How radar detector works - principles and features

What could be more beautiful - to press the trigger to the floor until it stops and rush along the empty and spacious highway on your favorite "iron horse".

Mass of adrenaline, feelings, emotions. Yes, of course this can be afforded, but only on a specialized track. Otherwise, the driver will be fined for exceeding the speed of traffic and creating an emergency, if he is not warned by the “anti-radar” about approaching traffic police posts with a speed fixing device.

In this short but extremely interesting article, you will learn how the radar detector works and what kind of device it is.

Differences: anti-radar and radar detector?

• Radar - detector - this is a device that determines the presence of traffic police radars by their radiation.

• Antiradar - This is a device that is capable of interfering with traffic police radars, and therefore it is not possible to accurately record the speed of a particular vehicle.

In the absence of interference on the highway, the average range of fixing the radar is up to 4 km., In the urban cycle, from one block to one and a half kilometers, depending on the density of radio signals. Modern devices are capable of operating in three ranges: X, K, and laser.

Accordingly, the cost will differ depending on the number of scanning ranges. Modern devices with an accuracy of 99,9% will be able to warn of the presence of mobile radars nearby.

Brief characteristics of frequencies:

Band X (10.5 GHz) - permanent devices that are obsolete (15% of users) work.

Band K (24.15 GHz) - devices that work by sending pulsed electromagnetic waves. Widely used in the Russian Federation (65% of users).

Ka band (34.7 GHz) – anti-radar of a new type (35% of users). The principle of operation is to determine the speed in the shortest possible time with a probability of 97%.

According to the rules for fixing the speed of a car, a traffic police officer must record the final data only after re-fixing the speed, for objectivity and accuracy. But in the interval between the first and second fixation, the driver can reduce the speed, so there can be no talk of objectivity.

Basic principles of operation of the radar detector

The principle of operation is somewhat similar to a radio receiver, operating in the same range as law enforcement radars.

By pressing the start key, the traffic police officer using the device sends a signal in the form of a wave in the direction of the car of interest to him.

The wave reaches the vehicle, hits it and returns back to the radar, which, after processing the data, shows the speed on the display.

So, at the moment when the sent wave hits the car, the anti-radar “intercepts” it and gives the driver a buzzer, warning of the oncoming danger. Further, much depends on the driver and his skills and ingenuity.

As for the quality of the devices themselves, there is no doubt that they are made on the verge of maximum sensitivity to "enemies", despite the different pricing policy, which depends mainly on the year of manufacture, the shape and quality of the assembly material, only.

Tips for choosing a device

The main difference is the frequency range. The radars used by the traffic police take bearings at different frequencies, so the radar detector should be no worse.

According to information on the forums of car owners, it follows that domestic production is popular and in demand, due to greater adaptability and accuracy than foreign "brothers".

Parameters characterizing the accuracy and quality of the device:

• The number of definitions of frequency bands.
• Signal range.
• The accuracy of the difference between false signals and real ones.
• Data processing speed.
• Percentage of the reliability of the result.
• Reliability, quality.

According to numerous reviews of motorists, the recognized leader in these parameters is Roadgid Detect. This model is praised for its excellent camera detection range, in addition, the device is able to capture all known types of cameras in the Russian Federation, including measuring the average speed.

Due to the presence of a signature module, the device reliably filters interference and does not disturb the driver with constant false signals. The model is also famous for its unique voice alert system - a radar detector warns in a timely manner about traffic police posts, tripods, speed cameras and other important points on the road.

Users note that notifications are always short, understandable, and come only when they really need it. Voice alerts eliminate the need to constantly look at the screen and allow you to maximize your focus while driving.   

Device interference

The main condition for the correct operation of the radar detector is its installation. If it is installed incorrectly, then the work will be unstable, since any obstacle reduces the signal quality.

Mount the device as high as possible to expand the scanning distance. You should also consider the type of radar detector and its direction finding ranges.

Although the models are improved from year to year, you should not violate the rules of the road and be polite both to yourself and to other participants.