INTRODUCTION TM MODEL FEATURES 2 Whistler's ergonomic and user-friendly design provides a new level of operating convenience. Special features include: 8 1 2 3 4 5 LED Display 6 7 MODEL FEATURES 3 6. CITY Button - Reduces the annoyance of false alerts typically encountered in urban driving areas. 7. Speaker - Provides distinct audio warnings for X, K, Ka band, instant-on (pulse) radar, safety radar and laser. 8. Power Jack - Provides connection for the power cord. 9. Radar Antenna - Compact, high-efficiency antenna receives radar signals. 10. Laser Antenna - Provides long range laser detection. Both antennas must have an unobstructed view of the road. 11. Mounting Bracket Location - Slot holds mounting bracket firmly. 11 LED DISPLAYS 4 OPERATION 5 Power On And Self-Test - Each time your Whistler detector is turned on, an automatic self-test sequence confirms that the speaker and visual displays are functional. During Power Up, all the LEDs illuminate, while the X, K, and Ka alerts are sounded in sequence. Immediately after the radar alerts, the red LEDs are momentarily cancelled, then illuminate from right to left while the laser alert is sounded. After the laser alert the 1st and 4th (3rd on 1505/ 1510/1515) alert LEDs flash and the Safety Radar alert is sounded. At the end of the self-test sequence the unit is in highway mode. Feature Engaged Confirmation Your Whistler detector provides audible confirmation each time a feature is engaged or canceled. When a button is pressed, one beep confirms feature "on", two beeps confirm feature "off". With Feature Engaged Confirmation, you receive immediate feedback concerning the status of your unit. Quiet Mode The QUIET Button accesses one of two muting options. 1. Manual Quiet When an audio alert is sounded, you can silence the alarm by pressing QUIET. The only time you can engage Manual Quiet is during an audio alert. OPERATION 6 2. Pre-set Audio Quiet (1520/1525/1530 only) Pressing QUIET before a radar signal is detected provides an alternate alert pattern, consisting of four beeps (indicating X, K, Ka or Safety radar) followed by clicking. The clicking will continue for as long as the detected signal is present or any new signal is detected within 20 seconds, becoming more rapid as the strength of the signal increases. If Pre-set Audio Quiet is engaged, pressing QUIET while the unit is alarming will cancel the beeps or clicking. Pressing QUIET a second time when the unit is not alarming will cancel Pre-set Audio Quiet mode and restore the continuous audio alert pattern. City Mode Automatic door openers, intrusion alarms, and other devices which share frequencies with police radar can be the source of misleading alerts, especially in urban and suburban areas. Driving in City mode will reduce these unwanted audio alerts while keeping you quietly informed of signal activity with visual alerts. Pressing the CITY Button engages City mode. Pressing the CITY Button a second time cancels City mode. In City mode, the unit responds to X, K, Ka, or Safety radar signals by alerting you with an initial alarm (2 beeps), and then remains quiet unless the strength of the detected signal becomes very strong. Two additional beeps are provided when a weak signal becomes strong. 1 Dear Whistler Owner, Congratulations on your purchase of a Whistler radar·laser detector. Model 1520/1525/1530 X Band K Band Power On LED LED LED Radar Visual Alert VG-2 On City On LED LED RADAR · LASER DETECTORS 1505/1510/1515 1520/1525/1530 OWNER'S MANUAL Reflecting our continued commitment of providing innovative detection products, your Whistler detector integrates radar and laser detection in a high quality design. In addition to providing complete coverage of all radar and laser speed monitoring guns, your Whistler includes many preferred features. It also detects the new Safety Warning SystemTM. This provides advanced warning of various highway hazards, enabling you to respond more appropriately to potentially dangerous conditions. The Whistler 1520/1525/1530 also offers the benefit of nondetectibility by alerting you to the presence of the VG-2 (a "radar detector detector"). To fully acquaint yourself with the operation of your unit and to better understand the differences between detecting radar and laser signals, we recommend reading this entire manual. Enjoy your Whistler detector and please drive safely. Sincerely, WHISTLER CORPORATION If You Have Questions Concerning The Operation Of Your Detector Please Call Customer Technical Service: 1-800-531-0004 Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm EST 1. Rear Laser Antenna (1520/1525/1530) - An integrated optical waveguide provides superior detection of laser signals transmitted from behind. 