Nick

Day 4 in the ownership of my new Bell 990!

The detection bands are selectable on this model. Does anyone know which bands are used for what in the UK? Radar Express have supplied my unit with only the K band selected.

Andrew Timmins

I believe Ka and Ku are also used in this country.

My detector registers GATSO as being Ka.
Mini GATSO is Ku.
I've not been through a hand held RADAR trap with my detector but they are either K or Ka, not sure which.

How much did the detector cost, I've been toying with the idea of buying a 990 myself.

Please keep us informed about what sort of detection range you are getting.

[This message has been edited by Andrew Timmins (edited 02-03-2000).]

duncankerridge

X band is also in use by some police forces with older equipment

Nick

Andrew
Gatso warnings are 100m when they're facing away from me.
City mode seems odd as it does not affect K band. Therefore on the 990 City mode has no effect. The unit itself is nice with a quick start-up option. I bought it for £349 incl VAT & carriage from Radar Express.

Andrew Timmins

Nick,
City mode tends to just reduce sensitivity to X band as this is the cause of most false alarms. Automatic doors and traffic light RADAR use X band.
Thanks for the price and performance info.

Andrew Timmins

Chandler, go to

salsa-king

I have a BELL VECTOR STi Europa, this has the bands pre selected 4 our roads and in europe. They are alsa selectable as and when required!! When I start up it goes through the bands that r on and also the ones that r off, it currently is set up with K, ka narrow+supperwide and Lazer all ON.
X band is OFF.
Ku is used by the Mini Gatso', but dew to the labour-intinsiveness of it (needing 1 police mand to use it and another down the road to stop you) it's not used that often!!!
B carfull as although the 990 is the BEEZ-NEEZ at the monent you will can still get caught by VASCAR and SPEEDMASTER as no detector picks these up!!!!!!!
Lazer is the main speed trap at the side of roads, you have 3 seconds to put the brakes on and slow down, and they have to ZAP YOU about 400yards away!!! so a 2mile warning will be plenty.
Even though legal here, there not on the continant, France will fine 4 even having one in your car (conected up or not)and confiscate if used.
A decant dectector can be very useful and has saved me even last week in Dorset, with Gatso speed traps and even a well hiden copper using something that picked up as K 7-8-9 on the radar display.
January 2000 copy of EVO has a good artical all about the speed traps used and what to look out for!!!!!!!!!
save driving LOL

salsa-king

one other thing Valentine one is about £500, but does tell you which way you are being ZAP from and also tell you how many ZAPS you have at once, incase they sit near Tesco's sliding doors that also get picked up by the detectors so it would show up as 2 HIT!!!!!!
very good but very pricey when BELL as as good.

Nick

Yesterday, I drove past Bristol airport & got a major strong Laser alert. I was in a queue of traffic & could not see any cops. Would the airport have been using laser?

boomer

Where is the best place to fit a detector?

I would think that the visor mount wouldn't be stable enough, and the visor would either retract or drop down.

I don't like the rubber-suction screen mounts - they look sooo tacky.

Would one of those "gripper mats" on the dashboard (on top of the central storage box) do the job? Will the detector be high enough to see over the scoop?

Oh, and bear in mind that although "legal", Mr Plod isn't going to be too chuffed if he catches you using one. I have heard that they may try to get you for "preventing an officer carrying out his duty" or similar - so wherever you fit it, you need to be able to remove it quickly.

mb

Laurie Fisk

Using Bell 990 during week on T5 and on sti iii at weekends.Paid £339 from DE-TECH on 01256 477833 and comes with easy set up guide.Ku and K bands are covered.3 other guys in my company intend to buy and Retrospective discount will be offered.Speak to Rob Young.

Nick

I have owned a detector before, so I know a lot of the pluses & minuses & can also appreciate the improved performance over my old one. Siting on the dashboard would be too low to see over the wipers & scoop. I have mine in the lower centre of the windscreen just high enough to see out.

Nick

Laurie
Thats a little cheaper than I paid. Does the price include carriage & free software upgrades?

salsa-king

Ka band not used on BELL, is turned off on STi Vector Europa BELL
4 got 2 say.

Laurie Fisk

Nick Yes carriage inc but probably does not include upgrade.