Escort Solo S3 Cordless Radar Detector Owners Manual

2014-07-19

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O w n e r ’ s M a n u a l

Designed in the USA

ESCORT Inc.

5440 West Chester Road

West Chester OH 45069

Sales 800.433.3487

Service 800.543.1608

www.EscortInc.com

ExpertMeter™ are trademarks of ESCORT Inc. SWS is a trademark of SWS, L.C.

Features, speciﬁcations and prices subject to change without notice.

R A D A R •L A S E R •S A F E T Y •D E T E C T O R

Your new Solo S3 is the most advanced cordless

radar, laser and safety detector available.

The Solo S3 includes full X, K, SuperWide Ka, and

Safety Warning System radar capability, front and

rear laser detection, digital signal processing (DSP)

for superior range and reduced false alarms, our

patented Mute and AutoMute, audible and visual

band alerts, and all the performance you’d expect

from ESCORT.

In addition, the Solo S3 introduces a new level of

revolutionary cordless performance and innovative

features:

• New long-range cordless performance for both

radar and laser

• New AutoPower feature maximizes battery life

• New brilliant high-resolution OLED display

• Advanced EZ-Programming lets you customize

up to 9 features

• Exclusive AutoSensitivity mode virtually

eliminates false alarms, plus Highway and City

settings

• ExpertMeter tracks and displays up to 8 radar

signals simultaneously

• Detects and displays up to 64 Safety Warning

System messages

• Compatible with Laser Shifter™ ZR4

If you’ve used a radar detector before, a review of

the Quick Reference Guide on pages 6 and 7, and the

EZ-Programming information on pages 14-19 will

brieﬂy explain the new features.

If this is your ﬁrst detector, please read the

manual in detail to get the most out of your Solo S3’s

outstanding performance and innovative features.

Please drive safely.

FCC Note:

Modiﬁcations not expressly approved by the

manufacturer could void the user’s FCC granted

authority to operate the equipment.

EZ-Programming Details 

Solo S3’s Factory Settings

To reset Solo S3 to its original factory

settings, press and hold the Mute and

M (Mode) buttons while turning Solo

S3 on. Solo S3’s display will provide a

Reset message, accompanied by an

audible alert, acknowledging the reset.

Solo S3 Quick Reference Card

 Remove card along perforations 

There are 9 user-selectable options so

you can customize your Solo S3 for your

own preferences.

The buttons labeled VOL and M (Mode)

are also used to enter the Program Mode,

REVIEW your current program settings,

and to CHANGE any settings as desired.

The words PGM, RVW, and CHG are

located on the front of the detector, and

are highlighted in blue graphics.

How to use EZ-Programming

1 To enter Program Mode, press and

hold one of the VOL buttons and the

M button down for 2 seconds. The

unit will beep twice, and will display the

word Program.

2 Then press the RVW button to review

the current settings. You can either tap

the button to change from item to item, or

hold the button to scroll through the items.

3 Press the CHG button to change any

setting. You can either tap the button to

change from setting to setting, or hold the

button to scroll through all the options.

4 To leave Program Mode, simply wait

8 seconds without pressing any button.

The unit will display Complete, beep 4

times, and return to normal operation.

An example of EZ-Programming:

Here is how you would turn Solo S3’s

AutoMute feature off.

1 Enter the Program Mode by holding

one of the VOL buttons and the M button

down for 2 seconds. Solo S3 will beep

twice and display Program.

2 Then hold the RVW button down.

Solo S3 will scroll through the categories,

starting with Pilot Light (Pilot), then

Auto Power (aPwr), then Power-on

sequence (PwrOn), then Signal Strength

Meter (Meter), and then AutoMute

(aMute).

3 Release the RVW button when Solo S3

shows the AutoMute item. Since the

factory setting is for AutoMute to be on,

Solo S3 will display aMute ON.

If you accidentally don’t release the

RVW button in time, simply press the

other VOL button to scroll back to the

desired category.

4 Press the CHG button to change from

aMute ON to aMute OFF.

5 To complete the Programming, simply

wait 8 seconds without pressing any

button. Solo S3 will display Complete,

beep 4 times, and return to normal

operation.

