Radio Shack Voice Alert Radar Detector, 22-1696 User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

Please read before usingthisequipment.

www.radioshack.com

SM

SAFETY ALERT SYSTEM

The Safety Alert System employs low-powered
transmitters used by some emergencyservicesand
road crews to alert drivers to hazardousroad
conditions. The system can indicate stationary,
moving, or railroad hazards.

The system has the potential to dramatically
decrease the occurrence of traffic accidents by
increasing drivers’ awareness of localroadhazards.
Having this safety alert compatible radar/laser
detector will ensure thatyouarereadyto benefit from
this systemwherever it isinuse.

DASHBOARD MOUNTING

In some vehicles, the dashboard may be thebestlocationto
mount the detector. Use the supplied hook-and-looptapeto
mount your radar detector to the dash.

1. Use a damp cloth to clean the bottom of the detector and the
dashboard. Let both surfaces dry.

2. Remove the tape’s paper backing and
stick the tape to the bottom of the
detector.

3. Removethebacking fromtheother
side of thetapeand firmly press your
detector onto the dashboard.

Thank you for purchasing a RadioShack Radar
Detector with Safety Alert. Your radar detector
can alert you to many traffic radar and laser
systems with its distinctvisualandaudioalerts.
It receives X-, K-, and Ka-band radar signals,
and detects boththe instant-on and laser
systems manylawenforcem ent agenciesuseto
measure vehiclespeed.Plus, your detectorcan
give you advancewarningofpotent ialroad
hazardsbyde tect i ngsignals fromtransmitters that
broadcast Safety Alert System™ alerts.

22-1696

PACKAGE CONTENTS

Ô Dashboard Mounting Notes Ô

• The tape’sadhesivemightnot stick to a surface treated with vinyl

cleaner or protectant.

• Do notplacethehook-and-loop tape over the detector’s serial

number.

• On acurveddashboard,cut the supplied strip in half and useone

strip on each sideofthe bottom of the detector.

• Be suretoplacethe detector out of view when you leavethe

vehicle. This keepsthedetector out of sight of thievesandprevents
exposure to extremely hightemperatures,whichcan temporarily
impair your detector’s performance.

Ô Note Ô

Before reading thisOwner’sManual,read the supplied
booklet Questions and Answers AboutVehicleSpeed
Detection tofamiliarizeyourself with thetermsand uses
associated with your detector.

SELECTING A MOUNTING LOCATION

For the best performance, select a locationwherethe
detector has a direct view of the road. Thedetector’s
radar antenna is at the opposite end of the indicators.

Mounting Guidelines

• Choose a location
that does not block
the driver’s view of
the road.

• Mount the detector
in a level position
with a clearviewof
both thefrontandrear of your vehicle.

• Choose a locationthat gives the detector a view
unobstructed by metal objects.

• Some vehicleshaveInstaClear

®

or ElectriClear®defogging windshields, which
have metal coatings that block signals. Checkyourvehicle’sowner’s manual to
see if your vehicle has one of these features.Adetectorinstalled in a vehicle
with one of these features might not detect asignal.

• Since windowtintingreduces the received strength of laser signals, you should
not mount the detector behind any tinted glass.

• Do not mount the detectorwhe rethe driver or a passengermight hit it in a sudden
stop or accident.

WINDSHIELD MOUNTING

1. Clean the selected windshield area,
position the bracket on the windshield,
and press firmly on each suction cup to
secure the bracket.

2. Slidethe detector’s bracket slot onto
the bracket until it snaps into place.

 CAUTION 

Do not use themounting
bracket in a vehiclethat
has a plastic safety
coating on the insideof
the windshield designed
to protect passengers
during anaccident.If you
use the bracket onthis
type of windshield, you
might permanently mar
the windshield’s surface.
Mount the radar detector
on the dashboard
instead.

Ô Note Ô

Though the detector hasa
360°laserand radardetection
range, the radar detectionis
most sensitive in thefront
range.

