Owner’s Manual
Stay Alert
X•K•Ka Superwide Radar/
Laser Detector
Please read before using this equipment.
Cat. No. 22-1679
City/Highway Modes — let you minimize alerts when you are
in areas that have false radar sources.
FAST (False Alert Suppression Technology) — helps pre-
vent false alarms caused by non-traffic radar sources.
Auto Quiet — lets you set the radar detector to give you a full-
volume alert for about 5 seconds, then reduce its alert to mini-
mum volume.
Dim/Dark Modes — let you dim the display for nighttime oper-
ation, or have the radar detector go completely dark whenever
it detects traffic radar signals.
Your radar/laser detector includes the following items:
• Power Cord
• Windshield Bracket with Suction Cups
• Hook and Loop Fastener
We recommend you record your detector’s serial number here.
The number is on the detector’s bottom panel.
Serial Number: _________________________________
Important: Some areas have laws regulating the use of radar
detectors. Check with your local law enforcement agency
about the laws in your area.
One or more of the following patents apply: 4,315,261;
5,146,227; 5,379,456. Other patents pending.
3
CONTENTS
A Quick Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Mounting Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Hook-and-Loop Tape Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Windshield Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Connecting Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Turning the Detector On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Adjusting the Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Muting Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using Auto Quiet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Selecting the City and Highway Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Dimming the Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Setting the VG-2 Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Receiving and Identifying Alert Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Using Stay Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Replacing the Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4
A QUICK LOOK
1
2
Power Jack — the power cable plugs in here.
Rear Laser Detection Lens — receives incoming laser
signals from the rear.
3
4
Speaker — sounds distinct warnings.
MUTE Button — press before a radar/laser signal is
detected to reduce the level of audio alerts that sound
when there is a signal. Press after a signal is detected to
silence the alert, while still showing visual alerts to keep
you informed.
5
High Visibility Alphanumeric Display — provides dis-
tinct visual confirmation of signals detected and signal
strength, and indicates the selected operating modes.
5
6
7
8
9
CITY Button — reduces false alerts typically encountered
in urban driving areas.
DARK Button — changes the display to dim or dark, and
turns the VG-2 option on or off.
PWR/VOL (Power/Volume) Control — turns the detector
on and off and lets you adjust the volume.
Bracket Release Button — lets you quickly remove the
detector’s bracket.
10 Front Laser Detection Lens — receives incoming laser
signals from the front.
11 Radar Detection Antenna — receives incoming radar
signals.
12 Mounting Bracket Slot — holds the windshield mounting
bracket.
6
INSTALLATION
MOUNTING GUIDELINES
Follow these guidelines when selecting a location.
• Choose a location that does not block the driver’s view of
the road.
• Mount the detector in a level position with a clear view to
both the front and rear.
• The detector’s view of the road must not be blocked by any
metal object.
• Some vehicles have InstaClear or ElectriClear defogging
windshields, which have metal coatings that block signals.
General Motor’s APV vans have a solar shield that keeps
the vehicle cooler during the summer, but also blocks sig-
nals. A detector installed in a vehicle with any of these fea-
tures will probably not detect a signal.
• Since window tinting reduces the received strength of laser
signals, you should not mount the detector behind any
tinted glass.
• Do not mount the detector where the driver or a passenger
might hit it in a sudden stop or accident.
Caution: Whichever mounting method you choose, place the
detector out of view when you leave the vehicle. This keeps
the detector out of sight of thieves and prevents exposing it to
extremely high temperatures, which can temporarily impair
performance.
7
HOOK-AND-LOOP TAPE MOUNTING
For some dashboards, the hook-and-loop tape included with
your detector might be best for mounting. Follow these steps to
use the hook-and-loop tape.
1. Use a damp cloth to clean the bottom of the detector and
the dashboard. Let both surfaces dry.
Note: The tape’s adhesive might not stick to a surface
treated with vinyl cleaner or protectant.
2. Remove the tape’s backing and stick the tape to the bottom
of the detector.
Note: Do not place the hook-and-loop tape over the detec-
tor’s serial number.
Serial
Number
On a curved dashboard, cut the supplied strip in half and
use one strip on each side of the bottom of the detector.
