tjbartjr

I always leave mine on Highway mode, just because I'd rather be the one deciding which signals are really radar and which are false, especially since a lot of the cops around here, both state and local, use K or even X bands, which is what a lot of false signals show as. I love my detector though, its the Escort Passport 8500X50, and that sucker has saved my butt on numerous occasions.

Spect2K3

Awesome, thats a good unit! If your X, or more importantly K band radar doesn't go off until it reaches a high level in city mode, i'd definitely leave it in highway mode too.

It would be nice if highway mode was somehow able to detect farther than the city mode, but as we said, thats unrealistic

terra_tC

well luckily radar waves tend to echo (or bounce) off of objects, which in some cases puts a little more distance from you and the source. Im mostly using highway mode, being that it can pick up the slightest sensitivities and its saved me quite a bit, especially when coming over hills.
I suppose you could assume that the highway mode does detect further...being in that highways are usually long open distances with less interference of other objects...but like stated before the city mode "ignores" signals to a certain degree.

groundcontrol

^ Exactly, and the brand/model of the radar is what distinguishes to what degree the radar ignores.

Spect2K3

My cobra alerts me to weak signals even when in city mode just once and then quiets until it becomes stronger. What you're saying is that highway mode detects more suddle signals that city wont alert to? That is contradictory to what is being said on the 1st page, so do you know that to be true?

scionofPCFL

City mode filters out weaker signals, like from motion detectors from automatic doors and alarm systems.

HWY mode goes off with any disturbance from any microwave frequency within the defined wavelengths. Any.

Anybody have any experience with the Valentine One? It's been Car and Driver's favorite for about 15 years now. It picks up signals from the side, rear, and front, tells you what direction it's comming from, and even tells you number of sources.

Spect2K3

Your detector must be different, b/c what i'm saying is that city mode doesnt filter out weaker signals on my cobra device, but instead quiets it after one alert (until it reaches a stronger signal). It will alert me to an x-band signal at a 1 out of 5 strength, but not keep beeping until 3.

What i'm trying to find out which there doesn't seem to be a clear answer for, is whether or not having it on highway mode will alert me to a signal FURTHER AWAY than city mode will alert me to, b/c like I said, city mode alerts me to a weak signal just like highway mode will, but not keep alerting me like highway mode will until it becomes a stronger alert

Here is the online manual for my detector, check out page 6:

http://www.cobra.com/pdf/RADAR/XRS9330_MANL.pdf

So will highway mode actually help me?

Spect2K3

I found the following quote on this website:
http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=1064

"We used three radars: a K-15 X-band unit from MPH Industries, the best-selling model ever; a K-band Kustom Signals HR-12 and a Kustom Signals Talon Ka-band unit. In both series of tests each detector was tested twice on X band: once in city mode (where a poorly-designed detector cuts in a filter to lower sensitivity and reduce urban false alarms but also gives up some detection range) and again in unfiltered highway mode for maximum range. We checked only X band in city mode, knowing that sensitivity on K and Ka bands remains unaffected. (Car & Driver magazine has tested K and Ka bands in city mode for the past decade, always reporting dramatically different scores than in highway mode, a continuing mystery.)"

Also, the discussion on this board:
http://www.radardetector.net/viewtop...db0076889d47dd

400lbGorilla

RadarBusters.com Another informative site; check out the road warrior guide

djct_watt

Get a high end Beltronics (995 or higher, as they are VERY similar to the Passports and are the same company), a Passport, or a Valentine.

My Bel 995 has given me ZERO false alerts, and has been a much better investment than my old Cobra. X band is turned off, as is K band (CHP only use Ka).

If a cop is using X band radar, odds are that his 1960's squad car isn't going to be able to catch you.

Spect2K3

Is X-band really that rare? It is obviously where most of the false alerts come in, disabling it isn't leaving you vulnerable?

I thought K-band can sometimes be cops though, although there are some false alerts there, isn't that risky?


I agree that the beltronics and some others are great, but the price is much too high for me. I might upgrade to a whistler that radar roy rates highly on radarbusters.com

djct_watt

It depends entirely on your local and state police setup. The California Highway Patrol only uses Ka, pacing, VASCAR, and LIDAR.

Other states have different set ups. X, K, Ka, and Ku refer to frequency bands (just like wireless A, B, and G). X band has a lot of interference as everything and it's stone age version emits some sort of X band radiation and/or signal. K band is also very congested, as garage door openers, speed sensing traffic radar, and other equipment also rides on that band.

Ka (as of now) is the most accurate and reliable radar band in use in the USA. (Ku used by europe is superior to Ka for enforcement). For that reason, the majority of law enforcement uses Ka. I know that CHP run Ka only. . . Some local police departments may run K band, although it is very rare. Local PD never patrols the highways I travel on, and when I'm in unknown territory, I'm very careful. Radar detecting is not foolproof, and you are still vulnerable to laser, pacing, and vascar. I've never seen X band use in CA, and it is such an ancient technology it is highly unlikely that it will be in use. Some really backwards states still employ X band, but I think it is only limited to 1 or 2 states. There are a few online sources you can check.

The ability to disability radar bands greatly reduces false alerts and increases the effectiveness of your detector as when it beeps, there is a significantly higher chance it is a real alert. I know for my equipment, I've never had a false alert (except for Laser falses when in close proximity to airport towers).