Escort orporated 5110 Radar Detector User Manual solo

Escort Incorporated Radar Detector solo

Contents

Users Manual

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CONGRATULATIONS!SOLO is the result of ESCORT’s commitment to design and manufacturethe best radar and laser detection products available. Created for driverswho desire the ultimate in mobility, SOLO’s cordless design eliminatesthe need for a power cord, recharger, or add-on battery pack. Simplymount SOLO on your windshield and turn it on.SOLO uses only a fraction of the power of a conventional detector andtwo standard AA alkaline batteries will economically provide months ofhigh-performance detection. Most drivers will need to replace SOLO’sbatteries only a few times a year at a cost of only two or three cents perhour of use.SOLO comes with all of ESCORT’s most sophisticated technologiesincluding our matchless DPRTM anti-falsing circuitry; true Digital SignalProcessing; SafetyPilotTM road safety system; SmartShieldTM VG2protection and the incomparable performance you’ve come to expectfrom ESCORT. Among SOLO’s features are long-range warning on allradar and laser bands, Mute, AutoMute, patented SmartMuteTM; high-visibility display, differentiated audible and visual alerts, 4-level Dim, 4-level City, Memory retention, battery status indicator, battery-preservingAutoOff, optional power cord back-up, patented Easy-Mount system—allin the most compact and portable format available.SOLO was designed and manufactured in the USA. We are proudto offer this product and pleased to have you as our customer.Please drive safely.AUTOMUTE PROMOTES DRIVING PLEASURESOLO is shipped with AutoMute engaged to provide you with theadvantages of audible alerts but with minimal distraction. With AutoMute,the audio for the first four audible tones or four seconds (whichever islonger) in an alert situation will be emitted at the volume level you haveset. All subsequent audible tones from the same alert situation willautomatically be emitted at a lower volume level. After the signal haspassed, your SOLO will automatically reset to the volume level you haveset. (If you prefer full audio for the duration of all alert situations,AutoMute can be easily disengaged: see page 5 for more details.)
Installing SOLO's Batteries..........................................................1Battery Life Indication..............................................................1,7Low Battery Warning...............................................................2,7AutoOff.......................................................................................2Mounting SOLO..........................................................................3Controls and IndicatorsPower On.............................................................................4Volume.......................................................................................4Mute...........................................................................................5AutoMute....................................................................................5Highway/City Modes.............................................................5Dim Modes...........................................................................5Audible Alerts.......................................................................6Power On Indicator...............................................................6City Indicator........................................................................6Band Indicators.....................................................................6Signal Meter..........................................................................6Safety Signals........................................................................6Mounting Adjustment Button................................................7Radar Antenna......................................................................7Laser Lenses..........................................................................7Power Jack............................................................................7Programmable Options...............................................................8Tutorial Mode...........................................................................10Specifications...............................................................................11Interpreting Alerts......................................................................12How Radar Works.....................................................................14How Laser Works......................................................................14How Safety Signals Work...........................................................15Troubleshooting..........................................................................16Service........................................................................................18Warranty....................................................................................19Optional Accessories................................................................20T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
