MPH Industries Ranger Operation Manuals

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®

™

Ranger

Ranging Directional

Traffic Radar

Operation Manual

Copyright 2008, MPH Industries, Inc.

No p
by any means –
storage and retrieval systems – without the written permission of MPH Industries, Inc.

Table of Contents

A Detailed Explanation of the RANGER's Features ...................................................3

Practical use of the RANGER..............................................................................3

Display ..................................................................................................................5

Remote Control.....................................................................................................7

Operation.......................................................................................................................9

FCC Licensing Requirements.....................................................................................12

MPH RANGER Specifications...................................................................................13

Operational Recommendations ..................................................................................16

2

A Detailed Explanation of the RANGER's Features

Practical use of the RANGER

The RANGER allows the operator to choose various types of use and operation. The radar may
be used as a conventional MOVING, STATIONARY, or PACING radar. The RANGER also
features the SAME DIRECTION MOVING and FASTEST features. Each of these uses is
described below.

Stationary radar

As a stationary radar, the MPH RANGER allows the officer to monitor traffic coming or going
while the patrol vehicle is stopped. This type of operation is usually carried out in known locations
of high-speed traffic or complaint areas. In the stationary mode, the patrol window is not used.

ASD™ technology allows the operator to select a lane of traffic to monitor in stationary mode: in
the same lane as the patrol vehicle, in the opposite lane, or in both lanes. This selection can be
made on either the front or rear antenna. Also, the operator can choose to monitor the fastest target
traveling in the selected direction in addition to the strongest target.

Moving radar (opposite direction)

As a moving radar, the MPH RANGER allows the officer to monitor traffic speeds while carrying
on other routine patrol activities. The unit monitors the speed of each approaching vehicle,
displaying that vehicle's speed in the target window.

The patrol vehicle speed is continuously displayed so that the operator may check the speed
displayed against the speedometer reading. If these two speeds correspond, then the officer is
assured that the reading of the violator's speed is correct at the instant of determination.

In opposite direction mode, care should be taken by the operator to recognize that the violator is
traveling at a higher rate of speed than the norm; that the vehicle is out front, by itself, and nearest
the radar; that proper identification of the violating vehicle is made; and at the time of speed
determination the patrol vehicle's speed indication on the radar is the same as the reading on the
speedometer. If these steps are taken, and the radar was properly checked for calibration
beforehand, the officer knows the radar was operating properly and that the radar made a true and
accurate determination of the vehicle's speed.

Fastest Mode

Historically, traffic radar has displayed the strongest target. Case law has centered on the ability
of the radar operator to confidently identify what vehicle is associated with that indication. It was
relatively simple for analog radars to process this method.

Modern DSP radar such as the RANGER can process many targets at the same time, but there is
no practical way to display multiple targets and associate them with the correct vehicles. Fastest
mode gives the operator an opportunity to view one other target besides the strongest. In this

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mode, the RANGER considers all possible targets (there may be several in range of the radar) and
displays the fastest one.

While the speeds indicated in the fastest mode are as accurate as normal targets, visual
identification of the offending vehicle is more difficult. For this reason, the RANGER only
displays fastest targets on request when the mode is enabled and does not allow them to be locked.
It is intended to be used as a way to gather additional information about a specific situation.

Fastest mode works in stationary and opposite and same direction moving modes.

Same direction moving radar

Same direction mode allows the RANGER to track targets moving faster or slower and in the same
direction as the patrol vehicle. This mode is best used in light traffic where visual target
identification is easier. With this feature active, the target speed range is limited to patrol speed
±70%. The target must be moving at a speed at least 3 mph faster or slower than patrol.

Unlike older radars, the user does not have to press a SLOWER or FASTER button. ASD™
technology allows the RANGER to detect whether the target vehicle is moving faster or slower
than the patrol vehicle and automatically compute the correct target speed.

Pacing radar

The RANGER radar allows the officer an accurate means of pacing vehicles. In this mode, the
RANGER essentially functions as a calibrated speedometer. The radar should be placed in the
stationary mode for this type of operation.

4

Display

Fastest

500

The RANGER uses a high contrast LED display with automatic dimming.

Target

HAR

Mode

Range

Target

1000

Mode

The mode section shows what the radar is doing. The display is set up like a roadway. A large red
“X” icon in the left lane tells at a glance that the transmitter is in standby. A large green car in the
right line indicates that the transmitter is on.

The operating mode of the RANGER is illustrated with the scene of a patrol car and selected
targets. In opposite direction moving mode, the scene shows an arrow in the left lane of traffic; it
is ahead of the patrol car if the front antenna is selected and behind the patrol car if the rear
antenna is selected. In same direction moving mode, the arrows target vehicle is shown moving the
same direction as the patrol car. In addition, moving mode is indicated by “Mov” appearing under
the middle speed display window.

In stationary mode, the Mode window works similarly. Indicators appear in front of or behind the
patrol vehicle icon to indicate the selected antenna. If the opposite lane of traffic is selected, only
the arrow in the left lane lights. If the same lane of traffic is selected, the arrow in the right lane
lights. If both directions of traffic are selected, arrows in both lanes light. Stationary mode is
indicated by “Sta” appearing below the middle speed display window.

Speed windows

The RANGER has three windows for speed display. These are arranged by function and use color
for quick identification at night.

The leftmost display is a dedicated red target window. This window always displays the strongest
target’s speed, even in fastest mode. Radio frequency error conditions (rFi) are displayed in this
window.

Patrol

OK

5

The middle speed window is yellow and performs two functions; an icon located directly below the
window indicates each function. If the window is being used to display a locked target speed, a T­lock icon is lit. Only the speed of the strongest target can be locked. If the middle window is being
used to display the speed of the fastest vehicle (fastest mode), a FAST icon is lighted. General
error conditions (Err) are also indicated in this window.
The green window on the right side of the display shows the patrol vehicle’s speed in moving mode
and is unused (filled with dashes) in stationary mode. The speed displayed in this window should
always correspond with the vehicle’s speedometer. If a low voltage condition occurs, it will be
indicated in this window by “Lo” appearing in the window.

Range bars

The two LED bars at the bottom of the display show the target distances of the strongest and
fastest vehicles detected by the radar.

Doppler audio

The RANGER features a speaker on the front panel for Doppler audio. The RANGER's audio is
useful as an aid in target identification. The loudness is proportional to the strength of the received
signal and increases as the target vehicle approaches. The pitch of the audio signal increases with
higher speeds.

Display dimming and infrared remote sensor

A photocell is located on the display panel to automatically adjust the brightness of the display to
the ambient light conditions. An infrared sensor is also located on the display panel to receive
commands from the remote control.

Power button

This button controls the power for the RANGER radar. When the RANGER is turned off, the
radar remembers its user settings (volume level, mode, etc.), but it does not remember speeds and it
starts up in standby mode. When the unit is next turned on, it powers up using the same settings,
saving the user the trouble of resetting the radar to his or her desired settings.

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