California HIghway Patrol X-Band Radar, 11-99

[benaslan]

Okay, so I was rushing home yesterday, not feeling well and I was speeding in the TT (go figure). On my radar detector, I have X-Band disabled as California has not used X-Band radar in years and don't remember the last time I saw an officer using X-Band.

But he got me going 83, radar detector never went off. Anyone in CA noticed X-band recently or heard anything?

And yes, thank goodness that I'm a giving guy and donated to the wonderful organization of the CHP 11-99 Foundation. It saved my behind just as it does for the spouses of those great officers.

:thankyou:

Ben

[summoboy]

Okay, so I was rushing home yesterday, not feeling well and I was speeding in the TT (go figure). On my radar detector, I have X-Band disabled as California has not used X-Band radar in years and don't remember the last time I saw an officer using X-Band.

But he got me going 83, radar detector never went off. Anyone in CA noticed X-band recently or heard anything?

And yes, thank goodness that I'm a giving guy and donated to the wonderful organization of the CHP 11-99 Foundation. It saved my behind just as it does for the spouses of those great officers.

:thankyou:

Ben

I leave everything on for my V1, just in case. I did hit some x-band up north in Kali - near cambria, but not anywhere else that i remember. Maybe this forum can help: http://www.radardetector.net/

[70Sixter]

I leave everything on for my V1, just in case. I did hit some x-band up north in Kali - near cambria, but not anywhere else that i remember. Maybe this forum can help: http://www.radardetector.net/

Some tell me there is no X-band here in NC. But I leave X on my RX-65, and it alerts on some deputy sheriffs and some small town cops.

Several months ago a state unit with X-band was working US-17 from various median crossovers. I picked it up from miles away. Interestingly he somehow turned the radar off and moved to a new position where he reactivated it. He got two cars while I watched from afar. The effect was like instant-on. But I thought instant-on did not work with X-band.

You guys got me thinking---maybe cops are starting to realize people are not detecting X. And all the false alarms are good camouflage for the real thing. Zap, instant revenue.

[benaslan]

You guys got me thinking---maybe cops are starting to realize people are not detecting X. And all the false alarms are good camouflage for the real thing. Zap, instant revenue.

Yeah, well the thing is, I saw about 15 highway patrol yesterday...they were everywhere! But every single one I saw was a patrol CAR using Ka Band, which is what they use 99% of the time here. The one that got me was a new looking MOTORCYCLE, so he either must have had X band, or he had some new technology. I suppose it's possible that he has laser and my detector didn't get it, but I don't even have a front plate, so I would think he would have a hard time. I wish I would have asked him, but y'll know that stupid saying about not biting a gift horse in the mouth or something like that. I was just happy not to get the ticket.

[hmrdwn2]

A few years back I was working up on hwy 46 between Paso Robles and Cambria(Earthquake repair on the hwy). I drive a Peterbilt transfer and was stopped at a traffic control flagger. I usually pull off onto the shoulder so the cars can get around me after the flag man lets them go.... Well here comes a CHP along side my truck. I figure this would be a good time to ask a few friendly questions. Reason being was that a week earlier I was going to L.A. (in my car) I always used a detector back then. I saw 5 CHP cruisers the whole trip... Not once did my detector go off! So that's the question I ask this guy.... What gives?! He held up a remote control and said that if a guy is trained right on the radar system and he uses it correctly, you'll probably get a beep on the radar detector and it's all over. No it's not POP tech (im not sure if Calif uses it) . But it just occurs suddenly and he shuts it off so as not to set off detectors down the road. He also told me that most CHP are often lazy and leave the guns on while on the highway. But if they were doing it right they should be able to get you with nary a beep. That was 4 or so yrs ago and I have not carried a detector since then. But what I did get from that CHP was an eye opener as to their procedure. If that helps get you closer to an answer , great... Oh and good luck out there! Go fast on the back country roads not where th man owns the road i.e. THE BIG ROAD Oh and carry a box of dounts for chaff just in case!!!! :P

[ard.]

Okay, so I was rushing home yesterday, not feeling well and I was speeding in the TT (go figure). On my radar detector, I have X-Band disabled as California has not used X-Band radar in years and don't remember the last time I saw an officer using X-Band.

But he got me going 83, radar detector never went off. Anyone in CA noticed X-band recently or heard anything?

And yes, thank goodness that I'm a giving guy and donated to the wonderful organization of the CHP 11-99 Foundation. It saved my behind just as it does for the spouses of those great officers.

:thankyou:

Ben

WHy are you sure he used radar????

They generally don't have a 'selectable' gun, nor do they have a stockpile of various frequencies. CHP uses Ka.

What kind of radar detector? where is it mounted?

A

Edited May 22, 2008 by ard.

[benaslan]

Okay, so I was rushing home yesterday, not feeling well and I was speeding in the TT (go figure). On my radar detector, I have X-Band disabled as California has not used X-Band radar in years and don't remember the last time I saw an officer using X-Band.

But he got me going 83, radar detector never went off. Anyone in CA noticed X-band recently or heard anything?

