STi Driver on 401 Ontario only X-band? what gives?

Greetings,

I'm totally new to RDs and have recently got a Bel STi Driver.
Yesterday was my 1st trip 'w the STi, drove from Essex county to Kitchener/Waterloo area 'w the STi on.

I'm not 100% if I had the detector installed quite right (it was pointed down the road but at an angle leaning to the left, my windshield is curved and I can't mount the thing flat and level unless I put it in the center of the windshield, and thats just not an option)

Now, my Q's is this, I used the AutoScan mode in town and Hwy mode on the 401, and the only warnings I got were all X-band. In town a railway crossing seemed to set off a warning (went through it both ways and both times the STi warned of x-band)

On the 401 I got several, about 6 or 7 strong X-Band signals, and only once or twice did I see police cruisers driving the opposite way.

Now, after reading a bit of info on here, I see that in Ontario and on the 401 the K-band or Ka-bands are used and there is almost no x-band out there?

I had no K, or Ka band warnings at all.
So what was I detecting out there? I had some very strong signals, started off weak and gradually went to full strength then tapered off....

Even when driving through the evil Chatham Kent area (thats crawling with OPP) the STi only bleeped x-band a few times.

Is there something wrong with my detector?
Or is it possible that on a single 3hr drive I simply did not run into any K or Ka band radar? (no laser warnings either)

I was not speeding really, and the weather conditions were less than ideal, but I did see some ppl pulled over so I know the cops were still out there nailing ppl.

Is there a sure fire way to test the STi? (it seems to work fine, passes its internal calibration tests etc)

If I can find one of those trailer radar signs (the ones that tell you your speed) what band do those usually use?

Any insights or thoughts?

Read the Father to Son Post on the Sti.

You were proabably picking up x band automatic door openers and falsing from microwave towers. If you're new to Rds you'll be surprised most cop cars arent operating radar when you see them. Dont worry the Sti will speak up when you need it.

Radar reception won't be affected by your install but laser will be compromised.

Auto speed signs are usually k in Ont

Welcome to the board and the Sti fraternity :D

Thanks Spankyaf,

You're exactly the guy I was hoping to talk to :P
I read that STi Father Son post, thats where I found that K & Ka bands were used in ontario and was surprised that my STi did not mention anything.

To be perfectly honest I got the STi just out of curiosity. I don't speed much if at all and I have had no tickets, ever. I am hoping the STi will simply increase my situational awareness, maybe teach me how the radar stuff works, and I can use it on US trips.

Good.... no judgements on speeding from this forum. :D

A word of caution though both Takk and now ATS666 have expressed concerns about the lack of K band reception. ATS666 appears to have a problem with the Sti losing K receptivity as the unit heats up over a long ride.

If you live in southern Ontario you should be coming into contact with K band falses around shopping centres the LCBO and the Beer Store are two that I tend to come across. If you're not getting any of these alerts as you drive around perhaps some checking would be in order.

If you're around the GTA we can sort something out if you're still concerned.

Don't worry too much Loxos. You were just getting a garbage band splash. Enjoy your brilliant STi too :wink:
RR

401 is an interesting route.

ive had trips of 500km and had no radar or laser at all.
and ive had trips with a handful of confirmed radar and laser.

the opp that patrol the 401 are mainly using laser and k band.
however, the opp are known to own x and ka as well, although Ive never had confirmed hits of either from the them.

driving the 401 you will get a lot of x-band alerts, from door openners, cell towers, all kinds of stuff. there is even a barn that i drive by regularly that always sets off x. id say that 99.9% of x alerts on the 401 are not police, but you really never do know for certain, so i keep it on.

also remember, laser is used very commonly on the 401, and the sti wont really save you from it...

Regarding X band in Ontario. Southern part of Ontario, to my knowledge has no x band. Northern Ontario does still use X band and this has been confirmed by some on here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spankyaf

Good.... no judgements on speeding from this forum. :D

A word of caution though both Takk and now ATS666 have expressed concerns about the lack of K band reception. ATS666 appears to have a problem with the Sti losing K receptivity as the unit heats up over a long ride.

If you live in southern Ontario you should be coming into contact with K band falses around shopping centres the LCBO and the Beer Store are two that I tend to come across. If you're not getting any of these alerts as you drive around perhaps some checking would be in order.

If you're around the GTA we can sort something out if you're still concerned.