IMPORTANT BATTERY INFORMATION 1SOLO is designed to operate on two standard AA alkaline batteries. AAlithium batteries and AA alkaline rechargeable batteries may also be used,however the resulting battery life will vary. We do not recommend usingNiCad rechargeable batteries.Installing SOLO’s Batteries1Make sure SOLO is turned off.2Turn SOLO upside down. Depress thebattery door and sliding in the directionof the arrow, remove door from thebattery compartment.3Remove any old batteries (both batteries MUSTbe replaced at the same time).4Observing the polarity indication inside the batterycompartment, insert two fresh AA alkaline batteries.5Replace battery door.6Turn SOLO on to verify correct battery installation.NOTE: Please dispose of used batteries properly in accordance withfederal, state and local requirements.Battery LifeSOLO’s efficient design provides the typical driver with about 50 hours ofbattery life from two AA alkaline batteries. Battery life is affected by manyvariables, including the brand and age of the batteries, the ambienttemperature, how many and what type of alerts SOLO receives (weaksignals use less battery power than full alerts). In addition, the way youuse SOLO’s alert system will affect the battery life (low audio volume usesless power than full volume, and Dim mode uses less power than normalmode). The approximate battery life figures we quote are based onlaboratory testing, using fresh batteries. Your specific conditions andusage may result in longer or shorter battery life.Battery Life IndicationAs discussed in the Signal Meter section on page 7, remaining battery lifeis displayed on SOLO's Signal Meter both at power up and power down.NOTE: Extreme temperature conditions can cause SOLO's Battery LifeIndication to be inaccurate until SOLO's temperature returns to normal.REGARDLESS OF YOUR ACTUAL BATTERY LIFE, SOLO’S PERFOR-MANCE WILL NOT DEGRADE AS BATTERY VOLTAGE BEGINS TODROP. SOLO IS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN BEFORE PERFORMANCEIS IMPAIRED BY WEAK BATTERIES.For best battery performance:• Purchase fresh, name brand batteries.• Store batteries in their original packaging before use to prevent theI M P O R T A N T B A T T E R Y I N F O R M A T I O N
battery contacts from shorting against metal objects.• Never mix old and new batteries in SOLO or any device.• Since batteries last longest if used at room temperature, use SOLO atroom temperature whenever possible.• Turn off SOLO when not in use.AutoOffSOLO has a special automatic shut-off feature to conserve battery life incase you forget to turn SOLO off. (Please refer to page 4 for an explana-tion of the AutoOff circuit.)NOTE: The presence of even a weak signal can cause SOLO to remainon. Turn SOLO off whenever you leave your car as the AutoOff circuitturns SOLO off after 45 minutes ONLY if no signals are detected. Apassing police car or a nearby motion sensor could be enough to keepSOLO on, thereby draining your batteries.NOTE: We recommend using only standard AA alkaline batteries for themost consistent battery life. While AA lithium batteries and AA alkalinerechargeable batteries may also be used, the resulting battery life willvary. We do NOT recommend NiCad rechargeable batteries.WARNINGDo not leave SOLO in direct sunlight in a parked vehicle, as it mayexceed the battery’s temperature limit and damage the batteries and thedetector. This damage is not covered by SOLO’s warranty.Low Battery WarningWhen SOLO's batteries have only approximately six hours of battery liferemaining, SOLO will sound two “bleeps” and flash the entire SignalStrength Meter every five minutes. SOLO’s batteries should be replaced atthis time since performance begins to decline once the batteries arewithin the warning range. The amount of battery life remaining depends,to a large extent, on how many alerts you receive and how your SOLO isbeing used. If you are unable to replace SOLO’s batteries at the start ofthe Low Battery warning, consider lowering your SOLO’s audio volumeand utilizing the AutoMute, Mute and Dim features to prolong battery life.Optional Power CordSOLO’s power jack allows you to power SOLO using an optional PowerCord. SOLO is designed for 3V operation and its unique circuitry will notaccommodate a standard 12V power cord. Using any cord other than thePower Cord/Converter Set designed specifically for SOLO may causedamage not covered by warranty. To order a SOLO Power Cord/Converter,call 1-800-433-3487 toll-free.WARNINGSOLO should never be directly wired to any power source, particularly a12V automotive source. Use ONLY with SOLO's 3V power converter.2 IMPORTANT BATTERY INFORMATIONI M P O R T A N T B A T T E R Y I N F O R M A T I O N
To ensure that the suctioncups adhere to the windshieldfirmly, be sure to keep bothyour windshield and thesuction cups clean.WARNINGESCORT CANNOT ANTICIPATE THE MANY WAYS SOLO CAN BEMOUNTED. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU MOUNT SOLO WHERE ITWILL NOT IMPAIR YOUR VIEW NOR PRESENT A HAZARD IN CASE OFAN ACCIDENT.For optimum detection performance, we recommend the following:• Using the Windshield Mount, mount SOLO relatively level and highenough on your front windshield to provide a clear view of the roadfrom the front and rear.•Mount SOLO away from windshield wipers, other solid objects andheavily tinted areas that might obstruct the radar antenna or laser lens.•Keep the laser lens at the rear of SOLO clean. To clean, apply a smallamount of eyeglass cleaning solution with a soft cloth.Mounting SOLO to Your Windshield:SOLO’s patented EasyMount windshield bracket is designed forunobtrusive and hassle-free mounting.1Insert each suction cup into large end of bracket hole and rotate cupoutward, locking into place.2Depress the adjustment button on the top of SOLO and slideEasyMount bracket into the slot until mount is locked into the positionwhich best fits the angle of your windshield. (For extremely horizontalor extremely sloped windshields, the EasyMount bracket can be bent.)3Mount SOLO on your windshield. Use the adjustment button to slideSOLO forward or backward to a horizontal position. WHENADJUSTED PROPERLY AND TO MINIMIZE BOUNCING, THE BACKTOP EDGE OF SOLO SHOULD REST SOLIDLY AGAINST YOURWINDSHIELD.CAUTION!Some windshields have an “anti-lacerative” coating. Use of suction cupscould permanently mar the coating. Consult your dealership or thevehicle’s owner’s manual to determine if your windshield has this coating.M O U N T I N G S O L OMOUNTING SOLO 3
