My Bel RX65 Experience

[dannutt]

I've had my RX65 for a month now and I have a few thoughts. I bought my first radar detector 20 years ago and not long after that I discarded it because of nearly continuous false alarms on X band from every automatic door opener in town. After 20 years, not to mention moving into the 21st century, I figured the radar detector manufacturers would surely have solved this false alrm issue. But no. I now experience the exact same nearly continuous false alarms in my town (Redmond, Seattle, WA) only this time it's on K band. I think the manufacturers should be EMBARRASSED that they cannot offer me a radar detector that has a city mode for K band. Almost all of my false alarms are signal strength 1 of 9. How freaking hard would it be to be able to turn down the sensitivity on K band for us city dwellers? I don't live in Arizona or Nevada so I really could care less that I can pick up a signal from 12 miles away. We have hills and curves here in Washington, not 12 mile straighaways. For $329 it's a SHAM that my top of the line RX65 falses as much as my Bel from 1985. Maddening. But since there is an incredible lack of foresight from the manufacturers to beat the K band door opener issue I guess I'm stuck with my RX65. Maybe in 20 more years they'll fix the K band falsing issue, but then the Z band door openers will be a problem, I'm betting. HEY BEL, VALENTINE, ESCORT, COBRA, ET AL: Pull your head out of your rears and give me product that I can actually use!! :evil:

[crazyVOLVOrob]

I hate to give you a mean answer but K-band Radar guns run on the same frequency as K-band door openers so really the you may think of it as a false but i don't. It's a common practice in my town for a cop to sit in the grocery store parking lot running his k-band radar gun

How can it be a false if the cop uses the exact same frequency? it would be a false if it responded to a frequency not used by police

[dannutt]

I hate to give you a mean answer but K-band Radar guns run on the same frequency as K-band door openers so really the you may think of it as a false but i don't. It's a common practice in my town for a cop to sit in the grocery store parking lot running his k-band radar gun

How can it be a false if the cop uses the exact same frequency? it would be a false if it responded to a frequency not used by police

Maybe the term "false alarm" was a poor choice of words. All I am asking for is to be able to turn off 1/9 signal strengths. I just want a city mode for K band. Is that so difficult?

[crazyVOLVOrob]

I hate to give you a mean answer but K-band Radar guns run on the same frequency as K-band door openers so really the you may think of it as a false but i don't. It's a common practice in my town for a cop to sit in the grocery store parking lot running his k-band radar gun

How can it be a false if the cop uses the exact same frequency? it would be a false if it responded to a frequency not used by police

Maybe the term "false alarm" was a poor choice of words. All I am asking for is to be able to turn off 1/9 signal strengths. I just want a city mode for K band. Is that so difficult?
Yes cause all detector company's will make their detector less sensitive and less responsive cause that really sells more units

Trying running it in auto mode when i had my rx65 it would false around super markets but i knew then that it would and with autoscan it would shut off usually after 2 or 3 beeps but that was mine. If you want a silent detector use your eyes :shock: , Radar detectors are designed to respond to radar frequency's used by cops, and some doors might be on the same frequency

[dannutt]

I've had my RX65 for a month now and I have a few thoughts. I bought my first radar detector 20 years ago and not long after that I discarded it because of nearly continuous false alarms on X band from every automatic door opener in town. After 20 years, not to mention moving into the 21st century, I figured the radar detector manufacturers would surely have solved this false alrm issue. But no. I now experience the exact same nearly continuous false alarms in my town (Redmond, Seattle, WA) only this time it's on K band. I think the manufacturers should be EMBARRASSED that they cannot offer me a radar detector that has a city mode for K band. Almost all of my false alarms are signal strength 1 of 9. How freaking hard would it be to be able to turn down the sensitivity on K band for us city dwellers? I don't live in Arizona or Nevada so I really could care less that I can pick up a signal from 12 miles away. We have hills and curves here in Washington, not 12 mile straighaways. For $329 it's a SHAM that my top of the line RX65 falses as much as my Bel from 1985. Maddening. But since there is an incredible lack of foresight from the manufacturers to beat the K band door opener issue I guess I'm stuck with my RX65. Maybe in 20 more years they'll fix the K band falsing issue, but then the Z band door openers will be a problem, I'm betting. HEY BEL, VALENTINE, ESCORT, COBRA, ET AL: Pull your head out of your rears and give me product that I can actually use!! :evil:

