Radar Detector problems?

[wjbertrand]

I stuck this in this forum since radar detectors are often connected to our comm systems. Maybe a radar forum is needed?

Anyway, I sent my Passport 8500 X50 back to Escort a couple of weeks ago because it seemed to be going berserk with false K-band alerts. This is really annoying because it triggers the mute function in my StarCom, not to mention it's noisy as hell. Escort replaced the antenna, according the enclosed card that came back with my repaired unit yesterday. I stuck it in the car on the way to work today to check in out and it still seems to be going berserk on K-band. Escort claims the unit checked out normally before they returned it to me. It does seem to work normally with X and Ka-band alerts and with already known K-band false alerts (there are two of them on my way to work due to speed signs/trailers).

Now I'm wondering if something in the environment has changed, maybe all those new cars with the radar controlled cruise controls? Anyone else noticing an increase in false Ka alerts?

[Ranger314]

I think I know what the problem is. I have the exact radar detector, and had no problems with false alarms till I got a new cell phone. Now all I get are false alarms all the time, even in the middle of the country. It's my cell phone roaming or searching for different towers that sets my radar detector off. I don't think Escort will do anything about that problem, and I'm sure Verizon won't do anything.
I put it on auto mode and that seemed to help, since I was getting most false alarms on highway mode. Hope that helps.

[dmulk]

Hmmm...interesting.

You might want to leave your phone off on the way to work to see if it makes a difference......

<D>

[MARCUS ST1100]

I also have Verizon as my wireless service is it Verizon or the model of phone that setting off the radar detector I have an LG 8300, I also plan on installing Autocom w/ bike-bike along with a Zumo 550 and plan on using the Bluetooth feature will this be a problem?

Thanks,

Marcus

[Ranger314]

Both phones were Verizon. First was a Treo with no problems. Then I got a Samsung flip, and that's when the problems started. If the phone is off, I never get false signals.

[wjbertrand]

Thanks, I'll try shutting off the phone before I head home tonight. Come to think of it the RD acts up in both my car and on the bike, but I always have my phone with me! The problem may have started when I got issued a new phone at work, an AT&T 8525, but I never considered that. When I had my previous Palm Treo 650 I didn't seem to have this problem.

[Blrfl]

If it is your phone, it will depend on the model. It's very likely that RF or LO from your phone is leaking into one of the receiver stages in the radar detector and making it think it's seeing microwaves.

--Mark

[Mark]

If it is your phone, it will depend on the model. It's very likely that RF or LO from your phone is leaking into one of the receiver stages in the radar detector and making it think it's seeing microwaves.

--Mark

So the phone needs to be wrapped in tinfoil?

[UNTMatt]

So, if I put my cell phone on my frozen dinner...

[Blrfl]

So the phone needs to be wrapped in tinfoil?

Just your head, Mark. Just your head. :D

The better thing would be to shield the detector, which the manufacturer should have done. Radar detectors are designed to look for very, very weak signals, so it doesn't take much to make them think they're seeing microwaves if something leaks into one of the conversion stages.

If you shield the phone, the tin foil will reflect energy back into the antenna, which isn't good for the RF parts in the phone.

--Mark

[wjbertrand]

Well, it's not the phone. Tried shutting it off to no avail. Now I'm going to try and see if there's a location pattern to the falses

[ChipSTer]

Try taking out the battery... Some phones are still 'on' even when they are off... Welcome to 'big brother'.... :22yikes:
:cool:

[VFR]

Jeff, I had the same problem on a trip last Oct. I only had the radar detector, not anything else hooked up. Seemed to be more when I came to a freeway interchange with businesses. Did this in several states but not every time. I finally thought there must be something in some of them that set it off. Most were K band but I did have a couple on Ka. They would be weak approaching, then strong and weak as I passed. All seemed to be very close to the interchange - never saw any patrol cars.

This year I am connecting with GPS & MP3 so I hope I can figure it out by then. I may just leave it solo since I have the remote LED, which is usually bright enough. Except for that one time I got tagged for 94 down by the Winterhaven rest stop...... I had to have been asleep because I know that is a bad spot.

Larry

[Blrfl]

You may be catching door openers, a lot of which operate on K band these days.

--Mark

[wjbertrand]

Well there are no door openers along the stretch of 101 between Ventura and La Conchita! Just the Pacific ocean on one side and some hills on the other. Accidentally left my phone at work the other day and I was still seeing the excessive K band alerts, in some cases it was continuous and full scale for a mile or more. It's definitely not my phone. North of La Conchita the detector is significantly quieter, it's definitely location oriented. I can drive through the middle of LA and have far fewer to no false alerts compared to this stretch of 101. In addition my favorite local AM talk radio station is now suffering so much interference and static along this same stretch I can hardly stand to listen to it anymore. Something's up there but it sure isn't obvious what it is.

Maybe it's the opposing political party trying to screw with my radio station!

[Mark]

Just a thought based on your AM radio comment..

If something is interfering with with a radio station you might want to see if a complaint to the FCC will cause them to be interested.

The FCC *really* doesn't like people stomping on 'their' frequencies...

Mark

[skidlid1300]

Police speed trailers, traffic counters, driving condition monitors, also work on K band. A factory just up the road from me has their security system work on K band. each time I go by sets my detector off. I am sure US 101 has these types of devices hidden, that is making your detector go bonkers.

I like the idea of wrapping your head in foil...:crackup

[wjbertrand]

Mark, I did complain to the radio station (KVTA - Ventura) but so far no response. I used to get a clear signal all the way from home in Ventura to work in Goleta except for a drop out around the Milpas/Garden street area that's always been there. Maybe a complaint to the FCC is the ticket.