What bands should I turn off in Alberta?

[hotweiss]

What bands should I turn off in Alberta? I am hoping that turning off some bands will lower my false alarm rates.

[WK446]

Ku-band, POP all can be turned off. X band should be able to be turned off as well, but some smaller cities/towns patrolled by the Mounties may have an old X band kicking around and in use.

[hockey005]

If u are running an STi make sure the SWS is off to..wait RD's are legal in alberta right? or no? idk i always get confused which provinces allow it

[hotweiss]

If u are running an STi make sure the SWS is off to..wait RD's are legal in alberta right? or no? idk i always get confused which provinces allow it

Radar detector's are legal in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan.

[hockey005]

o alright...well if i were u i would keep all bands on for now but turn pop off...just to see wat the "APP" (idk wat alberta is but i no the OPP in ontario lol) uses and also small towns could be using old X band systems...so run all bands for a bit just to see wats up...eh

[Jarus187]

What is used in Alberta? To the best of my knowledge and based on my encounters as follows:

Photo Radar: In Edmonton is exclusively K band (24.1 Ghz) which means its probably Gatso 24, or the older Multanova K band radar.

I have 4 encounters on video documenting this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRp9L77LVgo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VibwwblSmM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJjNDCeVWCE
YouTube - Valentine 1 vs. Edmonton Police Service Photo Radar Van

Edmonton has 5 of these babies:

1. White Ford Windstar Van with tinted windows (Alberta Plate CUE 819)
2. Grey Truck (Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon) with Truck Top Cover (Alberta Plate FJA 109). Has a yellow bumper sticker ribbon on back right side that says "Support our troops".
3. Red Truck (Chevy Colorado or GMC Canyon) with Trunk Top Cover (Alberta Plate LAL 809)
4. Grey Ford Windstar Van with Black Stripe on the side. Has 2 "Support out troops" stickers on the back. (Alberta Plate EXM 276)
5. ??????????

In Calgary, they are using the new Ka band Multanova 6F photo radar (34.4 Ghz)

RCMP:
90% use Ka band 35.5 Ghz (Kustom Golden Eagle Radar)
http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/bc/lmd/nv...tents/tour.html - Scroll down to equipment and you'll see it

10% are still running the older Kustom KR-10SP K band radar
http://www.sspmustang.org/police/pl_photo351.htm

Here is a Ka encounter with RCMP:
YouTube - Valentine 1 vs. RCMP Kustom Golden Eagle Ka Band Radar

And here is a rare K band encounter with RCMP:
YouTube - Evidence of Sherwood Park RCMP using K band Radar

EPS: In all my encounters I've had Ka band 34.7 Ghz radar (most likely Stalker). Documented three times:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v86iINBxg4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpLCrhy83dk
YouTube - Valentine 1 vs. Edmonton Police Service Ka band Radar

Laser wise they use LTI Ultralyte, but back in the day I recall them using the LTI Marksman.

Unmarked vehicles use K and Ka:
1. Brown Crown Victoria with tinted windows & stealth mounted lights in grill and rear mirror (Alberta Plate MAD 081) - Ka band radar
2. White Ford Explorer (newer model) with dark grey cladding. One dash mounted radar unit (Alberta Plate PRS 647) - K band radar
3. Silver Pontiac GrandAm GT with full tint, spoiler, stealth lights mounted high. K band radar (Alberta Plate CAW 111)

Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol: K band and Ka band. Apparently they're all supposed to be using Ka band now province wide, but they are not as documented here on the Sherwood Park Freeway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ip2Y88wX7g


Alberta Public Security Peace Officers: K band (24.1 Ghz) as documented here:

YouTube - Valentine 1 vs. Alberta Peace Officer K Band Radar (24.1 Ghz
YouTube - Valentine 1 vs. Alberta Peace Officer K Band Radar 24.1 Ghz

So basically: Turn off X band, POP and Ku band. K band and Ka are threats.

(Mind you there are reports of X band still being used in small towns in southern Alberta!)

[hockey005]

good videos jarus..and lmao tim hortons!! ahhh! gettin some timbits and coffee eh!

[Suburbs]

Well I'm a Newbie to this site and live in Calgary, Alberta but I always believe in just going to the source to get an answer. LOL

From these responses, and what part of Alberta you are travelling in, would dictate if you decide to use X Band or not.
In my overall opinion I would say "no" to using X Band unless you are in a "very" remote area where they might have an X Band detector still on the books.
In Cities, X Band "On", just becomes annoying and from the responses below having it "On" is a waste of time.
But here are the official responses in my "Calgary" area but this could be different for Edmonton, Lethbridge and other independant City Police forces.


I asked the following enforcement agencies whether they use X Band "in any way" in their traffic enforcement and here are their responses.
Some are nice and polite; others shorter and to the point!!!


Quoted responses are as follows:


Calgary City Police:

"No"


RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police):

While "X" band technology is older, there may be one or two of these sets around however it is not likely.


New Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol Department:

We do not now and have never used “X” band radar in our enforcement activities. The moving mode radar currently in use is “KA” band. Any stationary enforcement is conducted using Laser Speed detection Equipment.



I hope this information helps people driving in Alberta on deciding whether they enjoy the silence of X Band being off or don't want to gamble and leave it "On" in remote areas.

Take Care!

[Jarus187]

New Alberta Sheriff Highway Patrol Department:

We do not now and have never used “X” band radar in our enforcement activities. The moving mode radar currently in use is “KA” band. Any stationary enforcement is conducted using Laser Speed detection Equipment.

I hope this information helps people driving in Alberta on deciding whether they enjoy the silence of X Band being off or don't want to gamble and leave it "On" in remote areas.

Take Care!

Thanks for the info!

The sheriff's are lying about exclusively using Ka band. I've had a radar detector for the past 3 years and on the Sherwood Park Freeway I've NEVER seen one with Ka band. It's always been K band, and I have confirmed this at least 20 times with 4 different radar detectors. Look in the comments in this youtube video:

YouTube - Beltronics STi Driver vs Alberta Sheriff K band Radar

I was verbally attacked by a supposed sheriff saying that my radar detector doesn't work, and that they only use Ka band.

I rely on my experiences 1st and foremost. They may be using lots of Ka around Calgary, but up here that is not the case...