Congratulations

2 3

Quick Reference Card 3-4

Quick Reference Guide 6-7

Installation 8-9

• Battery Installation 8

• Optional 12-volt SmartCord 8

• Mounting Location 8

• Windshield Mount 9

Controls and Features 10-13

• Power On/Off 10

• AutoPwr 10

• Volume Control 10

• Power-on indication / Alert 10

• Mute 10

• AutoMute 10

• SmartMute™ 11

• Battery Status / Voltage 11

• Low Battery Warning 11

• Mode Switch (Highway/Auto/City) 11

• Brightness 11

• Audible Alerts 12

• Signal Strength Meter 12

• ExpertMeter 12-13

EZ-Programming 14-19

• How To Use EZ-Programming 14

• Example of EZ-Programming 14

• Overview of EZ-Programming 15

• Details of EZ-Programming 16-19

Technical Details 20-25

• Interpreting Alerts 20-21

• How Radar Works 22

• How Laser Works 23

• How Safety Radar Works 24-25

Service 26-31

• Troubleshooting 26-27

• Service 28

• Warranty 28-29

• Accessories 29

• Speciﬁcations 30

• Registration 31

 Remove card along perforations 

Table of Contents

5 4

Solo S3 Quick Reference Card

Press the RVW button to go Press the CHG button to change

from one category to the next your setting within a category

PILOT LIGHT Pilot HWY * Full word: Highway or Auto or City

(Options using Pilot H Letter: H or A or C

12-volt SmartCord) Pilot H.> Letter, with scanning dot

Pilot + Symbol: + or • or --

Pilot +.> Symbol, with scanning dot

Pilot +> Scanning symbol

AUTO POWER aPwr Motn * Uses motion to turn Solo S3 off

aPwr Time Uses time to turn Solo S3 off

aPwr Off Turn Solo S3 on and off manually

POWER-ON SEQUENCE PwrOn STD * Standard power-on sequence

PwrOn FST Fast power-on sequence

SIGNAL STRENGTH METER Meter STD * Standard signal strength meter

Meter EXP Expert Meter

AUTOMUTE aMute ON * AutoMute on

aMute OFF AutoMute off

AUDIOTONES Tone STD * Standard tones

Tone LOUD Loud tones

CITY MODE SENSITIVITY City STD * Standard City mode sensitivity

City LoX Low X band sensitivity in City Mode

City NoX No X band sensitivity in City Mode

BRIGHTNESS Brt AUTO * Brightness is controlled automatically

Brt MIN Minimum brightness when turned on

Brt MED Medium brightness when turned on

Brt MAX Maximum brightness when turned on

Brt DARK Full Dark Mode when turned on

BANDS Bands ALL * All bands enabled

Bands MOD One or more bands are enabled

Turn bands ON/OFF by

pressing the mute button

X ON or OFF * X-band detection on

K ON or OFF * K-band detection on

Ka ON or OFF * Ka-band detection on

LSR ON or OFF * Laser detection on

SWS ON or OFF * SWS detection off

VG2 ON or OFF * VG2 detection off

* Solo S3’s Factory Settings

 Remove card along perforations 

Radar Antenna and Laser Lens

The rear panel of your Solo S3 should have a clear

view of the road ahead. For best performance,

do not mount Solo S3 directly behind

windshield wipers or tinted areas.

Graphic OLED Display

During an alert, the display will turn on and

indicate radar band, and a precise bar-graph of

signal strength. Programming options and SWS

messages are also displayed.

NOTE: When using Solo S3 in battery mode, the

display will turn off automatically until a signal is

detected, or you enter program mode. This maximizes

battery life. When using the optional 12-volt

SmartCord, the display will remain on and provide

several pilot options for power-on indication. Page 16

To begin using the Solo S3, just follow these simple

steps:

1 Install (2) AA batteries (included) in the battery

compartment. (Please note polarity)

2 Mount your Solo S3 on the windshield using the

supplied windshield mount.

3 Press the Power button (PWR) located on the left

side of the front panel.

4 Adjust the volume (VOL) by pressing the up and

down buttons located to the right of the display.

Please read the manual to fully understand Solo

S3’s operation and features.

Quick Reference Guide

12-volt Power Jack

For 12-volt operation, plug the optional SmartCord

into this connector.

Mute / Battery Status Button

Brieﬂy press this button (located on top) to silence

the audio for a speciﬁc alert. Pages 10-11

Ear Phone Jack

A standard 1/8 inch (or 3.5 mm) earphone jack is

located on the right front side of the Solo S3.

Mode Button

Switches sensitivity between Highway,

AutoSensitivity, and City settings. In general, we

recommend the AutoSensitivity mode. Page 11

Volume Control

Press the up or down button to adjust the S3’s

volume. Page 10

EZ-Programming

Solo S3 is ready to go, just plug it in and turn it on. If

you prefer, you can also easily customize up to 9 fea-

tures for your speciﬁc driving preferences. Pages 14-19

AutoMute

Solo S3’s patented AutoMute automatically reduces

the volume level of the audio alert after a brief period.

If you prefer, you can turn AutoMute off. Page 10

EasyMount Slot

Insert Solo S3’s adjustable Windshield mount into

this slot. Page 9

EasyRelease Button

Press the release button, and slide the Windshield

mount into one of its four locking positions. Page 9

Rear Laser Port

Receives laser signals from behind the vehicle.

Power-On Indication

Three LED's (green, yellow, red) mounted between

the PWR button and the display, indicate power

(blinking in battery mode, solid when optional 12-

volt power cord is used). These also indicate the

sensitivity mode that the unit is in,( "H" for highway,

"A" for AutoSensitivity, and "C" for city). Page 10

Power

Press the PWR button to turn Solo S3 on. Press and

hold the PWR button to turn Solo S3 off. Page 10

AutoPwr Feature

The Solo S3 will automatically shut off once the

vehicle has stopped moving for approximately 25

minutes. Page 16

Battery Installation

Remove the battery door, located on the bottom of

the detector, and install (2) AA batteries (supplied).

Be sure to note the correct polarity for each battery

(see legends inside battery compartment).

Optional 12-volt SmartCord

To power Solo S3 using 12-volts, simply remove the

power connector plug, and insert the small end of

the optional SmartCord, (telephone-type connector)

into the modular jack on Solo S3’s right side. Plug

the lighter plug adapter into your vehicle’s lighter

socket or accessory socket.

The optional SmartCord allows you to operate

the Solo S3 on 12 volts DC negative ground only. The

lighter plug is a standard size and will work in most

vehicles. Of course, your lighter socket must be clean

and properly connected for proper operation.

NOTE: Depending on your vehicle, the lighter

socket power may either be continuously on, or it

may be switched on and off with your ignition

switch.

See the Accessories section for details on how to

order the optional 12-volt SmartCord.

Mounting Location

WARNING! ESCORT cannot anticipate the many

ways Solo S3 can be mounted. It is important that

you mount Solo S3 where it will not impair your

view nor present a hazard in case of an accident.

Where to mount Solo S3

For optimum detection performance, we

recommend the following:

• Using the supplied Windshield Mount, stick the

suction cups to the windshield, and mount your

Solo S3 level and high enough on your front

windshield to provide a clear view of the road ahead.

• Mount Solo S3 away from windshield wipers,

other solid objects, and heavily tinted areas that

might obstruct the radar antenna or laser lens.

Installation

9 8

CAUTION!

A few vehicles (including some Porsches) have

windshields with a soft anti-lacerative coating on

the inside surface. Use of suction cups will

permanently mar this coating. Consult your

dealership or the vehicle owner’s manual to

determine if your windshield has

this coating.

