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What is the best way to install a radar detector in a car? Decoding the K-band on the radar detector and what it is: we set up and flash the device ourselves

A good driver knows the price of safety. Needless to say, the road is full of surprises. Here, profit-hungry road inspectors, pedestrians and other road users violating traffic rules await. To protect against such problems, a car enthusiast needs only two things - and a video recorder. And here there are two options - buy the devices separately or give preference to a multifunctional device that combines the two functions mentioned above.

For many car enthusiasts, the second option looks more preferable. No wonder. Firstly, the new device takes up much less space. Secondly, setting up the device takes less time. Thirdly, you can save a lot of money.

Purpose of a DVR with a radar detector

Let's remember what task each device performs:

2. The task of the radar detector is to notify in time about the presence of special devices ahead that detect. violations (for example,). But that's not all. Modern radar detectors are capable of performing the following functions:

  • signal the use of special monitoring systems by police officers (within several kilometers);
  • warn about the presence of photo-recording devices;
  • detect the operation of automatic or manual radars.

As for “combined” devices, the developers combined the two functions described above. All that remains is to decide which DVR with radar detector is better, and which model to give preference to.

The main criterion for most car enthusiasts is price. There are three main categories here:

1. The cheapest devices. If we do not consider the most suspicious Chinese video recorders with radar detectors, then the average cost is about 5-7 thousand rubles. For this money you can buy a completely reliable and high-quality assistant, capable of performing a certain set of tasks. The disadvantage of such devices is limited functionality. For example, a built-in radar detector may not be able to see modern devices in the “arms” of traffic police inspectors, and the video recorder will have a limited viewing angle or insufficiently high video quality.

Among the most well-known and accessible devices are:

  • Arena PRO 6000 DVR. The main advantages of this radar detector are compactness, high recording quality, sensitive sensor, and affordable price. At the same time, the device copes well with identifying the main devices in the hands and vehicles of traffic police inspectors. Distinctive features of the Arena PRO 6000 DVR include the presence of a shock sensor, a good viewing angle (120 degrees), a built-in microphone, the ability to operate on battery power, a screen for viewing captured video (two inches diagonal), support for HD video and the ability to use memory cards of the size up to 32 GB;

  • Subini STR XT-5 - another one priced at about 7 thousand rubles. The advantages of this device include a powerful processor, the ability to record in Full HD format, a 2 megapixel camera, and a high-quality 2.7-inch LCD display. The developers did not forget about such options as a built-in GPS receiver, which allows you to accurately link the location of the car to a map of the area, as well as a shock sensor. On the road, the photo mode can also be useful, allowing you to use the device as a regular camera.

In this “hybrid” the radar detector also performs its functions well. The device detects complexes such as “Robot” and “Strelka” with a bang. In addition, you can independently determine the operating ranges of the radar unit, set the sensitivity of the detector (city, highway), turn on voice notification, and so on. A DVR with a radar detector Subini STR XT-5 will be effective not only in Russia, but also in the CIS countries. Its operating range is up to 1.2 km.

In principle, the devices described above are worthy of attention. If you are puzzling over which is the best DVR with radar detector, but have an amount of up to 7,000 rubles, then the choice is obvious.

2. Middle price segment. For drivers who do not want to buy cheap devices, devices from the mid-price range are perfect. Here the cost of the device ranges from 8-9 thousand rubles. The most popular DVRs with radar detectors include:

  • Vizant 730ST is a reliable device that manages to combine two important functions - a video recorder and a radar detector. The advantages of the device include a very large display (2.5 inches), convenient mounting, a reliable case and the presence of a microphone. Such an assistant is capable of detecting not only stationary cameras on the roads, but also hidden “ambushes” of traffic police representatives. In particular, the Vizant 730ST accurately records the most popular device today, Strelka ST.

The main feature of the Vizant 730ST is selectivity. The device perfectly recognizes which camera is on, and which one performs the function of a regular “scaremonger” or is simply turned off. The use of a special algorithm allows you to avoid false positives and avoid interference. An undoubted advantage of the Vizant 730ST is a large number of settings that allow you to configure each of the devices (both the DVR and the radar detector) separately.