MEMORY RETENTION FOR PREFERRED SETTINGSKeep the factory preset settings for Volume, Dim, AutoMute, City andother programmable features or select your own with SOLO's on-boardcomputer. Your selected settings stay in SOLO's Memory even when it'sturned off or the batteries are changed. For more information on SOLO'sprogrammable options, the first in the industry, see page 8.1 POWER AND VOLUME To turn SOLO on and off: briefly press the Power/Volume Button. The Power-On indicator blinks to show SOLO is onand there will be a five-second test alert followed by a two-seconddisplay of remaining battery life on the Signal Meter. Battery life is alsodisplayed each time you turn SOLO off. (Battery status indication ismore thoroughly discussed in the Signal Meter section on page 7.) Thefive-second test alert can be bypassed and blinking Power-On indicatorcan be made continuous (see Programmable Options on page 8 formore information).To adjust audio volume: Press and hold the Power/Volume Button.SOLO will cycle through the 10 volume levels and show the relativeaudio level on the Signal Meter. To reverse the direction of the audiolevel, briefly release and press again. Once the volume level has beenchanged, a two second hold time will be engaged to allow you tofurther modify volume without turning SOLO off. Once selected, thevolume setting will be retained in SOLO’s memory.AUTOOFF SOLO has an automatic shut-off feature to conserve batterylife in case you forget to turn SOLO off. If SOLO does not detect anysignals for 45 minutes, it assumes that it is not in use and you haveforgotten to turn it off. SOLO will sound a declining “power-down”alert and then turn itself off in five seconds. To keep SOLO fromturning off (such as when you are driving through a very remote areawhere alerts are infrequent), press any of SOLO’s buttons. SOLO willcitymute dimpwr/vol®87610 2 3 412 13 5 111 11C O N T R O L S A N D I N D I C A T O R S4 CONTROLS AND INDICATORS9
sound a “double-bing” confirming that it will remain on. (AutoOff canbe “permanently” deselected. See Programmable Options on page 8for more information).NOTE: Since the presence of even an extremely weak signal will keepSOLO on, turn SOLO off whenever you leave your car to prevent thebatteries from being drained.2MUTE To mute the audio for a single specific signal: Briefly press theMute Button. After the signal has passed, SOLO will automatically resetfor the next alert. If a new signal is encountered during the signal youhave just muted, SOLO’s patented SmartMuteTM reverts to full audio toensure that you do not miss this new signal.AUTOMUTE SOLO is shipped with AutoMute engaged. In AutoMutemode, the audio for the first four audible tones or four seconds(whichever is longer) in an alert situation will be emitted at yourselected volume level and all subsequent audible tones during thesame alert will be emitted at a lower volume level. After the signal haspassed, SOLO automatically resets to the volume level you have set.(AutoMute can be deselected. See Programmable Options on page 8for more information).3 HIGHWAY/CITY MODE Each time you turn SOLO on, the last Highway/City mode selected is the one which is automatically engaged. Werecommend driving in Highway mode most of the time for maximumsensitivity. When driving in urban areas where annoying X-bandintrusion alarms and door openers are common, City Mode can beengaged to lower X-band sensitivity and reduce X-band alerts. Fullsensitivity is maintained on all other bands. To select City Mode:Briefly press the City Button. The City Indicator will blink and SOLO’sX-band sensitivity level will be lowered to a level to suit most urbandriving environments. Three other City Mode levels are available formore problematic urban environments (see Programmable Options onpage 8 for more information). Also, the City Indicator can beprogrammed to not blink and light solid (see Programmable Optionson page 8 for more information). To return to Highway Sensitivity:Briefly press the City Button again.4DIM MODES To adjust SOLO’s display: Briefly press the Dim Button.With each press, SOLO will cycle through the four display settings asfollows: 1st press = Full Dark, 2nd press = Low, 3rd press = Medium,4th press = High. SOLO is preset at our factory on High (Full Bright).Your most recent selection is retained in SOLO’s memory until youselect a different brightness level as the default. (See ProgrammableOptions on page 8 for more information on how to store a displaydefault.)C O N T R O L S A N D I N D I C A T O R SCONTROLS AND INDICATORS 5
5AUDIBLE ALERTS For Radar and Laser signals: SOLO uses a geiger-counter-like sound to indicate the signal strength and type of radar orlaser signal being encountered. When you encounter radar or laser, adistinct Audible Alert will sound and occur faster as the signal getsstronger. When the signal is very strong, the Audible Alerts will blendinto a solid tone. This allows you to judge the distance from the signalsource without taking your eyes from the road. Each band has adistinct tone for easy identification. X-band = beep tone, K-band =raspy brap tone, Ka-band = double-bleep tone, Laser = chirp tone.Please see page 12 for details on the typical behavior of various radarand laser signals.For Safety signals: Each type of safety signal has its own distinctivebrap tone. Emergency Vehicle = rapid braps, Railroad Crossing =repetitive brap, Road Hazard = repetitive double brap. THE PRESENCEOF ONE OF THESE SIGNALS INDICATES A DANGEROUS DRIVINGCONDITION. Be particularly alert and aware of what’s going onaround you. (For more information on SOLO’s SafetyPilotTM and theuse of Safety transmitters, please see page 15.)6POWER-ON INDICATOR When your SOLO is turned on, the Power-OnIndicator will illuminate.7CITY INDICATOR The City Indicator will light whenever City mode isselected.8BAND INDICATORS When a radar or laser signal is detected, theappropriate Band Indicator will light to show which type of signal isbeing detected; “X” for X-band, “K” for K-band, “Ka” for Ka-band or“L” for laser.9SIGNAL METER The Signal Meter consists of 5 red LEDs and provides thefollowing information.Signal Strength: The more meter lights lit during a radar or laserencounter, the stronger and closer the signal.Type of Safety Signal: Safety Signals are displayed as shown below.EMERGENCY VEHICLESignal Meter scans quickly from right to left.ROAD HAZARDAll Signal Meter lights double-flash simultaneously.RAILROADFirst two Signal Meter Lights alternate flashing with last two Signal Meter Lights.C O N T R O L S A N D I N D I C A T O R S6 CONTROLS AND INDICATORS▲▲▲
