Why such terrible range?

**AirMoore** · 05-25-2006, 09:49 PM

Ok guys, just yesterday I went down the road to get some gas, before taking a little 50mile trip... so I brought the X50 AND V1.

Around this bend I go... and have the X50 just chilling there. So I come around the bend, and I am into the straight after it and I am going (the speed limit), and the x50 goes off on Ka(1)... so I slow down look around, look to my right see a NYST parked just off the side of the road behind a rather large 'wall'... its a retaining wall that a business built... as I am literally passing this trooper (mind you I only got ~100foot warning) it hits 2, then 3 bars... then I go by, 2,1,Highway right at about 125-150feet... I pull into the gas station (about 350feet fown the road), and it chirps Ka 1 then stops. Im like wtf, ill get gas then turn it back on maybe it didnt calibrate correctly.

I leave the gas station... head away turn on the X50 and pull a Uturn out of the LEO's site. I come back down thinking maybe he had it aimed (this way... coming back from where I just had been... accounting for the previously terrible range.) So I am going... and viola I get a ~250foot warning, that never goes above 3bars... and dies immediatly after I pass him SO...

I again go by a ways away and turn on the V1, turn around and come back the same way I first came.. what do I get? ~75foot warning, however, it holds it (rear) after I pass for about ~300 feet... so I keep going and then do another Uturn where I did with the X50... I come back down, the V1 gets the Same ~250foot range the X50 got in this direction, except maybe 20feet before the LEO the alert stopped altogether... then kicked right back in and held after I passed him for ~200feet... I never got an alert strength above 4 on the V1, and that 4 was for maybe 2seconds rear arrow.

The kicker here is... it wasnt instant-on, and this whole time... I saw the front antenna he was using (he made it faceing the gas station... which would account for the slightly better range both units got there.

Now guys, what do you think this could be, it was not an X50 or V1 problem, both units got near identical results? It isnt metallic tint or anything, I have had them in this location for a while. The units were not on together, and he was messing around facing with that front antenna towards the gas station.

The only things I could think of was:

A) His unit was on the verge of falling out of the Ka spectrum? This would account for the shabby performance of both the X50 and V1. I didnt even think about using the X50 display to get his approx frequency at the time.

B) He had a hand-held unit on the ground or in the back seat whcih was turned on, and was playing with the front antenna to get it set up, but he didnt have that on yet.

Any input on to the (possible causes)?

**TeamQuack** · 05-25-2006, 11:19 PM

i'm not sure about this at all, but i think i've read somewhere that leo can change the power output of their guns so its a little more stealth to RD's. i have no idea if its true or not but it would make sense as to why you got such poor range. i guess if it was true it would also work against him as you would probably have to be a bit closer in order for him to get a reading.

did you try the frequency check with the x50 to see if it was possibly falling out of ka band ghz range and to see what type of gun he was using?

**SportsFan** · 05-25-2006, 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by TeamQuack

i'm not sure about this at all, but i think i've read somewhere that leo can change the power output of their guns so its a little more stealth to RD's. i have no idea if its true or not but it would make sense as to why you got such poor range. i guess if it was true it would also work against him as you would probably have to be a bit closer in order for him to get a reading.

I would not doubt this (highlighted above) one bit! While this is the first time I have heard this, if true it would make a lot of sense. And the reason I'm kinda leaning towards believing this is because I've received some very weak Ka band alerts here lately as well......and I know that some other detector owners have as well (one even PM'd me about this exact same thing - "weak" Ka band alerts with another/similar Bel RD).....

**spankyaf** · 05-26-2006, 09:35 AM

Seems to me that Jimbonzz has said they cannot change the power outage only the range is adjustable

**crazyVOLVOrob** · 05-26-2006, 09:48 AM

Extreme angle used in my guess.

I have seen a NY trooper hiding behind a bridge once the kicker was he was using instant-on shotting the rear. I pasted the same location the next day and the officer was using constant on same location....NY troopers are crafty

**carlito** · 05-26-2006, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by spankyaf

Seems to me that Jimbonzz has said they cannot change the power outage only the range is adjustable

x2

**happya$$** · 05-26-2006, 11:24 AM

I feel you Airmoore I get the same crap on Ka the majority of the time on my V1

**SmaartAasSaabr** · 05-26-2006, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by happya$$

I feel you Airmoore I get the same crap on Ka the majority of the time on my V1

Yeah crappy V1's... get an STI :wink:

**Radar_Dick** · 05-26-2006, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by happya$$

I feel you Airmoore I get the same crap on Ka the majority of the time on my V1

Either the detectors (both X50 & V1) are out of tune or the way Ka propogates is misunderstood. Maybe the LEO was sitting there with rear radar running. Or maybe he was sitting at such an angle to the road & there were no objects for the signal to bounce off of so there was very little notice.

Originally Posted by Airmoore

and dies immediatly after I pass him"

Radar is line of sight, it will not penetrate a rock wall. It will bounce off of it.

understanding RF propogation is key, & detecting radar is becoming a hobby.