And yes, thank goodness that I'm a giving guy and donated to the wonderful organization of the CHP 11-99 Foundation. It saved my behind just as it does for the spouses of those great officers.

:thankyou:

Ben

WHy are you sure he used radar????

They generally don't have a 'selectable' gun, nor do they have a stockpile of various frequencies. CHP uses Ka.

What kind of radar detector? where is it mounted?

A

I nver said anything about a "selectable" gun, I said he likely had X-Band. How do I know he used radar? Because he told me he clocked me at 83 Mph. Detector? Escort 9500i mounted on the windshield.

Again, I'm not positive about anything he did since I didn't ask and I don't have a ticket that says what he used either...that's why I'm asking if anyone has seen X-Band recently. I now have my X-Band turned on my detector, so I'll be sure to report if I see anyone using it.

Ben

[70Sixter]

You guys got me thinking about a new X-band technology possibility. My earlier post noted an NC trooper with an X-band that acted like an instant-on. I wrote that off as impossible.

Maybe not.

[ard.]

Hey Ben-

Although I quoted you, my comments about the selectable gun were in general.

He said "Clocked"... who knows. Could well be he chose his words to make (or allow) you to think one thing when he really didn't have a radar signal on you. They can 'clock' you by pacing or visual estimate.

Still, food for thought...

A

[Dus10R]

Okay, so I was rushing home yesterday, not feeling well and I was speeding in the TT (go figure). On my radar detector, I have X-Band disabled as California has not used X-Band radar in years and don't remember the last time I saw an officer using X-Band.

But he got me going 83, radar detector never went off. Anyone in CA noticed X-band recently or heard anything?

And yes, thank goodness that I'm a giving guy and donated to the wonderful organization of the CHP 11-99 Foundation. It saved my behind just as it does for the spouses of those great officers.

:thankyou:

Ben

Does your detector pick-up POP? They're not supposed to use it but who's going to know. Just like they're not supposed to use stop watches from planes but who's going to know. Funny thing, my Bell & Ross has a Tachymeter on it and last time I drove over the hill from Tahoe down I80, right around Applegate, there are these big thick white stripes painted on the road... so I started my tachymeter at the first white stripe that I saw and stopped it at the next big thick white stripe farther down the road and wouldn't you know it... they're exactly 1,000 Meters apart. I was driving exactly 70mph and my watch said 70mph right on the dot. Wish I would have noticed that last year when I got a ticket in my EVO down there, by the cop airplane... speed traps in Cali are not allowed, and using a stopwatch from a plane is considered a speed trap because they have to use a measured off distance; they can use a plane, but they're supposed to pace you.. and all planes read ground speed right? Uh no... would have fought that one if I would have known that at the time.

I don't know how you could keep k-band on in N. Cal let alone x-band; at least anywhere near the Bay or San Jose.

I was just down there over the weekend and they have those devices all over the place that I assume measure traffic flow; and they use a quick but strong burst of k-band almost every 17 seconds or so. My k-band would peg out just about every couple miles, but there were never any cops anywhere just these little white tube shaped devices mounted to poles. It was annoying...

Edited July 22, 2008 by Dus10R

[Black Z Eddie]

A few months ago, I was on Angelest Crest area and my radar dectector picked X band. I ignored it thinking it was some random signal or something. I've never ever before seen a cop whenever X band went off. Then, around a corner, I passed a CHP going the other way. I wasn't speeding so I wasn't worried. I thought it was just coincidence. About 20 miles the road, the X band went off again. Like the last time, I ignored it. Sure enough, there was another CHP going the other way.

My conclusion: On small back roads where they don't need such a narrow band, X band is definitely still being used. So, when I'm in the city, I turn off X. When I'm the canyons, I leave everything on.

[ait109]

... Escort 9500i mounted on the windshield...

Ben

Not to go too OT, but I thought that it was illegal in CA to have anything attached to your windshield (radar detector, GPS, Sat radio, etc.) Any mention of that by the officer?

Ed

[Dus10R]

... Escort 9500i mounted on the windshield...

Ben

Not to go too OT, but I thought that it was illegal in CA to have anything attached to your windshield (radar detector, GPS, Sat radio, etc.) Any mention of that by the officer?

Ed

I don't think they have a law like that; my truck drivers run a device that's issued by the state called Quick Pass and they recommend mounting it to the windshield.

[benaslan]

Update to this post... I was driving along Hwy 17 a few days ago, not speeding, my detector on... It didn't detect anything, this time either. I'm betting he used laser though. I got a better look at him since he was so close to me when I passed. It was a blue gun and he was looking through it to aim.

[judgejon]

Okay, so I was rushing home yesterday, not feeling well and I was speeding in the TT (go figure). On my radar detector, I have X-Band disabled as California has not used X-Band radar in years and don't remember the last time I saw an officer using X-Band.

But he got me going 83, radar detector never went off. Anyone in CA noticed X-band recently or heard anything?

And yes, thank goodness that I'm a giving guy and donated to the wonderful organization of the CHP 11-99 Foundation. It saved my behind just as it does for the spouses of those great officers.

:thankyou:

Ben

Oregon State Troopers, generally great guys by the way, are using x-band.