The DVR function makes it possible to shoot high-quality video with HD resolution and an angle of 120 degrees. A 5 MP camera built into the device will allow you to take high-quality photographs, and a large display and speaker will allow you to review the captured video on the spot;


The built-in radar detector is capable of calculating any laser or radar meters - Radis, Iskra, Berkut, Cordon, Vizir, Krechet, Arena and so on. It is worth noting the quality of detection of the most popular radars - “Robot” and “Strelka”. Features include the presence of a digital signal strength meter, providing information about the distance to the radar, measuring the form of notifications about the presence of a fixing device, and so on.

It should be noted that the recorder, which shoots high-quality HD video, is equipped with a G-sensor, a built-in microphone and a 3 MP camera. A special advantage of the Cobra VRD 3000CT is the ability to shoot at an angle of 140 degrees and the presence of a fairly large 2.4-inch display.

When buying a device in this price range, you can count on full functionality for relatively little money. So if there is an amount of 7-10 thousand rubles. All you have to do is choose which DVR with radar is best for you

3. Expensive devices. Premium devices will cost from 10 thousand rubles and more. Among the most popular are:

The developer paid attention to the functions of the radar detector. A special feature of the Vizant 735 ST is its ability to detect all radars operating in the K, Ka, X bands, as well as the laser range. The device also copes well with identifying the well-known Strelka radars. If desired, you can change the sensitivity of the device and its operating ranges. When a radar appears in the radar coverage area, the device gives a corresponding signal;

  • Neoline X-COP 9500 is one of the new devices that will cost the car enthusiast about 11,000 rubles. In terms of its functions, this device is usually one of the bestsellers (and not only in Russia). The updated model of the device has a unique expansion - Super HD with a number of pixels of 2304 * 1296, high-quality optics and stable firmware. In addition, the Neoline X-COP 9500 device supports new WDR technology, has a high-quality 3-inch screen and a sensitive radar detector. By the way, the latter is capable of identifying all existing and used in the CIS complex - Mesta, Iskra, Cordon, Strelka and others. In addition, it is capable of accurately identifying zonal speed control systems, for example, the same Avtodoriya.

DVR with radar detector Neoline X-COP 9500

The peculiarity of Neoline X-COP 9500 is that the functions of the DVR with radar detector are separated by software, that is. In this case, the settings must be set for each module separately. Additional advantages include the presence of a powerful battery, a shock sensor, the ability to display images on an external screen, a built-in radar base, and so on.

Conclusion

When choosing such a device, you should focus on several aspects - your preferences in terms of functionality and the availability of the necessary amount in your wallet. If possible, it is better, of course, to buy a more expensive device. If the budget is limited, then a simple DVR with a radar detector will suffice. In general, the choice is yours.

On the roads of almost any country you can find a huge number of radars, and drivers do not always know in advance where they are. This is where a car radar detector comes in - a compact device that helps locate speed control equipment. How is it different from a radar detector, how to choose, configure or update it?

How does a car radar detector work?

It acts as a radio receiver for police radar, which measures the speed of a moving vehicle. You will know in advance that you are near a section of the road where driving speed is controlled. This not only saves money, but also improves traffic safety.

How is it different from a radar detector?

You need to understand the difference between a radar detector and an anti-radar.

A radar detector is an exclusively passive radio signal receiver. It does not affect the received signal in any way, but only analyzes it. This makes it possible to determine which monitoring equipment is being used. Most modern detectors can work with different types of radars, display information on the screen, and produce sound and voice signals. The detector can be used in Russia and many other countries of the world - it is not prohibited by law.

The radar detector has a different operating principle. It not only receives the signal, but also actively suppresses it! Having detected intense radiation of a certain frequency, the device switches to “jamming” mode, distorting the signal with special noise. Due to this, the police radar cannot track the speed of the vehicle. Comfortable? Yes, but prohibited by law - at least in Russia. The reason is that such equipment operates on frequencies that are prohibited for private individuals.
The punishment for using a radar detector can be very severe - from confiscation of the device to a fairly large fine. Therefore, such equipment is usually not sold in our country. There are almost always only passive receivers on sale, but sellers sometimes mistakenly call them “radar detectors.”

