Maximum range a police car can clock you using radar?

[MEM-TEK]

Originally Posted by '09 Milan

A smaller target will need to be closer to the radar in order to be clocked. An aerodynamically shaped vehicle like a 'Vette will present a smaller target for the radar, and therefore will need to be closer to the radar before being clocked. A trans am has a much bigger footprint than a 'Vette does, so it will be tracked at a greater distance.

X band radar transmits its signal at 10.5250 GHz, however, the wattage of the radar's signal depends completely upon the manufacturer of whoever makes the gun. A 100 milliwatt signal is usually considered to be "High" and a 40 milliwatt signal is considered to be "Low". Again, this all varies and depends on who makes the gun. You can pretty safely say that the average maximum range of a X band gun is around 2500 feet.

K band operates on 24.150 GHz and is not as popular as X band, but it's gaining speed (pun intended). The normal signal strength of K band guns again depends upon the manufacturer, but the ones I've seen all operate around 100 milliwatts. These guns have a maximum range of 3000 feet (assuming they are at 100mw).

Ka and has been designated a frequency of 34.360 GHz. Generally speaking current Ka technology gives the gun a maximum range of as little as 35 feet and as much as 200 feet.

All of this information is very outdated and must have been dug up somewhere on the Internet. K band became more popular than X band during the late 1980s to early 1990s. The info about Ka 34.36GHz radar is for the original Ka band photo radar guns. Since then we have seen the Ka band spectrum broadened to Ka-Wide band and subsequently to Ka-Superwide band. Modern Ka band radar guns have up to a mile range under ideal conditions, in particular on days when the humidity is very low.

[RadarReviews_Net]

Originally Posted by tactical22

Check out my demo vid with Ka band..watch about 1:05 and see the distance on this one

YouTube - Kustom Eagle Radar Single Lane

YouTube - Kustom Eagle Radar Demo

Does the first video show how instant on radar works...im assuming the "hold" would be radar silence such as instant on and then blast them with full radar at the last minute as the vehicle approaches making it difficult for radar detectors to pick up unless very close in the area?

[tactical22]

Correct, the HOLD function stops RF transmission on the radar (in other words off) then release the hold (instant on) and bam your busted, I have another video showing the speed of the lock ..sometimes before the detector even goes off...IO = TOAST!

Go to 3 min Mark, this is using my old K band

YouTube - K Band Radar Demo Vid

[RadarNutt]

Originally Posted by RadarReviews_Net

What is the maximum range a police car can clock your vehicle at using radar? I guess it all would depend on the type of radar they are using as well.... ?

The question is not so just how far is the range on a radar gun, but also (and arguably more importantly), how far away you can be and still have a ticket stick.

Generally speaking, you're talking about 1/4 mile based on case law. If you are the only car on the road and clocked a mile away, the LEO still need to prove visual estimation and other factors.

In moderate to heavy traffic there are all kinds of problems with traffic radar, and many tickets are written based on who the LEO *thinks* is the fastest vehicle. I wish more states would adopt the same guidelines as Pennsylvania, which by state law the LEO must have absolute confirmation it's you to pull you over or let you go by.

Regardless, use your head. Most people ignore their most important tool.

[RadarNutt]

Originally Posted by tactical22

IO = TOAST!

Used correctly, IO is the best method IMHO from an evidentiary standpoint... from the LEO's standpoint.

Observe a possible target vehicle. Visual estimate... ask yourself if you can isolate the vehicle properly in traffic... if yes, press HOLD button to unlock the radar... confirm your visual estimate.... get tracking history for 3-5 seconds. Take action if necessary.

That's a proper use of radar. Unfortunately, too many departments train all the LEO's for 8 hours and give them a dual radar unit in the patrol car. Alas, many bunk speeding tickets are written. It is way too easy to just rely on the radar, especially in moving mode.