Questions and Answers About
Vehicle Speed Detection Booklet

Hook and
Loop Tape

Windshield
Bracket with
Suction Cups

Radar Detector

Coiled Power Cord

Adjusting the Bracket

If the mounted detector is not at the optimum
viewing angle, you can adjust the mounting
bracket for better viewing. Carefully bend the
bracket to adjust it to the desired angle.

Bracket Slot

 CAUTION 

• Use onlythesupplied12V DC,
Positive (+) Tippowercord.Useof
any other power sourcemaycause
damage.

• Before pluggingthepowercord’s
cigarette-lighter plug into your
vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket,
make sure the plug’s tip is screwed
firmly onto the plug.

CONTROLS & INDICATORS

INSTALLATION

ARE RADAR DETECTORS
LEGAL?

Federal law lets you install and use a radar
detector in automobiles and light trucks under
10,000 pounds in the United States. Presently,
Virginia and the District of Columbia have some
laws regulating or prohibitingtheuse of radar
detectors in all vehicles.

CONNECTING POWER

OPERATION

TURNING ON THE DETECTOR

To turn on the detector, rotate VOLUME/OFF toward VOLUME
until it clicks. After self-testing, the detectorsays“Welcome!
Buckle your seat
belt.”

H appears to

indicate that the
detectorisinits
highway mode.

To turn off the
detector, rotate

VOLUME/OFF

towardOFF untilit
clicks and all the LEDs turn off.

ADJUSTING THE VOLUME

Rotate VOLUME/OFF toward VOLUME to increasethe
detector’s volume, rotate it toward

OFF to reduce thevolume.

OPERATION SETTINGS
S

ELECTING CITY AND HIGHWAY MODES

Your detector has two operating modes: City and Highway.

• City mode requiresa
stronger X-band signal
before the detector
sounds, or visually
indicates, an alert.

• Highwaymodeprovides
maximum sensitivity for
open-road driving. The
detector is preset to
Highway mode when you turn it on.

1. ToselectCity mode, press

City. The detector says “City

mode” and

C appears.

2. ToreturntoHighway mode, press

City again. The

detector says “Highway mode” and

H appears.

Ô Note Ô

• City modehelpsprevent
false alerts in tightly
populated areas where laser/
radar signals can bounceoff
surrounding structures.

• Citymodehas no effect onK
or Ka-band signals orlaser
alerts or instant-on radar.

VOLUME/OFF

Mute —silencesthe

alert toneandvoice alert.

VG-2

Indicators

VG-2 — lightswhenaVG-2 signal is detected.
X (X-Band Radar) —appearswhenthe detector

encounters an X-band radarsignal.
K/Ka (K/Ka BandRadar)— appears when the detector

encounters either a K-orK a-bandradar signal.
SA (Safety Alert) —lightswhen a safety alert signal is

detected. The following alsoappearonthe single-digit
display.

•

E (Emergency Vehicle)—flasheswhen the detector

encounters a signal relatedtoanemergency vehicle
from a safety alerttransmitter.Theradar detector
announces “Caution, emergency vehicle”.

•

h (RoadHazard Situation) — flashes when the

detector encounters a signalrelatedtoa stationary
road hazard from asafetyalerttransmitter. The radar
detector announces “Caution, roadhazard”.

•

r (Railroad)— flashes when the detector encounters

a signal related toamovingtrain from a safety alert
transmitter. The radar detectorannounces“Caution,
moving train”.

360° Laser Eye —receives
incoming laser signals
directed atyourvehicle from
all directions.

Dim — controls the
brightness of the
indicators

VOLUME/OFF — turnsthe
detector on and offandlets
you adjust the volume.

City (City/Highway) —
switches between city
and highway modes.

SA

Speaker — sounds the

digital voice alert.

X

K/Ka

Single-Digit Display — indicates
city/highwaymode,signal strength,
safety alert, and laseralert.

