I saw my first Audi Q7 4.2 on the road a couple days ago... what was interesting is that my radar was going totally ape shit detecting multiple sources and what not. The dude finally turned and my detector went quiet again. I was going to wait till I saw my next one to see if it happened again.

Anyways.... I was just reading my new Car&Driver mag that came in the mail today, and they talk about an option available on the Q7 called "side-assist." Well I guess this option lets the drive know when he turns on his signal if there is a car next to him. Great for him... the bad part for all of us is that Audi decided to use K-Band radar to accomplish this hence it sets off everyones radar detector around. They also use the same K-Band on it's adaptive cruise control. This is freakin genious!

Just a warning to people that if you come across one and your detector goes ape shit, he probably has the side-assist option (I'm guess you'll only see this on the total optioned out versions). The article went on to talk about the adaptive cruise control on the new Infiniti QX56 that uses lasar instead of radar... well great, but C&D said it would trip off their laser alerts on their detectors.

 

Looks like radar detectors will have to get smarter if that is the cause. May the next generation will be more discerning.

I wonder if the "side assist" uses a different frequency in K-band than police radar. If not I guess it will bother them also. Can you imagine owning an Audi Q7 and doing a lane change when ever you see a police car on the side of the road or near by when moving?

It's probably a different frequency than police radar and I would think detectors probably need to receive a wide range of frequencies in the band(s) to be effective.

 

It may be different, but close enough to bother radar detectors. I'm not sure

It's just a shame to see more and more vehicles on the road that will drive radar/laser detector users nuts! I hoped it would end with the third brake light on the GM Trailblazer/Envoy/Bravada.... I guess not.

 

i guess im gonna hold off on buying a new radar detector

 

most all of the new active cruise controls will interfere with your radar detectors

 

Yep - I emailed Valentine about this 1.5 years ago, and they said its not currently possible to filter the laser cruise control systems. The only recommendation was to place the V1 as high in the windshield as possible.

Well I have mine almost to the top, next to the mirror, and every time I see a big ass Infiniti QX56, it goes off...

 

I noticed this on the new land cruisers too

 

New audi also comes with an optional micro-wave / toaster oven that is programed with voice active / response. "your baked potato is now ready".

 

The laser thing used to scare me since we don't have that much around here and any time it goes off it is serious. But I kept noticing big Lexus and Infinity SUVs following me around (rear laser) and finally realized they had lasers.

I would think the Kband transmitter have to be low powered, else a license would be required.