PNI Alpha User guide

OPERATION MANUAL

ALPHA/ALPHA+

DIGITALVEHICLECOMPASS

&RADAR/LASERDETECTOR

CONTENTS

Congratulations................................................................ 1

Features............................................................................ 1

Package contents............................................................... 2

Identifying parts of the unit ............................................ 3

Installing the unit ............................................................. 4

Mounting guidelines....................................................... 4

Windshield mounting..................................................... 5

Radar operation................................................................ 6

Power on.......................................................................... 6

Functions and modes...................................................... 6

Invisible to VG-2 ............................................................. 9

Detection alerts ............................................................... 9

Compass operation......................................................... 11

When to calibrate.......................................................... 11

Calibrating the unit....................................................... 11

Compass display............................................................ 12

Care and maintenance.................................................... 13

Fuse replacement........................................................... 13

Troubleshooting ............................................................. 14

Specications .................................................................. 16

Service and replacement ................................................ 17

Warranty information.................................................... 19

CONGRATULATIONS!

You have acquired the SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+ from
PNI Corporation, the rst English and Spanish speaking
radar/laser detector with a built-in digital compass. The
SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+ incorporates the same compass
technology used in built-in compasses for GM, Ford, and
Chrysler vehicles, to provide highly accurate and reliable
compass readings in a radar/laser detector.

Features

• PATENTED DIGITAL COMPASS displays direction information
with numeric digits (345°, 350°, etc.) and eight cardinal
points (N, NE, E, etc.)

• BILINGUAL VOICE WARNING alerts you in English and
Spanish

• PROTECTION against all radar bands (X, K, and superwide Ka)

• 360° LASER COVERAGE protects you against laser guns in all
directions

• VG-2 protects you by being invisible to radar detector

detectors

• SAFETY WARNING SYSTEM alerts you to hazard and safety
information, including road construction, emergency
vehicles, and travel information

• TWO SEPARATE CITY MODES (“CITY1” and “CITY2”) in addition
to highway mode virtually eliminate false radar alerts

• ADDITIONAL CITY MODE (“CITY3”) to delete X-band
reports and eliminate most false radar alerts

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PACKAGE CONTENTS

• USER SELECTABLE brightness, language, voice on/off, mute
on/off, and volume control

• TEXT DISPLAY Eight-character text display shows safety
warnings, radar alerts, laser alerts, and compass heading

• EASY MOUNTING Mounts easily to any windshield

• POWER CONNECTION plugs into your 12-volt lighter socket,
power cord included

Package contents

Your SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+ package includes the
following components:

• The SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+ digital compass and
talking radar/laser detector

• Mounting bracket with suction cups for windshield
installation

• Coiled 12-volt DC power cord

• Extra power cord fuse

• Operation manual

SENSORO ALPHA+ package also includes the following
component:

• Dual socket 12-volt DC adapter for installation to your
vehicle’s fuse panel

2

IDENTIFYING PARTS OF THE UNIT

Radar Front Laser
Receiver Receiver

Top Laser

Receiver

CITY/

Calibration

Button

Power Cord

Input Jack

DIM/ MUTE/ LED
Language Voice Display
Button Button

3

VOLUME/OFF

Control

Thumb Wheel

INSTALLING THE UNIT

Mounting guidelines

The SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+ can be mounted on your
windshield using the bracket provided.

• Mount on the windshield in a centered location that will
not obstruct the view of the driver and is within reach, so
the buttons can be easily accessed.

• Do not mount behind windshield wipers, metal surfaces,
ornaments, or mirrored sunscreen glass, as these affect
radar/laser signals. Tinted glass does not affect radar/laser
signal reception.

• Do not mount close to strong stereo speakers, as this
affects compass accuracy.

Conceal the SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+ when you leave

your vehicle to prevent theft and to minimize the unit’s
exposure to extreme temperatures, which can temporarily
impair performance.

4

Dashboard

Windshield

INSTALLING THE UNIT

Windshield mounting

1. Install the suction cups onto the windshield mounting
bracket by sliding them into their holes (if not pre­installed).

2. Press the bracket base rmly against the windshield until
the suction cups securely take hold.

3. Slide the detector into its slot located on the top back of
the detector.

4. Bend the angle of the windshield mounting bracket, if
necessary, to adjust for best viewing and detection angle.

5. Plug the small connector of the power cord into the
12-volt DC power input jack located on the side of the
detector.

6. Plug the lighter adapter into the lighter socket.

5

RADAR OPERATION

Power on

Turn the VOLUME/OFF thumb wheel control on. The
SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+ goes through a self test pattern
sequence and displays the last mode previously set in
memory.

Functions and modes

Volume/on/off

Use the VOLUME/OFF thumb wheel, located on the side of
the SENSORO ALPHA/ALPHA+, to turn the unit on or off
or to adjust volume level.

Dim mode

Press the DIM button repeatedly for less than two seconds each
time to toggle between the four levels of brightness modes.

Dim mode reduces the brightness of the display. When a

signal is detected, alerts are displayed in full brightness,
regardless of dim mode. Then the display returns to the
previously selected dimmer setting.

Language mode

Press and hold the Language button repeatedly for more
than two seconds each time to toggle between “ENGLISH
VOICE WARNING” and “SPANISH VOICE WARNING.”

Mute mode

Press the MUTE button repeatedly for less than two seconds
each time to toggle between “MUTE ON” and “MUTE OFF.”

You may also a dju st the audio l evel by us in g the

VOLUME/OFF thumb wheel.

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