Voice Alert Radar Detector

12V DC Jack

Plug the supplied power cord’s
barrel plug into the detector’s
12V DC jack.Thenplugthe cord’s
cigarette-lighter plug into your
vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.

Ô Note Ô

• To preventthedetectorfrom draining
your vehicle’s battery ifyouleave the
detector on when you turnoffthe
ignition, unplug the powercordfrom
your vehicle’s cigarette lightersocket.

• If thedetectordoesnot operate when
you turn it on,removethecigarette­lighter plug from yourvehicle’ssocket
and check the socketfordebris.Also,
check the fuse inthedetector’splug
and your vehicle’s cigarettelighter
fuse.

22-1696.fm Page 1 Tuesday, March 25,2003 3:18PM

TROUBLESHOOTING

If you have problems operating your detector,thesuggestions inthis section might help. If you cannot solve the problem after trying
these suggestions, take your detector to your localRadioShack store for assistance.

Problem Suggestion

The detectordoesnotturnon Be sureallpowerconnectionsare secure.

The cigarettelightersocketmightbe dirty. Clean itwithfine emerycloth to ensure a good,
clean connection.

Check thefuseinthepower cord’s cigarette lighter plug.See“ReplacingtheF use”.
Check thefusethatcontrolspower to your vehicle’s cigarette-lightersocket.Seeyour

vehicle’sowner’smanual.

The detectorgivesafalsealert when you use
vehicle accessoriessuchaspowerwindows,
motorized mirror,brakes,and so on

Check thevehicle’selectricalsystem for a loose connection, includingthemain battery
cable andalternatorconnections.

Install afiltercapacitor(1000µF, 35volts)ontheback of the cigarette lightersocket,across
the powerconnections.

The detectorperformstheself-test,but does not
respond toradarsignalswhenyou see a police
car.

A policecarmightnotbe equipped with radar (see the suppliedbooklet,“Questionsand
Answers AboutVehicleSpeed Detection”).

Police mightbeusingVASCARtypespeeddetection (See the supplied booklet,“Questions
and AnswersAboutVehicle SpeedDetection”).

The detectorhaspoorlaserdetection range Be surethelaserdetectionlens is not blocked.

Be surethedetectoris properly mounted.
Use lenscleaningsolutiontoclean the laser detection lens.

SELECTING DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS

Yourdetectorhas three levelsofdisplay brightness:Bright,Dim, and Dark.

1. Press

Dim once to reduce brightness to Dim (50% darker).The

detector says “Dim.”

2. Press

Dim again to reduce brightness to Dark (X, K/Ka, VG-2,

and SA indicators do not light during analertand- appears). The
detector says “Dark.”

3. Press

Dim a third time to return all indicators to Bright. The

detector says “Bright.”

MUTING THE AUDIO ALERT

While the detector sounds an alert signal, pressMutetotemporarily
silence the detector.

The detector automatically turns Mute off 20 secondsafterthealert
signal stops. To return the detector to normal operation sooner, press

Mute before the detector resets itself.

AUTO MUTE MODE

Your detector has Auto Mute Mode which automaticallyreduces the
audio volume of all alerts after 4 seconds foraslongasthesignal is
detected. If the same radar signal is encounteredwithin 10 seconds,
the detector maintains a reduced audio-volume.

TURNING AUTO MUTE ON/OFF

When the detector isinitsstandbymode,press Mute while thereisno
alert. The detector sounds one beep and the indicatoronthedisplay
disappears. To turn on auto mute, press

Mute again. The detector

sounds two beeps and the indicator on the displayappears.

SELECTING VG-2 MODES

VG-2 mode is preset to on. To turn off VG-2, hold down Mute untilyou
hear “VG-2Off. ”To turn on VG-2,holddown

Mute untilyouhear “VG-2 On.”

RECEIVING AND IDENTIFYING SIGNALS

When your detectorsensesaradarsignal,X or K/Ka lights depending
on which band is selected. The detector soundsanalerttone
corresponding to the type of radar detectedandthesignal strength
appears as a number on the display.

