We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Electronics

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Radar Detector?

Michael Pollick
By
Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 17,221
Share

A radar detector is a small electronic device used by some drivers to detect the presence of police radar units. Ideally, the device will pick up the radar gun's signal before the driver speeds past the police officer using it. Its use can best be described as tolerated, if not strictly legal in certain jurisdictions. Most drivers who use one keep it attached to the visor or other inconspicuous area.

What a radar detector actually detects depends on the make and model of the radar gun used by law enforcement. A very basic radar gun sends out a radio signal at a specific frequency, which bounces off a targeted object (a car's body, for example) and returns to the radar gun. This signal moves at the speed of light, so a computer unit can calculate the time it takes for a signal to return. If the target object is moving towards the radar gun, the frequency becomes higher due to a phenomenon called the Doppler shift. This means a moving police vehicle can accurately calculate the speed of a car approaching it. Police do not have to remain stationary by the side of the highway to detect speeders with radar guns.

A radar detector is tuned to the same radio frequency as most radar guns, although the police may change the frequencies often. In the same sense that a car radio can pick up the specific signal on an AM or FM channel, a detector can sense an active signal on a police radar frequency before the car gets into its enforceable range. The device sends out both an audio and visual signal to the driver, who should have enough time to slow down to a legal speed. It depends heavily on a police officer's tendency to keep the radar gun turned on steadily instead of using quick pulses. If a police car comes up quietly on a speeding car before activating basic radar, the radar detector won't offer much protection.

More modern radar gun systems have abandoned the easily detectable frequencies for less obvious bandwidths. Instead of a constant broadcast, newer radar guns use quick bursts at what police call the K-band range. A sophisticated radar detector can still pick up on these quick signals if other speeders have already been clocked. Considering that an average speeding ticket can cost quite a bit of money and a significant increase in insurance rates, the price of an advanced detection device may seem worthwhile to those drivers who tend to speed.

The latest trend in speeding detection uses laser light instead of soundwaves. A system called LIDAR (LIght-based Detection And Ranging) can be set up by law enforcers to detect speeders automatically through highly-accurate laser measurements. Because the laser signals are so narrowly focused, a standard radar detector cannot sense them before arrival. Instead, a reflective signal generated by a LED (light-emitting diode) is sent out to jam the laser light. The LED matches the frequency of the laser light on the gun and includes extra electronic "noise." This causes the radar gun to produce an unintelligible reading, which cannot be used to prosecute a suspected speeder.

Share
EasyTechJunkie is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Pollick
By Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to EasyTechJunkie, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a wide range of topics. His curiosity drives him to study subjects in-depth, resulting in informative and engaging articles. Prior to becoming a professional writer, Michael honed his skills as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.
Discussion Comments
By nextcorrea — On Oct 17, 2012

I went to this consumer electronics convention in town recently and they were selling a bunch of discount radar detectors. I got one for less than $30. I haven't set it up yet but I need to. I have a 45 minute commute down the highway and it is a magnet for cops.

By BAU79 — On Oct 17, 2012

Are there any laws against having a radar detector? And if a cop sees me with one, can he make my tickets more expensive or penalize me somehow?

By vigilant — On Oct 16, 2012

I used to have a radar detector in my car but I still got a few tickets. It seemed like it either wouldn't pick up a cop's radar, or it would do it too late for me to slow down.

But I have to admit that it was one of the cheaper radar detectors they sell. So maybe if I had a better one I would have gotten better results.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
As a frequent contributor to EasyTechJunkie, Michael Pollick uses his passion for research and writing to cover a wide...
Learn more
Share
https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-a-radar-detector.htm
Copy this link
EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

EasyTechJunkie, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.