Pro78SE Issues

[cooljay]

EDIT: djrams beat me to it.

Incore: Filter 2 doesn't adversely affect range, does it? I will try it, but I just want to be sure.
djrams80: With SWS: Oh really? Cobra seems to market that feature alot. Useless feature unless every vehicle has a device with SWS reading capability. Otherwise would be useful. POP:If I may ask, how does POP mode change things? Does it make it more difficult for the detector in normal mode to pick it up? What about instant on?

POP mode off will mean it won't false as much to other "noisey" sources such as other leaky radar detectors, as with POP mode on the detector is constantly checking for a POP signal which honestly is hardly used and is useless anyways as you can't be ticketed with POP mode, and I haven't heard of anyone except maybe one or two people in NV I think it is getting real actual POP alerts. Plus it seems to enhance Ka sensitivity, oddly enough.

Yes SWS is useless. I've had it on in the past and have only ever gotten 1 actual SWS message. So turn it off, it's useless and no one uses it.

Filter 2 means that it will add an additional 200 milliseconds I believe it is (someone else can confirm this) to the scan sweep to verify the signal as legit or bogus. Doesn't change too much but can affect range some, and if a LEO is a beast with Instant On radar and can sneak them in but that's why there are different filter modes so users can change it to suit their needs and their area. Some areas have more "noise" that needs a higher filter level while some places work fine on default filter level. Just depends on where you live etc.

[cooljay]

It is almost brand new btw.

Off axis is very weak.

Manufacturing variances sometimes cause even a brand new detector to come out "broken" and needing to be sent it for a fix. Sure it's a PITA but it happens with any mass produced electronic products. I've had several things I've bought brand new not work as they were suppose to right out of the package, it happens.

[ComputernerdBD]

Alright. I am going to turn POP off next time I get in the truck (It actually INCREASES KA sensitivity???) and try Filter 1 mode to start while I am in town and move it back to Filter on the Highway. SWS is already off, so between those two the false alerts should be reduced.

Maybe mine is faulty and I am going to consider sending it in once this busy semester is over (I am a college student and I found cops in this town love to target college students. One cop pulled me over for my very dim LED lights inside the truck (hard to see from outside the truck) only after he followed me and saw my college parking pass after a turn. I was only doing 15 on a residential street with a blind uphill spot where I have had alot of close calls with oncoming traffic. His radar was off, so the Pro78SE wouldn't have helped in this case (but I saw him following me so I stayed slow anyway. The front headlights were a giveaway since they were on a Crown Vic), but still proves my point. No ticket, so no real reason to complain except for wasting 10 minutes of my time late on a Saturday night on an unsafe narrow road and gas while my engine was running powering my lights and hazard flashers so no drunk college students cause an accident. Maybe I should have filed a complaint since there was no real reason why he pulled me over? From that point on I made the parking pass removable using a lamination pouch against the wishes of the college police (I told them at the time I got the pass that I plan on tinting the windows during the semester, which is true. I take the pass off anytime I am not on campus. Less police attention also.), but they haven't ticketed me for the pass.). But what about 2012 models? Did Whistler create anything better than the Pro78SE since I got this one? I found some on Craigslist that were almost new like an XTR-695SE. Also mine is over 2.5 years old and out of warranty. Maybe time for a newer model? I can't really drive without a detector in this town or the surrounding area since it seems DWaCS (Driving While a College Student) is a traffic violation in itself and the town and college police love pulling over college students because apparently we have money but won't have the resources to fight the ticket. Only people on the road late at night are police and while sometimes they hang out at the convenience store and DUNKIN DONUTS, most of them are following people around and tailgating.

cooljay: I watched some of your interesting YouTube videos and noticed that you have many places where you mount your detectors. I mounted mine below the rearview mirror in the center, but I noticed on your signature you mounted it above. Is there an advantage except for the wiring? Maybe I should try moving my detector above the rearview mirror?

Also, I couldn't help but think and this question is for those of you in the Northeast: Could my EZ-Pass tag be contributing to false alerts or low sensitivity? Could the EZ-Pass being broadcasting a very weak signal that the detector has to tune out and cause Ka range to be sacrificed?

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

[ComputernerdBD]

I relocated the detector to the left of the rearview mirror and turned POP off. I took a drive and the detector only alerted to Ka once and just after that I saw the headlights of a car about 1/3 of a mile up the road before I made a turn at the intersection, which I am assuming was a cop. No Ka9s at all and the X and K falses stayed the same, but those I can live with.

Also, where is the best place to mount the detector for the best RADAR detection range? I am not too concerned about Laser because it isn't that common and there isn't much of a point of being warned because it is a ticket warning.

EDIT: I searched the forum and found that holding the City button when starting shows the Revision. This one is a REV C+.

[proudNMAmember]

Turn POP off on your Whistler unless you are traveling in Nevada. If you are driving in the city, turn ka max mode to normal. This should help.

[Jag42]

Go to my youtube channel Griggja82 for a ton of Whistler SE vids. It is a great unit

[Deputy]

I've been thinking about getting either a "high end" Whistler or Cobra. I also watched the YouTube tests for the Whistler PRO-78SE and they were impressive. It's hard to make a decision about either one because there is so much bias by owners of competing units.