A radar speed gun is a Doppler radar unit that may be hand-held, vehicle-mounted or static.
How does a radar work?
What types of radar bands exist?
- K-Band: The most frequently used radar frequency band: 24.05 – 24.25 GHz. K-band made its appearance in 1978. The first K-band hand-held radar guns could only be used from a stationary position. Later, a “pulsed” version was introduced that could be used from a stationary or moving vehicle.K-band radar waves have a relatively small wavelength. At the power level found in police radar guns, K-band has an effective clocking range of about 1/4 mile. Depending upon terrain (around a corner, over a hill, etc.), K-band waves can be detected from a range of 1/4 mile to 2 miles.
- KA-Band: In 1987 the FCC allocated a frequency on yet another band, Ka, for police radar use. Ka-Band incorporates Ka-Band, Ka Wide-Band, and Ka Super Wide-Band. With Ka came the introduction of photo radar (also known as “photo-cop”). The photo-cop system works at 34.3 GHz and combines a Ka-band radar gun with an automated camera (see Photo Radar below).The FCC later expanded Ka-band radar use to a range of 34.2 to 35.2 GHz. This became known as Ka Wide-Band.The introduction of the “stalker” radar gun raised the stakes in the detection game. Unlike all previous guns, the Stalker can be FCC licensed for any frequency in the Ka-band between 33.4 GHz to 36.0 GHz, and so cannot be picked up by detectors designed only for X, K, and photo radar. Stalker guns are being used in more than half the country.
- KU-Band: Ku-band radar ranges between 12 and 18 GHz. It is used primarily for satellite communications, in both aerospace and broadcasting. It is used primarily in Europe and not seen much in America. In the radar enforcement realm, Ku is set at 13.45 GHz by the FCC and has only recently been introduced to the U.S. for speed detection.
- X-Band: The first frequency band allocated for police radar: 10.5 – 10.55 GHz. Dating from the 1950s, X-band radar is the easiest to detect because of its lower frequency and higher power output. Depending on terrain, temperature and humidity, X-band radar can be detected from a distance of 2 to 4 miles, yet it can only take accurate readings of speed from a distance of 1/2 mile or less.Unfortunately, police radar is not the only source of X-band signals. Garage door openers, microwave intrusion alarms, microwave towers, and other high-tech equipment can fool a radar detector into giving off an X-band alert. Filters and redundant sampling are used to combat this “falsing.”
Unlike police laser (at least in most states), police RADAR can not be legally jammed, in fact, any attempt to do so (whether one is successful or not, most active radar jammers are not) is a federal offense and violates FCC regulations. Simply put: you can be sent to jail if caught using a radar jammer.
Radar Measured Speed = True Speed x cos(angle)Under Creative Commons License
Radar Detector Legality Map
What is a radar detector?
How do radar detectors work?
Are radar detectors legal?
- Green: Legal
- Red: Illegal
- Yellow: Questionable
Received a citation due to a police radar?
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