Adaptiv Technologies, the producers of the TPX motorcycle Radar Detectors, have just released the v2.0 iteration of their product.
Because I have had a couple of build quality issues with my v1.0 unit, the kind souls at AT have sent me a v2.0 replacement unit at no cost to myself. Very generous I thought since none of the issues ever interfered with the functioning of the original unit - at least not after rectifying the problems and since the issues happened well after expiry of the warranty period. Nonetheless, these people have enough belief in what they are doing and the product they produce, to go to such lengths to keep a far distant customer more than happy. Well done I say.
First, the issues with v1.0. The unit broke free from the baseplate that it is mounted on. Originally glued in place, the glue failed. I reglued it on advice from AT. Twice, since the first glue (regular Araldite) failed after a couple of months. A second attempt, using Selley's "plastic glue" (a two solution product) was much more successful with no further issues in the following eight months.
Second issue related to the first. After regluing the baseplate the unit had problems with the power lead plug in. It would lose power and reboot at regular intervals. Really annoying on a long trip. This problem was solved by sticking a rubber band round the unit to hold the power plug more tightly to the socket. AT told me that this was common if the baseplate had been reglued.
So. This second issue has been rectified in v2.0. The unit now has a short power lead as an integral part of the unit itself. The wiring loom plugs into this short lead instead of into the unit itself. In other words they have moved the plug in point out of the unit itself and down a short lead. Which should be a lot more secure.
The most important modification though is increased sensitivity in all bands. I ran a basic test on this yesterday by travelling towards a known speed sign. These fire out a K band signal. Compared to the original v1. unit, the v2.0 detected this signal about 25% further out. Which is definitely worth having. It should be noted that the detector lit up as soon as I got into the line of sight of the sign. The approach is up out of a gully and around a corner. Given a longer straight road, it may have picked up the signal further out again. It did let me know before I was fully round the corner, but did not pick up the signal when I was down in the dip.
There are other mods in the v2.0. More options for filtering out X and K bands as well as a choice of city or highway mode. I've never used any of these anyway so have no real opinion on how useful they are.
So, better sensitivity and better build quality. Both worth having. And still waterproof and shockproof as well. And very bike friendly, having been "designed by bikers for bikers"...big fat glove friendly buttons, LCD readout, LED visual alert and optional wireless headset. Oh and it works fine in the car as well if you just jig up some way of holding it steady and rig a power lead from the ciggie socket. I think you can actually buy a car lead for it but I made mine myself.
I'd buy one again.
I'll add to this review in future weeks if I find anything else worthy of comment.
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Originally Posted by chrispy121
) but you're right (Got my K, Ka & Ku's confused! Dunno why they all have to have Ksomething!) - the very latest (digital) ones use K band, but not as you used to know it, it's a lower frequency than the old ones (and the old K band mobile radars) and low power as well, so very hard to detect until you're almost on top of them, even with a very good detector. That said though there still are Ka band cameras in use around the place.
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