I should have also pointed out that when I am not near a Safeway/Home Depot I really like my RX65. This weekend I drove 300 miles across the state, away from city lights and the RX65 was stellar. I only sounded one time in 6 hours and that was a Washington State Trooper lasering me. It's just that when I am near my home, in the city, the RX65 is nearly useless. Give me city mode for K band please.

[dannutt]

I hate to give you a mean answer but K-band Radar guns run on the same frequency as K-band door openers so really the you may think of it as a false but i don't. It's a common practice in my town for a cop to sit in the grocery store parking lot running his k-band radar gun

How can it be a false if the cop uses the exact same frequency? it would be a false if it responded to a frequency not used by police

Maybe the term "false alarm" was a poor choice of words. All I am asking for is to be able to turn off 1/9 signal strengths. I just want a city mode for K band. Is that so difficult?
Yes cause all detector company's will make their detector less sensitive and less responsive cause that really sells more units

Trying running it in auto mode when i had my rx65 it would false around super markets but i knew then that it would and with autoscan it would shut off usually after 2 or 3 beeps but that was mine. If you want a silent detector use your eyes :shock: , Radar detectors are designed to respond to radar frequency's used by cops, and some doors might be on the same frequency

crazyVOLVOrob, I don't think I'm coveying my point to you well. Go ahead, make the radar detector as sensitive as you can, I don't care if it can detect from 50 miles away, just GIVE ME THE CHOICE of how much sensitivity I need. Why do all RDs have city mode for X band? Isn't this the same issue? Why not city mode for K band? WHY?

[compu44]

The Cobra XRS9700 has a city mode with K-Band squelch, but the sensitivity isn't nearly as much as the RX65 to start with.

[greateratlanta]

My experience is that the overwhelming majority of door openers use X band. With that in mind, the detector companies have made "city" modes that filter X band but not other bands. I know that some do filter K band in "city" mode but not most. I have run into door openers that use K and Ka band sensors that set off my detector, but they are few and far between. I have no problem deciding if these alerts are real or not. I treat these as real threats and use my eyes to determine the source. If detector companies started filtering K and Ka bands then we would all be in a whole lot of trouble considering many agencies use these bands. You might try using the mode on the detector that displays the frequency of the alert. I know that some people have noted minor differences between real radar and door openers doing this. Also, try to memorize where in your area you are getting K alerts...this would be an easy solution. Other than that the simplest thing to do would be not to speed in the city and save it for highway driving where the detector works best.

[holein1]

Well if I'm not mistaken can't you set the rx65 into (TECH) mode that way you'll be able to differentiate between two, just a thought :?:

[happya$$]

Autoscan will be your best bet. When I drive my wife's SUV her RX65 is pretty silent yet VERY effective

[hardd1]

i have to agree with dannutt that the rx65 is a disappointment. i too receive constant falses no matter what the program settings. also i cannot set the pop feature for any period of time without the unit displaying service required across the lcd. yes it has been replaced but i still suffer the same symptons. so i keep the pop feature disabled. living in sw florida Roy indicates that pop is evident in my area.(my luck) i am patiently awaiting upon the arrival of the 1.9 (when available) as to posses the latest technology

[stalker]

I was in Seattle a few weeks ago and I didnt really get many false alerts at all...i was pretty happy with it, I do now turn the detector off if I am in the city...hey the fastest i can go in the city is 25mph anyway...