How to choose a radar detector

Attention! Before making a choice, you need to find out two things:

  • Does your car have a thermal windshield? Athermal glass is coated with silver oxide, causing it to reflect the sun's rays. This is convenient because the interior does not become hot in hot weather, but the protective layer also prevents radio signals from entering. This means that the radar detector will not be able to detect radiation from monitoring devices. If you are not aware of the information about the windshield, inspect it - on the outside it will have a metallic tint of purple, green, orange or another color. If it is still athermal, you will have to choose a radar detector with a spaced installation type or look for an unprotected place next to the rear view mirror.
  • Does the car have adaptive cruise control, blind spot sensors, or other sources of strong radio signals? If they are present and cannot be turned off, alas, you will have to do without a radar detector, since it will receive strong interference. There are only a few jam-proof models available so far, all of which are manufactured by Escort, a world leader in radar detectors. We are talking about the Escort Passport 9500ix INTL and the 8500ci Plus INTL variant.

Frequency range

The most important parameter. Determines which radar signals the equipment will pick up. The choice depends on the area in which you move most often. Thus, the X-band is outdated and is no longer used almost anywhere except in the most “wild” places. But the K range in pulse mode is widespread. There is also a low-power K-Pulse subband - it is used in the latest Strelka, Cordon and many other radars.

A separate class of monitoring devices is laser type meters. They do not use a radio signal, but a laser beam with a certain wavelength. Such models are also often used in Russia, so it’s good if your detector can pick them up.

The most difficult thing is with the AvtoUragan, Avtodoriya and Odyssey complexes. These are not radars in the usual sense, but cameras that are installed on different sections of the road. First the car is registered on one, then on the other. Then the equipment determines the time it took to cover this section and uses it to determine the driving speed. No standard detector can detect such a device, because it does not emit anything! However, there was a remedy for them too - modern versions are equipped with a built-in database with camera coordinates. It is recommended to pay attention only to detectors that have a database.

Detector classes

Budget

The most common class. In our country, you can most often find inexpensive Russian and South Korean models. Their cost usually does not exceed 12,000 rubles. The manufacturers PlayMe, Neoline, Star Stinger, Supra, Street Storm, Sho-Me deserve trust. Some world-famous brands also have budget lines - for example, Whistler and Cobra.

Popular models are Street Storm STR 9540EX and STR 9900EX GL, as well as PlayMe Forever.

Street Storm STR 9540EX. Advantages: Sees the arrow, is inexpensive, has many functions + GPS Disadvantages: No serious problems in 2 years Comment: The main advantage is that it works as it should: does not freeze, does not get too hot, although the load is heavy Driving almost every day + on vacation . In addition, there is an updated database of cameras and radars, it’s cool that it has a rubber memory, I’ve already entered my coordinates many times. The firmware is updated periodically, there is nothing to complain about. Also, the settings system is very convenient; you can set it to only scream at the arrow. The filter here is good.

Arkhipov Vladislav

https://market.yandex.by/product/9369066/reviews?hid=90462&track=tabs

Average price category

Here everything is more serious. The cost varies from 12,000 to approximately 20,000 rubles. The most famous manufacturers in this category are Street Storm, Cobra, Beltronics, Whistler and Escort. In Russia, Street Storm is the most popular because they are inexpensive and perfectly pick up signals from most local radars.

Best models: STR 9350EX, 9750EX, 7010BT, Whistler PRO-99ST+. Mid-priced radar detectors are an excellent choice for most situations.

Whistler PRO-99ST+. Advantages: Large frequency range, which can be easily turned off if necessary. It picks up radars at an excellent distance, so in any case you can manage to reduce the speed limit. You can drive around the city with it calmly, without unnecessary signals that only distract you, and when the speed changes, the auto-mute switches on, which is convenient. The database is updated well, just connect to a PC with the Internet. All technical characteristics correspond to reality. Comment: The capabilities of this radar detector are enormous; when I bought it 3 months ago, I did not receive a single fine. For me, the model is completely suitable, it feels reliable, and the savings are obvious.

