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  1. #1
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    Default Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    RDs are great now.
    • longer range
    • less false alarms
    • more features


    However, they are mighty big compared to some of the "tinies" available during the 80's.

    Would dropping X-Band detection make the antenna significantly smaller and hence produce a more compact, lighter device?

    Remember when the original Escort used to be considered small?
    1978: Compared to the original Snooper, Fuzzbuster et al.
    1982: The original Passport made a big deal of being the same size as an audio cassette case. It really was "compact".

    Then the Uniden XL made us exclaim, "honey I shrunk the radar detector".

    That thing was minuscule!!! Of course it was just X and K and no Ka or Laser. But the big difference was the power supply design. Old timers will recall the "downsizing" was made possible by dedicated power plugs. The voltage regulation circuitry was in the "lighter" and "hardwired" power supplies. Those units (actual RD) ran "cool".

    Now all RDs are "biggish". Why don't manufacturers go the external power supply route and make the units a bit smaller. Less heat would mean better reliability too.

    With "stealth" (Bel STi, Escort Redline technology), a smaller less noticeable unit would be hard to spot (eyeballing) by Mr LEO.
    Just thinkin'.
    Last edited by ClarkKent51; 08-07-2009 at 02:15 AM. Reason: Attach image

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    A bigger antenna horn = better range. Those teensy weensy RDs from the 80s didn't have the sensitivity that today's high-end RDs do.

    That said, since X has a longer wavelength, perhaps a smaller horn would work well for K/Ka only.

    Today's RDs have more powerful CPUs and DSP chips in them, which also makes them a bit bulkier and produce more heat. They don't need external power regulators because switching regulators (something that didn't exist in the 80s) are compact and run cooler.
    If I'm passing you on the right, YOU are in the wrong lane!

    If speed kills, how come I'm still alive?

    Active Countermeasures: V1 3.858, Escort Redline, Beltronics STi-R+, LI Dual 7.1x CPU/8.7 Heads (front)
    Other/Backup Countermeasures: V1 3.813 (loaned to friend), Beltronics Pro RX65 M4 6.3
    Vehicle: 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro
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    Encounters/Saves August 2011: Radar 3/1, Laser 0/0


  3. #3
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    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    Police departments still use X band believe it or not. It would be a terrible move for the rd detector companies to neg it out.

    (I drive with x band turned off ) I don't live in Oregon,NJ, or TX.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    Quote Originally Posted by JTW View Post
    Police departments still use X band believe it or not. It would be a terrible move for the rd detector companies to neg it out.

    (I drive with x band turned off ) I don't live in Oregon,NJ, or TX.
    ^ Or Ohio.

    Although I've yet to encounter any local municipalities here in NE-Ohio which use X-band, it's definitely one of the tools in the bag of tricks that the Ohio State Highway Patrol loves to pull out, every once in a while.

  5. #5
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    I JUST posted a thread a few weeks ago where everybody agreed, by an overwhelming margin (what was it, 98%?) that they'd rather have a LARGER radar detector with MORE range.

    And I completely don't buy any complaints about weight. You don't have to hold it or even carry it, so who cares how much it weighs? I don't care if it's made of lead as long as there's a way to keep it attached to the windshield (might need epoxy ).

  6. #6

    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    Size isn't as much a concern for me as the ability to detect threats with the greatest range possible. Miniturization is great in some things but in other things you reach a level where it can be too much. There is a reason why cell phone watches never really caught on. Heck, in cell phones we are seeing a reverse in miniturization as everyone screams for larger screens, larger keyboards, etc.

  7. #7
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    Quote Originally Posted by mrmysterious View Post
    Heck, in cell phones we are seeing a reverse in miniturization as everyone screams for larger screens, larger keyboards, etc.
    Cell phone miniaturization really is getting pretty retarded.


  8. #8
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    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    Quote Originally Posted by JDS View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by mrmysterious View Post
    Heck, in cell phones we are seeing a reverse in miniturization as everyone screams for larger screens, larger keyboards, etc.
    Cell phone miniaturization really is getting pretty retarded.
    x2. Are they supposed to be fashion accessories or a device that you have to hold in your hand and be able to listen to and talk into at the same time...

    But anyway, the new Redline has one antenna just for X-band, right? It would make sense then that it could be removed, then they could rearrange the electronic bits (at great cost) and end up with a smaller unit.

    I don't really see the point though. Nobody seems to be complaining about detectors' sizes, and someone just browsing at Best Buy who doesn't even know that X-band has been defunct in their area for decades might believe that the X-bandless detector wouldn't give them the protection they need.

    More development cost for fewer sales? Hmm...
    Last edited by supercowpowers; 08-07-2009 at 04:33 PM. Reason: the old less/fewer mistake

  9. #9
    Yoda of Radar
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    Default Re: Would RDs be smaller without X-Band?

    Quote Originally Posted by supercowpowers View Post
    But anyway, the new Redline has one antenna just for X-band, right? It would make sense then that it could be removed, then they could rearrange the electronic bits (at great cost) and end up with a smaller unit.

    I don't really see the point though. Nobody seems to be complaining about detectors' sizes, and someone just browsing at Best Buy who doesn't even know that X-band has been defunct in their area for decades might believe that the X-bandless detector wouldn't give them the protection they need.

    More development cost for fewer sales? Hmm...
    I live in Florida, so obviously I just disable X-band entirely.

    However, I like knowing that, if I went driving through New Jersey, I could enable X-band at any time.

    Of course, I would MUCH prefer it if the V1s radar horns were re-optimized for maximum K-band performance instead of maximum X-band performance, but it's not like it's slouching in the first place

    And as I was talking about before...If VR offered a version with dedicated X, K, and Ka horns (I suppose that would be six total), or just greatly enlarged front and rear horns, I'd buy it. I don't care if it's two or three times as big, it's not like the upper edge of my windshield is valuable real estate.

 

 

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