Escort RD-5110 User Manual
S O L O
CORDLESS RADAR/LASER DETECTOR
Check Quick
Reference Guide
inside cover !
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mute
dim
city
pwr/vol
O W N E R ' S M A N U A L
M O D E L R D - 5 1 1 0
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CONGRATULATIONS!
SOLO is the result of ESCORT’s commitment to design and manufacture
the best radar and laser detection products available. Created for drivers
who desire the ultimate in mobility, SOLO’s cordless design eliminates
the need for a power cord, recharger, or add-on battery pack. Simply
mount SOLO on your windshield and turn it on.
SOLO uses only a fraction of the power of a conventional detector and
two standard AA alkaline batteries will economically provide months of
high-performance detection. Most drivers will need to replace SOLO’s
batteries only a few times a year at a cost of only two or three cents per
hour of use.
SOLO comes with all of ESCORT’s most sophisticated technologies
including our matchless DPRTM anti-falsing circuitry; true Digital Signal
Processing; SafetyPilotTM road safety system; SmartShieldTM VG2
protection and the incomparable performance you’ve come to expect
from ESCORT. Among SOLO’s features are long-range warning on all
radar and laser bands, Mute, AutoMute, patented SmartMuteTM; highvisibility display, differentiated audible and visual alerts, 4-level Dim, 4level City, Memory retention, battery status indicator, battery-preserving
AutoOff, optional power cord back-up, patented Easy-Mount system—all
in the most compact and portable format available.
SOLO was designed and manufactured in the USA. We are proud
to offer this product and pleased to have you as our customer.
Please drive safely.
AUTOMUTE PROMOTES DRIVING PLEASURE
SOLO is shipped with AutoMute engaged to provide you with the
advantages of audible alerts but with minimal distraction. With AutoMute,
the audio for the first four audible tones or four seconds (whichever is
longer) in an alert situation will be emitted at the volume level you have
set. All subsequent audible tones from the same alert situation will
automatically be emitted at a lower volume level. After the signal has
passed, your SOLO will automatically reset to the volume level you have
set. (If you prefer full audio for the duration of all alert situations,
AutoMute can be easily disengaged: see page 5 for more details.)
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Installing SOLO's Batteries..........................................................1
Battery Life Indication..............................................................1,7
Low Battery Warning...............................................................2,7
AutoOff.......................................................................................2
Mounting SOLO..........................................................................3
Controls and Indicators
Power On.............................................................................4
Volume.......................................................................................4
Mute...........................................................................................5
AutoMute....................................................................................5
Highway/City Modes.............................................................5
Dim Modes...........................................................................5
Audible Alerts.......................................................................6
Power On Indicator...............................................................6
City Indicator........................................................................6
Band Indicators.....................................................................6
Signal Meter..........................................................................6
Safety Signals........................................................................6
Mounting Adjustment Button................................................7
Radar Antenna......................................................................7
Laser Lenses..........................................................................7
Power Jack............................................................................7
Programmable Options...............................................................8
Tutorial Mode...........................................................................10
Specifications...............................................................................1 1
Interpreting Alerts......................................................................12
How Radar Works.....................................................................14
How Laser Works......................................................................14
How Safety Signals Work...........................................................15
Troubleshooting..........................................................................16
Service........................................................................................18
Warranty....................................................................................19
Optional Accessories................................................................20
I 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
SOLO is designed to operate on two standard AA alkaline batteries. AA
lithium batteries and AA alkaline rechargeable batteries may also be used,
however the resulting battery life will vary. We do not recommend using
NiCad rechargeable batteries.
Installing SOLO’s Batteries
1 Make sure SOLO is turned off.
2 Turn SOLO upside down. Depress the
battery door and sliding in the direction
of the arrow, remove door from the
battery compartment.
3 Remove any old batteries (both batteries MUST
be replaced at the same time).
4 Observing the polarity indication inside the battery
compartment, insert two fresh AA alkaline batteries.
5 Replace battery door.
6 Turn SOLO on to verify correct battery installation.
NOTE: Please dispose of used batteries properly in accordance with
federal, state and local requirements.
Battery Life
SOLO’s efficient design provides the typical driver with about 50 hours of
battery life from two AA alkaline batteries. Battery life is affected by many
variables, including the brand and age of the batteries, the ambient
temperature, how many and what type of alerts SOLO receives (weak
signals use less battery power than full alerts). In addition, the way you
use SOLO’s alert system will affect the battery life (low audio volume uses
less power than full volume, and Dim mode uses less power than normal
mode). The approximate battery life figures we quote are based on
laboratory testing, using fresh batteries. Your specific conditions and
usage may result in longer or shorter battery life.