User’s Tip

You can leave the EasyMount bracket in place on

your windshield, and easily remove Solo S3 by

pressing the adjustment button and sliding Solo S3

off the mount. Again, be sure to position the bracket

where it won't present a hazard in the event of an

accident. Additional mounts are available.

Windshield Mount

Solo S3’s EasyMount windshield bracket is designed

for unobtrusive and hassle-free mounting.

1 Depress the adjustment button on the top of Solo

S3 (above the word “RELEASE”) and slide the

EasyMount bracket into the slot until mount is

locked into the position which best ﬁts the angle of

your windshield (there are four settings

available). For extremely horizontal or

extremely sloped windshields, the EasyMount

bracket can be bent.

To ensure that the suction cups adhere to the

windshield ﬁrmly, be sure to keep both your

windshield and the suction cups clean.

2 To adjust Solo S3 on your windshield, use the

EasyMount adjustment button located on the top of

the Solo S3, and slide Solo S3 forward or backward

to obtain a level horizontal position.

When installed and adjusted properly, the back

top edge of the Solo S3 should rest solidly against

your windshield.

Controls and Features

Power

To turn Solo S3 on, simply press the power button

(PWR) located on the left side of the front panel. To

turn the detector off, press and hold the same power

button for approximately two (2) seconds.

AutoPwr (programmable)

To conserve battery life, the Solo S3 will

automatically go to “sleep” after the vehicle has

stopped moving for 25 minutes. If the vehicle starts

to move within the next 30 minutes, your Solo S3

will “wake up” and prompt you, (both visually and

audibly) to see if you want it back on. If so, simply

press any button on the Solo S3, and it will return to

normal operation.

If you do not press a button within 15 seconds of

the prompt, the detector will shut down completely.

To turn the Solo S3 back on, simply press the PWR

button.

Volume Control

To adjust the alert tone volume level, press and hold

the up or down arrow buttons located to the right of

the display. Once the desired volume level is

achieved, simply release the button. This volume

level will be stored in memory.

Power-On Indication / Alert

Once Solo S3’s start-up sequence is complete, one of

three LEDs (Green, yellow, red) located between the

PWR button and the display will begin to blink. This

indicates that Solo S3 is operational, and indicates

which sensitivity mode (Highway, Auto, or City) the

detector is in.

If you are using the optional SmartCord for 12-

volt power, you can select alternate power-on

displays. See the EZ-Programming (page 16)

section for details.

The red LED (AutoSensitivity mode) will ﬂash as

an alert lamp when a signal is detected.

Mute

The Mute button, located on the top case of the Solo

S3, allows you to silence the audio alert during a

radar encounter.

To mute the audio for a single speciﬁc signal,

brieﬂy press the Mute button. After that radar

encounter has passed, the mute will automatically

reset and the audio will alert you to the next

encounter.

AutoMute

Your Solo S3 has our patented AutoMute feature.

After Solo S3 alerts you to a radar encounter at the

volume you have selected, the AutoMute feature will

automatically reduce the volume to a lower level.

This keeps you informed without the annoyance of a

continuous full-volume alert.

If you prefer, you can turn the AutoMute feature

off. See the EZ-Programming section (page 17) for

details.

SmartMute

Once a speciﬁc signal has been muted, ESCORT’s

exclusive SmartMute™ feature will intelligently

prioritize any additional signals by band. If a new

signal is detected, and it is a higher priority band

than the muted one, Solo S3 will alert you at the

preset volume you selected.

Battery Status / Voltage

The Mute button is also a battery status button.

Simply press the Mute button at any time (without a

signal present) and a battery status icon will appear,

showing you the remaining life of the batteries.

Each segment of this battery icon represents

approximately 25% of the battery life.

When using the optional SmartCord for 12-volt

operation, pressing the Mute button will provide the

vehicles voltage.

Low Battery Warning

Once the batteries reach a speciﬁc voltage level,

(approximately 1.7 volts) the Solo S3 will provide a

low-battery warning. This warning consists of an

audible alert, along with a corresponding message.

Mode Switch

The Mode switch selects the Solo S3’s sensitivity. We

recommend the Auto (AutoSensitivity) mode for

most driving.

Solo S3’s AutoSensitivity mode provides long-

range warning, while virtually eliminating false

alarms. In this mode, the Solo S3’s internal

computer continuously analyzes all incoming

signals and intelligently determines which signals

are real threats.

You can also select conventional Highway and

City sensitivity modes. When driving in urban areas

where annoying X-band intrusion alarms and door

openers are common, City Mode can be engaged to

lower X-band sensitivity and reduce X-band alerts.

Full sensitivity is maintained on all other bands. You

can customize Solo S3’s City mode sensitivity. See

the EZ-Programming section (page 18) for details.

Brightness Control

The Solo S3 provides four levels of brightness

including automatic, minimum, medium,

maximum and full dark mode. The Solo S3 is

shipped using the automatic setting, which will

adjust the brightness automatically based on the

ambient light in your vehicle. You may also select

one of the ﬁxed brightness levels (min, med, max)

in the EZ-Programming section. See page 18 for

details.

10 11

Solo S3’s ExpertMeter simultaneously tracks up

to 8 radar signals. It shows you detailed information

on up to 2 Ka-band, 2 K-band, and 4 X-band signals.

ExpertMeter can help you spot a change in your

normal driving environment; for example, a trafﬁc

radar unit being operated in an area where there

are normally other signals present.

The ExpertMeter is actually a miniature

spectrum analyzer. It shows what band each signal

is and its signal strength.

|| K

|| X

||||

Above is the ExpertMeter Display if Solo S3 was

detecting 2 strong Ka-band, 2 strong K-band,

and 4 strong X-band signals.

As you can see, there are vertical lines after each

band designator. Each line shows a signal being

detected. The height of each line shows the relative

signal strength of that signal.

NOTE: If you use ExpertMeter, the brief signal

shown in the power-on sequence when you turn on

your Solo S3 will also be in ExpertMeter: an X with a

single vertical line.