2. Bracket Release Button - Provides quick and easy release of the mounting bracket. 3. Power/Volume Control (PWR/VOL) - A single control turns the unit on/off and adjusts audio level. 4. QUIET Button - Pressing QUIET before a signal is detected replaces the continuous audio alert with an auto-mute audio pattern (1520/1525/1530 only). Pressing QUIET during a radar/laser encounter silences audio alerts, while allowing visual alerts to keep you informed. 5. VG-2 Button (1520/1525/1530 only) Engages or disengages VG-2 Cloaking TechnologyTM for nondetectibility. Both=Ka Laser Visual Alert Model 1505/1510/1515 Power On LED Radar Visual Alert City On LED 9 10 Laser Visual Alert Accessories included are highly functional and easy to use. Power Cord - Connects to the unit's power jack and your vehicle's lighter socket. Visor Bracket - For installing the unit on your vehicle's sun visor. Velcro® Fasteners - Designed to secure the unit on a level dashboard. RADAR ALERTS Model Specifications RADAR LASER ALERTS 8 At the same time, illumination of multiple LEDs indicates relative signal strength. Radar Band Identification (1520/1525/1530) When the Whistler 1520/1525/1530 encounters traffic radar, the Radar Band Indicators confirm the band detected by illuminating one or both of the LEDs as follows: X Band -- Amber LED Only K Band -- Red LED Only Ka Band -- Amber And Red LEDs Illuminate Pulse Protection® Pulse (or instant-on) radar is more difficult to detect than conventional radar because it remains "off" until activated to measure the speed of a targeted vehicle. When a pulse type transmission is detected, your Whistler detector sounds an urgent 3-second audio warning and flashes the red LEDs at their fastest rate. After the 3-second pulse alert, the standard alert pattern continues for as long as the signal is present. It is important to respond promptly to a pulse alert, since warning time may be minimal. Safety Radar Audio/Visual Alerts Your Whistler detector detects the new Safety Warning SystemTM. This provides advanced warning of various road hazards including accident sites, highway construction, emergency RADAR LASER ALERTS 9 vehicles, etc. and enables you to respond more appropriately to potentially dangerous conditions. When your Whistler detector detects a safety radar signal, it provides a distinctive audio tone and illuminates the first LED and the last LED in the signal strength display. RADAR · LASER ALERTS 10 The Safety radar alert is displayed for as long as the signal is present and the audio alert is continuous, but has a Geiger counter like pattern to help you determine your distance from the Safety radar source; the faster the beeping, the closer you are to the source. Laser Audio And Visual Alerts If you are the targeted vehicle, a laser gun can often determine your speed within a few seconds after you receive an alert. In this situation there is generally no time to safely adjust your speed. However, if you are traveling near or behind the targeted vehicle and receive an alert, response time should be sufficient. Any laser alert, regardless of duration, requires immediate action! When your Whistler detects a laser signal, the laser audio alert is sounded and the four red LEDs (three red LEDs on 1505/ 1510/1515) illuminate from right to left for as long as the signal is present, or for a minimum of three seconds. When the laser signal is no longer detected, the audio warning ends, but the LEDs continue to flash slowly for three seconds, indicating a laser encounter has just occurred. VG-2 ALERTS 11 VG-2 Audio Visual Alert (1520/1525/1530) When a VG-2 signal is detected the VG-2 LED flashes rapidly for 3 seconds and the VG-2 alert is sounded. After the 3 seconds the audio is canceled and the VG-2 alert LED flashes at a slower rate. This cycle is repeated if the VG-2 signal is again detected. During the period a VG-2 signal