Vasilyeva Natalya

https://market.yandex.by/product/9338687/reviews?hid=90462&track=tabs

Premium class

A relatively rare group of detectors in our country, the cost of which exceeds 20,000 rubles. The main manufacturer in it is the Escort company. By choosing such a device, you can count on almost 100% protection from any radars, up-to-date databases and many additional functions.
Best options: Passport 9500ci INTL MTR, Passport 8500ci Plus INTL and some others. They “see” signals from almost all radars and lasers, are equipped with GPS receivers, can be equipped with external speakers, digital noise filters and much more.

Escort Passport 8500ci Plus INTLAdvantages: + Hidden installation + Excellent reception of signals of all ranges + Simple and convenient Disadvantages: Price Short warning distance about stationary radars (300 meters).. The base with radar updates must be purchased separately.. Comment: Overall satisfied with the radar. Yes, it’s a little expensive, but the hidden installation is important to me personally.. It picks up signals well.. Yes, there are a lot of false alarms, but if it doesn’t beep, then you can fly safely.. For me personally, after 3 months of use, the sound disappeared, it was repaired under warranty. They repaired it for 1.5 months, because... they were transporting the insides from behind a hill.. But after that it works again.. Yes, the warning distance is small, but if the radar emits waves, then it catches them even 1.5 kilometers away.. Sometimes even those driving behind don’t understand why I’m reducing the speed, because. To. Sometimes it catches on too early.. But you can get used to it. In general, the impression from him is positive.. Although, of course, it costs money..

Kolesnikov Nikolay

https://market.yandex.by/product/8464731/reviews?hid=90462&track=tabs&lr=0

Where and how to install

Selecting a location

The detector must be mounted in a place from which the road is clearly visible. If you have to take your eyes off the road to look at the screen, you've chosen the wrong place.

The most common option is next to the rearview mirror. It's not bad, but it has its flaws. This setup reduces the accuracy of detecting laser beams to some extent, since most detectors can only detect laser beams within an area of ​​about 1 m around them. If the device is at the level of the windshield, and the beam is directed towards the license plate, there simply will not be enough coverage area. Thus, if you have a large car, it is better to place the detector somewhere lower.

Some drivers place detectors in the middle of the windshield. This option is acceptable from a technical point of view, but it can provoke conflict among police officers - many of them do not like the presence of such a device.

Installation

The easiest way to attach the detector is to use the supplied suction cups. It is suitable if you are going to place the equipment on the windshield or other flat surface. But if you need to attach it to the dashboard, it is better to use double-sided adhesive tape.

Attention! Be careful with the tape! There are known cases where it damaged the serial number of the device, which led to the voiding of the warranty.

Connection

The process can vary greatly depending on what you intend to connect the fixture to. Just in case, have the following tools ready:

  • flat screwdriver;
  • knife or sharp scissors;
  • a piece of wire of medium thickness;
  • soldering iron

Connection to the lampshade

  1. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the 2 screws that secure the lampshade.
  2. Use wire to pull the cable to the side post.
  3. Route it to the left side of the panel and attach the “original” connector.
  4. It is recommended to take power from the orange and black wires of the lamp.

How to connect and configure directly

  1. You will need an extended fuse (available at many electronics stores). The process looks like this:
  2. Find a target in the fuse box that always has a “plus” (or it appears after the ignition is turned on).
  3. Insert the wire with the extended fuse into the connector or solder it to the fuse leg.
  4. Install the resulting structure into the fuse box and power it.

Connection to ignition

  1. “Plus” is placed on a thick wire with a black stripe, which is located on the ignition switch block.
  2. “Minus” is on the stove stud, under the nut.
  3. The connection is made via a fuse.
  4. If you do not have a voltmeter, check the functionality of the interior lamp.

The main thing in this method is not to confuse “+” and “-”.

Video: connecting a radar detector in a Lada Granta car

Firmware

The update and flashing process varies greatly between models. For example, in Whistler, to determine the current software version, you need to hold down the City button for a few seconds - the numbers of interest will appear on the screen. In Sho-Me, everything is somewhat more complicated - you need to lift the lid and see what is written on the main chip.