For more discreet operation, the Solo S3 also has

a dark mode. In this mode, the display will not

provide any visual alerts when it detects a signal.

Only an audible alert will be heard. However, the

display will operate normally when accessing the

program mode. See the EZ-Programming section

(page 18) for details.

NOTE: When using the optional 12-volt

SmartCord while the Solo S3 is in dark mode, all

visual alerts will be indicated on the SmartCord

itself.

Audible Alerts

For Radar signals:

Solo S3 uses a Geiger-counter-like sound to

indicate the signal strength and type of radar signal

being encountered. When you encounter radar, a

distinct Audible Alert will sound and increase in rate

as the signal gets closer. When the signal is very

strong, the Audible Alerts will blend into a solid tone.

This allows you to judge the distance from the signal

source without taking your eyes from the road.

Each band has a distinct tone for easy

identiﬁcation. X-band = beep tone, K-band = raspy

brap tone, Ka-band = double-brap tone.

For Laser signals:

Since Laser signals are a possible threat no

matter how weak, Solo S3 alerts you to all laser

signals with a full laser alert.

For Safety signals:

Solo S3 will alert you to these signals with a

double-beep tone, and a corresponding text message.

A complete listing of the text messages is on page 25.

Signal Strength Meter

Solo S3’s alphanumeric graphic display provides an

intuitive display of signal strength and text messages.

Solo S3’s standard bar-graph signal strength

meter only displays information on a single radar

signal. If there are multiple signals present, Solo

S3’s internal computer determines which is the most

important threat to show on the bar-graph meter.

When Solo S3 detects radar, it displays the band

(X, K, or Ka), and a precise bar graph of the signal

strength. When Solo S3 detects a laser signal, the

display will show “LASER.”

NOTE: If you are operating Solo S3 in Dark Mode,

the display will not light when a signal is detected—

only the audio alert will be heard.

ExpertMeter

Solo S3’s ExpertMeter option is an advanced display

for experienced detector users. Please use Solo S3 for

a few weeks to get familiar with its other features

before using ExpertMeter.

To use the ExpertMeter instead of the standard

bar graph meter, select ExpertMeter in Solo S3’s EZ-

Programming (see page 17).

Controls and Features

12 13

A few more examples will help you better see how

the ExpertMeter works.

| X

Here ExpertMeter shows 1 strong K-band

signal, and three X-band signals, two strong and

one weak.

' X

'''

Here ExpertMeter shows 1 weak Ka-band

signal, and three weak X-band signals.

On very weak signals, there will not be a

vertical line at all. This shows a very weak

X-band signal.

ExpertMeter Details

The band designators (X, K, Ka) will stay on the

display for a few seconds after the signal has passed.

This allows you to see what the unit detected, even

on very brief signals.

However, the vertical lines representing

individual signals continuously change (several

times a second) to give you a continuous

instantaneous view of all radar signals present.

EZ-Programming

There are 9 user-selectable options so you can

customize your Solo S3 for your own preferences.

The Mode button (“M”) and the “VOL” buttons (up

or down arrows) are used to enter the programming,

REVIEW your current program settings, and to

CHANGE any settings as desired. The letters “PGM”

(program), RVW (review), and CHG (change) are

located on the front of the detector, and are

highlighted in blue graphics. Pages 16-19 explain

each option in more detail.

How to use EZ-Programming

1 To enter Program Mode, press and hold either

of the “VOL” (up or down) buttons, and the “M”

(mode) down for 2 seconds. The unit will beep

twice, and will display the word “Program.”

2 Then press the RVW button to review the

current settings. You can either tap the button to

change from item to item, or press and hold the

button to scroll through the items.

3 Press the CHG button to change any setting.

You can either tap the button to change from

setting to setting, or hold the button to scroll

through all the options.

4 To leave the Program Mode, simply wait 8

seconds without pressing any button. The unit

will display Complete, beep 4 times, and return

to normal operation.

To quickly reset Solo S3 to the factory program

settings, press and hold the Mute and M (Mode)

buttons while turning Solo S3 on.

Example of EZ-Programming

Here is how you would turn Solo S3’s AutoMute

feature off.

1 Enter the Program Mode by holding one of the

VOL buttons and “M” (mode) button down for 2

seconds. Solo S3 will beep twice and display

“Program.”

2 Then hold the RVW button down. Solo S3 will

scroll through the categories, starting with Pilot

options, Auto-Power, Power-On sequence, Signal

Strength Meter, AutoMute, Tones, City sensitivity,

Brightness, and Bands.

3 Release the RVW button when Solo S3 shows the

AutoMute item. Since the factory setting is for

AutoMute to be on, Solo S3 will display “aMute

ON.” (If you accidentally go to the next category,

press the opposite “VOL” button to go back.)

4 Press the CHG button to change from “aMuteON”

to “aMuteOFF.”

5 To complete the Programming, simply wait 8

seconds without pressing any button. Solo S3 will

display Complete, beep 4 times, and return to

normal operation.