3. Remove the backing from the other side of the tape and
press the detector onto the dashboard.
8
WINDSHIELD MOUNTING
The supplied suction-cup windshield bracket lets you easily
mount the detector on the windshield.
Caution: Do not use the bracket in a vehicle that has a plastic
coating on the windshield designed to protect passengers dur-
ing an accident. If you use the bracket on this type of wind-
shield, you might permanently mar the windshield’s surface.
1. Align the groove in each suction
cup with the slots in the wind-
illus of suction cup
shield bracket and slide the suc-
installation in
tion cups out until they lock into
place.
windshield bracket
2. Clean the selected windshield
area, position the bracket on the
windshield, and press firmly on
each suction cup to secure it in
place.
3. Slide the detector onto the base
plate until it snaps into place.
9
To level the detector, press the
bracket release button to remove the
detector from the bracket. Then bend
the bracket.
illus of bracket
release button
location
10
CONNECTING POWER
Caution:
• Use only the supplied power cord. If your power cord is lost
or damaged, you can order a replacement cord from your
local RadioShack store.
• Before plugging the power cord’s cigarette-lighter plug into
your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket, make sure the plug’s
tip is screwed firmly onto the plug. See “Replacing the
Fuse” on Page 23 for more information about the cigarette-
lighter plug.
• Unplug the power cord’s cigarette-lighter plug from your
vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket when you turn off the igni-
tion. This prevents your vehicle’s battery from being drained
if you leave the detector on when you turn off the ignition.
Plug the supplied power cord’s barrel plug into the detector’s
power jack. Then plug the cord’s cigarette-lighter plug into your
vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
Note: If the detector does not operate when you turn it on,
remove the cigarette-lighter plug from your vehicle’s socket
and check the socket for ashes and other debris. Also check
the fuse in the cigarette-lighter plug and your vehicle’s fuse
block (see “Replacing the Fuse” on Page 23).
11
OPERATION
TURNING THE DETECTOR ON AND OFF
To turn on the detector, turn PWR/VOL clockwise.
The detector sounds a distinctive alert and displays the indica-
tors for each alert type as a self test, in this order:
Alert Type
Audible Alert
Visual Alert
X
Low steady
X
9
K
High trill
K
9
9
Ka
Medium warble
Low-high
High-low
None
Ka
Safety
Laser
VG-2
SAFETY
LASER
HIGHWAY
To turn off the detector, turn PWR/VOL counterclockwise.
See “Receiving and Identifying Alert Signals” on Page 15 for
more information about alerts.
ADJUSTING THE VOLUME
To increase the detector’s volume, turn PWR/VOL clockwise. To
decrease the volume, turn PWR/VOL counterclockwise.
12
MUTING ALERTS
While a radar, laser, or safety warning alert is sounding, you
can press MUTE to temporarily silence the detector for the cur-
rent alert and any new alert that it receives within 20 seconds.
Visual alerts are not affected.
USING AUTO QUIET
Auto Quiet reduces the selected audio level to a clicking alert
about 5 seconds after it detects a radar signal. The clicking
alert sounds at the minimum level for any new signal received
within 20 seconds. VG-2 or laser alerts are not affected.
To turn on Auto Quiet, press MUTE when the detector is not
sounding an alert. The detector displays AUTOthen QUIET.
To turn off Auto Quiet, press MUTE when the detector is not
sounding an alert.
SELECTING THE CITY AND
HIGHWAY MODES
Your detector’s CITY and CITY 1 modes are designed to
reduce annoying false alerts triggered by automatic door
openers, intrusion alarms, and other devices that share fre-
quencies with police radar. In the CITY 1 mode, only X-band
sensitivity is lowered.
Note: The city modes have no effect on laser or VG-2 opera-
tion.
13
To select the CITY mode, press CITY once. The detector dis-
plays CITY. If the detector receives a weak speed/safety radar
signal in the CITY mode, it beeps twice, then remains quiet
unless the signal becomes very strong. If the signal strength
increases, the detector again beeps twice.
To select the CITY 1 mode, press CITY twice. The detector dis-
plays CITY 1.