You can update the version yourself, but you risk the warranty. You need to download the firmware for your device and upload it via your computer. However, remember that this is a rather dangerous procedure. Only representatives of the official service center can guarantee its implementation.

Once the update is complete, you need to reboot the detector. Different models do this in different ways. In some cases, you need to hold down the MENU button (or similar) and press the volume up/down buttons. See the instructions for more details.

A radar detector is a useful device, but it will only bring maximum benefit if it is correctly installed and configured. Do everything in accordance with the rules and get reliable protection from monitoring devices!

Before you begin setting up the Cobra TM radar detector, you must correctly install this device, ensuring its correct operation. The detector should be installed parallel to the road. You may have to bend the bracket slightly once to position the unit horizontally. It is better to install the device in the middle of the windshield of the car as high as possible, so that in places with height differences the detector is triggered as early as possible. Keep in mind that tinting can degrade the sensitivity of the device by 10-20 percent. Thus, if you have a tint strip glued to the top of the windshield, it is better to install the device lower. Also note that athermal glass with a violet tint reduces the sensitivity of any radar detector by 40-60 percent.

Most often, such glasses have a technological window that does not have any athermal properties - this is where the gadget should be installed. You can find information about this window in your machine documentation. as a rule, it is located somewhere under the rearview mirror.

You can check the windshield for athermality experimentally. Simply stand in front of an active signal source, for example, in front of a traffic police radar or automatic door sensor that operates in the K-band, and check the signal strength of the device from the car and from the street. If you notice a difference in signal strength, your glass is athermal and the low sensitivity of the radar detector is due to this.

How to set up a radar detector?

It is customary to configure the radar detector once, after which the selected parameters are saved in memory. Today in our country there are mainly two bands used in which police radars operate:

  • X - the Sokol type radar operates in this range, which has long been discontinued, but in some regions they are still found.
  • K-band – this is where modern speed meters operate.
  • Separately, we can distinguish laser radars, which do not operate in any specific range, but operate at the expense of the light wavelength, which is measured in nanometers.

There are other frequency ranges:

  • VG 2;
  • Specter I-IV;

These ranges are not yet used in our country, so we recommend turning them off. First of all, this will reduce the frequency of false positives. Regardless of the fact that there is no measuring equipment in such ranges in our country, triggering from other sources cannot be ruled out. The speed of the gadget's processor also increases, since it will work to recognize only certain ranges.

It should be noted that in the new Cobra radar detectors, the Ka band is enabled by default and cannot be turned off. X-band is enabled in the settings and you can disable it if necessary. Frequency ranges not used in our country are disabled by default. In other words, modern models of Cobra radar detectors are configured for use in Russia. In the factory settings, the Highway driving mode is selected - it is optimal in many cases.

In the urban mode of operation in the Cobra RU 935, 945, 955 and 745, 755 and 775 ST radar detector models, the signal strength of one and two is not announced, so we do not recommend using the mode in unfamiliar areas. City and City Max are good for cities where the cops are mostly armed with Marksmen.

How to use?

For the convenience of using the detector and getting the maximum result from it, you will need to get used to the gadget over a certain period of time and learn to correctly recognize information. For example, the appearance of a short and weak signal in the K-band almost certainly indicates a false positive. In this case, a stable signal almost certainly indicates radar detection.

Do not forget that in addition to police radars, other equipment operating in the above ranges has weaker radiation that the detector can trigger. These could be sensors for opening sliding doors at gas stations or in stores, power lines, cruise control in cars, cell towers, satellite dishes, etc.

To reduce the frequency of unnecessary triggering, we recommend doing the following:

  • Disable bands that are not used in our country.
  • Switch between City and Highway modes. In the first case, the received signals are coarsened and the number of false positives is reduced. In this case, the sensitivity of the sensor decreases.