Battery Life Indication
As discussed in the Signal Meter section on page 7, remaining battery life
is displayed on SOLO's Signal Meter both at power up and power down.
NOTE: Extreme temperature conditions can cause SOLO's Battery Life
Indication to be inaccurate until SOLO's temperature returns to normal.
REGARDLESS OF YOUR ACTUAL BATTERY LIFE, SOLO’S PERFORMANCE WILL NOT DEGRADE AS BATTERY VOLTAGE BEGINS TO
DROP. SOLO IS DESIGNED TO SHUT DOWN BEFORE PERFORMANCE
IS IMPAIRED BY WEAK BATTERIES.
For best battery performance:
• Purchase fresh, name brand batteries.
• Store batteries in their original packaging before use to prevent the
I
MPORTANT BATTERY INFORMATION
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I 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 at
room temperature whenever possible.
• Turn off SOLO when not in use.
AutoOff
SOLO has a special automatic shut-off feature to conserve battery life in
case you forget to turn SOLO off. (Please refer to page 4 for an explanation of the AutoOff circuit.)
NOTE: The presence of even a weak signal can cause SOLO to remain
on. Turn SOLO off whenever you leave your car as the AutoOff circuit
turns SOLO off after 45 minutes ONLY if no signals are detected. A
passing police car or a nearby motion sensor could be enough to keep
SOLO on, thereby draining your batteries.
NOTE: We recommend using only standard AA alkaline batteries for the
most consistent battery life. While AA lithium batteries and AA alkaline
rechargeable batteries may also be used, the resulting battery life will
vary. We do NOT recommend NiCad rechargeable batteries.
WARNING
Do not leave SOLO in direct sunlight in a parked vehicle, as it may
exceed the battery’s temperature limit and damage the batteries and the
detector. This damage is not covered by SOLO’s warranty.
Low Battery Warning
When SOLO's batteries have only approximately six hours of battery life
remaining, SOLO will sound two “bleeps” and flash the entire Signal
Strength Meter every five minutes. SOLO’s batteries should be replaced at
this time since performance begins to decline once the batteries are
within the warning range. The amount of battery life remaining depends,
to a large extent, on how many alerts you receive and how your SOLO is
being used. If you are unable to replace SOLO’s batteries at the start of
the Low Battery warning, consider lowering your SOLO’s audio volume
and utilizing the AutoMute, Mute and Dim features to prolong battery life.
Optional Power Cord
SOLO’s power jack allows you to power SOLO using an optional Power
Cord. SOLO is designed for 3V operation and its unique circuitry will not
accommodate a standard 12V power cord. Using any cord other than the
Power Cord/Converter Set designed specifically for SOLO may cause
damage not covered by warranty. To order a SOLO Power Cord/Converter,
call 1-800-433-3487 toll-free.
WARNING
SOLO should never be directly wired to any power source, particularly a
12V automotive source. Use ONLY with SOLO's 3V power converter.
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I
MPORTANT BATTERY INFORMATION
M O U N T I N G S O L O
WARNING
ESCORT CANNOT ANTICIPATE THE MANY WAYS SOLO CAN BE
MOUNTED. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU MOUNT SOLO WHERE IT
WILL NOT IMPAIR YOUR VIEW NOR PRESENT A HAZARD IN CASE OF
AN ACCIDENT.
For optimum detection performance, we recommend the following:
Using the Windshield Mount, mount SOLO relatively level and high
•
enough on your front windshield to provide a clear view of the road
from the front and rear.
Mount SOLO away from windshield wipers, other solid objects and
•
heavily 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 small
•
amount of eyeglass cleaning solution with a soft cloth.
Mounting SOLO to Your Windshield:
SOLO’s patented EasyMount windshield bracket is designed for
unobtrusive and hassle-free mounting.
1 Insert each suction cup into large end of bracket hole and rotate cup
outward, locking into place.
2 Depress the adjustment button on the top of SOLO and slide
EasyMount bracket into the slot until mount is locked into the position
which best fits the angle of your windshield. (For extremely horizontal
or extremely sloped windshields, the EasyMount bracket can be bent.)
