Radar detector maintenance?

[Golgrin]

A couple of years back I bought a Bel RX65 Pro detector....it worked a treat but over the past 6 months has been giving way more false alerts (most are laser warnings when I'm riding in the middle of nowhere and doing a right hand corner)...but its also not as sensitive as before and gives me little warning time.
I called an Auckland retailer who specialises in detectors who told me the life expectancy of this detector is really only about 2-3 years and the cost of servicing it back to health would be around $400 maybe more....and it would need to be sent back to the manufacturer.

Is there anybody here with more knowledge about such things?
Can they be serviced here at reasonable cost or should I just be thinking about replacement?

Thanks.

[Swoop]

Never heard that before. Sounds like someone is angling for another sale.

[CookMySock]

That sounds like a lot of bullshit too me. If the unit fucks out in under 2 years then they should start getting some flame for it.

There is nothing to service on radio recievers. You might want to clean the diffuser/lense on the laser window.

My detector is getting a lot of laser falses.. so much so, that I have turned laser band off. Dunno why its doing that.

edit: hehe, which auckland retailer ?

DB

[Pumba]

edit: hehe, which auckland retailer ?

Bet I can guess, is it the same one that is the only one authorised to sell AS/NZ spec bell radars (that arnt any different to any other imported radar might I add)

[Morcs]

Thats why I keep a spare unit. The display module is poked, but I still have a spare laser/radar antenna :2thumbsup

[puddytat]

That sucks if they only last that long!!:mad: If thats so Im gonna give them shit & bust their windows....didnt pay over 4hundy for my rx65 for it to fuck out that soon....I have the same problem with mine ,especially with the Laser, I wonder if its got someting to do with mobile masts ? It often goes off in the middle of nowhere....

[scumdog]

Mwahahaha, I don't have one and it's saved me a fortune in maintenance!!!:whistle:

[breakaway]

Maybe not mounting it on your header pipes because your front wheel is in the air all the time will mean it won't need such frequent 'maintenance' :whistle:

[Golgrin]

Thanks for the thoughts..but does anyone know where I can take it to to get it to work like it used to?
It's obviously not going to the Auckland agent who recommended I buy one of his new ones (that yes are the only ones authorized to sell NZ spec ones hehe).
Do ordinary homegrown electronics fixers do these things?
Ta.

[xgnr]

My detector is getting a lot of laser falses.. so much so, that I have turned laser band off. Dunno why its doing that.
DB

My rear facing Laser sensor kept going off from day one till I worked out (havn't tested the theory yet but will one day) that LED type lamps (brake lamp in my case) are picked up as Laser signals.

Some techo type will know

Cheers

Stu

[Swoop]

Thanks for the thoughts..but does anyone know where I can take it to to get it to work like it used to?
It's obviously not going to the Auckland agent who recommended I buy one of his new ones (that yes are the only ones authorized to sell NZ spec ones hehe).
Do ordinary homegrown electronics fixers do these things?
Ta.
Parallel Imported (http://www.parallelimported.co.nz/)in Constellation Drive (Albany) do service repairs on Bel detectors.

[FruitLooPs]

My RX65 is about a year and a half old, virtually no false alerts as of yet. Better stay that way! :nono:

[CookMySock]

My rear facing Laser sensor kept going off from day one till I worked out (havn't tested the theory yet but will one day) that LED type lamps (brake lamp in my case) are picked up as Laser signals. ahaa, thats interesting. I'll keep an eye out for that. Will report back.

DB

[avgas]

sit it on the hot water cylinder for a week with a dry heavy towel on top of it

[What?]

My detector is getting a lot of laser falses.. so much so, that I have turned laser band off. Dunno why its doing that.

Probably electrical interference. The Stebel horn on my F650 sets the (Escort) laser alert off, and a guy I know tells me his R1200 sets laser alerts off at certain engine speeds.
Sunlight, at certain angles, can also set it off.
May as well turn it off, anyway; if you get a genuine laser alert, it is almost 100% certain that you have already been clocked.

[Swoop]

Sunlight, at certain angles, can also set it off.
Modulated light is the issue.
As for laser alerts... that is what a jammer is for.

[idleidolidyll]

My rear facing Laser sensor kept going off from day one till I worked out (havn't tested the theory yet but will one day) that LED type lamps (brake lamp in my case) are picked up as Laser signals.

Some techo type will know

Cheers

Stu

Yep, my Bel 950 NZ/Aus goes off at led tailights too.
Bought second hand i reckon it's saved me lotsa bucks already and i haven't had any problems apart from the above.
If the govt bans em, I'll be buying an undetectable and hiding it somewhere. Fuck the inland revenue coppers

[CookMySock]

If the govt bans em, I'll be buying an undetectable and hiding it somewhere. Fuck the inland revenue coppersIf its hidden, don't worry about an "undetectable" one. When you get stopped, just turn it off with its hidden switch and look blankly at the occifer and shrug. The can only fine you for having a detector, not looking like you have one. Pretty sure they aren't allowed to pull parts off your car to find it.

DB

[Golgrin]

So yes I will turn off the Laser function as I agree that by the time its bleeping its probably too late......... but I want to get the KA stuff working as well as it used to...it used to warn me heaps in advance, and I feel the laser false alerts are symptoms that somethings not right also.
Will try the hot water cylinder therapy and am waiting to hear back from Parallel Imports to see what they can do.
Will keep you posted.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.

[MaxB]

You sound like you have a problem but have you considered that there are more and more laser devices out there? I have seen laser rangefinders on farm equipment, heavy plant, machine tools, even conveyor belts. As the cost comes down expect to find even more cheap Chinese lasers fitted to just about anything.

The Ka band dropping out is more of a problem.

[TimeOut]

So yes I will turn off the Laser function as I agree that by the time its bleeping its probably too late......... but I want to get the KA stuff working as well as it used to...it used to warn me heaps in advance

Cops are leaving radar off more now, only turning on for a suspect vehicle, trying to defeat dectors.
May be why you aren't getting as much warning.

[CookMySock]

The Ka band dropping out is more of a problem.EEEEK! THE Ka BAND IS GOING TO DROP OUT !!! ARRRRGGGGHHH!!!

DB (runs screaming..)

[Sparkz]

Hate to say it mate, but no ordinary electronic repair techie is going to be able to touch it. Only the manufacturers or somebody with fargin expensive microwave test gear would have a hope.

The microwave horn antennas are tuned with little screws and crap that can move due to the vibration on a bike, and would need to be hooked up to the proper test gear to get them properly aligned.

The laser side is easy, but any of the radar stuff is a whole different thing.

[idleidolidyll]

Cops are leaving radar off more now, only turning on for a suspect vehicle, trying to defeat dectors.
May be why you aren't getting as much warning.

That's a good point.
The smart way to use a radar detector is to be very careful when you know there's no traffic in front of you for miles. When there IS traffic, you are much more likely to pick up the instant on radar guns pinging the traffic in front. Any small Ka blip should be treated with concern, particularly if you have one of the better detectors.

Let that hoon in the WRX or on the R1 get past and use them as your radar trap.

[Golgrin]

And for those interested i found this site with lots of info esp if you search . http://www.radardetector.net/viewforum.php?f=8