CONTROLS AND INDICATORS 7Battery Life Indication: Remaining battery life is displayed on the SignalMeter for 2 seconds both at power-up (after the five-second test alert)and at power-down. NOTE: Extreme temperature conditions can causeSOLO's Battery Life Indication to be inaccurate until SOLO'stemperature returns to normal.5 LEDs lit = 80% of battery life remains4 LEDs lit = 60% to 80% of battery remains3 LEDs lit = 40% to 60% of battery life remains2 LEDs lit = 20% to 40% of battery life remains1 LED lit = less than 20% of battery life remainsLow Battery Warning: When approximately six hours of battery liferemains, SOLO will sound two short “bleeps” and flash the entireSignal Meter every five minutes to indicate the batteries needreplacing. The amount of battery life remaining depends, to a largeextent, on how many alerts you receive and how SOLO is being used.If you are unable to replace SOLO’s batteries at the start of the LowBattery warning and do not have a SOLO Power Cord, lower SOLO’saudio volume and utilize AutoMute or Mute and Dim to prolongbattery life.10 RADAR ANTENNA The antenna detects incoming radar signals.11 LASER LENSES Dual lenses provide 360 degree protection.12 MOUNTING ADJUSTMENT BUTTON This button allows you to adjust themounting bracket to suit your driving environment. Please refer topage 3 for a complete explanation on mounting.13 POWER JACK Allows you the option of using a power cord in place ofthe battery power source in order to provide back-up or alternativepower for your SOLO through your vehicle’s cigarette lighter.(SOLO’s unique circuitry will not accommodate a standard 12Vpower cord. Using any cord other than the Power Cord designedspecifically for SOLO may cause damage not covered by warranty. Toorder a SOLO Power Cord, call 1-800-433-3487 toll-free.)C O N T R O L S A N D I N D I C A T O R S
SOLO’s features are preset for optimum performance and battery life butyou may change some settings to better suit your specific needs. Once asetting is stored into memory, it remains until you decide to reprogram it.8 PROGRAMMABLE OPTIONSOPTION WHEN TO USE HOW TO SELECTDisengageAutoMute If you prefer full audiovolume for the durationof alerts. NOTE: Anysingle alert may still bemuted by briefly pressingthe Mute button duringthat alert.Press and HOLD the Mutebutton. A “bing” tone willconfirm your selection. Tore-engage AutoMute, pressand hold the Mute buttonagain. A “double-bing”tone will confirm yourreturn to AutoMute.Bypass five-secondtest alert If you find the power-ontest alert bothersome. Ifyou wish to preserve a bitmore battery life.Press and HOLD the Mutebutton at the same time youturn SOLO on to replace thefive-second sequence witha one-second alert. Repeatoperation to re-engage thefull test alert.Non-blinkingPower-OnIndicator andCity IndicatorIf you find the blinkingPower-On and City Indi-cators too bothersome.WARNING: Selecting thisoption will reduce yourbattery life.Press and HOLD the Dimbutton at the same time youturn SOLO on. The Power-On Indicator will light con-tinuously while SOLO ison. The City Indicator willlight continuously whileSOLO is in City mode.DisengageAutoOff If you drive in an remotearea where alerts are veryinfrequent, this optionkeeps SOLO from tryingto turn itself off due tolack of signals.Press and HOLD the Muteand Dim buttons at thesame time when SOLO ison. A “bing” tone confirmsyour selection. Repeat tore-engage AutoOff. A“double-bing” tone willconfirm your selection.Select a defaultbrightness settingfor SOLO’s displayAssures SOLO returns toyour favorite brightnesssetting each time you turnit on. (If no brightness levelis selected, SOLO will usethe last one selected.)Press and HOLD the DimButton at the selectedbrightness level. A “double-bing” tone will confirmyour selected default.P R O G R A M M A B L E O P T I O N S
P R O G R A M M A B L E O P T I O N SPROGRAMMABLE OPTIONS 9OPTION WHEN TO USE HOW TO SELECTSelect an alternativeX-band sensitivitylevel for City ModeIf you drive in an urbanarea where non-police X-band alerts from motionsensors and intrusionalarms are prevalent, thisoption allows you to selectan X-band sensitivity levelbelow the standard CityMode setting.Press and HOLD the Citybutton. SOLO will cyclethrough the 4 availableCity sensitivity levels anddisplay relative X-bandsensitivity on the SignalMeter (as shown below).Release button at yourpreferred setting.Moderately reduced X-band sensitivity. Best suited tosuburban environments where intruding signals areoccasional.Level 4▲Signal Meter LEDS LIGHT UP IN THE PATTERNS INDICATED AS YOU ADJUST CITY LEVELSSignificantly reduced X-band sensitivity. SOLO's defaultsetting and best suited to typical driving environments.Level 3Drastically reduced X-band sensitivity. For use indowntown areas which are aggressively populatedwith intruding signals.Level 2Zero X-band sensitivity. To be used ONLY in thoserare locations where X-band radar is not used.Level 1Select alternateaudio tones Allows you to select al-ternative audio tones(owners of earlier ES-CORT detectors will rec-ognize these tones as themore "classic" style usedin the past).Press and HOLD the Dimand City buttons at the sametime you turn SOLO on.Repeat operation to re-select the factory defaultaudio tones.Returning To SOLO's Factory Preset SettingsYou may re-engage SOLO's factory preset settings at any time. To do so,press and HOLD the Mute, City and Dim buttons at the same time as youturn SOLO on.
