Beltronics V10 Owner's Manual

Beltronics

5442 West Chester Road

West Chester OH

45069 USA

USA 1.800.341.2288

www.beltronics.com

©2012 Beltronics

Designed in USA • Manufactured In Canada

Features, specifications and prices subject to change without notice.

Model: Vector V10

VECTOR

RADA R AND L ASER DETE CTOR

Owner’s Manual

Congratulations Quick Reference Card

The Vector V10 is the most advanced radar,
laser and safety detector ever designed by
Beltronics.
The BEL V10 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 Beltronics.
In addition, the BEL V10 introduces a
new level of revolutionary performance
and innovative features.

• Superior long-range radar and laser
detection, including new “POP”
mode alert

• Advanced Programming lets you
customize 7 features

• AutoScan mode drastically reduces
false alarms, plus Highway and City
settings

• Ultra-bright alphanumeric Display
with 280 LEDs

• Exclusive Threat Display tracks and
displays multiple radar signals,
including signal strength.

• Tech Display provides actual
numeric radar frequency for any
radar signal

• New Programmable Bands (on/off),
including International and North
American settings.

• Detects and decodes Safety Warning
System messages

• Includes coiled SmartCord

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 V10’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.

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1

Beltronics V10 Quick Reference Card

There are 7 user-selectable options so you
can customize your V10 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 PGM, RVW and CHG are
located on the top of the detector, and are
highlighted in graphics.

How to use Programming

1 To enter Program Mode, press and

hold both CITY and BRT buttons 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, or press the PWR button. The

unit will display Complete, beep, and
return to normal operation.

Factory Default Settings

To reset your V10 to its original factory
settings, press and hold the “CIT
“BRT” buttons while turning the power
on. The V10’s display will provide a

Reset message, accompanied by an

audible alert, acknowledging the reset.

Y” and

An example

Here is how you would turn the V10’s
AutoMute feature off.

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

display

Program.

2 Then hold the RVW button down. V10
will scroll through the categories, starting
with Pilot
then Power-On sequence
Signal Strength Meter
AutoMute (

3 Release the RVW button when the V10
shows the AutoMute item. Since the

factory setting is for AutoMute to be on,
the V10 will display aMute ON.
If you accidentally don’t release the
Review button in time, and the V10 goes
to the next category, hold the RVW button
down again, and after the V10 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.

will display
return to normal operation.

V10 will beep twice and

(Pilot), then Voice ( Voice),

aMute).

Complete, beep 4 times, and

(PwrOn), then

(Meter), and then

The V10

Preferences Details 

Quick Reference Card

Table of Contents

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Beltronics V10 Quick Reference Card

Press the RVW button

to go from one

category to the next

(Power-on indication)

POWER-ON SEQUENCE

SIGNAL STRENGTH METER

CITY MODE SENSITIVITY

* Factory Default Settings

PILOT

VOICE

AUTOMUTE

BANDS

Pilot HWY
Pilot H
Pilot V

Voice ON
Voice OFF

PwrOn STD
PwrOn FST

Meter STD
Meter THT
Meter TEC

aMute ON
aMute OFF

City STD
City LoX
City NoX

Bands DFT
Bands MOD

X ON or OFF (default is ON)
K ON or OFF (default is ON)
TSR ON or OFF (default is ON)
Ka USA* or Intl or OFF
POP ON or OFF (default is OFF)
LSR ON or OFF (default is ON)
SWS ON or OFF (default is OFF)