To cancel the city modes, press CITY a third time. The detector
displays HIGHWAY. The highway mode provides maximum
alert response for open-road driving.
DIMMING THE DISPLAY
To dim the display, press DARK once. The detector displays
DIM, then the display dims.
To make the display black out, press DARK again. The detector
displays DARK, then blacks out. The display dims when it is
not detecting a signal, and blacks out entirely while it is receiv-
ing a signal and for 20 seconds after the signal.
Press DARK a third time to restore the display to full bright-
ness.
14
SETTING THE VG-2 OPTION
VG-2 is a system used by some law enforcement agencies to
detect the use of radar detectors in vehicles. The VG-2 system
detects the weak radio signals used in radar detectors. Your
radar detector can sense a VG-2 system and shift its operating
frequencies out of the range detected by VG-2, making your
radar detector essentially invisible to this system.
To turn on the VG-2 option, hold down DARK for 2 seconds.
The detector displays VG2ON.
Press DARK again to turn off the VG-2 option. The detector
displays VG2OFF.
Notes:
• Your detector does not detect speed radar when VG-2 has
been detected.
• If you want to use the VG-2 option, you must turn it on when
you turn the detector on.
RECEIVING AND IDENTIFYING
ALERT SIGNALS
Your detector gives different audible and visual alerts for each
signal. In addition, the alert tone pulse rate increases with sig-
nal strength and the detector displays a digit from 1 to 9 to indi-
cate the signal strength (1 is weakest and 9 is strongest).
When your detector senses instant-on radar, it sounds an
intense, 3-second tone and displays PULSE.
15
Safety Radar Alerts
Your radar detector detects all safety radar including the new
Safety Warning System. This system provides advanced warn-
ing of hazards and lets you respond appropriately to potentially
dangerous conditions.
Note: Not all areas have Safety Warning System transmitters.
Your radar detector only alerts you to hazards if the area you
are in has transmitters sending signals.
When your radar detector encounters safety radar, it sounds a
distinctive tone and displays the signal strength. In addition,
your radar detector displays CAUTIONand informs you of the
type of hazard by displaying one of 60 defined messages.
Display
WORK ZONE
ROAD CLOSED DETOUR
BRIDGE CLOSED DETOUR Bridge Closed Ahead/Follow Detour
Road Hazard Detected
Work Zone Ahead
Road Closed Ahead/Follow Detour
HIGHWAY WORK CREWS
UTILITY WORK CREWS
FOLLOW DETOUR
Highway Work Crews Ahead
Utility Work Crews Ahead
All Traffic Follow Detour Ahead
TRUCKS FOLLOW DETOUR All Trucks Follow Detour Ahead
EXIT AHEAD
All Traffic Exit Ahead
RIGHT LANE CLOSED
CENTER LANE CLOSED
Right Lane Closed Ahead
Center Lane Closed Ahead
16
Display
Road Hazard Detected
Left Lane Closed Ahead
LEFT LANE CLOSED
STANDING POLICE VEHICLE Stationary Police Vehicle Ahead
TRAIN AT CROSSING
LOW OVERPASS
Train Approaching/At Crossing
Low Overpass Ahead
Drawbridge Up
DRAW BRIDGE
BRIDGE WEIGHT LIMIT
ROCK SLIDE AREA
SCHOOL ZONE
Observe Bridge Weight Limit
Rock Slide Area Ahead
School Zone Ahead
ROAD NARROWS
SHARP CURVE
Road Narrows Ahead
Sharp Curve Ahead
PEDEST CROSSING
DEER CROSSING
BLIND DEAF CHILD
Pedestrian Crossing Ahead
Deer/Moose Crossing
Blind/Deaf Child Area
STEEP GRADE LOW GEAR Steep Grade Ahead/Truck Use Low
Gear
ACCIDENT
Accident Ahead
POOR ROAD SURFACE
SCHOOL BUS LOADING
NO PASSING ZONE
DANGER INTERSEC
Poor Road Surface Ahead
School Bus Loading/Unloading
No Passing Zone
Dangerous Intersection Ahead
STANDING EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