Ô Note Ô

If there is another detector in the vicinity,youmightreceivefalse
signals.

© 2003RadioShack Corporation. AllRights Reserved.

RadioShackand RadioShack.comare trademarks
used byRadioShack Corporation.

03A03

PrintedinChina

THE FCC WANTS YOU TO KNOW

This equipment has been tested and found to complywiththelimitsfor a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.Theselimits
are designed to provide reasonable protectionagainstharmful interference in a residential installation. This equipmentgenerates,uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, ifnotinstalledandused in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmfulinterferencetoradio
communications.

However, there is no guarantee that interferencewillnotoccur in a particular installation. If this equipment does causeharmfulinterference to radio
or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct theinterference by one
or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from thattowhichthereceiver is connected.

• Consult your local RadioShack store or an experienced radio/TVtechnicianforhelp.

• Ifyou cannot eliminate the interference, the FCC requires that youstopusingyourradar detector.
Changes or modifications not expressly approvedbyRadioShack may cause interference and void the user’s authority tooperatetheequipment.

REPLACING THE FUSE

If the detector stops operating, follow these stepstocheckthefuse
in thepowercord’scigarettelighterplug and, if necessary, replace it
with a 2 amp, 1

1

/4 ×1/4 -inch,fast-acting fuse (supplied).

1. Carefully turn the knurled ring on the cigarettelighterplug
counterclockwise to unscrew it.

Takecarenottolose the ring, tip, or the spring inside the
plug when removing the ring.

2. Remove the ring and tip from the cigarette lighterplug,then
remove the old fuse.

3. Check the fuse. If it has blown, replace it.

4. Replace the metal tip inside thering,makesurethespringis
intact, then place the fuse inside the cigarette lighterplug
and screw the ring back onto the plug. Make surethetipis
visible when you reassemble the cigarettelighterplug.

 CAUTION 

• Using afusethat does not meet the requirements listed above
can damage your detector,thepowercable, or the vehicle’s
electrical system.

• Ifyoumustuse pliers to loosen the ring, becarefulnot to crush
the ring or themetaltip inside the ring.

• Never usepliersorother tools to retighten the ring on the
cigarette lighter plug.

Limited One-Year Warranty

This productis warranted byRadioShack against manufacturingdefec tsin materialand workmanship undernormal use forone (1) yearfrom the dateof purchasefrom RadioShack company-owned storesand authorized RadioShack
franchisees anddealers. EXCEPT ASPROVIDED HEREIN,Radi oShackMAKES NOEXPRESS WARRANTIES ANDANY IMPLIEDWARRANT IES,INCLUDING THOSEOF MERCHANTABILITYAND FITNESSFOR APARTICULAR
PURPOSE,ARE LIMITEDIN DURATIONTO THEDURATION OF THE WRITTEN LIMITED WARRANTIESCONTAINED HEREIN.EXCEPT AS PROVIDEDHEREIN, RadioShackSHALL HAVENO LIABILITY ORRE SPONSIBILITY
TO CUSTOMER ORANY OTHERPERSON ORENTITY WITHRESPECT TO ANY LIABILITY,LOSS ORDAMAGE CAUSEDDIRECTLY ORINDIRECTLY BYUSE ORPERFORMANCE OFTHE PRODUCTOR ARISING OUT OF
ANYBREACH OFTHIS WARRANTY,INCLUDING, BUTNOT LIMITEDTO, ANYDAMAGES RESULTINGFROMINCONVENIENCE, LOSSOF TIME,DATA,PROPERTY,REVENUE, ORPROFIT ORANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL,INCI­DENTAL,OR CONSEQUENTIALDAMAGES, EVENIF RadioShackHAS BEENADVISEDOF THEP OSSIBILITY OFSUCH DAMAGES.
Some statesdo notallow limitations onhow longan implied warrantylasts orthe exclusion orlimitation ofincide ntalor consequentialdamages, so theabove limitationsor exclusions maynot applyt oyou.
In theevent ofa product defectduring thewarranty period, takethe productand theR adioShacksales receiptas proof ofpurchase dateto any RadioShackstore. RadioShackwill ,at itsoption, unlessotherwise provided bylaw: (a)cor­rect thedefect byproduct repairwithout charge forparts andlabor; (b)replace thepr oductwith oneof thesame orsimilar design;o r(c) refundthe purchaseprice. Allreplace dparts andproducts, andproducts onwhich arefund is made,
become theproperty ofRadioShack. Newor reconditioned partsand productsmay beused inthe performance ofwarranty service.Repaired orrepl acedparts andproducts arewarranted forthe remainder ofthe originalwarranty period.
Youwill be chargedfor repairor replacement ofthe product madeafter theexpiration of thewarranty period.
This warrantydoes not cover:(a) damageor failure causedby or attributableto acts ofGod, abuse,accident ,misuse, improperor abnormal usage,failure to followinstructions, improper installationor maintenance, alteration,lightning
or otherincidence ofexcess voltage orcurrent; (b)any repairs otherthan thoseprovided by aRadioShack Authorized ServiceFacility; (c)consumab lessuch asfuses orbatte ries;(d) cosmeticdamage; (e) transportation,shipping orin­surance costs;or (f)costs ofp roductremoval, installation,set -upservice adjustmentor reinstallation.
This warrantygives youspecif iclegal rights,and youmay also haveother rightswhich vary fromstate tostate.

