K_Band question

[pkjk (raw)]

I occassionally get false k-band alerts on the snooper. I was out tonight and picked up numerous k-and alerts on the snooper s6r. There was no sign of any radar devices or police.

What causes the non-gatso related (or false) alerts?

[deltafox]

Certain other devices use K band like some door openers etc, and some radars on other cars can give false readings.

[Parrot of Doom]

Satellites use K-band as well, perhaps some mis-aligned satellite dishes with the reflected signal missing the LNB?

[shuvitupya]

Radar detectors are a waste of money.

Too many false alerts.

GPS is the best.

[supermono]

Parrot of Doom said:

Satellites use K-band as well, perhaps some mis-aligned satellite dishes with the reflected signal missing the LNB?

They're a parabolic shape so can't "beam out" the signal. It'll always focus on the LMB however it's aligned.

SM

[bite-me]

I always know when I'm near Tesco's

[Pigeon]

supermono said:

Parrot of Doom said: Satellites use K-band as well, perhaps some mis-aligned satellite dishes with the reflected signal missing the LNB? They're a parabolic shape so can't "beam out" the signal. It'll always focus on the LMB however it's aligned.

No it won't. If the satellite is off the axis in one direction the beam will be brought to a focus at a point which is off the axis in the other direction. Once past the focus the beam will spread out again and once it's further from the dish than twice the focal distance it'll be less concentrated than the illumination from the satellite.

So, it won't be satellite signals setting it off, but the reason is simply that the signals are too weak.

[puggit]

Seems to be mobile phone masts that set mine off

An old one we had 20 years ago suffered with automatic shop door opening devices and little radars on top of traffic lights

[cooperman]

If you're relying on a K-band detector to prevent speeding tickets, then you can expect NiP's to drop through your door with regularity.
Surely the only K-band speed detection kit now it the Gatso, and they're easy to spot and the GPS equipment knows every one.
I took my old K-band detector out when laser arrived. Virtually completely useless now.

[k50 del]

There are, I think, only 3 forces in the UK that still use hand held radar guns for detection, and they operate on Ka band as I recall.
K band is for detection in the USA, and is the reason why many cheap detectors don't work.
A decent unit (bel 550 etc) will automatically enable the correct bands when you tell it which country you're in.

[deltafox]

shuvitupya said:

Radar detectors are a waste of money. Too many false alerts. GPS is the best.

Gps dosent tell you if a gatso is live though.

[shuvitupya]

deltafox said:

shuvitupya said: Radar detectors are a waste of money. Too many false alerts. GPS is the best. Gps dosent tell you if a gatso is live though.

And a Bel 550 won't tell you if a TruVelo is live

[k50 del]

Indeed, so you end up with what I used to have

a Bel 550
an origin b2
a "garage door opener"

worked fine for me!!!