SOLO is equipped with a Tutorial mode to demonstrate all of the alerts andsettings below in order to better familiarize you with them. To access thetutorial mode, simultaneously press and hold the Mute and City buttons asyou turn SOLO on. SOLO will then demonstrate each of the following:10 TUTORIAL MODEFEATURE DEMONSTRATIONLaser indicator lights as signal meter rampsdown. Laser audio sounds.Ka indicator lights as signal meter rampsdown. Ka audio sounds.Ka-band AlertK-band Alert K indicator lights as signal meter rampsdown. K audio sounds.X-band Alert X indicator lights as signal meter rampsdown. X audio sounds.AutoMuteAs SOLO simulates an X-band encounter,AutoMute is demonstrated when audioautomatically reduces after first severaltones.Emergency Vehicle Alert Signal Meter scans swiftly right to left.Emergency Vehicle audio sounds.Railroad Alert Two end Signal Meter positions alternateflashing (like a railroad crossing sign).Road Hazard Alert Entire Signal Meter double-flashes. RoadHazard audio sounds.Cycling of four City settings Shows how four available City settingsare indicated on the Signal Meter as citylevel is selected.Cycling of four Dim settings Shows how four available Dim/Dark set-tings are indicated on the Signal Meteras the display brightness level is selected.Cycling of ten Volume settings Shows how ten available Volume set-tings are indicated on the Signal Meteras volume level is selected.Signal Meter flashes as two short "bleep"tones sound.Low Battery WarningAutoOff Warning SOLO sounds a declining "power down"alert and SOLO turns off.Laser AlertT U T O R I A L M O D E
SPECIFICATIONS 11Specifications are subject to change without notice.RECEIVER TYPERADAR: Double Conversion Superheterodyne VoltageControlled Oscillator (VCO)LASER: Quantum Limited Video ReceiverANTENNA TYPERADAR & SAFETY: Self-Contained, Die-Cast Horn, Linear Polarization(compatible with circular polarization)LASER: Infrared Photodiode with Fresnel Lens andRefractive/Prismatic ElementDETECTOR TYPERADAR & SAFETY: Scanning Frequency DiscriminatorLASER: Video EnvelopeOPERATING FREQUENCIES & WAVELENGTHSX-band: 10.525 GHz (center)K-band and Safety: 24.150 GHz (center)Ka-band: 34.7 GHz (center)Laser: 900 NanoMeters (center)BANDWIDTHSRadar and Safety:X-band: 50 MHzK-band and Safety: 200 MHzKa-band: 2.60 GHzLaser: 33MHzALERT HOLD TIME 4 SecondsDIMENSIONS 1.2 inches x 2.85 inches x 5.06 inchesOPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGEWith Alkaline Batteries: -18C to 55C (0F to 131F)With Power Cord Only: -18C to 70C (0F to 158F)STORAGE TEMPERATURE RANGEWith Alkaline Batteries: -40C to 55C (-40F to 131F)With Power Cord Only: -40C to 85C (-40F to 185F)POWER REQUIREMENTTwo Standard AA Batteries or Power Cord which converts 12V to 3VSIGNAL PROCESSINGDigital Signal Processing (DSP)S P E C I F I C A T I O N S
12 INTERPRETING ALERTSAlthough SOLO has a comprehensive warning system and this handbookis as complete as we can make it, only experience will teach you what toexpect from your SOLO and how to interpret what it “tells” you. The radaralerts you receive are affected by the type of radar being used, the type oftransmission (continuous or instant-on) and the location of the radarsource. The following examples will give you an introduction tounderstanding SOLO’s warning system for radar, laser and safety alerts.ALERT EXPLANATIONSOLO begins to sound slowly, thenthe rate of alerts increase until a solidtone is achieved. The Signal Meterramps accordingly.You are approaching a continuousradar source aimed in your direction.SOLO emits short alerts for a fewseconds and then falls silent only tobriefly alert and fall silent again.An instant-on radar source is beingused ahead of you and out of yourview.SOLO suddenly sounds a continuoustone for the appropriate bandreceived. All LEDs in the Signal Meterare lit.An instant-on radar source or lasersource is being used nearby. Thiskind of alert requires immediateattention!A brief laser alert. Laser is being used in the area. Becauselaser is inherently difficult to detect,even a weak laser alert may indicatea source very close by. Any laser alertrequires immediate attention!A moving patrol car with continuousradar is overtaking you from behind.Because these signals are reflected(reflections are increased by largeobjects), they may or may noteventually melt into a solid point evenwhen the patrol car is directly behindyou.SOLO receives weak signals. Thesesignals may be a little stronger as youpass large, roadside objects. Thesignals increase in frequency.SOLO alerts slowly for awhile andthen abruptly jumps to a strong alert. You are approaching a radar unitconcealed by a hill or an obstructedcurve.I N T E R P R E T I N G A L E R T S