Overview of EZ-Programming

Press the RVW button to go Press the CHG button to change

your setting within a category from one category to the next

PILOT LIGHT Pilot HWY * Full word: Highway or Auto or City

(Options using Pilot H Letter: H or A or C

12-volt SmartCord) Pilot H.> Letter, with scanning dot

Pilot + Symbol: + or • or --

Pilot +.> Symbol, with scanning dot

Pilot +> Scanning symbol

AUTO POWER aPwr Motn * Uses motion to turn Solo S3 off

aPwr Time Uses time to turn Solo S3 off

aPwr Off Turn Solo S3 on and off manually

POWER-ON SEQUENCE PwrOn STD * Standard power-on sequence

PwrOn FST Fast power-on sequence

SIGNAL STRENGTH METER Meter STD * Standard signal strength meter

Meter EXP Expert Meter

AUTOMUTE aMute ON * AutoMute on

aMute OFF AutoMute off

AUDIOTONES Tone STD * Standard tones

Tone LOUD Loud tones

CITY MODE SENSITIVITY City STD * Standard City mode sensitivity

City LoX Low X-band sensitivity in City Mode

City NoX No X-band sensitivity in City Mode

BRIGHTNESS Brt AUTO * Brightness is controlled automatically

Brt MIN Minimum brightness when turned on

Brt MED Medium brightness when turned on

Brt MAX Maximum brightness when turned on

Brt DARK Full Dark Mode when turned on

BANDS Bands ALL * All bands enabled

Bands MOD One or more bands are disabled

Turn bands “ON” or “OFF” by

pressing the Mute button

X ON or OFF * X-band detection on

K ON or OFF * K-band detection on

Ka ON or OFF * Ka-band detection on

LSR ON or OFF * Laser detection on

SWS ON or OFF * SWS detection off

VG2 ON or OFF * VG2 detection off

* Solo S3’s Factory Settings

To reset Solo S3 to its original factory

settings, press and hold the Mute and

M (Mode) buttons while turning Solo

S3 on. Solo S3’s display will provide a

“Reset” message, accompanied by an

audible alert, acknowledging the reset.

14 15

Details of EZ-Programming

Pilot Light (12-volt power only)

Pilot HWY (Full description)

In this setting, Solo S3 will display “Highway,” “City,”

or “Auto” as its power-on indication. (factory

default)

Pilot H (Letter)

In this setting, Solo S3 will display “H” for Highway,

“C” for City, and “A” for Auto.

Pilot H.> (Letter with scanning dot)

In this setting, Solo S3 will display “H” for Highway,

“C” for City, and “A” for Auto. Also, a single dot will

continuously scroll across the display.

Pilot + (Symbol)

In this setting, Solo S3 will display “+” for Highway,

“.” for Auto, and “–” for City.

Pilot +.> (Symbol with scanning dot)

In this setting, Solo S3 will display “+” for Highway,

“.” for Auto, and “–” for City. Also, a single dot will

continuously scroll across the display.

Pilot +> (Scanning symbol)

In this setting, Solo S3 will display “+” for Highway,

“.” for Auto, and “–” for City. Each will continuously

scroll across the display.

Auto Power

aPwr Motn (Standard)

In this setting, Solo S3 maximizes battery life by

intelligently shutting down once your vehicle has

become motionless for approximately 25 minutes.

After this time, the Solo S3 will go into a “sleep”

mode for approximately 30 minutes. However, if the

Solo S3 senses movement within this “sleep” time,

the Solo S3 will wake up and prompt you (both

audibly and visually) to see if you would like to

return to an active mode. If yes, simply press any

button.

If not, the Solo S3 will shut off completely,

maximizing battery life.

aPwr Time

In this setting, Solo S3 will shut off completely after

no signals are detected for approximately 45 minutes.

aPwr OFF

In this setting, Solo S3 requires that you turn it on

and off manually using the PWR button.

Power-on Sequence

PwrOn STD (Standard)

In this setting, each time you turn on Solo S3, it will

display “Solo S3,” “LASER,” “Ka-band,” “K-band,”

“X-band,” followed by a brief X-band alert. (factory

default) If one or more bands are disabled, (see

page 19) a message will appear alerting you if one

or more bands are disabled, (i.e. “X OFF”).

PwrOn FST (Fast power-on)

In this setting, Solo S3 will provide a single X-band

tone if all bands are enabled. If any bands have

been disabled, a double X-band tone and

corresponding message (i.e. “X OFF”), will alert

you that one or more bands have been turned off.

NOTE: If the batteries need to be replaced, a low-

battery alert will be provided during both power-on

sequences.

Signal Strength Meter

Meter STD (Standard meter)

In this setting, the meter displays the band of the

received signal, and a bar graph shows the relative

signal strength. (factory default)

Meter EXP (Expert Meter)

In this setting, the meter simultaneously tracks

multiple radar signals. It can display up to 2 Ka band,

2 K band, and 4 X band signals at the same time.

NOTE: The ExpertMeter feature is explained in

more detail on page 13.

AutoMute

aMute ON (AutoMute on)

In this setting, Solo S3’s audio alerts will initially be

at the volume you set, but after a few seconds, Solo

S3 will automatically reduce the volume level, to

keep you informed, but not annoyed. (factory

default)

aMute OFF (AutoMute off)

With AutoMute off, Solo S3’s audio alerts will

remain at the volume you set for the duration of the

radar encounter.

Audio Tones

Tone STD (Standard tones)

This setting uses more pleasing tones. (factory

default)

Tone LOUD (Loud tones)

This setting uses tones that are more piercing. This

setting is recommended for louder vehicles.

16 17

City Mode Sensitivity

City STD (Standard)

In this setting, when you put Solo S3 in the City

mode, X-band sensitivity is signiﬁcantly reduced, to

reduce annoyance from X-band intrusion alarms

and motion sensors. (factory default)

City LoX (Low X-band sensitivity)

In this setting, when you put Solo S3 in the City

mode, X-band sensitivity is reduced more than the

standard setting. This will reduce X band alarms

from other sources even further, but also

signiﬁcantly reduces range to X-band trafﬁc radar.

City NoX (No X-band sensitivity)

In this setting, when you put Solo S3 in the City

mode, Solo S3 will not respond to any X band

signals.

WARNING: Only choose this setting if you are

absolutely certain that there are no X band trafﬁc

radar units where you drive.

NOTE: These settings only apply when Solo S3 is

operated in City mode. X-band sensitivity is not

affected when used in “Auto,” or “Highway” modes.

Details of EZ-Programming

Brightness

Brt Auto (Automatically adjusts)

In this setting, the Solo S3’s display and pilot lights

will adjust automatically based on the vehicles

interior brightness. (factory default)

Brt MIN (Minimum)

In this setting, each time you turn on Solo S3, the

display will be at the lowest brightness.