Press the CHG button
to change your setting
within a category

* Full word: Highway, AutoScan or City
Letter: H or A or C
Vehicle voltage

* Voice alerts on
Voice alerts off

* Standard power-on sequence
Fast power-on sequence

* Standard signal strength meter
Threat Display
Tech Display

* AutoMute on
AutoMute off

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

* All bands enabled
One or more bands has been modified

Turn bands “ON” or “OFF” by
pressing VOLUME•MUTE button

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Quick Reference Guide 4-5

Installation 6-7

• Power Connection 6

• Mounting Location 6

• Windshield Mount 7

Controls and Features 8-11

• Power On / Off 8

• Power-on indication 8

• Voice 8

• AutoMute 8

• Volume / Mute 8

• Highway / AutoScan / City Button 8

• Brightness and Dark Mode 9

• Audible Alerts

• Power Connector

• Signal Strength Meter

• Threat Display

• Tech Display

2

Programming 12-16

• How to use Programming 12

• Example of Programming

• Overview of Programming

• Details of Programming

Technical Details 17-23

• Specifications 17

• Interpreting Alerts

• How Radar Works 20

• How “POP” Works 20

• How Laser Works 21

• How "TSR" Works 22

• How Safety Radar Works 22-

9

Service 24-28

10

• Troubleshooting 24-25

• Service 26

10

11

• Registration 27-28

11

• Warranty and Accessories 29

3

12

13

14-16

18-19

23

Quick Reference Guide

To begin using your V10, just
follow these simple steps

1 Plug the small end of the power cord
into the side jack of the detector, and
plug the large end of the power cord
into your car’s lighter socket.

2 Mount your V10 on the windshield
using the supplied windshield mount.

3 Press the PWR button, located top left,
to turn the

4 Press and hold the Volume/Mute
button to adjust the volume.

Please read the manual to fully understand
your

V10’s operation and features.

V10 on.

:

QuickMount Slot

Insert the
mount into this slot. Page 7

QuickMount Button

Press the button, and slide the Windshield
mount into one of its four locking
positions. Page 7

City Button

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

Power

Press the PWR button to turn the V10 on
or off.

Volume

Press and hold the Volume/Mute button to
adjust the alert volume level.

AutoMute

V10’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 8

Programming

Your
turn it on. But you can also easily change
features for your preferences. Page

V10’s adjustable Windshield

8

Page 8

Page 8

V10 is ready to go, just plug it in and

s 12-16

Radar Antenna and Laser Lens

The rear panel of your
a clear view of the road ahead. For best
performance, do not mount the
directly behind windshield wipers
or tinted areas. Page 6

Alphanumeric Matrix Display

Your

V10’s display will show Highway,
AutoScan, or City as its power-on
indication. If you prefer, you can choose
other power-on indications. Pages 12-14
During an alert, the display will
indicate radar band, and a precise bar graph
of signal strength. Page 1
NOTE: In the Dark Mode the display

7

will not light during an alert. Page 9
The display can also show Safety Radar
text messages. Pages 22-23

V10 should have

V10

1

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.
In the Dark Mode, the power-on
indication will be changed to a dim “AD
“HD

,” or “CD” (indicating AutoScan, Dark,
Highway Dark, or City Dark). In the Dark
Mode,

V10’s meter will not display during

an alert, only the audio will alert you.

Page 9

Power Jack

Plug the power cord into this connector.

Page 6

Volume and Mute Button

Press and hold to adjust the volume level.
Briefly press this button (above the
display) to silence the audio for a specific
alert. Page 8

,”

4 5

Installation

Power Connection

To power V10, plug the small end of the
SmartCord, (telephone-type connector)
into the modular jack on V10’s right side,
and plug the lighter plug adapter into your
vehicle’s lighter socket or accessory socket.

V10 operates on 12 volts DC negative
ground only. The lighter plug provided is a
standard size and will work in most
vehicles. However, some vehicles may
require the optional European sleeve
to ensure a snug fit. If so, simply call our
service department to order one. This
sleeve slides over the SmartCord’s lighter
plug adapter. 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.

Optional power cords

See the Accessories section for details.

Mounting Location

WARNING: Beltronics cannot
anticipate the many ways the V10 can
be mounted. It is important that you
mount V10 where it will not impair
your view nor present a hazard in
case of an accident.

Where to mount V10

For optimum detection performance, we
recommend the following:

• Using the Windshield QuickMount,
mount your V10 level, and high enough on
your front windshield to provide a clear
view of the road from the front and rear.

• Mount V10 away from windshield
wipers, other solid objects, and heavily
tinted areas that might obstruct the radar
antenna or laser lens.

Windshield QuickMount

V10’s QuickMount windshield bracket is
designed for unobtrusive and hassle-free
mounting.

1 Depress the QuickMount button on
the top of the V10 (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 the V10 on your windshield,
use the QuickMount adjustment button
located on the top of the V10, and slide the
V10 forward or backward to obtain a level
horizontal position.

When installed and adjusted properly, the
back top edge of the V10 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 V10 by pressing the adjustment button
and sliding the V10 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.

6

7