INTERPRETING ALERTS 13ALERT EXPLANATIONSOLO alerts intermittently. Rate andstrength of alerts may be consistent orvary wildly.A patrol car is travelling in front of youwith a radar source aimed forward.Because signals are sometimesreflected off of large objects andsometimes not, the alerts may seeminconsistent.SOLO alerts intermittently. Rate andstrength of signal increases with eachalert.A patrol car is approaching from theother direction, “sampling” traffic withinstant-on radar. Such alerts shouldbe taken seriously.SOLO gives an X-band alertintermittently. You are driving through an areapopulated with radar motion sensors(door openers, burglar alarms, etc.)Since these transmitters are usuallycontained inside buildings or aimedtoward OR away from you, they aretypically not as strong or lasting as areal radar encounter.CAUTION: Since the characteristicsof these alerts may be similar to someof the preceding examples, overcon-fidence in an unfamiliar area can bedangerous. Likewise, if an alert in acommonly travelled area is suddenlystronger or on a different band thanusual, speed radar may be set upnearby.SOLO braps rapidly and the SignalMeter scans from right to left. A fast-travelling emergency vehicle isin the vicinity.SOLO sounds a repetitive “double-brap” and the entire Signal Meterflashes.You are approaching a hazardousroad condition such as an accidentsite or construction.SOLO sounds a repetitive “brap” andthe two LEDs on each end of theSignal Meter alternate flashing.You are approaching a dangerousrailroad crossing.I N T E R P R E T I N G A L E R T S
HOW RADAR WORKSTraffic radar, which consists of microwaves, travels in straight lines and iseasily reflected by objects such as cars, trucks, even guardrails andoverpasses. Radar works by directing its microwave beam down the road.As your vehicle travels into range, the microwave beam bounces off yourcar, and the radar antenna looks for the reflections. Using the DopplerPrinciple, the radar equipment then calculates your speed by comparingthe frequency of the reflection of your car to the original frequency of thebeam sent out.Traffic radar has limitations, the most significant of these being that ittypically can monitor only one target at a time. If there is more than onevehicle within range, it is up to the radar operator to decide which targetis producing the strongest reflection. Since the strength of the reflection isaffected by both the size of the vehicle and its proximity to the antenna, itis difficult for the radar operator to determine if the signal is from a sportscar nearby or a semi-truck several hundred feet behind.Radar range also depends on the power of the radar equipment itself. Thestrength of the radar unit’s beam diminishes with distance. The farther theradar has to travel, the less energy it has for speed detection.Because intrusion alarms and motion sensors often operate on the samefrequency as X-Band radar, your SOLO will occasionally receive non-police radar signals. Since these X-Band transmitters are usually containedinside of buildings or aimed toward the ground, they will generallyproduce much weaker readings than will a true radar encounter. As youbecome familiar with the sources of these pseudo alarms in your dailydriving, they will serve as confirmation that your SOLO’s radar detectionabilities are fully operational.HOW LASER (LIDAR) WORKSLaser speed detection is actually LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging).LIDAR guns project a beam of invisible infrared light. The signal is a seriesof very short infrared light energy pulses which move in a straight line,reflecting off your car and returning to the gun. LIDAR uses these lightpulses to measure the distance to a vehicle. Speed is then calculated bymeasuring how quickly these pulses are reflected given the known speedof light.LIDAR (or laser) is a newer technology and is not as widespread asconventional radar, therefore, you may not encounter laser on a dailybasis. And unlike radar detection, laser detection is not prone to “false”H O W R A D A R & L A S E R W O R K14 HOW RADAR & LASER WORKS
HOW SAFETY SIGNALS WORK 15alarms. Because LIDAR transmits a much narrower beam than does radar,it is much more accurate in its ability to distinguish between targets and isalso more difficult to detect. AS A RESULT, EVEN THE BRIEFEST ANDWEAKEST LASER ALERT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY.There are limitations to LIDAR equipment. LIDAR is much more sensitiveto weather conditions than RADAR, and a LIDAR gun’s range will bedecreased by anything affecting visibility such as rain, fog, or smoke. ALIDAR gun cannot operate through glass and it must be stationary in orderto get an accurate reading. Because LIDAR must have a clear line of sightand is subject to cosine error (an inaccuracy which increases as the anglebetween the gun and the vehicle increases) police typically use LIDARequipment parallel to the road or from an overpass. LIDAR can be usedday or night.HOW SAFETY SIGNALS WORKSFCC-approved Safety signal transmitters emit microwave radar signals toindicate the presence of a safety-related concern. Depending on thefrequency location of these signals as set on the transmitter, the