9500i and particular frequency (24.125ghz)

[anthem]

I have a car (Mercedes Distronic Plus) that has one of those cruise controls that constantly emits something out K-band to measure frontal distances. I've been using V1's for years, but this constant K-band (even programmed to mute for the first four bars but goes full after 30 seconds) alert is making a radar detector useless or irritating.

Anyhow, I notice that the new 9500i has radar frequency lockoout. Does anyone know if we can lock out an exact frequency regardless of location on this unit or are lockouts tied to a particular location ? If I can lock out that one frequency, then I think I may have found the right detector to switch to. Thanks.

[jimbonzzz]

Nope, the frequency lockout is tied to location. As far as I know, with Distronic you're basically screwed, you really only have a couple of choices:

-turn off K-Band in the detector which will leave you unprotected
-somehow disable Distronic Plus on the vehicle (of course giving up those features too)

[SmaartAasSaabr]

Damn Europeans not taking into account American habits! :roll:

Wonder if you can turn Distronic into a K band jammer :P

[GTO_04]

Nope, the frequency lockout is tied to location. As far as I know, with Distronic you're basically screwed, you really only have a couple of choices:

-turn off K-Band in the detector which will leave you unprotected
-somehow disable Distronic Plus on the vehicle (of course giving up those features too)

Or obey all posted speed limits! :wink: (j/k) April Fools!

Mercedes had to realize that some of their customers use RDs!

GTO_04

[anthem]

You would have figured that they did consider it somehow. They used that funky new IR glass (sort of like a v-cool type of film between the laminated glass), but gave you two or three cutouts (depending upon configuration). Those cutouts are supposedly for 'toll passes' or whatever else needs RF signals to pass through and are conveniently located in areas where you would locate a detector (front center of windshield down low, and high up beside the rear view mirror).

Unfortunately they also have distronic plus which constantly emits at 24.125 which throws every damn detector into a tizzy. The signal goes on and off depending on whether there is anything in front to reflect the signal back to the detector. The V1 has a auto-mute feature which will display or hide a weakened K signal until it reaches 4 or 6 bars and then full alert. However, that is limited to 30 seconds (no idea why its only 30 seconds). If it could be set permanently, then its something MB users could definitely at least work with, but it stops after 30 seconds. If any of the Bel or Escort radars did that - I'd certainly consider and buy and try that but I think the Bel/Escort automute is even more limited in that it alerts and then mutes down.

I'm not sure there is a way to turn the distronic feature off if you have it configured as an option. You can not use it, but its still determining distance from the car.

[BullyDawg19]

surely there is some sort of transmitter and reciever mounted in the front of the car that can be unplugged.

[anthem]

Possibly. Havent explored the physical disconnection method - although it might render some other thing inoperable. Might be relegated to that . .

I would rather have a variable sensitivity on a particular bad - or as this new lockout feature on a particular frequency. Does anyone know how smart the bel/escort 'AutoScan' mode is ? Can it determine that the low level drone of the distronic plus is /not/ a real threat and ignore it ? The v1 isn't smart enough to figure it out in any of its modes. .

C'mon - one of these detectors has to one day give an option of eithering locking out one particular frequency, or setting a variable sensitivity alert on K band where a lot of these false alerts happen.

[carbonhed]

Sell the car. It's annoying you and it annoys every other user of RD's on the road. Why support this BS.

[John@RadarDetectors1]

Sell the car. It's annoying you and it annoys every other user of RD's on the road. Why support this BS.

Right. And then the next owner will drive the car and annoy people. Nope. That won't work.

Hmmm....

:idea:

Either park the car permanently or blow it up.

Cheers,

John at RadarDetectors1

[jimbonzzz]

Complain to Mercedes about it...