Intermediate

The Benefits of GPS in a Radar Detectors

May 12, 2022

There are many cameras out there on the road for the purpose of monitoring our driving. There are two classifications for these cameras. Some are out there to oversee traffic conditions, while some are placed to help with issuing tickets and violations. But which is which?

What are the Main Advantages?

Using GPS in a radar detector reduces the number of false alarms. As a result, most notifications you do get will pertain to actual threats. Thanks to radar detectors integrated GPS, you can now be alerted of red-light cameras, which are sometimes missed by drivers.

Red-Light-Cameras

Even while red light cameras are still relatively uncommon in the United States, their numbers have increased in various locations throughout the states. When a person runs a red light, the camera records it, and a ticket is sent to the violator afterward. However, with radar detectors with GPS capability, you can be notified of speed cameras ahead.

Low-Speed Muting

Low-speed muting is necessary for persons who often drive faster than the legal speed limit. You may set a specific speed limit for the device and so it will turn off any false alerts below that speed limit. Thanks to this feature, false alarms are no longer a problem. The radar detector will let you know if your speed starts to rise.

GPS Lockout Feature

Numerous high-end radar detectors come equipped with a GPS lockout option that has proven to be highly handy. This function keeps track of alerts that often occur along your path to save you from hearing false alarms. It is possible to completely block a given signal if you know it is a false alert. These detectors can discern between the identical erroneous warnings and alerts that police speed guns produce.

GPS lockout is a function that is best suited to those who live or drive a lot in cities. This function is a must-have if you usually pass establishments with automated doors and other devices that emit false alarms. Because false alerts are less often in rural regions, GPS lockout is usually unnecessary.

Other Advantages of GPS in Radar Detectors

Having a built-in GPS in a radar detector provides additional advantages. The speed of your car can typically be determined using one of these features, so you will always know precisely how quickly you are traveling. At times, a compass will tell you where you’re headed at any particular moment.

With a GPS-enabled radar detector, you may even determine whether you’re driving above the speed limit in an area. Using this will help you avoid costly citations if you’re unsure about the area’s unfamiliar speed limit.

The Takeaway

Modern radar detectors contain many new helpful capabilities, but GPS is definitely above most features — ultimately providing confidence while driving and saving you from costly traffic fines.

Intermediate

Radar vs Laser (LIDAR)

December 7, 2021

By their name itself, RADAR (Radio Detection And Ranging) and LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) are both used the same way with a single significant difference. Radar and LiDAR basically work the same, with Radar operating on radio waves while LiDAR works on laser or LED light.

Almost everyone is familiar with radar guns being used by law enforcement for identifying vehicles going over the speed limit. However, over the last several years, LiDAR also known as laser speed guns was introduced and rose to popularity.

Is Radar the Best Option?

Radar guns have reigned supreme for decades when it comes to speed enforcement because they were reliable, easy to use, cheap, and accurate. The only downside was they can be detected by radar detectors from far away.

Radar guns work by emitting broad beams of radar waves covering a few hundred feet or multiple cars even if it’s only pointed in one direction. These radar waves will continue to travel and bounce off objects, cars, and terrain which are what your radar detector will pick up.

More modern radar guns are able to show the speed of the fastest car, while others can track the speed of multiple targets simultaneously.

Is Laser Better than Radar?

Just like radar guns, laser guns also emit pulses of waves but instead of radar waves, they send out light waves. However, laser guns create extremely narrow and precise pulses (think of a laser pointer) unlike the radar guns which create beams. This allows law enforcement to measure the speed of specific vehicles instantly – we’re talking half-a-second fast.

Can Radar Detectors Detect Laser?

Because laser guns produce just a narrow beam, they are incredibly hard to detect using a radar detector. Even the most modern radar detectors have a hard time doing so from a distance. If it picks up the laser beams, it’s probably too late as your speed’s probably already been measured by the police.

In order to truly detect these laser beams, you’ll have to equip yourself with a laser jammer.

Using Laser Jammers

Laser jammers, also called shifters, allow you to scramble your vehicle’s speed reading in the police’s laser gun. Laser jammers usually come with several little sensors that are put in front of your vehicles to detect laser beams to detect whether law enforcement is pointing its laser gun at you. The laser jammer will then return laser pulses that will confuse the laser gun, in turn producing an inaccurate reading.

Intermediate

Traffic vs Red Light vs Speed Cameras

December 7, 2021

Automatic Enforcement Cameras

Red Light Cameras

Red light camera is an automated ticket-issuing system that detects vehicles that enter intersections on a red light. They take multiple photos to catch the violation, showing the driver, infraction, and license plate. If you get caught on a red light camera, expect a ticket in the mail a few weeks later.

