Dan

It was suggested to me that I program my V1 to ignore X-band and Laser warnings. The reasoning given was a Laser hit just tells you it's time to pull over and get your license out, and X-band is such old technology the chances of it being used by a police department today is very small. I tend to agree about the Laser, but not too sure about the X-band. I never remember seeing police using X-band in my travels, only automatic door openers/motion sensing alarms. What is your opinion on doing this?

phee

iTrader: (5)

i disagree with the laser sentiment. My 9500i has saved me numerous times from laser.

A SiQ TL

My old Whistler (sp?) had an x band that would go off all the time for what seemed like no reason. Frequently in any grocery store parking lots that had automatic doors like you already mentioned. Very annoying, I wish I could have gotten rid of that band.

Aretardedorange

iTrader: (2)

I don't know about where you live but in my area all the sheriffs run X-band. Its funny because I would always ignore the X-band alerts because of getting annoyed from them at stores, etc.

One night I was driving down a remote road and the X-band was beeping and I was like wtf....2 min later a sheriff passed me. From there on, whenever I see a sheriff they are always running X-band.

Cruz_msl

when your in a populated area, you can most likely set your system to "city mode", that usually filters out some of the junk. If your close to getting hit by x band the radar detector will still let you know. But once your out on the open road, remember to set it back again.

phee

iTrader: (5)

Most new detectors have an automatic mode.

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

Does your radar have a mute button?

My 8500 works like a charm.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

my 9500ix has gps capabilities, quieting the false X band.

SpiderX1016

I have a 9500ix. I turned off X-band but keep laser on. I want to know if I got hit by a laser, gives me a chance to hide everything.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I have my V1 set to X off. Only places that use X I know of are little population middle of no where towns & NJ.
If your driving major area's like LA, Miami, or interstates, etc, the likelihood of a X band threat are pretty slim to non existent.
For laser, pure BS. The V1 laser detector is pretty good. You can still pick up a laser alert after it bounces off a car in front of you. Laser is a direct small beam, a LEO has to aim it at a car directly to get a reading. That beam reflects off the car & scatters. The V1 can detect this. Granted you still have to be watchful to your surroundings.

Scottman111

I had one for a few years. I remember one legitimate X-band hit near the end of its life. It was kind of shocking actually.

oo7spy

I have seen one, maybe two, X-bands actually produce LEOs. I would feel pretty stupid if I turned it off and then got hit and ticketed. I just run mine with the volume all the way down. The flicker catches my eye every time.

19 out of 20 times my laser trips are false. However, like fuzzy mentioned, I have had an instance where I got a laser alert, slowed down, and then got lit up. The V1 picked up the scattered signal off another car.

City mode and volume down has served me very well.

Shoofin

I have the Savvy unit for my V1. You can program the speed in which you want it to ignore certain bands. I have it programmed to automatically mute any band below 35 mph. Anything above that speed it will sound. Even under that speed you will get the alert, but it's a single chirp and goes to mute immediately. Not so bad.

I'm sure the reason why you're ignoring Laser is because you're picking up laser guided cruise control systems off of certain cars. I notice it happens the most when passing or getting passed by an Infiniti QX56, FX5 and M35. Also does the same thing with the Volvo S60 and XC60's. Next tie it goes off, look around for an Infiniti or Volvo, I guarantee you'll be passing one at that point. Annoying if you ask me, but a warning to watch out for nevertheless..

LaCostaRacer

My Sti has a 'city-noX' mode that I use- quiets things greatly. I would never ignore laser though- have had too many real alerts. The Carlsbad Police love to use laser at lunch time along 101 (between Palomar Airport road and Carlsbad Village) so that's where I get to test my detector on a monthly basis to insure that it's running to spec. Don't ever speed on Carlsbad blvd or you'll be sorry.

jjashaa

iTrader: (23)

i should program my V1... lol

civicdrivr

iTrader: (9)

I leave my V1 in auto mode. I dont mind the sometimes incorrect alerts. Id rather have it go off in front of a grocery store then not go off when Im approaching a cop.

sockpuppet

I've stopped using my rader detector of late, simply because Alberta roads can be treacherous in the winter, so speed isn't usually a factor. But my existing detector (a Whistler), though not top of the line, seems to do the trick, though it reads the same X emitters all the time. Curiously though, I've noticed that at times, it'll start going off, and keep sounding. I finally figured out that there's a guy in an Audi A4 who must be running a detector with the same set-up. As soon as it happens, I keep an eye out, and sure enough, I'll see him. Sadly, he seems to go the same route as me, so when he "falses" me, I pretty much have to mute it and go the rest of the way without a detector. It's interesting to me that it's only that one guy.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Blind spot monitoring will trigger.

F23A4

Correct me if I'm wrong but unlike X/Ka, I don't believe that LIDAR signals scatter.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

Maybe reflect off of whatever it's hitting is the better description. The beam can reflect in your direction & trigger the alert.

sockpuppet

I've spoken with a number of guys who know a lot more about such things than me, and the general consensus is that this is correct, but the likelihood of getting the right bounce (and thus a warning in time) is really low. The guys I know that run them successfully use in conjunction with a jammer, and even then, it's just enough warning to let you slow down while LEO takes another shot.

oo7spy

They don't scatter (stray reflections) as much as the beam focus is MUCH tighter. A LIDAR beam will only stretch across the width of a car while radar beams can stretch 3 lanes. However, both beams are just light. The only difference between the two is the frequency of the light. Just like visible light, all light scatters (reflects off at different angles), especially off of conductive materials (metals, etc.).

A radar will scatter much more due to its lack of focus, but a laser will scatter too. I never thought a laser warning would be worth a damn, but that time it worked wonderfully.

fuzzy02CLS

iTrader: (2)

I had 4 alerts that saved me. And some that I had zero warning. But luckily those times I knew of the trap or wasn't speeding enough to warrant a stop.

sockpuppet

I beg to differ. Radar uses radio waves, which are distinct from light. This is why radar jammers are illegal, whereas laser jammers are not (in most jurisdictions).

ttribe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar

oo7spy

Beg all you want, but it is all light, it all travels at 3e8 m/s, and the wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional.

sockpuppet

I'm at a loss. I'm no engineer, but how precisely do you want to prove to me that I'm wrong, by posting an except from Wikipedia that says that I'm right?

Wait...are you trying to use reverse psychology on me?

Radar uses microwaves...a type of radio wave. LIDAR uses light, which is not a type of radio wave. But this is not the forum for a discussion of what does and does not constitute "light". Perhaps you're correct on some level....I never claimed to be an expert. But don't quote an article from a website until you've read it, and understand what it says.

StreetKA

iTrader: (8)

same here, i heard the warning i saw the cop down shifted from 6th to 3rd passed few cars and guess what he pulled over car behind me :P

oo7spy

Please excuse my poor choice of phrasing. What I should have said is, "However, both beams are just electromagnetic radiation. The only difference between the two is the frequency of the electromagnetic radiation." "Light" COULD be considered only the frequencies of the spectrum that are visible and constitute "visible light". However ALL frequencies carry the same physical properties. If we were to only consider the visible spectrum to be "light", then what is the point of clarifying "visible light"? Radio waves, microwaves, X-rays, gamma rays, etc. are all electromagnetic radiations that travel at the speed of light and can also be considered "light".

I am an engineer, and my physics background has taken far beyond mechanics. Radio waves behave the same way against a conductive material as a visible light wave. Hence, both radar and LIDAR will reflect, or scatter, when they hit a car.

TommySalami

This. The GPS is really invaluable. I don't know how I would stand any other detector

phee

iTrader: (5)

my 9500 saved me from another laser today