Stationary Emergency Vehicle
Ahead
17
Display
HIGH WIND
Road Hazard Detected
High Wind Ahead
SEVERE WEATHER
HEAVY FOG
Severe Weather Ahead
Heavy Fog Ahead
WATER FLOODING
ICE ON BRIDGE
High Water/Flooding Ahead
Ice On Bridge Ahead
ICE ON ROAD
Ice On Road Ahead
BLOWING DUST
Blowing Dust Ahead
BLOWING SAND
BLOWING SNOW
REST AREA
Blowing Sand Ahead
Blowing Snow White Out Ahead
Rest Area Ahead
REST SERVICE AHEAD
24 HOUR FUEL SERVICE
INSPECT STATION OPEN
Rest Area With Service Ahead
24 Hour Fuel Service Ahead
Inspection Station Open
INSPECT STATION CLOSED Inspection Station Closed
REDUCED SPEED AREA
SPEED LIMIT ENFORCED
HAZARD’S MATERLS EXIT
Reduced Speed Area Ahead
Speed Limit Enforced
Hazardous Materials Exit Ahead
CONGESTD TRAFFIC DELAY Congestion Ahead/Expect Delay
EXPECT 10 MIN DELAY
EXPECT 20 MIN DELAY
EXPECT 30 MIN DELAY
Expect 10 Minute Delay
Expect 20 Minute Delay
Expect 30 Minute Delay
18
Display
Road Hazard Detected
Expect 1 Hour Delay
EXPECT 1 HOUR DELAY
TRAFFIC ALERT TUNE AM
RADIO
Traffic Alert/Tune AM Radio
PAY TOLL
Pay Toll Ahead
TRUCKS EXIT RIGHT
TRUCKS EXIT LEFT
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
POLICE PURSUIT
OVERSIZE VEHICLE
SLOW MOVING VEHICLE
CAUTION
Trucks Exit Right
Trucks Exit Left
Emergency Vehicle in Transit
Police in Pursuit
Oversize Vehicle in Transit
Slow Moving Vehicle
General Warning For An Unspecified
Hazard
Laser Audio/Visual Alerts
When your radar detector detects a laser signal from ahead or
behind, the laser audio sounds and the radar detector displays
LASERfor as long as the signal is present (for a minimum of 3
seconds).
Any laser alert, regardless of duration, requires immediate
action! If you are the targeted vehicle, a laser gun can often
determine your speed within seconds after you receive an
alert. However, if you are traveling near or behind the targeted
vehicle and receive an alert, you should have time to respond.
19
USING STAY ALERT
Stay Alert helps you test your alertness behind the wheel by
sounding beeps and asking if you are alert.
Warning: Stay Alert is not intended as a substitute for ade-
quate rest. You should not operate a motor vehicle if you are
drowsy. During extended periods of vehicle operation, you
should take frequent breaks. Improper reliance on the Stay
Alert feature might result in vehicle damage, personal injury, or
death. Never operate a vehicle if you are drowsy.
1. Hold down CITY for 2 seconds until the detector displays RU
ALERT, then rings.
2. When the detector rings, press DARK, CITY, or MUTE within
3–5 seconds.
If you press DARK, CITY, or MUTE within 3–5 seconds, the
detector rings again every 30–60 seconds.
If you do not press a button within 3–5 seconds, an alarm
sounds and the detector displays GET REST.
3. To turn off Stay Alert, turn off the detector.
20
TROUBLESHOOTING
If you have problems operating your radar/laser detector, the
suggestions in this section might help. If you cannot solve the
problem after trying these suggestions, take your detector to
your local RadioShack store for assistance.
If the detector does not turn on:
• Be sure all power connections are secure.
• Check the fuse that controls power to the cigarette-lighter
socket. See your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
• Check the fuse in the cigarette-lighter plug. See “Replacing
the Fuse” on Page 23.
• The cigarette-lighter socket might be dirty. Clean it to give a
good, clean connection.
Caution: Do not place any metal object other than the ciga-
rette lighter or a cigarette-lighter plug in the cigarette-lighter
socket. Doing so could blow a fuse in your vehicle or cause
the metal object to become very hot.