3 Mount SOLO on your windshield. Use the adjustment button to slide
SOLO forward or backward to a horizontal position. WHEN
ADJUSTED PROPERLY AND TO MINIMIZE BOUNCING, THE BACK
TOP EDGE OF SOLO SHOULD REST SOLIDLY AGAINST YOUR
WINDSHIELD.
To ensure that the suction
cups adhere to the windshield
firmly, be sure to keep both
your windshield and the
suction cups clean.
CAUTION!
Some windshields have an “anti-lacerative” coating. Use of suction cups
could permanently mar the coating. Consult your dealership or the
vehicle’s owner’s manual to determine if your windshield has this coating.
M
OUNTING
SOLO
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C O N T R O L S A N D I N D I C A T O R S
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pwr/vol
dim
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mute
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MEMORY RETENTION FOR PREFERRED SETTINGS
Keep the factory preset settings for Volume, Dim, AutoMute, City and
other programmable features or select your own with SOLO's on-board
computer. Your selected settings stay in SOLO's Memory even when it's
turned off or the batteries are changed. For more information on SOLO's
programmable options, the first in the industry, see page 8.
1 POWER AND VOLUME
Volume Button. The Power-On indicator blinks to show SOLO is on
and there will be a five-second test alert followed by a two-second
display of remaining battery life on the Signal Meter. Battery life is also
displayed each time you turn SOLO off. (Battery status indication is
more thoroughly discussed in the Signal Meter section on page 7.) The
five-second test alert can be bypassed and blinking Power-On indicator
can be made continuous
more information).
To adjust audio volume:
SOLO will cycle through the 10 volume levels and show the relative
audio level on the Signal Meter. To reverse the direction of the audio
level, briefly release and press again. Once the volume level has been
changed, a two second hold time will be engaged to allow you to
further modify volume without turning SOLO off. Once selected, the
volume setting will be retained in SOLO’s memory.
AUTOOFF SOLO has an automatic shut-off feature to conserve battery
life in case you forget to turn SOLO off. If SOLO does not detect any
signals for 45 minutes, it assumes that it is not in use and you have
forgotten to turn it off. SOLO will sound a declining “power-down”
alert and then turn itself off in five seconds. To keep SOLO from
turning off (such as when you are driving through a very remote area
where alerts are infrequent), press any of SOLO’s buttons. SOLO will
To turn SOLO on and off
: briefly press the Power/
(see Programmable Options on page 8 for
Press and hold the Power/Volume Button.
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C
ONTROLS AND INDICATORS
C O N T R O L S A N D I N D I C A T O R S
sound a “double-bing” confirming that it will remain on.
be “permanently” deselected. See Programmable Options on page 8
for more information).
NOTE: Since the presence of even an extremely weak signal will keep
SOLO on, turn SOLO off whenever you leave your car to prevent the
batteries from being drained.
2 MUTE
To mute the audio for a single specific signal:
Mute Button. After the signal has passed, SOLO will automatically reset
for the next alert. If a new signal is encountered during the signal you
have just muted, SOLO’s patented SmartMuteTM reverts to full audio to
ensure that you do not miss this new signal.
AUTOMUTE SOLO is shipped with AutoMute engaged. In AutoMute
mode, the audio for the first four audible tones or four seconds
(whichever is longer) in an alert situation will be emitted at your
selected volume level and all subsequent audible tones during the
same alert will be emitted at a lower volume level. After the signal has
passed, SOLO automatically resets to the volume level you have set.
(AutoMute can be deselected. See Programmable Options on page 8
for more information).
(AutoOff can
Briefly press the
3 HIGHWAY/CITY MODE Each time you turn SOLO on, the last Highway/
City mode selected is the one which is automatically engaged. We
recommend driving in Highway mode most of the time for maximum
sensitivity. 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.
Briefly press the City Button. The City Indicator will blink and SOLO’s
X-band sensitivity level will be lowered to a level to suit most urban
driving environments. Three other City Mode levels are available for
more problematic urban environments
page 8 for more information)
programmed to not blink and light solid
on page 8 for more information). To return to Highway Sensitivity:
Briefly press the City Button again.
4 DIM MODES
With each press, SOLO will cycle through the four display settings as
follows: 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 you
select a different brightness level as the default.
Options on page 8 for more information on how to store a display
default.)
To adjust SOLO’s display:
. Also, the City Indicator can be
To select City Mode:
(see Programmable Options on
(see Programmable Options
Briefly press the Dim Button.
(See Programmable
C
ONTROLS AND INDICATORS
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