What is worse... k band ka band x band or laser??

[RadarReviews_Net]

I was just curious on something i NEVER really understanded:

Why do cops have 4 bands such as x band, k band, ka band, and laser.

I understand laser how that is the hardest to detect, etc..... but K band, KA band, and X band....

whats the difference..... what is the best advantage for a cop to use.... what is harder to detect....... is K band or KA band better???

[tactical22]

Its just technology, back 30+ years ago they used X band, then they made K Band then they made Ka band and then Laser....each band is more advanced, antennas are smaller etc

X Band is really wide, K band is still wide, Ka is more narrow and more digital.

[RadarReviews_Net]

Nice I always wondered about that

[RadarNutt]

I think it depends on your perspective.

My view is either Ka or X. Why would I say X-band? Because nearly everyone mutes out X on their RD. So, if you do encounter Officer Rumplestiltskin who just woke up after 20 years in the 7-11 parking lot, you're screwed.

Other than that, I think Ka is tough because it doesn't travel as far as K or X, so you're not going to get as much warning.

Now then again (sorry, I know I am rambling here... not enough caffeine yet)... I have encountered some nasty K band Genius units that seem to have a really narrow beam width. At least my V1 had a hard time with them when Occifer Fythe's patrol car was not coming at me head-on. That really scared the crud out of me, because it was K-band. I did get some rear V1 warnings from scatter awhile after he passed me, but not much.

Note the area I was driving in was very flat, so no issues with terrain.

Not sure if I should be scared of that K-band or of my V1.

Anyone else run into this problem?

Is this just real low power K? Anyone used/tested it. Genius 2 units. I may have to get one to try it out. I had written off K-band with a yawn until I ran into this scenario. I would like to know what the range is on those things (from the operator's perspective).

[CJR238]

I had one the other day around dusk. I saw a car moving pretty quickly behind me at a distance so I moved over to the right lane than as he was about 500ft behind and to the left my RD goes off, but not full alert. As he passed it kept alerting me warnings from scatter awhile after he passed me, 1/4-1/2 mi away. I never got a full alert, but i do have a 9500I.
I figured he just left his radar gun on and sitting on his seat, but who knows?

It was a brand new off white unmarked impala with tinted windows. So I was thinking what would a brand new impala be doing with K band?

[Nighthawk243]

Laser is the worst due to the fact that usually if you get a laser alert (if at all) you're already going to have red/blue lights flashing in your mirror.

Ka band is the second worst. First off, many detectors have problems detecting Ka band (Cobras will not alert Ka for anything). Another thing is that a number of Ka units are Instant On capable, meaning that the officer can keep the gun on standby and get a quick shot on you (as opposed to the older guns where he would have to shoot for a few seconds before getting a reading, giving you a foward warning).

X band used to be a harmless band since it was very easy to detect. But now that most departments have switched to another band, and alot of RF transmissions will cause constant X-Band falsing on detectors, it has been generally written off by motorists as "That damned K-Mart door..." Some departments that still use X band use this to their advantage. Not only does the motorist not expect to see any officers still using the dinosaur radar band, but the officer also uses it near shopping centers where X band is likely to false on a detector and uses that to fool motorists into writing off his speed measuring as "That f*cking Rite-Aid".

K band is probably, IMO, the easiest to deal with since its inherently not I/O, and not much will trip a K false (The only thing that does it in my area is Walmart)

[Anonymous]

K band is probably, IMO, the easiest to deal with since its inherently not I/O, and not much will trip a K false (The only thing that does it in my area is Walmart)

LEO in my town are pretty smart with CO K Band because they turn on and off but is it like booting up and than point at the car to get the reading? I wonder how long it takes for them to get the reading after turning it on.

[Nighthawk243]

Originally Posted by Anonymous

LEO in my town are pretty smart with CO K Band because they turn on and off but is it like booting up and than point at the car to get the reading? I wonder how long it takes for them to get the reading after turning it on.

It takes a few seconds.

[Anonymous]

Originally Posted by Nighthawk243

It takes a few seconds.

Thats good news if I were to drive 10 mph over.

[The STIG]

S band is the most deadly because my V1 does not pick it up.