Beltronics Professional RX55, BEL Pro RX55 Owner's Manual

Your new BEL Pro RX55 is the most
advanced radar and laser detector available.

The RX55 includes full X, K, and
SuperWide Ka radar protection, front and
rear laser detection, Digital Signal
Processing for superior range and falsing
rejection, our patented Mute and AutoMute,
audible and visual band alerts, and all the
performance you’d expect from Beltronics.

In addition, the new BEL Pro RX55
introduces a new level of performance and
innovative features.

• New long-range radar performance

• Multiple laser sensors for improved
long-range detection

• Exclusive Programming lets you
instantly set 7 features

• Exclusive AutoScan

™

mode, plus

Highway and City settings

• 280 LED Text-Matrix Display for easy
to read messages

• Detects and decodes all Safety Radar
signals

• New VG-2 Alert/Auto Shutoff

• Optional SmartPlug compatible

If you’ve used a radar detector before, a
review of the Quick Reference Guide on
pages 4 and 5, and the Programming
information on pages 12 and 13 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 RX55’s performance and 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.

Congratulations Quick Reference Card

1

Programming Details E

Factory Default Settings

To reset RX55 to its original factory
settings, press and hold the “CITY”and
“BRT” buttons while turning the power
on. The RX55’s display will provide a
“Reset” message, accompanied by an
audible alert, acknowledging the reset.

BEL Pro RX55 Quick Reference Card

H Remove card along perforations H

H Removecardalong perforations H

An example of Programming

Here is how you would turn RX55’s
AutoMute feature off.

1 Enter the Program Mode by holding both
the CITY and BRT buttons down for 2
seconds. The RX55 will beep twice and

display

Program.

2 Press and hold the RVW button. The
RX55 will scroll through the categories,
starting with Power-on indication
(

Pilot), then Power-on sequence

(

PwrOn), Voice (VoiceOn), and then

AutoMute (

aMute).

3 Release the RVW button when the RX55
shows the AutoMute item.

Since the

factory setting is for AutoMute to be on,
the RX55 will display aMute ON.

(If you accidentally don’t release the
RVW button in time, and the RX55 goes to
the next category, hold the RVW button
down again, and after the RX55 scrolls
through all categories, it will begin again
at the top of the list.)

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,
or press the PWR button.

The RX55 will

display

Complete, beep, and return to

normal operation.

There are 7 user-selectable options so you
can customize your RX55 for your own
preferences.

The buttons labeled CITY and BRT are
also used to enter the Program Mode,
REVIEW your current program settings, and
to CHANGE any settings as desired. The
words PROGRAM, RVW and CHG are
located on the top of the detector.

How to use Programming

1 To enter Program Mode, press and
hold the CITY and BRT buttons down
for 2 seconds.

(The unit will beep twice,

and will display the word “Program”).

2Then press the RVW button to
REVIEWthe 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).

T able of Contents

Quick Reference Guide 4-5
Installation 6-7

• Power Connection 6

• Mounting Location 6

• Windshield Mount 7

Controls and Features 8-11

• Power and volume control 8

• Power-on indication 8

• Voice Alerts 8

• AutoMute 8

• Mute 8

• Highway / AutoScan / City Switch 8-9

• Brightness 9

• Dark Mode 9

• Audible Alerts 9

• Signal Strength Meter 10

• VG2 11

Programming 12- 16

• How to use Programming 1 2

• Example of Programming 12

• Overview of Programming 13

• Details of Programming 14-16

Technical Details 17-2 3

• Specifications 17

• Interpreting Alerts 18-20

• How Radar Works 20

• How Laser Works 21

• How Safety Radar Works 22-23

Service 24-27

• Troubleshooting 24-25

• Service 26

• Registration 27

• Warranty and Accessories 29

32

Quick Reference Card

BEL Pro RX55 Quick Reference Card

*Factory Default Settings

H Remove card along perforations H

H Removecardalong perforations H

Press the REV button

to go from one category

to the next

PILOT

(Power-on indication)

POWER-ON SEQUENCE

VOICE

AUTOMUTE

CITY MODE SENSITIVITY

SWS

VG2

(radar detector detector)

Pilot HWY
Pilot H
Pilot V

PwrOn STD
PwrOn FST

Voice ON
Voice OFF

aMute ON
aMute OFF

City STD
City LoX
City NoX

SWS Off
SWS On

VG2 Off
VG2 On

Press the CHG button
to change your setting
within a category

*Full word: Highway or AutoScan or City

Letter: H or A or C
Vehicle voltage

*Standard power-on sequence

Fast power-on sequence

*Voice alerts on

Voice alerts off

*AutoMute on

AutoMute off

*Standard City mode sensitivity

Low X band sensitivity in City Mode
No X band sensitivity in City Mode

*SWS detection off

SWS detection on

*VG2 detection off

VG2 detection on

Radar Antenna and Laser Lens

The rear panel of your RX55 should have a
clear view of the road ahead. For best
performance, do not mount the RX55

directly behind windshield wipers

or tinted areas.