If the detector gives a false alert when the vehicle hits
bumps in the road:
• Check the power connections.
21
If the detector gives a false alert when you use accesso-
ries such as power windows, motorized mirrors, brakes,
and so on:
• Check the vehicle’s electrical system, including the main
battery cable and alternator connections.
• Install a filter capacitor (1,000 µf, 35 volts, such as Cat. No.
272-1032) on the back of the cigarette-lighter socket, across
the power connections.
If the detector performs the power on self-test (see “Turn-
ing the Detector On and Off” on Page 12), but does not
respond to radar signals when you see a police car:
• A police car might not be equipped with radar, or might be
using instant-on radar and not have the radar gun triggered
(see the separate booklet Questions and Answers About
Vehicle Speed Detection).
• Police might be using VASCAR-type speed detection (see
the separate booklet Questions and Answers About Vehicle
Speed Detection).
If the detector has poor laser detection range:
• Be sure the laser detection lenses are not blocked.
• Use lens-cleaning solution to clean the laser detection
lenses and the windshield.
22
REPLACING THE FUSE
If the detector stops operating, check the fuse in the DC power
cord’s cigarette-lighter plug. If it has blown, follow these steps
1
to replace it with a 2-Amp, 11/4 × /4 mm, fast-acting fuse (Cat.
No. 270-1007).
Caution: Using a fuse that does not meet these ratings or
defeating the fuse protection can damage your detector or the
vehicle’s electrical system.
1. Carefully unscrew the tip of the cigarette-lighter plug.
2. Remove the tip from the cigarette-lighter plug, then remove
the old fuse.
Note: Take care not to lose the spring inside the holder or
the metal ring.
3. Replace the fuse.
4. Press the cigarette-lighter plug’s tip down into the body,
then screw it back in.
Caution: Be sure you press the cigarette-lighter plug’s tip
down before screwing it in, or you might damage the plug.
23
Limited One-Year Warranty
This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and
workmanship under normal use for one (1) year from the date of purchase from
RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and deal-
ers. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack MAKES NO EXPRESS WARRAN-
TIES AND ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO THE
DURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIES CONTAINED HEREIN. EXCEPT
AS PROVIDED HEREIN, RadioShack SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBIL-
ITY TO CUSTOMER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY WITH RESPECT TO ANY
LIABILITY, LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY USE OR PER-
FORMANCE OF THE PRODUCT OR ARISING OUT OF ANY BREACH OF THIS WAR-
RANTY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM
INCONVENIENCE, LOSS OF TIME, DATA, PROPERTY, REVENUE, OR PROFIT OR
ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF
RadioShack HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Some states do not allow the limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts or the ex-
clusion of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions
may not apply to you.
In the event of a product defect during the warranty period, take the product and the
RadioShack sales receipt as proof of purchase date to any RadioShack store.
RadioShack will, at its option, unless otherwise provided by law: (a) correct the defect by
product repair without charge for parts and labor; (b) replace the product with one of the
same or similar design; or (c) refund the purchase price. All replaced parts and products,
and products on which a refund is made, become the property of RadioShack. New or re-
conditioned parts and products may be used in the performance of warranty service. Re-
paired or replaced parts and products are warranted for the remainder of the original
warranty period. You will be charged for repair or replacement of the product made after
the expiration of the warranty period.
This warranty does not cover: (a) damage or failure caused by or attributable to acts of
God, abuse, accident, misuse, improper or abnormal usage, failure to follow instructions,
improper installation or maintenance, alteration, lightning or other incidence of excess
voltage or current; (b) any repairs other than those provided by a RadioShack Authorized
Service Facility; (c) consumables such as fuses or batteries; (d) cosmetic damage; (e)
transportation, shipping or insurance costs; or (f) costs of product removal, installation,
set-up service adjustment or reinstallation.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which
vary from state to state.
RadioShack Customer Relations, Dept. W, 100 Throckmorton St., Suite 600,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
We Service What We Sell
3/97
RadioShack
A Division of Tandy Corporation
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
7/97
Printed in the U.S.A.
|