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I was kinda laughing when I read your post because I was just going to ask some questions about X-band too... after three weeks of only a handful of k-band alerts with not much warning and not a single alert of any other kind, I had a different experience today.

Got into my car this morning, and immediately after booting up, while still in my driveway, my RD starts giving me an X-band alert (I'm in NS where it is quite possible that some LEOs are still using X-band). I live in a small town (1000 people) with nothing but farms and a few houses around me. My house is on a bit of a hill and I can see the highway in the distance, so I was wondering if the X-band was coming from a LEO there.

When I got to the bottom of my driveway, the alert stopped... but just temporarily. All the way to my destination in the next town (20 min away along country roads and a stretch of highway, then the "main drag" of the next small town), the X-band alert kept going off, subsiding, going off again... no LEOs in sight. No automatic doors, nothing. Perhaps microwave towers but I've had the RD for three weeks, travel this route several times a day, and this is the first time I've ever got an X-band alert!

Then, after several min driving through the next town, I notice a LEO (RCMP cruiser) several cars ahead -- I have no idea how long he'd been in front of me. The X-band alert is still going off intermittently. I wondered if perhaps I'd been following the LEO right from the beginning, and he was using instant-on X-band, if there is such a thing. Is there? I was also wondering if X-band waves have a much broader spread than K-band? Could I have been picking up X-band from a LEO on the highway a couple of kms away through trees as I was travelling along the edge of my town towards the highway? If so, my STi has amazing X-band sensitivity!

In response to Spanky's feedback about the angle of my RD, I repositioned it a few days ago so that it's now pointing straight ahead instead of at a 45-ish degree angle towards the road (it's on my visor). I also positioned it so more than half of the RD is sticking out of the visor pocket it's in -- I did this because, as Spanky said, I noticed it was getting quite hot sometimes. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it, but since then, in addition to the X-band today, I've had two K-band alerts with lots of warning before I saw the LEOs (constant on both times). After 3 weeks of wondering if my STi was perhaps defective, these alerts are such a relief!

Another thing I did was to turn POP on. I seem to remember reading somewhere on here that turning POP on lowers sensitivity to some other types of radar (I may be totally wrong about reading that though!) but I was curious so I decided to turn it on just to experiment (I figured my sensitivity couldn't get any worse so nothing to lose! I doubt they have POP around here, but you never know!).

Incidentally, I drove the same route again today (in reverse) a few hours after all the X-band alerts, and made another round trip this evening along the same route and not a single alert, x-band or otherwise.

Thoughts?

Sounds like a bona fide x band alert to me coming in and out because of the terrain.

I think there are IO X band units in the States.... is NJ a crazy x band state? But I dont think we use them up here and new gear would tend to be Ka.

As you approached the RCMP cruiser if it was the source you should have a noticed a ramp up in signal strength and no fading. The Instant On is done when the Leo is manually triggering it to monitor traffic so just sitting there parked that wouldnt be it.

Glad to hear its working.

STi Update,

I went out for a cruise the other day 'w my STi on.

A little while into my drive, the K band went on, strong signal.
Spotted a set of parked OPP cruisers (hiding behind an overpass)
They were definitely doing radar, and just for fun I went by a few times :P
I got the warning from about 1/2-1 mile away, but they were definitely using instant on radar, the signal was strong, then gone for a second, then back again (even stronger)

I went on to drive around for a little while (got a x-band warning in front of a Price Chopper)

A little while later, I got the dreaded "Service Required" message!
daaaaamn it.......

The message kept on cycling, so I turned the unit off, then on...
Did it again about 10 mins later, cycled the power again... came back...
it stayed on for about 5 mins, then got the message again....

I reset the unit via software reset and it was ok afterwards, no probs.

It makes me wonder if I should return the unit and get another one?
Has anyone else had a intermittent prob with their STi getting that "Service Required" message?

I thought if the RD died, thats just it, its gone.

How long do these units usually last?

It needs to go back and the problem will most likely only get worse. I cant remember if its brand spanking new but I'd approach Roy for a replacment if so.

RDs work in a pretty hostile environment but they should last for years although they do get sent back for service work.

I talked with Beltronics customer rep, and he said that he thinks that my antennas are failing the self calibration test and to send the unit in. They also mentioned that they will upgrade the unit for me, I'm assuming they mean the firmware (it has the older firmware on it right now)

I'll be sending the STi out today, hopefully to get it back soon.
The work is being done under warranty so I'm happy (it made my day actually)

I'm also considering buying a cheapy radar gun to test this thing later :P

Loxos

Loxos, do you have the A3M8 revision? If I were you, I would want the A4M9 revision. It is supposed to be better on the STi. Good luck and let us know how you come out.

