Bay Area Radar wierdness?

[dandrews64]

SF Bay Area folks with radar detectors, I have a question:

I'm using an Escort Passport 8500 X50 (blue), and it has begun to behave oddly.

As you're all aware (or I'm totally wrong) our CHP friends and local cops use the Ka band. And for the most part, they're lazy and don't use instant on (is there a law?). X and K have always been false alerts.

Recently, in areas where I've been using detectors for years, I've started getting instant full-blown alerts on the K band. Out between Pleasanton and Tracy on 580 eastbound and now just in the last month or two in Marin, mostly southbound on 101 in the San Rafael/Corte Madera area. This is an immediate full-blown K alert - I nearly piss my pants most times.

I just recently went to Ice House Reservoir area outside of Placerville and back to Petaluma with none of these issues - it seems to be in certain spots.

Anybody else experiencing this development, or is my X50 starting to go insane? (or maybe I am!)

I wonder if CalTrans is doing something to measure traffic flow for the 511.org site?

[RoninLB]

I would get wacked at a certian spot after midnight 50% of the time I passed it. One night I decided to return to the area after getting wacked.. maybe 10sec after getting wacked. I couldn't find no PD and I examined every car in the area.

[cantdrv55]

Doug, come out to hwy 780 in Benicia. Same way, K band, all lights on. Can't find the the source and I drive it daily. There is a CHP office near here but the alert occurs way before that exit. I use a V1.

[kang]

Whenever I get a full-blown K-band alert in a remote area (no shopping center doors around), it’s one of those “Your Speed Is X” signs. You know the ones, they get your speed from K band radar and flash it on the sign for the world to see.

[kach22i]

Have you seen one of these hovering around?

[dandrews64]

Good, point, I do check the air and haven't seen anything. Doesn't mean they aren't there though....

[cbeers]

Doug, your avatar needs help

I plan on swinging by tomorrow night after work to check the cooler, you around?


-Chris

[addictionMS]

I drive that section of reoad a lot, and in the past month or so, there has been a bunch of radar installed on that and many other Bay Area highways. I think it is traffic monitoring radar. So they can remotely manage the traffic flow or study it atleast.

Very un-nerving to say the least. I have a V1 and it does not seem to have different sounds for the different radar types so it requires you to look at it everytime. Not Good.

If you pay attention you will see the radar on the lamp posts as you drive along.

Jim

[dandrews64]

yes the avatar is experiencing el squish-o to be pelican compliant. but it's better than the former - goofy Simpsons clown (I wanted the more appropriate drunk scotsman character, but didn't see it). Yours, however, is flawless!

Tomorrow night = bad. Tonight after 6:45=good.

[86 911]

I get full blasted K band alerts when I'm on 680 S sometimes. Usually it's from a cop coming in the other direction, I believe. I do keep getting a K band signal in the center of Lafayette that I believe is false since it always occurs, and there's no cop. The local cops here use K band, so fake signal or not, I'm still alert.

[singpilot]

Now THAT'S an avatar!

[dandrews64]

weekend bump

[86 911]

Originally posted by singpilot
Now THAT'S an avatar!

Thanks singpilot!

[pwd72s]

Burglar alarms, automatic door openers, airport radar, the list goes on. Any chance you were passing a shopping center or an industrial area?

[Steve Carlton]

I get K alerts and see the corresponding cop once in a while.

[dtfastbear]

Jim's right. They've recently installed traffic monitors that work as instant on radar on a bunch of Bay Area highways. You can see the units mounted on overhead signs if you look carefully. There is one just north of the Ralston exit on NB 101. It sets off my buddy's Valentine 1 every day on our way to lunch... He said there are another 3 or 4 units between there and SF on 101.

Dean

[Joe Bob]

There are units that hang on wires over the freeway.....my K band went nuts on five diff occasions on a recent trip up there. Saw them as I passed under....big thread on them on other lists...

[86 911]

Yes Mike, I noticed that too! My radar detector went off like crazy on 880 a few months ago. Haven't noticed much activity when I traveled 880 a week ago though. Strange

[dandrews64]

Cool, guys, thanks for the confirmation.

I've been looking for the traffic monitoring radars, haven't seen 'em yet, but I'll bet once I see on, I'll recognize them elsewhere.

Gonna look more tomorrow on the way to work (yuk!!!)

[dandrews64]

UPDATE: On the way home last night, same road I drive every day with no K band at all, I come up on a CHP on the side of the road. Line of cars in front of me. About 100 yards before I get to him, I get a low K alert (2 of 5 bars) for a moment and it's gone. Then as I go by him, I get full alert, all bars, instantly, then it's gone. Officer was also standing at edge of road (we shared a look that I wouldn't characterize as warm). A little wierd.

Seems the CHP may be testing instant-on with K band. I couldn't see if the ociffer standing next to the road was holding the radar unit or not, like he'd be gunning folks so the dude in the black-n-white can give chase.

Regardless, I'm now taking K alerts as seriously as Ka .

Beware.