Didnt see one cop between Vancouver and Seattle tho..haha

[Eddieth3king]

i have to agree with dannutt that the rx65 is a disappointment. i too receive constant falses no matter what the program settings. also i cannot set the pop feature for any period of time without the unit displaying service required across the lcd. yes it has been replaced but i still suffer the same symptons. so i keep the pop feature disabled. living in sw florida Roy indicates that pop is evident in my area.(my luck) i am patiently awaiting upon the arrival of the 1.9 (when available) as to posses the latest technology

maybe its not falsing its just working....i think that x band falses are a neccery evil so to say......i love my rx 65..its a great thing.

[mjldba]

I've found that City LoX and AutoScan work about the same for X-band audio alerts, giving only a visual 3/9 to 5/9 LED alert.

It seems every drug store / supermarket / home DIY store in WNY uses K-band door openers, usually only a 1/9 to 2/9 LED signal strength but I think I may wear-out the mute button. In some area's I driving with my RH near the button all the time.

If this perceived inperfection (low, LOW strength K-band audio alerts in the city) could be resolved to behave like City LoX then the RX-65 would be perfect for my needs.

[GTO_04]

I hate to give you a mean answer but K-band Radar guns run on the same frequency as K-band door openers so really the you may think of it as a false but i don't. It's a common practice in my town for a cop to sit in the grocery store parking lot running his k-band radar gun

How can it be a false if the cop uses the exact same frequency? it would be a false if it responded to a frequency not used by police

Maybe the term "false alarm" was a poor choice of words. All I am asking for is to be able to turn off 1/9 signal strengths. I just want a city mode for K band. Is that so difficult?
Yes cause all detector company's will make their detector less sensitive and less responsive cause that really sells more units

Trying running it in auto mode when i had my rx65 it would false around super markets but i knew then that it would and with autoscan it would shut off usually after 2 or 3 beeps but that was mine. If you want a silent detector use your eyes :shock: , Radar detectors are designed to respond to radar frequency's used by cops, and some doors might be on the same frequency

crazyVOLVOrob, I don't think I'm coveying my point to you well. Go ahead, make the radar detector as sensitive as you can, I don't care if it can detect from 50 miles away, just GIVE ME THE CHOICE of how much sensitivity I need. Why do all RDs have city mode for X band? Isn't this the same issue? Why not city mode for K band? WHY?


Doesn't the RX-65 have a "City All" mode, where the lower signal strengths are at least muted for the audio? The 980 and 985 had it, the 995 probably has it. I don't see why the RX-65 would not also have it. If not just use auto mode.

GTO_04

[amoney]

I hate to give you a mean answer but K-band Radar guns run on the same frequency as K-band door openers so really the you may think of it as a false but i don't. It's a common practice in my town for a cop to sit in the grocery store parking lot running his k-band radar gun

How can it be a false if the cop uses the exact same frequency? it would be a false if it responded to a frequency not used by police

Maybe the term "false alarm" was a poor choice of words. All I am asking for is to be able to turn off 1/9 signal strengths. I just want a city mode for K band. Is that so difficult?
Yes cause all detector company's will make their detector less sensitive and less responsive cause that really sells more units

Trying running it in auto mode when i had my rx65 it would false around super markets but i knew then that it would and with autoscan it would shut off usually after 2 or 3 beeps but that was mine. If you want a silent detector use your eyes :shock: , Radar detectors are designed to respond to radar frequency's used by cops, and some doors might be on the same frequency

crazyVOLVOrob, I don't think I'm coveying my point to you well. Go ahead, make the radar detector as sensitive as you can, I don't care if it can detect from 50 miles away, just GIVE ME THE CHOICE of how much sensitivity I need. Why do all RDs have city mode for X band? Isn't this the same issue? Why not city mode for K band? WHY?


Doesn't the RX-65 have a "City All" mode, where the lower signal strengths are at least muted for the audio? The 980 and 985 had it, the 995 probably has it. I don't see why the RX-65 would not also have it. If not just use auto mode.