Yeep, I have the older A3M8 version,
The STi went out today, hopefully they will fix the prob and upgrade the firmware. The rep said that it sounds like my antenna are failing the self calibration tests.

I read another post on here where the guy had his antenna repaired and got the new firmware and was happy with the fix. Hoping for the same.

Now its the waiting game, hopefully it will come back quickly

Loxos

Loxos, Bel will perform a computer test in letting the computer check out you STi. But make sure they perform a manual test because during the manual test, some things get noticed that don't get noticed during the computerized test. 1-800-341-2288

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Loxos

I talked with Beltronics customer rep, and he said that he thinks that my antennas are failing the self calibration test and to send the unit in. They also mentioned that they will upgrade the unit for me, I'm assuming they mean the firmware (it has the older firmware on it right now)

I'll be sending the STi out today, hopefully to get it back soon.
The work is being done under warranty so I'm happy (it made my day actually)

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Being in Ontario, I'm curious where are you sending the unit to get it repaired? U.S. or Mississauga plant?

Other posts have indicated that BEL will not accept Ontario based shipment nor would they ship to an Ontario address.......

It goes to the States.... Bel wont ship a new product to you but they will send yours back from warranty...

Its going to Ohio, the addy thats indicated on their web site.
They will ship the unit back to Ontario under warranty. I asked them if its a problem shipping it back, they said no, they just label it as a warranty return and call it a "Microwave Reciever" which sounds oh so much better than Radar detector.....

And it is a microwave reciever really, so there is no prob labelling it that way. I"m sure its a bonus that nowhere on the unit itself does it say that its a Radar Detector either, just STi and Magnesium :P

I also marked the shipment as microwave reciever going out for repairs/warranty work when I shipped it out.

I will talk to Beltronics when I see that the unit has been delivered, I'll mention to them to do the manual test. Hopefully they will get it running well, I hope to get many years of service from it. Its not a cheap unit, and I'll really be dissapointed if I don't get my $$'s worth out of it.

I'll keep you guys posted.

Loxos

Well I got my STi back.
According to the card, they "repaired" the antenna (assuming replaced it) tuned and calibrated the unit. I'm not sure if they upgraded the firmware (I just got it back, have not powered it on yet)

For some reason, I also got a new smart power cord with it, 2 sets of suction cups and a metal quick mount, nice extra's I'm not complaining :D

Turn around time is pretty darn good, especially with cross border shipping. Had a small brokerage fee on the way back, but no duty or taxes, and it did make it back so I'm happy.

I did send the unit bare with no accessories as the Beltronics guy suggested.
I also did send a nice letter with it, stating what the problem was and asking the service person to repair it at their convenience :P all the prudent data was on the letter including the serial #, service # etc... figured it would make things easier for em.

I will test the unit as soon as I get a chance, hopefully it works ok.

Loxos

Greetings Ladies and Gents,

Just got back from a nice drive 'w the STi on.
I do have the new firmware on there A4M9 or whatnot.

I must say that the STi seems a LOT more sensitive now. I got the usual xband falses albeit a lot more of em (near stores etc) and a few K band falses as well (never got a k-band false b4, or none that I remember getting anyway)

I also got a K hit in the middle of nowhere, and about 35-45s later a PC went by going the other way. In a hilly area I consider that pretty darn good warning :P

I did almost chit my pants once, a PC pulled up right along side me I was worried that he'd spot the STi, but he did not.

I have the STi fairly low on the dash all the way over by the drivers side (right next to the a-pillar) I have looked from outside and its all but invisible. The only thing that you can see is the suction cups on the windshield.... two litlte white circles.... maybe I'll use a black marker on em or something.

I have also thought about putting the STi on the visor, mounted up side down and maybe draw power from my Rear View Mirror.
Does the RD loose any sensitivity if its mounted high like that?
I do have that tinted strip at the top and I've read that laser reception can be reduced because of it.

At any rate, I am very happy with the STi, its new sensitive nature, and Beltronic's Excellent service Dept. (altho I do wish I did not have to return it in the 1st place, however these units are new so maybe there are some bugs to be worked out) I hope to get a lot of life out of this thing before it needs to be sent back.

Loxos