Brt MED (Medium)

In this setting, each time you turn on Solo S3, the

display will be at the medium brightness.

Brt MAX (Maximum)

In this setting, each time you turn on Solo S3, the

display will be at the maximum brightness.

Brt Dark (Dark)

In this setting, Solo S3’s display will be totally dark,

even during an alert. Only the audible alert will tell

you of detected signals.

Bands ON/OFF

Bands ALL

In this setting, all radar and laser frequencies are

monitored. This is the factory setting, and it is

highly recommended that you use your Solo S3 in

this mode.

X ON (X-band detection on – factory default)

K ON (K-band detection on – factory default)

Ka ON (Ka-band detection on – factory default)

LSR ON (Laser detection on – factory default)

SWS OFF (Safety Warning Systems detection

off – factory default)

VG2 OFF (VG2 detection off – factory default) If

the VG2 band (Radar detector detector) is turned on,

VG2 units will be detected with an audible and

visual alert. Once detected, Solo S3’s internal

oscillator will shut down for a period of time,

making it undetectable. Solo S3’s oscillator will then

periodically turn back on to see if the VG2 unit is

still present. If not, Solo S3 will return to normal

operation.

NOTE: With VG2 detection on, other radar

detectors could be detected as well.

Bands MOD

If you live in an area where a speciﬁc band (e.g.

SWS) is not currently used, you can turn that

speciﬁc band off.

NOTE: DO NOT TURN ANY BANDS OFF

UNLESS YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT

BAND IS NOT USED IN YOUR AREA.

To disable, or turn a speciﬁc band off, enter

program mode and scroll to the “BandsALL”

category using the “REVIEW” button. Using the

“CHANGE” button, select the speciﬁc band you wish

to disable, or turn off, (e.g. “SWS ON”). Once you

have selected the speciﬁc band, press the top-

mounted Mute button to turn the band on/off.

NOTE: If you have turned off a band, Solo S3 will

warn you with an audible alert, and associated text

message stating which band is turned off, (e.g.

“SWS OFF”). This warning is displayed during the

start up sequence (standard or fast).

18 19

Interpreting Alerts

Although Solo S3 has a comprehensive warning

system and this handbook is as complete as we can

make it, only experience will teach you what to

expect from your Solo S3 and how to interpret what

it tells you. The speciﬁc type of radar being used, the

Technical Details

type of trans-mission (continuous or instant-on)

and the location of the radar source affect the radar

alerts you receive.

The following examples will give you an

introduction to understanding Solo S3’s warning

system for radar, laser and safety alerts.

Alert

• Solo S3 begins to sound slowly, then the rate of

alert increases until the alert becomes a solid tone.

The Signal Meter ramps accordingly.

• Solo S3 emits short alerts for a few seconds and

then falls silent only to brieﬂy alert and fall silent

again.

• Solo S3 suddenly sounds a continuous tone for the

appropriate band received. All segments in the

Signal Strength Meter are lit.

• A brief laser alert.

• Solo S3 receives weak signals. These signals may

be a little stronger as you pass large, roadside objects.

The signals increase in frequency.

Explanation

• You are approaching a continuous radar source

aimed in your direction.

• An instant-on radar source is being used ahead of

you and out of your view.

• An instant-on radar source or laser source is being

used nearby. This kind of alert requires immediate

attention!

• Laser is being used in the area. Because laser is

inherently difﬁcult to detect, any laser alert may

indicate a source very close by.

• A moving patrol car with continuous radar is over-

taking you from behind. Because these signals are

reﬂected (reﬂections are increased by large objects),

they may or may not eventually melt into a solid

point even when the patrol car is directly behind you.

Alert

• Solo S3 alerts slowly for awhile and then abruptly

jumps to a strong alert.

• Solo S3 alerts intermittently. Rate and strength of

alerts may be consistent or vary wildly.

• Solo S3 alerts intermittently. Rate and strength of

signal increases with each alert.

• Solo S3 gives an X-band alert intermittently.

Explanation

• You are approaching a radar unit concealed by a

hill or an obstructed curve.

• A patrol car is travelling in front of you with a

radar source aimed forward. Because signals are

sometimes reﬂected off of large objects and

sometimes not, the alerts may seem inconsistent.

• A patrol car is approaching from the other

direction, sampling trafﬁc with instant-on radar.

Such alerts should be taken seriously.

• You are driving through an area populated with

radar motion sensors (door openers, burglar alarms,

etc.) Since these transmitters are usually contained

inside buildings or aimed toward OR away from you,

they are typically not as strong or lasting as a real

radar encounter.

CAUTION: Since the characteristics of these alerts

may be similar to some of the preceding examples,

over conﬁdence in an unfamiliar area can be

dangerous. Likewise, if an alert in a commonly

traveled area is suddenly stronger or on a different

band than usual, speed radar may be set up nearby.

20 21

How Radar Works

Trafﬁc radar, which consists of microwaves, travels

in straight lines and is easily reﬂected by objects

such as cars, trucks, even guardrails and overpasses.

Radar works by directing its microwave beam down

the road. As your vehicle travels into range, the

microwave beam bounces off your car, and the

radar antenna looks for the reﬂections. Using the

Doppler Principle, the radar equipment then

calculates your speed by comparing the frequency of

the reﬂection of your car to the original frequency of

the beam sent out.

Trafﬁc radar has limitations, the most

signiﬁcant of these being that it typically can

monitor only one target at a time. If there is more

than one vehicle within range, it is up to the radar

operator to decide which target is producing the

strongest reﬂection. Since the strength of the

reﬂection is affected by both the size of the vehicle

and its proximity to the antenna, it is difﬁcult for

the radar operator to determine if the signal is from

a sports car nearby or a semi-truck several hundred

feet away.

Technical Details

Radar range also depends on the power of the

radar equipment itself. The strength of the radar

unit’s beam diminishes with distance. The farther

the radar has to travel, the less energy it has for

speed detection.