outgoingsignal can indicate whether the transmitter is located in a speedingemergency vehicle, at a road hazard location or at a railroad crossing.These dual-frequency microwave signals are located in the K-bandwidthand, as a result, any radar detector which detects K-Band radar will detectthese Safety signals as standard K-Band radar alerts. However, unlikestandard radar detectors, your SOLO is designed to distinguish between astandard K-Band alert and a Safety signal alert. It will also demonstratewhich type of Safety signal is being received: Emergency Vehicle, RoadHazard or Railroad.Since Safety technology is relatively new and the number of transmittersin operation is not yet widespread, you may not receive Safety signals ona daily basis and should not be surprised to encounter some emergencyvehicles, road hazards and railroad crossings that are unequipped withthese transmitters and, therefore, fail to provide a signal. As Safetytransmitters become more prevalent (the number of operating transmittersis growing every day), these Safety signals will become more common.IF YOU EVER HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OR OPERATION OF YOUR SOLO, PLEASECALL TOLL-FREE 1-800-543-1608.H O W S A F E T Y S I G N A L S W O R K
16 TROUBLESHOOTINGSOLO will not turn on when PowerButton is pressed. •Check to make sure batteries arenot missing.•Batteries may need replacing.•Batteries may be installedimproperly.SOLO beeps briefly at the samelocation every day, but no radarsource is in sight.•SOLO is functioning properly.An X-band motion sensor orintrusion alarm is located withinrange of your route. With time,you will learn predictablepatterns of these signals.SOLO does not seem sensitive toradar or laser. •Make sure that SOLO’s radarantenna is not blocked bywindshield wipers or solidobjects or that the laser lens isnot behind tinted areas.•Determine if your vehicle has anInstaclearTM, ElectriClear® orsolar energy reflectivewindshield which may deflectradar or laser signals.•SOLO may be in City Mode.SOLUTIONPROBLEMVASCAR, a stopwatch method ofspeed detection, may be in use.Officer may not have radar orlaser unit turned on.•SOLO did not alert when a policecar was in view.SOLO did not provide a Safetysignal at a hazardous roadcondition, railroad crossing orwhile within range of an emergencyvehicle.•Safety transmitters may not becommonly used in your area.SOLO alerts for Ka radar when noradar source is in sight. •Falsing on this band is virtuallynon-existant. Take all Ka alertsseriously. There may be an instant-on radar source out of sight. Onlya small number of products operatein the Ka band which may causean occasional false alert.•T R O U B L E S H O O T I N G
Signal Meter registers but noaudible alert sounds. •SOLO is probably in City modewhere X-band alerts arepurposefully reduced.SOLUTIONPROBLEM•Briefly press the Dim button todeactivate Dark Mode.SOLO’s display is not working.SOLO’s audible alerts are less loudafter the first few alerts. •SOLO is in AutoMute Mode. Seepage 5 for details.•SOLO’s batteries are low.Replace batteries as described onpage 1.All Signal Meter lights flashoccasionally and SOLO "bleeps"twice each time.SOLO bounces or sags onwindshield. •SOLO is not making contact withthe windshield to provide stability.While holding down SOLO’sEasyMount button, slide SOLOfurther back toward the wind-shield so that the back top edgemakes firm contact. See page 3for details.•Suction cups may be worn andneed replacing. To orderreplacement suction cups, call1-800-433-3487.•You have inadvertently bypassedthe test alert. To re-engage fulltest alert, press and hold the Mutebutton at the same time you areturning SOLO on.SOLO no longer provides the fulltest alert when turned on.T R O U B L E S H O O T I N GTROUBLESHOOTING 17
IF YOUR SOLO EVER NEEDS SERVICE, PLEASE FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS:1Check the troubleshooting section of this manual. It may have asolution to your problem.2Call us at 1-800-543-1608. We may be able to solve your problemover the phone. If the problem requires that you send your SOLO to thefactory for repair, we will provide you with a SERVICE ORDER NUMBER,which must be included on the outside of your shipping box.ENCLOSE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH YOUR SOLO:• Your Service Order Number• Your name and return address• Your daytime telephone number• A description of the problem you are experiencing.OUT OF WARRANTY REPAIRSFor out of warranty repairs, include prepayment in the amount you werequoted by the Escort Customer Service Representative. If the detector hasbeen damaged, abused or modified, the repair cost will be calculated on aparts and labor basis. If it exceeds the basic repair charge, you will becontacted with a quotation. If the additional payment is not receivedwithin 30 days (or if you notify us that you choose not to have your SOLOrepaired at the price quoted), your SOLO will be returned, without repair.Payment can be made by check, money order or credit card.MAIL YOUR SOLO TO:ESCORTCustomer Service DepartmentService Order Number ______________5440 West Chester RoadWest Chester, Ohio 45069For your own protection, we recommend that you ship your SOLOpostpaid and insured. Insist on a proof of delivery and keep the receiptuntil the return of your SOLO.18 SERVICES E R V I C E