is detected, a radar signal cannot be detected. However, because the VG-2 alert has confirmed that a patrol car is nearby, you are already aware of the potential for speed monitoring and can adjust your speed accordingly. Laser detection is not affected while a VG-2 signal is detected. INSTALLATION 12 Mounting Guidelines For effective detection of radar and laser signals, it is important to mount your unit properly. Performance will be best if you position the detector with a level, through-the-windshield view of the road ahead. (Remember, your unit's "eyes" are at the end opposite from the LED's and controls.) Here are some additional points to keep in mind. · Do not mount your detector behind wipers, ornaments, mirrored sunscreens, etc. These obstructions have metal surfaces which can block radar and laser signals and reduce critical warning time. (Regular tinted glass does not affect reception.) · Some newer windshields have an InstaclearTM or ElectriclearTM type coating, which block radar and laser signals. Consult your dealer or the owner's manual supplied with your vehicle to determine if your windshield has this coating. · Avoid placing the unit in direct contact with the windshield. · To reduce the possibility of theft, conceal your unit when not in use. 7 · Dimensions: 1.25"H x 2.7" W x 3.9" L · Weight: 5.5 ozs. · Laser Frequencies: 905± 50 nanometers (nm) · Radar Frequencies (1520/1525/1530): 10.500 - 10.550 GHz (X band) 24.050 - 24.250 GHz (K band) 33.400 - 36.000 GHz (Superwideband Ka) · Radar Frequencies (1505/1510/1515): 10.500 - 10.550 GHz (X band) 24.050 -24.250 GHz (K band) 33.340 - 33.880 GHz (Ka) 34.110 - 34.560 GHz (Ka) 34.770 - 35.220 GHz (Ka) 35.450 - 35.900 GHz (Ka) · Operating Temperature Range: -20°C to +80°C (-4°F to +176°F) · Power Requirements: Operational 12 to 15 volts DC, 200 mA nominal Specifications are subject to change without notice. Whistler 16 Elizabeth Drive Chelmsford, MA 01824 Customer Service: P/N 202900 Whistler 1998 Patents Pending (800) 531-0004 Highway Mode Highway mode provides full audio warnings any time radar (X, K, Ka, Safety) or laser signals are detected, and is recommended for open road driving. Highway mode is automatically engaged after the unit is turned on and completes the self-test. VG-2 Detection Mode (1520/1525/1530 only) The VG-2, also known as a "radar detector detector," is a special receiver used by police to detect signals radiated by a radar detector. Because of your Whistler detector's superior sensitivity and low radiated signal level, you will be able to detect the VG-2 before the VG2 is able to detect you. Press the VG-2 button once to engage, and the VG-2 LED illuminates. Pressing a second time cancels VG-2 detection mode and the VG-2 LED is extinguished. Radar Audio And Visual Alerts When your Whistler detector encounters traffic radar, it provides a distinctive audio tone for the specific radar band detected: X, K, or Ka. At the same time, LEDs illuminate sequentially from left to right. The green and amber LEDs are cancelled during an alert. The audio alerts are continuous, but have a Geiger counter-like pattern to help you determine your distance from the radar source; the faster the beeping, the closer you are to the transmitting source. Model 1520/1525/1530 X K P Alert VG-2 C Ka The first and last LED in the Signal Strength display flash to indicate detection of a Safety radar signal. Model 1505/1510/1515 P Alert C The first and last LED in the Signal Strength display flash to indicate detection of a Safety radar signal. Printed on recycled paper. INSTALLATION 13 Dash Mounting Make sure the mounting location you have chosen is clean and dry. Clean with isopropyl alcohol if necessary to remove any waxes or polishes. Separate the Velcro® fastener strips. Peel the backing off each strip, adhere one piece to the dash and the other piece to the bottom of the unit, taking care not to cover the serial number. INSTALLATION 14 Slide on visor INSTALLATION 15 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE 16 If your unit has been correctly installed following the guidelines in this manual, but is not operating optimally, please refer to this chart: Problem Action · Check fuse in Whistler plug; replace if necessary. · Check fuse for lighter socket; replace if necessary. · M ...