RadioShack CustomerRelations, 200 Taylor Street, 6thFloor, FortWorth, TX 76102

12/99

CARE

Keep the radar detector dry; if it gets wet, wipe itdry
immediately. Handle the radar detectorcarefully;do
not drop it. Keep the radar detector away from dust
anddirt,andwipeitwithadampclothoccasionallyto
keep it looking new.

SERVICE AND REPAIR

If your radar detector is not performing as it should,takeittoyourlocal RadioShack store for
assistance. To locate your nearest RadioShack, use the store locator feature onRadioShack's
website (www.radioshack.com),orcall1-800-TheShack(843-7422) and follow the menu
options. Modifying or tampering with the radardetector's internal components can cause a
malfunction and might invalidate its warrantyandvoidyourFCCauthorization to operate it.

OPERATION (continued)

• If your detectorsenses an X-band, K-band, or Ka-band radar signal,
the detector says “X-band detected,” “K-band detected,”or“Ka-band
detected” respectively.

• If your detector senses a
safety alert signal, SA
lightsand

E (emergency

band),

h (road hazard),

or

r (railroad warning)

flashandthedetector
says “Caution, emergency vehicle,” “Caution,roadhazard,” or
“Caution, moving train” respectively, dependingonthe type of signal
received.

• If VG-2isdetected,VG-2lights and

U

flashes, and the detector sounds a
distinctive tone. The detector says “VG-2
detected.”.

TUTORIAL MODE

Your detector has a tutorial mode to demonstrateandcheckthestatus of
all of its alert indicators.

1. ToenterTutorialmode, turn on the detector while holding down

Dim

and City. The detector sounds 3 beeps and t appears.

2. Toselectthe demonstration for each alert, press

Dim. The detector

displays each alert with its correspondingaudioalert.The detector
demonstrates the alerts in the following order.

• X-Band Alert

• K-Band Alert

• Ka-Band Alert

• Pro-LaserAlert

• Pro-Laser3Alert

• LTI2020 Laser Alert

• UltralyteLaserAlert

• Emergency Vehicle Alert

• Road HazardAlert

• RailroadAlert

•VG-2Alert

3. ToexitTutorialmode, press

City.

Fuse

Knurled Ring

Tip

Spring

Ô Note Ô

The closer you get to the source of the radar, the higher the signal
strengthnumber increases. When your detectorsenses a lasersignal,

L flashes on the display and the detectorsoundsthelaser alert tone.

22-1696.fm Page 2 Tuesday, March 25,2003 3:18PM