Erratic Direction Locator

**Stanae86** · 09-06-2006, 01:09 PM

I have my V1 mounted to the rear window of my Porsche. It's mounted partway into the third brake light to try and hide it a little. There's a notch-out cut in the reflector inside the brake light so I can still pick up rear radar, but no laser since the sensor is blocked:

Yesterday I passed by a radar trailer on K band. I turned around and ran past it a few more times to see how the mounting location worked out. It had no problem pick up the signal, but as I approached the trailer, the bogey locator would go from a front hit to a side hit and fluctuate back and forth as I got closer to the trailer. The signal strength was always strong, going up to 3/4 to full as I got closer.

My question is, why is the direction locator confused? Is it the mounting location in the car? I tried calling V1 and the rep was trying to explain how the trailer uses a constant flashing radar wave (so that your speed is continually updated on the display) and that the K band it uses is on the edge of the frequency, which makes it wide and it can bounce off cars, signs and objects as you approach, but his explanation was mostly over my head. Anyone around here speak English?

As a last thing, how does the V1 know something is a side hit when there isn't a side sensor on the housing?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide. Newbie to the radar world here...

**Ace_Racer** · 09-06-2006, 01:21 PM

Stanae86,

As far as the "arrows" go when the (as your case) K band signal is between the front and rear antenneas it is considered as being on the side hence the side arrows. So when the signal can be detected with both antennas then it is considered to be on the side. Then when only the front ant. is able to detect it hence the front arrow. I hope that I didn't confuse you any more than you already are.

If anyone else can contribute information then please do, but I am hoping I answered your question as to why it changes

Sincerely,

Ace_Racer

**Stanae86** · 09-06-2006, 02:52 PM

Any idea as to why the radar trailer was causing the V1 to think there were both front and side hits, when clearly, it was a front?

Thanks...and that explanation cleared it up for me. Thanks.

**Holla** · 09-06-2006, 03:38 PM

because the radar waves are bouncing all around in your car when you are that close

**Ace_Racer** · 09-06-2006, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by Stanae86

Any idea as to why the radar trailer was causing the V1 to think there were both front and side hits, when clearly, it was a front?

Thanks...and that explanation cleared it up for me. Thanks.

Like Holla said the waves are being reflected all around causing the V1 to think the Kband is coming from different directions basically.

Ace_Racer

**Stanae86** · 09-18-2006, 09:06 AM

Just noticed, I forgot to post a Thank You for everyone's input. That explains it. If the trailer comes back, I'll try going further away and driving up towards it and seeing whether it's more clear at that point.

Thanks for everyone's input!

**DogGod** · 09-18-2006, 09:19 AM

Thats a pretty slick install.

**alpinestars_2002795** · 09-18-2006, 10:22 AM

The way that the valentine one tells if the radar is to the fornt, or the side is by triangulation between the two antenna's. So yes it works the way that the other user stated. This is how valentine reasearch would explain it to you. You get a hit in the front antenna, using the two antenna's as reference points. Then you can plug them into an algerbraic equation giving you c, which would be the location of the radar source. Basicly A-B=C, C being the position from 360 degrees to the target.

AlPiNe~

**carbonhed** · 09-18-2006, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by alpinestars_2002795

The way that the valentine one tells if the radar is to the fornt, or the side is by triangulation between the two antenna's. So yes it works the way that the other user stated. This is how valentine reasearch would explain it to you. You get a hit in the front antenna, using the two antenna's as reference points. Then you can plug them into an algerbraic equation giving you c, which would be the location of the radar source. Basicly A-B=C, C being the position from 360 degrees to the target.

AlPiNe~

How can you triangulate something when the horns are side by side and don't provide directional information?

All the Valentine has to do is compare the signal strength between the two horns.

If the front horn has the stronger signal - the arrow points forward.

If the rear horn has the stronger signal - the arrow points backwards.

If both horns have signals of similar strength - the arrow points sideways.

**Bear-Tweezy** · 09-18-2006, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by carbonhed

Originally Posted by alpinestars_2002795

The way that the valentine one tells if the radar is to the fornt, or the side is by triangulation between the two antenna's. So yes it works the way that the other user stated. This is how valentine reasearch would explain it to you. You get a hit in the front antenna, using the two antenna's as reference points. Then you can plug them into an algerbraic equation giving you c, which would be the location of the radar source. Basicly A-B=C, C being the position from 360 degrees to the target.

AlPiNe~

How can you triangulate something when the horns are side by side and don't provide directional information?

All the Valentine has to do is compare the signal strength between the two horns.

If the front horn has the stronger signal - the arrow points forward.

If the rear horn has the stronger signal - the arrow points backwards.

If both horns have signals of similar strength - the arrow points sideways.

Sounds quite simple to me :wink: