Scanning dot... you are now forewarned.

[Jag42]

Don't forget a ufo finder and airplane location.

[9500ier]

I do not know of a single place I drive past that EVER turns off their radar antennas. I used to work retail and when you turn off the door the radar stays on and I have never seen one with a switch to turn it off. Also, I have noticed a lot of door opers that do not use X or K band... somwhere in between I guess. I wish everyone would use those.

[Lucky225]

This seems to be the norm for Escort, as some of you may recall, when I had my SRX, the 'clips' on the rj cords had broke, so they'ed fall out of the interface sometimes. If they were unplugged during start up the unit would let you know what item wasn't working (laser front or rear, no radar antenna, etc..)

But, if the system passed on startup, and one of these things fell out during your driving, the scanning dot would still be present, and you would have no idea the unit wasn't working. There is no fail as the unit can not constantly do self-test to make sure all the components are workin while you're driving, doing so would probably mess with performance (i.e. probably takes a few seconds to do a self-test, so if it does one every so often in say 1 minute intervals, if a signal is present during one of these intervals, the unit wouldn't be able to alert until the test was complete)

[KnightHawk]

For those of you fellow Escort users out there who like myself thought that the scanning dot on your X50 (or other) was an indication of whether or not the detector was functioning properly or not, Do not give 100% faith.

Today I wen't to Wally World to get a few things and noticed on the way that my X50 did not respond to three K-band door openers that it usually does on the way there.

I knew that something was amiss. The scanning dot was functioning normally, I switched to voltage mode and it was at 13.5V so I turned off my XM radio just to be sure and returned to a store where my detector always picks up K-band. Still, no alert. Next, I cycled power to my X50 and guess what, Full K-alert.

I returned to my origional destination and did my shopping. On the way home my X50 picked up all locations normally. This is somewhat upsetting. I am glad that I don't make a habbit out of speeding and use the detector mostly for a hobby.

Another thing that I have noticed today (at least where I live) is this... Just because a store is closed does not mean that the door openers are not powered up. Heck, last winter when we had those ice storms, the local IGA lost power for three days but used a generator system to protect frozen food, they were not open and all lights were out but guess what, there door openers were still powered up!

Be aware that they may have change their sensors to a IR sensor instead of microwave sensor. That's what happened to our local walmart store. You should be glad there are less annoying alerts now at wally world.

[9500ier]

Be aware that they may have change their sensors to a IR sensor instead of microwave sensor. That's what happened to our local walmart store. You should be glad there are less annoying alerts now at wally world.

If I was a billionare, I would pay all the shop owners to change to IR in my city.

[MEM-TEK]

I do not know of a single place I drive past that EVER turns off their radar antennas. I used to work retail and when you turn off the door the radar stays on and I have never seen one with a switch to turn it off. Also, I have noticed a lot of door opers that do not use X or K band... somwhere in between I guess. I wish everyone would use those.

My Rite Aid pharmacy's K band door openers emit nothing once they are closed up after hours. Any door opener which uses a microwave antenna has to transmit on either X or K band. Door openers which do not transmit on these microwave bands are using video technology to detect when somebody walks towards the door opener.

[jdong]

I've definitely observed sonar/ultrasonic ones too, althought it appears like a more antiquated design. You can audibly hear the the sensor popping as it takes readings at 5Hz or so.

[9500ier]

On a side note: Does anyone know what tech the use in Germany to sense when your car is driving up to the light?

When driving in Germany with no other cars comming the light would always turn green for me before I ever let off the gas.

[MEM-TEK]

On a side note: Does anyone know what tech the use in Germany to sense when your car is driving up to the light?

When driving in Germany with no other cars comming the light would always turn green for me before I ever let off the gas.

I don't know, but its got my curiosity peaked. Why can't we have this in the states?

[jdong]

I don't know, but its got my curiosity peaked. Why can't we have this in the states?

Some places do have sensors like this. I've been unlucky enough to be stuck at a MALFUNCTIONING one which caused a 30 minute red light. Eventually, I bit the bullet, looked both ways and gunned the accelerator.