Understanding Your Detector; Interpreting Alerts; How Radar Works; How Pop Works - Escort Passport User Manual

Understanding Your Detector

Interpreting Alerts

Although PASSPORT has a comprehensive warning
system, only experience will teach you what to expect
from your detector and how to interpret what it tells
you. The specific type of radar being used, the type of
transmission (continuous or instant-on) and the
location of the radar source affect the alerts you
receive.
Alert
Detector begins to sound slowly; rate of alert
increases until it becomes a solid tone. The
signal meter ramps accordingly.
Detector emits short alerts for a few seconds
then falls silent, only to briefly alert and fall
silent again.
Detector suddenly sounds a continuous tone
for the appropriate band received.
Detector sends a brief laser alert.
Detector receives weak signals. Signals may be
a little stronger as you pass large, roadside
objects. Signals increase in frequency.
Detector alerts slowly for a while then abruptly
jumps to a strong alert.
Detector alerts intermittently. Rate and
strength of alerts may be consistent or vary
wildly.
Detector alerts intermittently; rate and
strength of signal increases with each alert.
Detector gives an X band alert intermittently.
CAUTION: Overconfidence in an unfamiliar area can be
dangerous. Likewise, if an alert in a commonly
traveled area is suddenly stronger or on a different band
than usual, speed radar may be set up nearby.
The following examples will give you an introduction
to understanding your detector's warning system for
radar and laser alerts.
Explanation
You are approaching a continuous radar source
aimed in your direction.
An instant-on radar source is being used ahead
of you and out of your view.
An instant-on radar or laser source is being used
nearby. This kind of alert requires immediate
attention.
Laser is being used in the area. Because laser is
inherently difficult to detect, any laser alert may
indicate a source very close by.
A moving patrol car with continuous radar is
overtaking you from behind. Because these
signals are reflected (reflections are increased by
large objects), they may or may not eventually
melt into a solid point, even when the patrol car
is directly behind you.
You are approaching a radar unit concealed by a
hill or an obstructed curve.
A patrol car is traveling in front of you with a
radar source aimed forward. Because signals are
sometimes reflected off of large objects and
sometimes not, the alerts may seem inconsistent.
A patrol car is approaching from the other
direction, sampling traffic with instant-on radar.
Such alerts should be taken seriously.
You are driving through an area populated with
radar motion sensors (e.g., door openers or
burglar alarms). Since these transmitters are
usually contained inside buildings or aimed
toward or away from you, they are typically not
as strong or lasting as a real radar encounter.
12

How Radar Works

Traffic radar, which consists of microwaves, travels in
straight lines and is easily reflected by objects such
as cars, trucks, and even guardrails and overpasses.
Radar works by directing its microwave beam down
the road. As your vehicle travels into range, the
microwave beam bounces off your car, and the radar
antenna looks for the reflections. Using the Doppler
principle, the radar equipment then calculates your
speed by comparing the frequency of the
reflection of your car to the original
frequency of the beam sent out.
Traffic radar has limitations, the most significant
of these being that it typically can monitor only
one target at a time. If there is more than one
vehicle within range, it is up to the radar operator
to decide which target is producing the strongest
reflection. Since the strength of the reflection is
affected by both the size of the vehicle and its
proximity to the antenna, it is difficult for the radar
operator to determine if the signal is from a sports car
nearby or a semi truck several hundred feet away.
Radar range also depends on the power of the radar
equipment itself. The strength of the radar unit's
beam diminishes with distance. The farther the radar
has to travel, the less energy it has for speed
detection.
Because intrusion alarms and motion sensors often
operate on the same frequency as X and K band
radar, your detector will occasionally receive non-
police radar signals. Since these X band transmitters
are usually contained inside of a building or aimed
toward the ground, they will generally produce much
weaker readings than will a true radar encounter. As
you become familiar with the sources
of these pseudo alarms in your daily
driving, they will serve as
confirmation that the device's radar
detection abilities are fully
operational.
13

How POP Works

POP works by transmitting an extremely short burst,
within the allocated band, to identify speeding
vehicles in traffic. Once the target is identified, or
"popped," the gun is then turned to its normal
operating mode to provide a vehicle tracking history
(required by law).
NOTE: According to radar gun manufacturers, tickets
should not be issued in pop mode.