GTO_04

NOT ANY MORE

They removed all the features the 985 had going for it, I don't understand why except the fact Escort bought Bell.

From my Bel985 manual

https://home.comcast.net/~asadowsk/bin/autoscan.jpg

[Eddieth3king]

wow.

[GTO_04]

I hate to give you a mean answer but K-band Radar guns run on the same frequency as K-band door openers so really the you may think of it as a false but i don't. It's a common practice in my town for a cop to sit in the grocery store parking lot running his k-band radar gun

How can it be a false if the cop uses the exact same frequency? it would be a false if it responded to a frequency not used by police

Maybe the term "false alarm" was a poor choice of words. All I am asking for is to be able to turn off 1/9 signal strengths. I just want a city mode for K band. Is that so difficult?
Yes cause all detector company's will make their detector less sensitive and less responsive cause that really sells more units

Trying running it in auto mode when i had my rx65 it would false around super markets but i knew then that it would and with autoscan it would shut off usually after 2 or 3 beeps but that was mine. If you want a silent detector use your eyes :shock: , Radar detectors are designed to respond to radar frequency's used by cops, and some doors might be on the same frequency

crazyVOLVOrob, I don't think I'm coveying my point to you well. Go ahead, make the radar detector as sensitive as you can, I don't care if it can detect from 50 miles away, just GIVE ME THE CHOICE of how much sensitivity I need. Why do all RDs have city mode for X band? Isn't this the same issue? Why not city mode for K band? WHY?


Doesn't the RX-65 have a "City All" mode, where the lower signal strengths are at least muted for the audio? The 980 and 985 had it, the 995 probably has it. I don't see why the RX-65 would not also have it. If not just use auto mode.

GTO_04

NOT ANY MORE

They removed all the features the 985 had going for it, I don't understand why except the fact Escort bought Bell.

From my Bel985 manual

https://home.comcast.net/~asadowsk/bin/autoscan.jpg

That makes me that much happier that I kept my 985 as backup!

So what then are the city modes for RX-65? The BEL site only says there are 3 modes, and it doesn't tell any more about them.

GTO_04

[compu44]

The three city modes on the RX65 are City Standard, City Low X, City No X.

[Eddieth3king]

no x..disactivates x

low x filters it down alot

and normal city filters it miniumly

[compu44]

no x..disactivates x

low x filters it down alot

and normal city filters it miniumly

Right. The actual sensitivity remains unchanged, it just alters the level at which it issues an audible alert. You'll still have visual with all modes.

[Eddieth3king]

True True.

[GTO_04]

That's interesting! They may have changed Autoscan compared to the 985 also. I would never use Autoscan on the 985, it was terrible. But the City modes worked very well.

GTO_04

[Bossmav]

I'm now guessing it's a good thing to be tight!!

I couldn't afford the price of 2 RX65's my wife wanted a RD and so did I but only for in town driving. We both have seen each other going 40+ in a 25 zone and not even thinking about it, so we got 2 985's from ebay.

The more I read the happier I am.

I don't drive fast... I just fly low!

Bossmav

[amoney]

That's interesting! They may have changed Autoscan compared to the 985 also. I would never use Autoscan on the 985, it was terrible. But the City modes worked very well.

GTO_04

Ha! We really must have opposite extremes of experiences with 985, I love the way Autoscan filters, and with out noticable loss in sensitivity to a real threat. Of course on the highway I run it on the Highway mode, hey when your going 90 you need that extra second of reaction time.

As far as what Bel has done with the new units, I don't have a freaking clue, nor understanding. The City modes have been significantly changed to that of Escorts modes. But honestly other than City All mode that we have where it totally mutes the audio but keeps a visual alert untill the strentgh breaks a certain threashold, City mode, to me, is worthless. Autoscan has a better filtering with out ruining sensitivity.