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I just got a V1 to replace my x50 and through trial and error found out that my xm satellite radio causes a constant alert. V1 mounted high on the windshield, satellite antenna mounted on dash about 18 inches away.
Has anyone else experienced this?
thanks
Mike
Hmmm, I have a nav system in my car and the antenna for it is right next to my V1. No problems from it.
I have XM too, but the antenna is in the back window.
thats very odd as a sat radio uses signals on 2.3 GHz S, where as radar, at the low end, X band, uses 8 Ghz at the low end... possibly your XM radio head unit is poorly shielded and is leaking RF interference... what band is the V1 alerting to?
I'm getting an alert on Ka band. I put the V1 in L mode and did some playing around today and here are the results. Initally when I had the satellite antenna in the center of the dash I was getting a forward facing arrow only. I moved the antenna to the far left dash in front of the me and the forward arrow and alert quit but then the rear arrow started alerting with the same Ka alert. The satellite head unit is below the V1 about 18 inches on the front of the dash. It is reproducible that I can turn the satellite unit off and the alert stops and when I turn it on it starts again. Very frustrating as I never got this with the x50 and I hate to have to relocate the satellite as I picked this spot as the ideal spot. I'm considering sending the V1 back and trying a Belscort 9500i or STI.
is pop off?
yes. turned pop off
That's very strange, I never had that problem with XM or Sirius. :?
have you tried to reproduce your results with your old x50? if both alert, maybe you have a different source of interference, i doubt it though, give the tests you've done with the antenna... where is the v1 mounted, just out of curiosity... :?
The V1 is/was mounted directly below the r.v. mirror with the xm head unit about 18 inches directly below it. I tried moving the V1 to the left by about 4 inches and it helps some but still alerts. If I move it over any farther to the left it will be in my line of sight.
If you are absolutely certain that the antenna is the problem, I would suggest moving it onto the roof where it belongs. It isn't too tough, it will solve this problem, and I'm willing to bet you won't have as many dropouts since those antennas are designed to work on a ground plane and not stuck to a plastic surface, particularly with a big metal roof that could block signals depending on what direction you happen to be driving. If you need suggestions on how to do that I'm sure we can help you straighten it out.
On the topic of why the V1 would alert to it, I have no idea. But I did have a similar problem a couple of years ago. All of a sudden I started getting constant X-band alerts that followed me around, so I figured the V1 had melted something. The next day I talked to Mike the tech at VR who helped me confirm that it was, absolutely, an external signal. I eventually traced it to my cell phone and only while it was plugged into the charger. Weird! But it does happen.
It actually alerts to both the antenna and the head unit. When the antenna was in the center of the dash I got a forward KA alert. I moved the antenna and now it alerts with a an intermittent rear KA alert. I have tested just about everything and the one constant is; XM head unit on - alert. XM head unit off- alert stops.
Just for giggles, open the window and stick the antenna on the roof to see what happens. Signals bounce all over the place inside a car so I wouldn't trust the arrows in this kind of situation.
Brick, you hit the nail on the head. I actually called Valentine and spoke with tech support before I read your email. He said the same thing you said. Also said they had known about this situation for over a year; that the satellite antenna can cause falsing even if mounted outside but near the detector. I have it over to the driver side door on the roof and no more falsing.
thanks everyone for the input.
Mike