manitoba, New Brunswick; Newfoundland, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. NOTE: It is the responsibility of the individual radar detector owner to know the laws in your area regarding the legality of the use of laser/radar detectors. What can I do to keep radar and laser detectors legal? Fight for your rights. Specifically, watch for news stories about any legislation in your state that seeks to ban the use or sale of detectors and let your elected representatives know your feelings. Don't ignore such legislation even if it targets only heavy trucks. A favored tactic of the anti-detector forces-primarily large insurance companies who benefit immensely from slapping surcharges on ticketed drivers-is to first go after truckers' rights to use detectors. If successful in banning detector use in trucks, you can bet their efforts will turn to banning in cars. This relatively new radar is not for speed detection at all, it is used to keep you informed of highway safety. Transmitters are installed and programmed (for example: in emergency vehicles) to make you aware of possible situations that may require your attention, such as: ambulance vehicles that are moving or stationary, road hazards ahead, road construction delays or detours, etc. Important: Safety transmitters have to be purchased by the town, state or federal agencies. At present safety radar transmitters are few. Safety radar transmissions are received by all radar detectors because they transmit on K-band frequency, however, only newer radar detectors with safety radar capability can identify them. What is Whistler's "Safe Driving System"? This comprehensive safety system detects all safety radar systems keeping you informed of road hazards and adverse weather. Plus, Whistler's unique Stay Alert feature tests driver's alertness on long solo trips. Safe Driving System is available on models; 1495 SE, 1560 series and up, 1670 series and up, 1740 series and up and model 3300 and up remotes. What is Stay Alert and how does it work? The Stay Alert feature is designed to test a driver's alertness. Within 30 to 60 seconds after the feature is engaged an alert is sounded; to show alertness, the driver must press the volume, city or the mute button within 3-5 seconds. If a button is pressed within 3-5 seconds, the cycle is repeated. If a button was not pressed within 3-5 seconds the unit alarms at full volume and the display shows an unique visual alert. WARNING! Stay Alert is NOT intended as a substitute for adequate rest. You should NOT operate a vehicle if you are drowsy. During extended periods of vehicle operation, you should take frequent breaks. Improper reliance on the Stay Alert feature may result in vehicle damage, personal injury or death. NEVER OPERATE A VEHICLE IF YOU ARE DROWSY. UNDERSTANDING OPTION SELECT MODE Option select mode allows turning certain features on or off or customizing how the unit operates. The unit will store these features in memory. Option mode is available only on units with Feature Memory capability. You do not have to enter option select mode to receive police radar and laser signals, only for receiving VG-2 signals. Find out more on VG-2. NOTE: This mode can only be accessed when the unit is not receiving any radar or laser signals! In option mode, what does "Custom", "Truck" and "Night" mean? When custom is displayed it allows the unit to be programmed for the available options that the detector offers. Pressing the Quiet button again steps down to another option. See Understanding Option Mode section for model specifics. Night and Truck modes are preprogrammed selectable options. To enter "Truck" or "Night" mode the detector must display "Custom" first, then press the Dark or City button to enter Night or Truck. What is the factory reset and why do I need it? Factory reset is only available with units that have Feature Memory capability. This reset allows you to set the unit's options back to original selections. This could be helpful if someone borrowed the unit and "played" with the settings. Following the factory reset procedure will reset the "played with" options. For 1540 series and up. (except 2270/90) to reset options: · Remove power to the unit · Press and hold the power and quiet (mute) buttons · Reapply power while still holding the power and quiet buttons · Wait for 2 beeps · Release the power and quiet buttons. Unit is now reset. For 2270/90 series to reset options: · Remove power to the unit. If connected to a switched source turn off ignition. · Press and hold the power button · Reapply power while still holding the power button · Wait for 2 beeps or about 5 seconds. · Release the power button. Unit is now reset. Where do I mount the detector? A dash model can mount 3 ways; on the windshield, visor or dash. It is personal tastes or the vehicle's interior design that limits or forces a mounting location. The windshield mounting option is standard on every unit, where as the visor or dash mounting could be optional. Laser reception is one concern when choosing a mounting location. The lower the unit is mounted on the dash the better the laser detection as the laser gun is generally "shooting" at the license plate or headlights. Go to laser for more info. How do I or do I need to calibrate the compass? For compass model detectors to work correctly, they need to be calibrated after the detector is mounted inside the vehicle. If this calibration procedure is not performed the compass may either not function at all (compass heading will not change or move) or may give incorrect direction. Follow the procedure below to properly calibrate the compass: · Mount the unit level in the center of the vehicle's windshield. Make sure there are no other magnetic sources near the detector, (i.e., speakers). · Select a large clear area (parking lot or field) without any power lines. · For 1793SE model, press and hold the Quiet/Menu button until the unit displays "CAL MODE" and then press BOTH volume buttons simultaneously. Skip the next step. · Press BOTH volume buttons simultaneously. Unit will display "CAL MODE" or the compass ICONs will rotate. · Carefully drive the vehicle in TWO COMPLETE CIRCLES, in either direction.
