So exactly what does Self Cal mean?

[ActiveKAjam]

I know people freak out when they see this on their belscort detector but I have no idea why. This message just randomly poped up on my 8500 non-x50 when I was driving with it for 2 hours. I pulled over at a gas station and I reset it and change my settings back to the way they were on it and it pops up again 15 mins later. It was at 10pm in an airconditioned car so I don't think it was a tempature problem, although the sun was shining down hard earlier in the day at it. I'm not completley worried as it's about to go on flea-bay and I already have my blue X50. Just want to know what it means and what your supposed to do?

[fire65]

My understanding is that they Self Cal on start up and then every so often while running. The message means that it has failed its own calibration test.
When I called Escort about it the first thing they said to check is voltage.
To me having owned a few X50's, it means trouble may be coming. When mine started it, the message came more often for a few weeks, then it just started working fine. Someone else became the proud owner shortly thereafter.

[jdong]

Apparently the message means the unit failed a calibration test and is trying to recalibrate itself, while SERVICE REQUIRED is when the recalibration still fails.... A transient self-cal is not harmful, though it may be an indicator of future trouble, or just a random fluke.

[MEM-TEK]

In Dodge's case the Self Cal messages were merely due to the heat since there is a limited range through which the voltages for the local oscillators can be automatically adjusted. When the detector got really hot, it had trouble adjusting the voltage output from one of its adjustable voltage regulators and threw the Self Cal message. Extreme cold can also throw Self Cal messages too on some of Belscort's RDs. Four Self Cal messages in a row due to extreme heat or extreme cold can then throw a Service Required message, but these messages can be ignored if the RD functions just fine when operated at more normal temperatures.

[focalcivic]

In Dodge's case the Self Cal messages were merely due to the heat since there is a limited range through which the voltages for the local oscillators can be automatically adjusted. When the detector got really hot, it had trouble adjusting the voltage output from one of its adjustable voltage regulators and threw the Self Cal message. Extreme cold can also throw Self Cal messages too on some of Belscort's RDs. Four Self Cal messages in a row due to extreme heat or extreme cold can then throw a Service Required message, but these messages can be ignored if the RD functions just fine when operated at more normal temperatures.

I never had these messages come up, do they only come up when first turning on the unit or can randomly come on during operation? Also, I have an 995 S7, I assume this platform has the calb messages too?

[MEM-TEK]

I never had these messages come up, do they only come up when first turning on the unit or can randomly come on during operation? Also, I have an 995 S7, I assume this platform has the calb messages too?

These messages can show up anytime. Belscort RDs perform an initial self-calibration upon power up and then roughly every 10 minutes or so thereafter while in operation. The periodic self-calibration procedures allow the RD to automatically compensate for calibration drift due to ambient temperature changes and changes in the temperature of the electronics as they warm up after being powered on.

Yes, all of the older S7 platforms as well as Belscort RDs produced during the last several years perform automatic self-calibration procedures and can display error messages.

[ActiveKAjam]

Thanks for all the help everyone! This cleared alot of confusion for me.

[jdong]

Just to clarify, this should be regarded as a feature, not a bug, of the detector. It's a GOOD thing it checks itself and reliably notifies the user if anything is wrong.