New to RadarDetector.net

[Whistler1]

Just a note to everyone,

I am new to RadarDetector.net, I live in Washington State. I currently have 3 radar detectors: Bel RX65, Whistler Pro58 and Pro78. In my area I have several of the K band your speed signs. When I get a chance, I will have to do a comparision between the RX65 and Pro78. I gave my old detector a Whistler 1734 to a friend of my son, who has used it quite a bit and had several saves because of it.

Just a question that someone might be able to answer, on one of the K band your speed signs gives me an occasional X band indication on the Pro78, most of the time, it will give K band. My RX65 will give consistent K band indications. Any ideas why this might occur?

[stray444]

Welcome to the board....

where abouts in Washington state??///???

[pronacyk]

Regarding the K-X band confusion, this is what Michael B (Whistler Engineer) had to say:

"On the 78, the X and K are on the same sweep but they are on the same harmonic therefore the spacing is the same. To identify X vs. K we shift the LO and look to see if the shift goes left or right.

Improper band ID can occur if there is another signal in the area that will confuse the shift.

On the 78, Ka is on its own sweep and will not be confused with X or K."

This is not an uncommon problem as many users on this forum has experienced this phenomenon. I've experienced it in situations where a speed sign is forward facing or in extreme (near perpendicular) off-axis LEO encounters. In almost all of these situations, I am positive that there was 1 and only 1 radar source emitting K-band. Thus, it could be due the fact that the reflected waves are slightly shifted in frequency (and would thus correlate with Mike B's explanation).

This problem is mostly unheard of in the Beltronics & Escort and Valentine forums. Thus, I'm hoping that the great engineers at Whistler would further improve this detector and make the band identification algorithm more robust and accurate.

[dmo1028]

Welcome Whistler1! Jump in and welcome to information overload!! Lots of info here to read for sure!

I have also experienced the K/X band confusion on my 78. Not sure why it does this, but it appears to be a very random event for me. Mostly happens on Speed signs and grocery store doors...actually on a LEO once.

It doesn't really concern me because I have heard the the Ka sweep on the 78 is seperate from the X and K, so Ka will not get confused in the mix.

Since I am in NC where X-band is still used quite a bit, whether the 78 alerts to X or K, I am slowing down!!! Now if I lived where X-band isn't used, it may bother me more because a X-band alert could potentially be ignored when it is really K-band.

Now, I haven't tested this band confusion with City2 which disables X-band, so I'm not sure if the 78 would report K-band correctly if it didn't have to make the X or K decision. Maybe Michael B can chime in on that.

Other than that small issue for me, the Pro 78 has worked well for me and paid itself off long ago!! :wink:

Good luck-

[dmo1028]

pronacyk well said! :wink: You got yours in while I was typing-

[Stealthcb]

Actually, I've heard X50 owners say this has happened to them, as well, though not as often.

It's only happened to me using the 78 when I have X off. Then it will sometimes ID an X signal as K. When I have all bands on, I don't notice it happening.

[Whistler1]

Tsax444,

I live in the Seattle area, I am surprised you are with the Bellingham PD.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has responded. I ended up playing with the settings on my Pro78, I am currently running Filter2, Pop off and voice mode off. I get very few false positives now. I made comparisions to the routes I had taken to work and to run errands using the old Whistler 1734, Bel Rx65 and used these as references on how to set the filters. The Whistler 1734 would give you every X, K and KA device out there, the Bel RX65 dsp does a good job filtering out the false positives.

Thanks again for the responses.

Whsitler1

[stray444]

Tsax444,

I live in the Seattle area, I am surprised you are with the Bellingham PD.

By the way, thanks to everyone who has responded. I ended up playing with the settings on my Pro78, I am currently running Filter2, Pop off and voice mode off. I get very few false positives now. I made comparisions to the routes I had taken to work and to run errands using the old Whistler 1734, Bel Rx65 and used these as references on how to set the filters. The Whistler 1734 would give you every X, K and KA device out there, the Bel RX65 dsp does a good job filtering out the false positives.

Thanks again for the responses.

Whsitler1

seattle not far away.... Im not with the BPD, just put it as my avatar....