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No one is perfect. This applies not just to humans but even to an object like a radar detector. Radar detectors are used to protect drivers from receiving speeding tickets to be aware of police radar waves so that drivers can slow down within the speed limit required.
Police used radar waves with radar guns to measure the travel speed of your vehicle. There are pros and cons of using radar detectors, and one problem of this detector is when false alerts occur. In this article, you will learn what false alerts, their types, kinds of radar bands are,
What are False Alerts?
False alerts, also known as signal interference, are undesirable phenomena caused by a radar detector coming from different signals and not from a police radar. There are two types of false alerts: moving false alerts and stationary false alerts. These are the number one reason that most people are frustrated with buying low-end radar detectors.
Two Types of False Alerts
Moving False Alerts
These are false alerts coming from moving vehicle safety : that are advanced, such as radar cruise control, auto-pilot, blind-spot monitoring systems, adaptive cruise control, and emergency collision avoidance systems.
Many typed vehicles have these standard systems because of the manufacturers’ innovation and new cars technology advancement. It is challenging to detect moving false alerts because their signal strengths will change constantly based on car distance and traffic conditions, offending cars, and other factors.
The worst scenario is that moving false alerts is like law enforcement following you and bringing his radar gun. For more information read: Radar Detector Alerts Meanings
Stationary False Alerts
These are false alerts coming from non-moving locations, typical for the store’s automatic door openers. These false alerts are generally detected with a stable, strong, and continuous radar alert.
These radar signatures are irritating to some people who live near stationary false alert areas or those who drive on a regular commute wherein they can pass by on these areas.
A widespread type of these alerts is from orange construction signs with digital messages displayed on them. They usually emit on KA and K band even if you cannot see a radar gun. Another type of stationary false alert comes from installed traffic speed sensor systems used to monitor traffic congestion. These are short-duration false alerts but have high-intensity radar bursts.
Radar Bands
A radar detector uses radio waves which is a form of electromagnetic radiation, to detect distant objects. The waves of the distant objects will bounce off, returning to the detector. There are different radar bands in the radio waves used by the police radar gun, which are used to detect these specific bands. A radar detector must be turned on.
There will be a beep alert when a detector detects a particular band, and it will alert you with messages K band, X band, or Ka bands. They are like different FM radio stations having different frequencies. In short, a radar detector is looking for those frequencies utilized by the police radar. So when your detectors start to have a beep alert with one of the radar bands, it detects radar waves, and you need to identify the threat and start slowing down visually.
X Band
X band is the oldest police radar band and is not widely used, but in some rural areas, they are still using this type of radar band, especially if they do not have enough funds to upgrade for the newer bands. X band radars are radar waves that have 8.0 GHz to 12 GHz.
This band is suitable for radar detectors as this can detect frequencies at a longer distance and is less affected even if the weather condition is not good.
However, radar guns need to have a larger antenna, bulky and frustrating to use. X band can also detect false alerts, but it is rare compared to using a K band. Having an X Band alert means it is certainly not valid if you are driving in a city, but it can be a false alert or a police radar in a rural area, so better watch out.
What Causes K Band Alerts on a Radar Detector?
Most police radar guns are operating at 24.125 GHz and 24.15 GHz. K bands are radar waves that have 18 GHz to 27 GHz. K Bands were being used by the police a couple of decades ago because of ITS HIGH PERFORMANCE AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO X BAND RADAR, which was the first radar band being used.
The disadvantage with using a K band is that it detects a lot of false alerts. K BAND IS ALSO USED FOR ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS, COMMUNICATION IN SATELLITES AND RADARS. The frequency range in K Band radar has a high resolution, provides short-range and high throughput.
THE CAUSES OF K BAND FALSE ALERTS ON A RADAR DETECTOR ARE SIGNALS AND FREQUENCIES DETECTED FROM AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENERS OR IN BLIND-SPOT MONITORING SYSTEMS FOUND ON SOME VEHICLES.
The other cons of using K band radar is that it is harder for this band to detect at a long-distance than X Band. That is why radar detector drivers have lesser time to react because of this reason. K BAND ALERT ON A POLICE RADAR MEANS YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN, BUT IT CAN BE A FALSE ALERT. for information read this post: Police Radar Bands Used by State.
KA Bands
These are radar waves that have a frequency of 33.4 GHz to 36.0 GHz. These are the new upgrades of radar bands, best radar, and the most updated band frequencies police operate on.
Only the best radar detectors can detect Ka-Band as it is the most challenging frequency to detect. Ka-band was introduced in 1983, and it is the most significant and latest law enforcement radar being used.
Are Ka-Band Detectors Illegal?
KA BAND DETECTORS ARE NOT ILLEGAL BECAUSE ALL RADARS USED BY THE POLICE, INCLUDING THE KA-BAND, ARE ALL REGULATED BY THE FCC.
It is more complex than the X and K band, as KA band guns can operate on as many as five frequencies. With this kind of band, detecting frequencies at a long distance is the most difficult because it has low power output and a narrow beam pattern. That is why some drivers purchase a detector with a class-leading range to address that concern. So if there is a Ka-Band alert, you must slow down as soon as you can.
What is False Alert Filtering?
False alert filtering is a filtering feature that is most advanced in radar detectors. One of the best solutions in filtering false alerts is by having GPS-enabled radar detectors. These GPS radar detectors have two features which are speed-based muting and lockouts. With this GPS feature, you can create an alert-free zone by ignoring areas with many false alarms.
GPS also has a unique feature that will filter false alerts based on the vehicle’s travel speed. If you are traveling under 30 mph, you have the option to select a low-speed setting of 30 mph, and the detector will automatically filter K and X radar bands since the two have higher chances of having false alerts. You can also set it to a high speed of 60 mph if you want.
The radar detector will change alert filtering when you travel between 30 to 60 mph. If over 60 mph, the detector will change at a maximum sensitivity as high travel speeds. Another way to filter false alert radar signals is by having accurate signal analysis from high-end radar detectors. The difference between a cheap radar detector and a new and premium one is how they analyze and filter detected radar signals.
Top and premium radar detectors have special features that will detect which radar is genuine and from law enforcement and which signal is not so that this will not give any false alerts. So, choose and use the right and modern radar detector, have the correct detector setting, and regularly update your detector for you not to be worried about false alerts.
What is a True Alert? How to Stop Them.
TRUE RADAR DETECTOR ALERT happens when there is a police radar gun that is active on the road. This will urgently remind drivers to slow down to avoid having violations. To stop them, immediately slow down and drive at a minimum speed limit. The best thing to avoid true radar alerts is to avoid overspeeding and drive slowly if possible.
Driving too fast can cause road accidents, so better to drive slowly. You need to follow the minimum speed limit being imposed but if you are in a hurry and there is a radar detector installed in your car, understand what the alerts mean to avoid false alerts like K BAND RADAR FALSE ALARMS. Then do immediate action to avoid paying speeding tickets. It is better to be safe always by following those road rules than being sorry and paying for its consequences. Nevertheless, there is nothing to worry about because the suitable premium radar detector will help you.
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