Because intrusion alarms and motion sensors

often operate on the same frequency as X-Band

radar, your Solo S3 will occasionally receive non-

police radar signals. Since these X-Band

transmitters are usually contained inside of a

building, or aimed toward the ground, they will

generally produce much weaker readings than will

a true radar encounter. As you become familiar with

the sources of these pseudo alarms in your daily

driving, they will serve as conﬁrmation that your

Solo S3’s radar detection abilities are fully

operational.

How Laser (Lidar) Works

Laser speed detection is actually LIDAR (Light

Detection and Ranging). LIDAR guns project a

beam of invisible infrared light. The signal is a

series of very short infrared light energy pulses,

which move, in a straight line, reﬂecting off your car

and returning to the gun. LIDAR uses these light

pulses to measure the distance to a vehicle. Speed is

then calculated by measuring how quickly these

pulses are reﬂected given the known speed of light.

LIDAR (or laser) is a newer technology and is not

as widespread as conventional radar. Therefore, you

may not encounter laser on a daily basis. And,

unlike radar detection, laser detection is not prone

to false alarms. Because LIDAR transmits a much

narrower beam than does radar, it is much more

accurate in its ability to distinguish between targets

and is also more difﬁcult to detect. AS A RESULT,

EVEN THE BRIEFEST LASER ALERT SHOULD BE

TAKEN SERIOUSLY.

There are limitations to LIDAR equipment.

LIDAR is much more sensitive to weather conditions

than RADAR, and a LIDAR gun's range will be

decreased by anything affecting visibility such as

rain, fog, or smoke. A LIDAR gun cannot operate

through glass and it must be stationary in order to

get an accurate reading. Because LIDAR must have

a clear line of sight and is subject to cosine error (an

inaccuracy, which increases as the angle between

the gun and the vehicle, increases) police typically

use LIDAR equipment parallel to the road or from

an overpass. LIDAR can be used day or night.

22 23

How Safety Radar Works

Safety Warning System, or SWS, uses a modiﬁed

K-band radar signal. The SWS safety radar system

has 64 possible messages (60 currently allocated).

The SWS messages your Solo S3 can display are

listed on the facing page.

From the factory, your Solo S3 is programmed

with SWS decoding OFF. If SWS is used in your

area, your Solo S3 will display the safety messages

associated with the signal. If you wish to detect this

system, use the EZ-Programming feature to turn

Solo S3’s SWS decoding ON.

NOTE: some of the safety messages have been

condensed, so that each message can be displayed

on one or two screens on Solo S3’s display.

Technical Details

Since Safety radar technology is relatively new,

and the number of transmitters in operation is not

yet widespread, you will not receive Safety signals on

a daily basis. Do not be surprised if you encounter

emergency vehicles, road hazards and railroad

crossings that are unequipped with these

transmitters. As Safety transmitters become more

prevalent (the number of operating transmitters is

growing every day), these Safety radar signals will

become more common.

SWS Safety Radar Text Messages

1 WorkZone

2 Road Closed

3 Bridge Closed

4 WorkCrew Highway

5 WorkCrew Utility

6 Detour

7 Truck Detour

8 MustExit

9 Rtlane Closed

10 CntrLane Closed

11 LeftLane Closed

12 Future Use

13 Police

14 Train

15 Low Overpass

16 BridgeUp

17 Bridge Wt Limit

18 RockSlid Area

19 School Zone

20 Road Narrows

21 Sharp Curve

22 Croswalk

23 Deer Crossing

24 Blind or Deaf Kid

25 SteepUse LowGear

26 Accident

27 PoorRoad Surface

28 Loading ScholBus

29 DontPass

30 Dangrous Intrsect

31 Emergncy Vehicle

32 Future Use

33 HighWind

34 Severe Weather

35 HeavyFog

36 Flooding

37 BridgIce

38 RoadIce

39 Dust Blowing

40 Sand Blowing

41 Blinding Snow

42 Future Use

43 RestArea

44 RestArea w/servic

45 24hrFuel

46 Insp Stn Open

47 Insp Stn Closed

48 Reduced Speed

49 Speed Enforced

50 HazMatls Exit

51 Expect Delay

52 10 Min Delay

53 20 Min Delay

54 30 Min Delay

55 1 Hour Delay

56 Trafﬁc TunRadio

57 Pay Toll

58 Trucks ExitRght

59 Trucks ExitLeft

60 Future Use

61 Emerg Veh Moving

62 Police Pursuit

63 Oversize Vehicle

64 SloMovng Vehicle

24 25

Problem

• Solo S3 beeps brieﬂy at the same

location every day, but no radar source is

in sight.

• Solo S3 does not seem sensitive to radar

or laser.

• Solo S3 did not alert when a police car

was in view.

• Solo S3 did not provide a Safety signal

while within range of an emergency

vehicle.

• Solo S3’s display is not working.

• Solo S3’s audible alerts are less loud

after the ﬁrst few alerts.

• Solo S3 bounces or sags on windshield.

Troubleshooting

Explanation of Displays

No display Solo S3 is in the Dark mode, and is programmed for Full Dark (page 18)

PilotHWY One of the many pilot programming messages (pages 16)

WorkZone One of the many Safety Radar messages (pages 24-25)

Caution Solo S3 has detected a Safety Radar Signal, but the signal isn’t yet strong

enough to decode the speciﬁc safety message (page 25)

X|, or K|,or KA| etc. Solo S3 has been programmed in the ExpertMeter Mode (page 12-13)

VG2. Solo S3 has detected a VG2 unit (radar detector detector)

Solution

• An X-band motion sensor or intrusion alarm is located within

range of your route. With time, you will learn predictable

patterns of these signals.

• Make sure that windshield wipers do not block Solo S3’s radar

antenna and that the laser lens is not behind tinted areas.

• Determine if your vehicle has an Instaclear™, ElectriClear™

or solar reﬂective windshield which may deﬂect radar or laser

signals.