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If calibration does not automatically finish, press BOTH volume buttons
simultaneously again. Unit will display "CAL DONE" or show current compass
heading. If unit is taken off the windshield mounting bracket, it does not have to be recalibrated. However, if the mounting bracket is relocated (taken off or moved to another vehicle), the above procedure will need to be repeated! Whistler detectors offer at least 4 different ways to display information; individual LED's, ICON display, 7 segment digital display or text display (either by LCD or the newest dot matrix display). All the displays provide the necessary information to the driver such as mode of operation, power on indication and signal strength. Higher end models offer band ID (which radar band is being received, X, K, Ka or laser), feature selection memory or combination of all display types. Units with 360 protection detect signals from all radar, laser (Perimeter protection only - Laser is not shot from the sides), VG-2 and safety radar systems wherever they come from; front, rear or from the side. All features selected (selections in option mode, city vs. highway, dark vs. bright, etc) are retained in memory. Once a feature or mode is selected it will remain in memory even when the power cord is removed from the unit. Vehicle battery saver mode automatically shuts off your detector after 3 hours if you forget to turn it off. The timer is reset if the detector is unplugged, turned off or any button is pressed before the timer has expired. The detector will alert you with an audible and visual warning (text units display "PWR OFF") before shutting off. Units with option select mode can turn this feature off. Most detectors draw around 300mA of power or just over 1/4 of an amp. When the vehicle battery saver kicks in, this power consumption drops by 90%. What does this mean to me? Well lets assume that the radar detector is left on and the vehicle's battery has a 60 amp/hr rating (average sized battery). The above vehicle would have a dead battery in about 200 hours or approximately 8.3 days. Roughly the time for an 2 week vacation or company trip. Having a detector with a Vehicle Battery Saver feature will extend the battery life to about 2000 hours or 83 days making the travel home from that company trip a stress free one. Note: These times are approximate and do not take into consideration the normal battery drain from the vehicle's electronics. The Battery Saver feature can be manually engaged by holding the city button for 2 seconds. Within 10-15 seconds the unit will turn off as described above, we call this turbo mode. If you tried to enter City Mode and the unit turns itself off, the city button was held too long.
Units with
digital compass and text displays are programmed from the factory in "Combo
Mode". Combo mode means that the unit provides both compass readings as well as
detecting laser/radar signals. Through the option mode or the Mode button,(1785
model) the unit can be changed to operate only in Radar Mode (detection of all
police bands and laser - no compass) or only in Compass Mode (no detection of
police laser/radar). The compass provides cardinal points and direction in 5° increments. Some text display units have an arrow to also indicate current compass heading. What does "Hi T" or "Lo T" mean on a 3300/3400/3500 or Pro-3450 model remote? When the display shows "Hi T" it means that the temperature probe has reached its high temperature limit (176 degrees F). "Lo T" means the opposite, the temperature has reached its low temperature limit (-4 degrees F). Unit displays an "R1" or "R2" error or the unit clicks while a green or yellow LED flashes.
When the display
shows an "R1" type error on the display or the unit clicks (flashing either the
Green power LED or the Yellow city LED), it means that the link between the
inside and outside unit has failed. Generally this is caused by the receiver's
(outside unit) cable becoming unplugged from behind the console (inside unit).
Real Voice Memo On select models, a record/playback feature is included. Models are, a three track - 45 seconds total time (DE1670LD); a six track - 60 seconds total time (DE 1670); and three 9 track - 90 seconds total time (DE 1780, DE 1790SE & DE 1793SE). Recording time consists of 10 seconds per track or longer, up to the total available time for that unit. Example: You can record on track 1 for 15 seconds but this overrides track 2. The next recordable track (without over recording portion of track 1/2) is track 3. Poor or no NOAA (NWR) reception.
With few
exceptions, NWR broadcasts can be received throughout the US. Canada has a
similar system, (Weather Radio Service of Canada), which operates on the same
seven (7) NWR frequencies. Many of the NWR transmitters, however, are low
powered (300 to 1000 watts - compare this with an average FM radio station's
50,000 to 100,000 watts) so reception may not always be clear. As with any radio
transmission, range and quality of reception can vary due to local terrain and
atmospheric conditions. Compass not reading correctly or displays "Distort". If compass is not calibrated correctly or if there is a strong magnetic field (dash or windshield mounted speakers), the unit will show incorrect direction or display "DISTORT". Re-calibrate the compass to correct the readings. Units that display "DISTORT" need to be moved farther away from the speakers or other magnetic field, then re-calibrate the compass. |
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