2005 Instant On Alert Testing

Instant On Proximity of Alert Testing
Radar Detector Testing

The Proximity of Alert testing for both Instant on and Constant on were perhaps the most important tests SML performed at the 2005 Radar Detector Shoot-Out.

Radar detectors should act as Geiger counters, the closer you are to a radar source, the more intense the warning.

Cones were placed on the test course at the following distances: 2 miles, and 1.5 miles. Test vehicles containing the detectors were in the stationary position.

Ka(1) means that the detector correctly identified the band at a signal strength of 1 of its total alert levels. Each detector had multiple tries at each transmission and the reported number is an average of the multiple reports by each detector. All radar and laser guns were operated by certified police officers with SML staff observers in each vehicle. Each detector was exposed to X band, 10.525 Ghz and K band 24.150 GHz in the "Over the Hill" testing category along with all three Ka band frequencies. The emphasis of the test was Ka band as it now accounts for 90% of all radar guns sold and specified by forty one of the states per their state contracts. New Jersey is the lone state still using X band of the MPH K55 radar guns. * means detector did not always report a radar warning in the particular category.

To accurately report your distance from a radar gun, the radar detector warnings should increase as you approach the radar guns location. The below graph should not be an indication of reception and/or performance, but only as a guide to signal strength displayed by that individual detector.

Over the Hill >>