Page 6

Alphanumeric Matrix Display

RX55’s display will show Highway,
AutoScan, or City as its power-on indication.
If you prefer, you can choose other power­on indications.

Page 12-14

During an alert, the display will indicate
radar band, and a precise bar graph of signal
strength.

Page 10

Note: In the Dark Mode the display will
not light during an alert.

Page 9

The display can also show Safety Radar
text messages.

Page 22-23

Quick Reference Guide

To begin using your RX55,
just follow these simple steps

1 Plug the telephone jack end of the

power cord into the side jack of the
detector, and plug the lighter adapter
end of the power cord into your car’s
lighter socket.

2 Mount your RX55 on the windshield

using the supplied windshield mount.

3 Press the PWR button on the top left

side to turn it on.

4 Press and hold the Mute/Volume

button to adjust the volume.

Please read the manual to fully understand
RX55’s operation and features.

QuickMount Slot

Insert RX55’s adjustable Windshield mount
into this slot.

Page 6-7

QuickMount Button

Press the button, and slide the Windshield
mount into one of its four locking positions.

Page 7

City Button

Switches between Highway, AutoScan and
City settings. In general, we recommend
AutoScan.

Page 8

Power Button

Press the PWR button to turn the RX55 on
or off.

Page 8

AutoMute

RX55’s patented AutoMute automatically
reduces the volume level of the audio alert
after a brief period.

Page 8. If you prefer,

you can turn AutoMute off.

Page 12

Programming

RX55 is ready to go, just plug it in and turn
it on. But you can also easily change 7
features for your preferences. Press the
CITY and BRT buttons located on the top
case to enter the Program Mode, then easily
Review or Change your settings.

Page 12-16

4

Rear Laser Port

Receives laser signals from behind the
vehicle.

Earphone Jack

Accepts standard 3.5mm MONO earphone.

Brightness Button

Press to adjust display brightness. There are
three brightness settings, plus Dark Mode.

Page 9

In the Dark Mode, the power-on
indication will be changed to a dim “AD,”
“HD,” or “CD” (indicating AutoScan,
Highway, or City Dark). In the Dark Mode,
RX55’s meter will not display during an
alert, only the audio will alert you.

Page 9

Power Jack

Plug power cord or optional SmartPlug
into this connector.

Pages 6, 10, 29

Volume / Mute Button

Press and hold to adjust the volume level.

Briefly press this button (top front) to
silence the audio for a specific alert. (The
audio will alert you to the next encounter.)

Page 8

5

Power Connection

To power the RX55, plug the small end of
the supplied coiled power cord into the
telephone-type power jack on RX55’s right
side, and plug the lighter adapter into your
vehicle’s lighter socket or accessory socket.

RX55 operates on 12 volts DC negative
ground only. The lighter plug provided is
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.

RX55’s standard lighter adapter has an
integral fuseholder. If it is ever necessary to
replace the fuse, simply unscrew the tip of
the lighter plug and replace the fuse with an
identical 2 amp fuse.

Optional power cords

See the Accessories section for details on
our optional SmartPlug.

Mounting Location

WARNING: BELTRONICS cannot anticipate
the many ways the RX55 can be mounted.
It is important that you mount RX55 where
it will not impair your view nor present a
hazard in case of an accident.

Where to mount RX55

For optimum detection performance, we
recommend the following:

• Using the Windshield Mount, mount your
RX55 level, a few inches above the dash­board, and high enough on your front wind­shield to provide a clear view of the road
from the front and rear.

• Mount RX55 away from windshield
wipers, other solid objects, and heavily
tinted areas that might obstruct the radar
antenna or laser lens.

6

Installation

Windshield Mount

RX55’s QuickMount windshield bracket is
designed for unobtrusive and hassle-free
mounting.

1 Depress the QuickMount button on the
top of RX55 (by the word BELTRONICS)
and slide the QuickMount bracket into the
slot until it 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 QuickMount 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 RX55 on your windshield,
use the QuickMount button located on the
top of the RX55, and slide RX55 forward or
backward to obtain a level horizontal
position.

When installed and adjusted properly, the
back top edge of the RX55 should rest
solidly against your windshield.

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 QuickMount bracket in
place on your windshield, and easily remove
the RX55 by pressing the adjustment button
and sliding it 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.

7