Speed detection systems, Radar – Uniden LRD 737 User Manual

Page 7

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Speed Detection Systems

A speed detection device (often called a radar gun) sends out either a
microwave signal or beam of light. When this signal reaches its target,
part of the signal is reflected or bounced back toward the emitting gun.
The time required for the signal to leave the gun, bounce off an object,
and return is used to determine a vehicle’s distance and speed.

Radar

Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) is a microwave system for
detecting the speed of moving objects by reflected pulses of high
frequency radio waves. There are 3 radar bands (microwave frequencies):
Xband (10.49 to 10.56GHz), Kband (24.04 to 24.26GHz), and the
“superwide” Ka band (33.4 GHz to 36 GHz).

The X band was the first used for traffic, followed by the K band which is
harder to detect (most instant-on radar is K band). The Ka band was
introduced in 1987, and widened to Ka SuperWideband in 1990 by the
FCC. The LRD 737 monitors all current radar bands including the entire
Ka SuperWideband.

The radar beam is cone shaped — the narrower the beam, the greater the
resolution. A moving vehicle reflects radar signals back towards the radar
gun. The LRD 737 can detect the signals emitted by radar guns, and it
will sound an audio alarm and flash a warning indicator.

For continuously transmitting radar, use the LRD 737 to get accurate
detection from a safe distance. Weak signals cause the audio and visual
alarms to sound intermittently, but as the signal gets stronger (the closer
you get to the radar gun), both alarms increase in intensity.

Instant-on transmitters fire a short radar pulse beam at a vehicle and
instantly read its speed. When detected at a distance, you will hear a few
beeps and see the strength meter begin to light. Instant-On radar signals
are the most difficult to detect at a safe distance because they are
transmitted only when directed at you or at a vehicle directly ahead
of you.

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