To increase comfort, you can use the IntelliMute option, which is not available on all radar detectors. Setting the function makes it possible to muffle the functioning of the gadget at low speeds. These are the cases when using a detector turns out to be irrelevant. Let's say you're stuck in traffic or pulling into a shopping center where there are door sensors and you just can't speed in the parking lot.

What determines the operating range?

Please note that the detection range of the radar detector largely depends on factors such as:

  • geography of the area (winding or hilly road, lack of reflective objects and surfaces);
  • type of police radar used (high, medium, low power);
    radar installation method (in the back, at an angle, in the face);
  • weather, traffic on the road.

It is impossible to determine in advance the maximum range of the antiradar, since in each specific case the combination of factors influencing the range may be different.

Also, you should not use two radar detectors at the same time, since the heterodyne background of one device can interfere with the operation of the other.

Do not bring the radar detector close to a functioning police radar - up to five meters. This is not normal for its use and the detector board may simply be damaged.

03.12.2013

Correct installation and configuration of the radar detector is one of the main guarantees of successful and highly efficient operation of the device. To achieve this goal, all you need is complete adherence and implementation of a few simple points described below.

The very first thing you will have to do after purchasing a radar detector is install it. This event should be approached with all seriousness and responsibility if you want to achieve convenient and correct functioning of the device. To begin with, you need to attach the existing device at the highest point, in the center of the windshield of your car. This location of the device will allow it to operate most quickly and efficiently, regardless of environmental conditions. The device itself must have a parallel position relative to the road plane; if you cannot achieve this position, this can be done by slightly bending the fastening bracket in the required direction.

It is also worth considering the fact that radar detectors reduce their sensitivity if there is tinting on the car windshield. The same applies to cars with athermal windows (purple tint). If your car is tinted, the effective operation of the device is reduced by 10 to 20%. In order to avoid this, you can attach the device at the highest point of the windshield, where there is no tint. If your car has an athermal windshield, then we do not recommend using radar detectors on it, since their usual correct operation will be reduced to 60%, which is essentially an unacceptable result. If you really want, you can look for the so-called “technological window” - a place that does not contain full-fledged athermal properties, where you can attach the purchased device. Most often, this place is located directly behind the rear-view mirrors; to obtain more detailed and detailed information on this matter, you can seek help from the technical data sheet that comes with the car.

After choosing the right place to mount the radar detector and securing it safely, we need to understand its settings and adjust them directly to ourselves. It is enough to carry out this operation once, since the device remembers the last successful configuration of settings and applies them the next time the device is used.

Considering the fact that traffic police officers actively use devices that measure speed and operate in two ranges: “K” and “X,” it is best to simply turn off all the others. This will increase the efficient and, most importantly, fast operation of the device, significantly reducing the number of false signals. Let us note the fact that laser devices use a light wave, and have nothing to do with ranges at all.

For greater efficiency in the operation of the device, when traveling along familiar routes, you can turn off the “X” range, which was used by radars from the “Sokol” series, or the radar used by the “PKS-4” installations, but the latter are stationary and are very rarely encountered. It is not so difficult to guess that the most actively used range in the work of road inspectors is the “K” range, which is used by almost all currently known radars in Ukraine.

For the most efficient operation of the device, after successfully completing the stages of installation and configuration of the radar detector, it is necessary to study and understand how to correctly interpret its signals. If there are long and stable signals coming from your device, you should take all necessary measures, since the device has detected an actively operating radar nearby. With frequent or weak, abrupt and short signals, there is a high probability that this is a false alarm. At this point, we will once again remind you that in order to reduce the occurrence of false signals, it is advisable to turn off all bands that you do not need and are not used in Ukraine. You can also actively use the functions of switching modes: “city”, “highway”. When you select the “city” mode, your device becomes less susceptible to any signals, significantly reducing the risk of false alarms, since city roads are replete with massive emissions from various electronic devices that your device can detect. When driving on highways, it is naturally necessary to activate the appropriate “road” mode.

And finally, we will recommend another good method, which we hope will help you. Using the “IntelliMute” function allows you to significantly reduce the sound of the radar detector when traveling at low speeds. This is a very convenient function, since sound signals will not irritate or bother you when there is no direct need to operate the device!