V-1 False Alarms in '84 Carrera

[gtc]

I'm getting K-Band false alarms on my Valentine 1 radar detector in my '84 Carrera. Has anyone else had a problem like this?

This is my setup, and what happens.
Valentine 1 running on the cigarette lighter power adapter. (Purchased in June '07, so it should be pretty up-to-date) I have it mounted in the center of the windshield, about 2-3 inches above the dash.
'84 Carrera Targa - Pretty stock. No crazy stereo equipment or aftermarket electronics except for a Clifford alarm with motion sensor installed by P.O.

What happens is that I get one rearward K-Band alert, usually about 3 bars in strength. It will last a few seconds, then drop down to 2, then 1 bar, then go away completely for 5 or 10 seconds before the cycle repeats itself. I usually mute the alert, and because it comes back so quickly the V1 will keep subsequent alerts muted as well, but an unfortunate side effect is that legitimate radar alerts are muted while this is happening.

Patterns I've noticed:
-The problem seems to begin when the engine is warm, especially when restarting a warm engine.
-It seems to begin when I'm above 3000 rpm, but will continue even when idling at a stoplight thereafter.
-Sometimes I'll have the problem, then I'll stop somewhere (a store for instance), get back in the car, and the problem will be gone.
-Once it begins, the problem usually lasts the whole car trip until the car is shut off for a little while.

Any ideas for where to look? Is there anything that would be generating K-band radio? I wouldn't think ignition wire interference could be causing this (I'm running magnecor 8.5s for the record).

I realize my first order of business should be to unhook the motion sensor for the alarm, but I don't know why it would be working while the alarm is disarmed anyway.

Thanks for the tips,
Graham

UPDATE: It was the Clifford alarm's proximity sensor. From the clifford website:

This digital signal processing (DSP) radar sensor's outer perimeter warning zone provides an invisible shield up to a foot outside the closed windows and convertible top. The interior zone instantly blasts the full alarm if someone leans into the passenger compartment. Especially recommended for convertibles and other soft-sided or open vehicles.

[RWebb]

- how far are you from the sub base at Bremerton?

- any other military bases where you drive? (esp. air fields)

- otherwise, where and what traffic conditions does this happen in? are you near the rear of any newer trucks, cars with LED taillights?

- what did Valentine say when you called them?

- can you head out into the country or over the passes to E. Wash. & test?

[surflvr911sc]

Highway Patrol doesn't use K-band, so I have X & K turned off. Ka is the only thing that matters, imo. Laser, well you're probably screwed anyway.

[Quicksilver]

Originally Posted by surflvr911sc

Highway Patrol doesn't use K-band, so I have X & K turned off. Ka is the only thing that matters, imo. Laser, well you're probably screwed anyway.

In SoCal they don't use X so I have that shut off. I have seen some small town's local cops using K. When you go out of state on vacation you need to turn all of it back on. I've found that small police departments out in the sticks often have really old equipment...

[gtc]

Originally Posted by RWebb

- how far are you from the sub base at Bremerton?

- any other military bases where you drive? (esp. air fields)

- otherwise, where and what traffic conditions does this happen in? are you near the rear of any newer trucks, cars with LED taillights?

- what did Valentine say when you called them?

- can you head out into the country or over the passes to E. Wash. & test?

-I'm really far away from bremerton.
-traffic doesn't seem to be a factor. I get the occasional LED taillight alert, but that's laser.
-haven't talked to Valentine yet
-it happened to me up in BFE British Columbia a few weeks ago (there were other 911s around, but no civilization for miles)

Originally Posted by surflvr911sc

Highway Patrol doesn't use K-band, so I have X & K turned off. Ka is the only thing that matters, imo. Laser, well you're probably screwed anyway.

Some of the fuzz up here still use K band, so I can't really turn it off, unfortunately.

[Netspeed]

I get false alarms from the vehicles with adaptive cruise control. It's really annoying...especially in traffic.

Call Valentine or email them. I wouldn't be surprised if Mike Valentine personally responded....he did with my inquiry a couple of years back.

[rusnak]

You can also turn down the sensitivity to K band.

I'm waiting for them to upgrade the reaction speed of their processor. If you write to Mike, ask him about that. Oh yeah, and why can't they make the different bands different light colors, and make the level colors go from yellow to red to white, like an F1 tachometer?

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Lexuses and Jaguars with laser-based adaptive cruise control will set off Valentines, but it's a different signal tone than you'll get with the microwave bands.

[RoninLB]

on the V-1 site is instructions for turning off X


more options than you'd think

[madmmac]

Graham, have you tried it in another car?

There a still many areas is Washington where K band is still used. Very few X band though.

X band is still pretty popular in Oregon though if you are traveling.

Thanks again for the loaner.....

[gtc]

Originally Posted by madmmac

Graham, have you tried it in another car?

There a still many areas is Washington where K band is still used. Very few X band though.

X band is still pretty popular in Oregon though if you are traveling.

Thanks again for the loaner.....

I've only tried it twice in another car, but it didn't happen either time.

Again, it's the K-band alert that goes off.

My thoughts for possible culprits were buzzing or improperly shielded sensors, ignition components, speakers (?), etc... Now that I know it's not a common problem with 911s, I'll shoot Valentine an email, and put the detector on a long phone (power) cord and walk around the car to try and pinpoint the source. I'll let you know what I find.

Thanks guys!

(and Mitch, I'll be expecting a full progress report, with pictures! )

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by madmmac

X band is still pretty popular in Oregon though if you are traveling......

dam... thought it was only Georgia.

I followed an oregun commuter at 60-75 mph for about a 1/2 hr last year with only monitoring K and Ka. I follow commuters often around the US. They be the best.

pic is E Oregun

[RWebb]

yup - some of the eastside counties are open range

[gtc]

Duh...
It was my Clifford alarm's motion sensor.
I have no idea why it was active while the car was running.

[RWebb]

well, know we know something at least

I wouldn't have thought a motion sensor would generate that sort of EMF

[mca]

Have you noticed if 18 wheelers are nearby?

When running up to VA on Interstate 95 I get immediate, hard K-band hits ... and then it quickly goes away.

I am 99.9% sure that it is due to truckers using their radios. It triggers a quick K-band strike.

Also, the police from SC to VA all use K and Ka bands ... I pretty much ignore X but I know that the police still use this as well.