• Solo S3 may be in City Mode.

• VASCAR, (Visual Average Speed Computer and Recorder) a

stopwatch method of speed detection, may be in use.

• Ofﬁcer may not have radar or laser unit turned on.

• Safety transmitters may not be commonly used in your area.

• Solo S3 is in Full Dark Mode. See page 18 for details.

• Solo S3 is in AutoMute Mode. See page 10 for details.

• Solo S3 is not making contact with the windshield to provide

stability. While holding down Solo S3’s EasyRelease button,

slide Solo S3 further back toward the windshield so that the

back top edge makes ﬁrm contact.

Problem

• Solo S3’s power-on sequence reoccurs

while you are driving.

• Your 14-year old son has changed all 9

of the EZ-Programming options.

• Solo S3 will not turn on.

• Solo S3 feels very warm.

Solution

• A loose power connection or dirty lighter socket can cause

Solo S3 to be brieﬂy disconnected.

• You can return all of the programming options to the factory

defaults by holding down the MUTE and MODE (M) buttons

while you turn Solo S3 on.

• Check for proper battery installation.

• Install new batteries.

• It is normal for Solo S3 to feel warm when it’s on.

26 27

Service Warranty and Accessories

Service Procedure

If your Solo S3 ever needs service, please follow these

simple steps:

1 Check the troubleshooting section of this manual.

It may have a solution to your problem.

2 Call us at 1-800-543-1608. We may be able to

solve your problem over the phone. If the problem

requires that you send your Solo S3 to the factory 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 S3:

• Your Service Order Number

• Your name and return address

• Your daytime telephone number

• A description of the problem you are experiencing.

Out Of Warranty Repairs

For out of warranty repairs, include prepayment in

the amount you were quoted by the ESCORT

Customer Service Representative. If the detector has

been damaged, abused or modiﬁed, the repair cost

will be calculated on a parts and labor basis. If it

exceeds the basic repair charge, you will be

contacted with a quotation. If the additional

payment is not received within 30 days (or if you

notify us that you choose not to have your Solo S3

repaired at the price quoted), your Solo S3 will be

returned, without repair. Payment can be made by

check, money order, or credit card.

Ship Solo S3 to:

ESCORT

Customer Service Department

Return Authorization Number ___________

5440 West Chester Road

West Chester OH 45069

For your own protection, we recommend that you

ship your Solo S3 postpaid and insured. Insist on a

proof of delivery, and keep the receipt until the

return of your Solo S3.

29 28

Accessories

The following accessories and replacement parts are

available for Solo S3:

Two versions of the 12-volt SmartCord are

available: One SmartCord plugs into your lighter

socket and has a coiled cord, and the other Direct-

wire SmartCord module that you wire into your

electrical system, with an 8 foot straight cord to

route to your Solo S3.

• Optional 12-volt

Coiled SmartCord • $29.95

• Optional 12-volt

Direct-wire SmartCord • $29.95

• SuperCup Windshield Mount • $19.95

• Zippered Travel Case • $14.95

ESCORT One Year Limited Warranty

ESCORT warrants your Solo S3 against all defects in

materials and workmanship for a period of one (1)

year from the date of the original purchase, subject

to the following terms and conditions:

The sole responsibility of ESCORT under this

Warranty is limited to either repair or, at the option

of ESCORT, replacement of the Solo S3 detector.

There are no expressed or implied warranties,

including those of ﬁtness for a particular purpose

or merchantability, which extend beyond the face

hereof. Some states do not allow limitations on

how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above

limitations may not apply to you.

ESCORT is not liable for any incidental or

consequential damages arising from the use,

misuse, or mounting of the Solo S3. Some states do

not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or

consequential damages, so the above limitation or

exclusion may not apply to you.

This Warranty gives you speciﬁc rights. You may

have other legal rights, which vary, from state to state.

This Warranty does not apply if the serial number

on the housing of the Solo S3 has been removed, or

if your Solo S3 has been subjected to physical abuse,

improper installation, or modiﬁcation.

ESCORT Extended Warranty

ESCORT offers an optional extended warranty plan.

Contact ESCORT Sales for details at 800-433-3487.

Features and Speciﬁcations

Operating Bands

• X-band 10.525 GHz ±25 MHz

• K-band 24.150 GHz ±100 MHz

• Ka-band 34.700 GHz ±1300 MHz

• Laser 904nm, 33 MHz bandwidth

Radar Receiver / Detector Type

• Superheterodyne, GaAs FET VCO

• Scanning Frequency Discriminator

• Digital Signal Processing (DSP)

Laser Detection

• Quantum Limited Video Receiver

• Multiple Laser Sensor Diodes

Display Type

• Graphic OLED Display

• Standard Bar Graph or ExpertMeter

• 5-Brightness Levels Including Automatic and Dark

Power Requirement

• 3 Volts DC, (2) “AA” batteries

• Optional 12-Volt SmartCord

Speciﬁcations

Programmable Features

• Contrast Adjust

• Pilot Light

• Auto Power

• Power-On Sequence

• Signal Strength Meter

• AutoMute

• Audio Tones

• City Mode Sensitivity

• Display Brightness

• Radar / Laser Bands

• SWS and VG2 Alert

Sensitivity Control

• Highway, AutoSensitivity and City

SmartMute

SmartShield VG2 Immunity

Dimensions (Inches)

1.25 (h) x 2.85 (w) x 5.32 (l)

Registration

30 31

Important Product Registration Information

If you purchased your Solo S3 directly from ESCORT,

you are automatically registered with us.

If you did not purchase your Solo S3 directly from

ESCORT, please register online at:

www.EscortInc.com

Or, for your convenience, you may also ﬁll out

the enclosed registration card and return it to us

postage pre-paid.

Thank you for your business.

online:

@www.

EscortInc.com

Escort Solo S3 Cordless Radar Detector Owners Manual

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