Does adaptive cruise control set off radar detectors?
 

I have read about so-called "adaptive" cruise control systems being offered on Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Audi & other cars. MB calls theirs "Distronic".

The systems employ radar to monitor the distance between your car & the car in front, & they use a combination of throttle & braking action to maintain a safe/constant distance.

Around 1992 or so, I drove a car with an experimental version of such a system on a Cadillac when I worked at GM. It is weird at first, not putting your foot on the brake pedal when a car in front slows/stops. It will actually bring your car to a complete stop several feet behind another car if it stops. Then your car will accelerate as the car in front moves again.

My question is, because these systems utilize radar, will they set off radar detectors? As they become increasingly mainstream, they could potentially be a real pain in the you-know-what when running a radar detector. I am hoping they operate on a different radar wavelength.

Does anybody know?

Thanks.

I believe it does.

The Distronic system will at times, yes.

I'm pretty sure that the Mercedes system is working at something like 6 Ghz RF since one of my customers has product in those systems. What what sort of frequencies are police Radars working on?

10.500 - 10.550 GHz (X band)
24.050 - 24.250 GHz (K band)
33.400 - 36.000 GHz (Ka band)
13.400 - 13.500 GHz (Ku band): not used in U.S.
820 - 950 nanometers (Laser)

Based on that, you'd think that 6 GHz wouldn't set off a detector then, but I've been told that a newer MB with that system "definitely" will - this was by a friend of mine with a V1. Hmm. . . Dunno. Maybe it really doesn't work at 6 GHz or there's some kind of frequency harmonic thing at work? Got me.

There are other systems out there too. Pretty sure Jaguar has adaptive cruise now, possibly a couple of others.

Jeff, now that you mention it, the Mercedes system is up at 24 GHz which -- not 6 GHz (different project). So this would be pretty close to the K band.

Answer: Yes.
Lexus systems especially so -

Re: Does adaptive cruise control set off radar detectors?
 

Infinitis SUV sets off my V1 Laser warning every couple of seconds if they are behind me. They suck. Occasionally a cheap radar detector will set my detector off if they are right behind me. Also neon signs and some LED tail lights will set off the laser warning. I've never noticed anything else about a car that set it off, but then there's probably not many people running cruise in Houston.