ESCORT ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTYESCORT warrants your SOLO against all defects in materials andworkmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of the originalpurchase, subject to the following terms and conditions:• The sole responsibility of ESCORT under this Warranty is limited toeither repair or, at the option of ESCORT, replacement of the SOLOdetector. There are no expressed or implied warranties, including thoseof fitness for a particular purpose or merchantability, which extendbeyond the face hereof. Some states do not allow limitations on howlong an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitations may not applyto you.• ESCORT is not liable for any incidental or consequential damagesarising from the use, misuse, or mounting of the SOLO. Some statesdo not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequentialdamages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.• This Warranty gives you specific rights. You may have other legal rightswhich vary from state to state. This Warranty does not apply if theserial number on the housing of the SOLO has been removed, or ifyour SOLO has been subjected to physical abuse, improperinstallation, or modification.TO OBTAIN WARRANTY SERVICE, PLEASE FOLLOW THE SERVICE PROCEDURE OUTLINEDON PAGE 18.W A R R A N T Y WARRANTY 19
To order additional or replacement accessories, call ESCORT toll-free at1-800-433-3487. The following optional accessories are also available forSOLO:SOLO POWER CORDProvides back-up or alternative power for your SOLO through yourvehicle’s cigarette lighter. NOTE: SOLO is designed for 3V operation andits unique circuitry will not accommodate a standard 12V power cord.Using any cord other than the Power Cord/Converter Set designedspecifically for SOLO may cause damage not covered by warranty.)VISOR CLIPAllows you to mount SOLO on your vehicle’s sun visor.NOTE: Due to obstruction by tinting and vehicle headliner, visormounting can substantially reduce laser detection range.HOOK AND LOOP FASTENERAllows you to mount SOLO to your vehicle’s dashboard.NOTE: The adhesive backing used on the Hook and Loop Fastener canpermanently mar your vehicle’s dashboard.CARRYING CASESoft case keeps SOLO protected when not in use.EscortPlus Club benefits are subject to change without notice.20 ACCESSORIES AND OPTIONSA C C E S S O R I E S A N D O P T I O N S
Manufactured under one or more of the following U.S. Patents:4,313,216 4,581,769 4,583,057 4,604,529 4,613,989 4,631,5424,686,499 4,750,215 4,862,175 4,887,753 4,896,855 4,952,9374,954,828 5,049,884 5,049,885.Other Patents Pending.Product, accessory and features, specifications and pricing are subject to change withoutnotice.ESCORT5440 West Chester RoadWest Chester, Ohio 45069CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 543-1608SALES: (800) 433-3487®© 1999 ESCORT Inc. 60-000096-22RecyclableSOLO is designed and manufactured in the USA.
QUICK REFERENCE GUIDETo begin using your SOLO, just follow these three simple steps:aInsert two standard AA alkaline batteries into the battery compartment.bMount your SOLO on the windshield using the windshield mount.cPress the Power-On button to turn SOLO on.citymute dimpwr/vol®23456739 101EasyMount Slot (page 3)Windshield mount is inserted here.2Power Jack (page 7)Use optional Power Cord for back-up power source. To purchase, call toll-free1-800-433-3487.3EasyMount Button (page 7)Press and slide the windshield mount to adjust mount angle.4Battery Compartment (page 1)Uses 2 AA alkaline batteries.5Mute Button (page 5)Briefly press to mute the audio for a specific alert. Press and hold to disengage orre-engage AutoMute.6City Button (page 6)Briefly press to engage to reduce alerts from X-band intrusion alarms and dooropeners common in urban areas. Press and hold to adjust X-band sensitivitythrough four possible city sensitivity options to your preferred City setting.7Dim Button (page 5)Briefly press to adjust display brightness.8Power/Volume (page 4)Briefly press to turn SOLO on. Press and hold to adjust SOLO’s audio volume.Once on, briefly press to turn SOLO off.9Power-On Light (page 4)Blinks when SOLO is on.10 City Indicator (page 5)Blinks when City mode is selected.11 Band Indicators (page 6)Lights to indicate type of signal detected: X, K, Ka or L.12 Signal Meter (page 6)LEDs indicate incoming signal strength or the type of safety signal. Displaysremaining battery life at both power-up and power-down.1(bottom)8Please read the entiremanual to fullyunderstand SOLO’soperation and features.12

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