Michigan: KA Powered Speed Cameras?

[Thrawn]

I'm hoping the folks over at Navalert (or anyone in the know) can answer a question for me. Over the last few days I've noticed Ka hits on my 8500 while on certain sections of i-75 North and South in the southeast section of Michigan. Specifically between Detroit, Hazel Park, Highland Park, and Troy. Approximately between Davison Fwy (m-8) and i-696 (all on i-75). Its happened every day, for the last few days, and at the same spots, at various times of day. There was no police presence (from what I can discern), and ramp up in the signal is sudden and extremely fast. Are there new speed cameras being launched in Michigan (this will be first I've heard of them, down here in Southeast Michigan)? If what I'm seeing are the first signs of them, then I'll have a Navalert overnighted to me.

EDIT

I'm also curious to know what SiRF GPS chipset the Navalert uses? Non StarIII GPS receivers have an extremely hard time grabbing a signal in my car due to some manufucture added coating on the front windshield.

[navalert]

I'm hoping the folks over at Navalert (or anyone in the know) can answer a question for me. Over the last few days I've noticed Ka hits on my 8500 while on certain sections of i-75 North and South in the southeast section of Michigan. Specifically between Detroit, Hazel Park, Highland Park, and Troy. Approximately between Davison Fwy (m-8) and i-696 (all on i-75). Its happened every day, for the last few days, and at the same spots, at various times of day. There was no police presence (from what I can discern), and ramp up in the signal is sudden and extremely fast. Are there new speed cameras being launched in Michigan (this will be first I've heard of them, down here in Southeast Michigan)? If what I'm seeing are the first signs of them, then I'll have a Navalert overnighted to me.

EDIT


I'm also curious to know what SiRF GPS chipset the Navalert uses? Non StarIII GPS receivers have an extremely hard time grabbing a signal in my car due to some manufucture added coating on the front windshield.

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox declared February 14th that the use of red light cameras or speed cameras within the state is illegal. As well I have not seen any Radar based cameras in North America yet, however DC may have some, however since the device is gps based it would not matter as we don't need to be postive on the exact camera used.

Not sure what your alerts are from, please let us know when you find out.

Chris
www.navalert.com

[Thrawn]

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox declared February 14th that the use of red light cameras or speed cameras within the state is illegal. As well I have not seen any Radar based cameras in North America yet, however DC may have some, however since the device is gps based it would not matter as we don't need to be postive on the exact camera used.

Not sure what your alerts are from, please let us know when you find out.

Chris
www.navalert.com

Thank you for the response and valuable information. I'm still trying to discern the cause of the KA emissions. I'll try switching to expert mode, recording the frequency, and seeing if there are any devices known to operate on that frequency (by default). If anyone has any other recommendations, please share.

[joey_corleone]

I'm battling the same issue...specifically on 696 in the southeast michigan area as well...specifically Ka band 696 west around bermuda exit (first exit east of woodward) , also K band around woodward, and in southfield as well. My radar detector is basically useless on this stretch of highway and its the stretch I travel daily to work and home. Did anybody find anything yet? I am thinking it might have to do with this michigan DOT "intelligent traffic system" I've researched.

[Thrawn]

I'm battling the same issue...specifically on 696 in the southeast michigan area as well...specifically Ka band 696 west around bermuda exit (first exit east of woodward) , also K band around woodward, and in southfield as well. My radar detector is basically useless on this stretch of highway and its the stretch I travel daily to work and home. Did anybody find anything yet? I am thinking it might have to do with this michigan DOT "intelligent traffic system" I've researched.

Sounds like you're a step ahead of me. I'll have to look into the DOT intelligent traffic system. I had not even heard of it before now.

It's definitely annoying, especially as I normally depend on Ka not producing falses. I had dropped the issue for a while, wondering if my RD was out of tune and falsely picking up some other signal. But if you're experiencing the same thing I'll have to start looking into it again. Should be interesting.

[joey_corleone]

I'm battling the same issue...specifically on 696 in the southeast michigan area as well...specifically Ka band 696 west around bermuda exit (first exit east of woodward) , also K band around woodward, and in southfield as well. My radar detector is basically useless on this stretch of highway and its the stretch I travel daily to work and home. Did anybody find anything yet? I am thinking it might have to do with this michigan DOT "intelligent traffic system" I've researched.

Sounds like you're a step ahead of me. I'll have to look into the DOT intelligent traffic system. I had not even heard of it before now.

It's definitely annoying, especially as I normally depend on Ka not producing falses. I had dropped the issue for a while, wondering if my RD was out of tune and falsely picking up some other signal. But if you're experiencing the same thing I'll have to start looking into it again. Should be interesting.

Check this out man... http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,...489---,00.html
The Michigan Intelligent Traffic System has cameras mounted over 180+ miles of highway, and you can actually view the camera feeds from this webpage. They apparantly also have some sort of technology that can measure AVERAGE SPEED on the highways at given intersections, there is a link on there where you can in real time see the average speed on all the major roads....it also mentions something about dynamically changed electronic signs. I think this might be our issue. If you look up frequently while driving the Michigan freeways in SE Michigan you will see solar panels hooked up to camera's as well as yagi antennas

I'm not exactly sure what the K/Ka band radar is being used for but it is definitely there. The Ka band is particularly annoying, as you said because we expect to not get falses on that very often (assuming you don't have a cobra haha - I have an 8500 x50)

If anybody can tell us any information on this I would appreciate it as well

- Joey

[proudNMAmember]

Joey, next time I am down that way, I will have to check this out.

[joey_corleone]

I'm looking forward to hearing back from you on that. Travel I-696 West between Dequindre and Southfield, you will see what I mean. I know I've written this before but specifically

1) West bound right at or slightly east of the Bermuda exit (just east of woodward) you will get powerful Ka band signals with ramp up

Other places will give you K band, around 10 mile/couzens exit, around southfield

[proudNMAmember]

Sounds like the V1 will need to be used to help locate the source and then Spec mode on either my STi or X50 to show the exact frequency. Can't wait and will let you know when I am headed that way. May be soon.

[joey_corleone]

Sounds like the V1 will need to be used to help locate the source and then Spec mode on either my STi or X50 to show the exact frequency. Can't wait and will let you know when I am headed that way. May be soon.

I live in Warren very close to 696. If you are interested I would love to meet up to do this test. So far, I have read 34.715 for the Ka band. I clocked it again this morning on the way to work... Started getting the hit while westbound as usual about 1/4 to 1/2 mile east of the Bermuda exit. It peaked about .7 or .8 miles after that point, and continued in some form for about 1 full mile total (right around woodward)

But yeah, I'd love to try this with a fellow curious member! Let me know you can PM me for my number or email or whatever.

- Joey