Hey guys,
I recently just got a Cobra ESD 7000 radar detector for christmas. I know its not that great, but it seems pretty cool. Basically, it reads 6 different bands and I was reading the manual and I have no idea what all the different signals mean. I noe the L and V/S symbols stand for laser signals and road hazards/emergency vehicles, but I got really confused about the difference between X-band and K/KA band signals. My friend tells me to basically ignore the X-band signals because they have something to do with trucker's radios? Can someone please clarify this. Thanks
-Patrick

 

X-band, Ka/K/Ku-Band, etc. simply refer to the frequency band designations of RADAR systems.

X-band = 8 - 12 GHz
Ku-band = 12 - 18 GHz
K-band = 18 - 27 GHz
Ka-band = 27 - 40 GHz

X-band is the oldest of the RADAR technologies, but has nothing to do with trucker's (or anybody else's) radios. I believe Ku-band is the most widely used for police RADAR's, but I'm pretty aure X-band is still used in many parts of the country.

 

So if I see my X band signal going off then that means there is a cop shooting radar? Thanks for the quick reply btw.
-Patrick

 

Most likely.

Sounds to me having different lights on the detector for the different RADAR bands is some marketing gimick. I can't see of what use knowing whether the cop is using X-band or K-band RADAR is. IF he catches you speeding, you'll get the same ticket. lol

 

X-band usually means you're near a store with
automatic door openers. X-band is pretty old
and likely to be a non-traffic-radar source, you
can make a decision to ignore based on what
you learn about your local enforcement agencies'
toy box.

However "assume the worst" is the best idea.

 

Exactly, you will understand when you go by petco and your radar goes off w/ x band, its not a cop there everytime.

In my area, Ka is what they use the most, usually if its anything else, its not a cop. Always error on the side of caution, because I'd never rely on one to speed.

 

I wouldnt completely ignore the X band, in my area the cops will often hide in areas where you will always pick up small X band signals like a store parking lot and then bean you with their own X band radar . But I have also noticed that the most popular seems to be Ka and K seems to mostly be used by things like those signs on the side of the road telling you how fast your going.

Every radar detector is different but I've noticed that most of the time if the X-Band stays below 3 bars it is not a cop but some other radar source

 

Lol, great information. Its so annoying I mean every time I drive past a shopping center my detector goes off like crazy and i crap my pants thinking there is a cop. Something told me that there couldnt possibly be that many cops around. Thanks for the help guys!

 

X is hardly ever a radar.

Most LEOs are using Ka band now.
I still see a few that use K band.

The V1 has a advance logic mode that cuts out 99% of the X bands false alarms.

 

Lately k band has been used for automatic doors too

 

Ku is a european band isnt it? its slowly finding its way into the states and most radar detectors like the V1 have already accomodated for it...

 

They all are cobra radar detector codes. I explained it in details in my site.

 

No... they are actual frequency band names assigned by the FCC. Cobra certainly has no claim to having named them or designating the frequencies. In fact, Cobra really doesn't have much claim to anything other than being the Walmart of radar detectors - cheap and mostly functional but nowhere near top of the field.