Red light cameras are fairly easy to distinguish. There will often be more than one red light camera placed in an intersection to capture multiple angles. They are bulky with a large camera box and two external flashes typically mounted on separate poles.

Speed Cameras

Speed cameras generally work on the same concept as red light cameras. They detect an infraction, capture images, and then issue the violation – but instead of red light violations, speed cameras detect speed violations.

While red light cameras are usually found in busy intersections and highly populated urban areas, speed cameras are typically placed in less populated back roads and residential areas where vehicles can actually reach high speeds.

Speed cameras have two types: fixed and mobile. Fixed speed cameras are of course easy to spot because they’re almost always placed on elevated poles on the side of the road with bulky weatherproof enclosures and external flashes (usually on a separate pole).

Mobile speed cameras, on the other hand, are a little difficult to spot since they’re not stationary. They can be mounted on a tripod inside of a vehicle and the likes. Mobile speed cameras use a unique type of radar that is very tricky for your radar detector to pick up: low-powered K-band and MRCD (or Multaradar). In fact, you’ll need a special radar detector that’s specifically designed to detect this unique type of signal.

Non-Enforcement Cameras

Traffic Sensor Cameras

These non-enforcement cameras are usually installed high on traffic signals or light poles for the purpose of monitoring traffic flow and determining traffic light timing. They are normally small, cylindrical, or dome-shaped cameras protected by weatherproof housing. What makes it totally distinguishable from red light and speed cameras is its location. Traffic sensor cameras are mounted on the same pole as the traffic signal, as opposed to the two which will always be on separate poles.

Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras

ANPR cameras are not used for ticket issuance but for tracking the location of specific vehicles. They are embedded with artificial intelligence for them to be able to automatically read license plate numbers. Like speed cameras, they can be either mobile (placed on a police car) or fixed (installed on poles).

ANPR cameras are always recording as law enforcement drives their vehicles. They are also able to pull vehicle and driver information from government databases such as parking violations and outstanding warrants. ANPR cameras use the infrared (invisible) light spectrum. for better low-light sensitivity, making it functional even at night.

Intermediate

What are Radar Bands?

December 7, 2021

Doing your research on radar detectors and stumbled upon K bands, Ka bands, and X bands? All this talk about radar detectors has left you wondering what radar bands are. But first, to understand bands, we first must know radar waves.

Generally speaking, a radar wave is a form of electromagnetic radiation in between a certain set of frequencies. Think of when you’re tuning into different radio stations using your stereo – radar basically has the same concept.

Just like a radio or stereo, police radars transmit on various frequencies or bands. X, K, and Ka bands are the names of the frequencies that police radars operate on. Think of them as your top three go-to radio stations that your radar detector is always tuned into and waiting for signal.

What is an X band?

X band falls between 8.0 GHz and 12 GHz, usually operating around 10.5 GHz. It is the oldest type and the least common. It has been mostly phased out of the country except for Ohio, New Jersey, and other rural areas in the US. Most people turn their radar detector’s X band detection off to avoid false alerts from automatic door openers, but it’s still wise to leave them on as few radar guns still operate on the X band.

What is a K band?

K bands are newer technology and are used widely in the country. They are radar waves that range from 18 GHz to 27 GHz, with most police k band radar guns operating at 24.125 GHz and 24.15 GHz. A downside of the K band is that there are a lot of false alerts that are also using it such as speed signs, automatic door openers, and many vehicles with blind-spot monitor (BSM) radar and smart cruise control. As a result, you’ll want to have a radar detector with reliable false alert filtering.

What is a KA band?

Ka band falls between 33.4 GHz and 36.0 GHz. Ka is the most modern and most common band frequency used by police officers. They have small antennas because of the high frequency, and only the best radar detectors can pick them up. Ka false alerts are also rare so beware if you detect them, and slow down immediately!

Intermediate

The Benefits of GPS in a Radar Detectors

What are the Main Advantages?

Red-Light-Cameras

Low-Speed Muting

GPS Lockout Feature

Other Advantages of GPS in Radar Detectors

The Takeaway

Radar vs Laser (LIDAR)

Is Radar the Best Option?

Is Laser Better than Radar?

Can Radar Detectors Detect Laser?

Using Laser Jammers

Traffic vs Red Light vs Speed Cameras

Automatic Enforcement Cameras

Red Light Cameras

Speed Cameras

Non-Enforcement Cameras

Traffic Sensor Cameras

Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Cameras

What are Radar Bands?

What is an X band?

What is a K band?

What is a KA band?

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