Whistler 1783SE User Manual

1783/1793SE

LASER-RADAR

DETECTOR

The Whistler Group Corporate Headquarters

13016 N. Walton Blvd. • Bentonville, AR 72712

Tel [phone] • Fax [phone]

Customer Return Center

1201 N. Dixieland Rd. • Rogers, AR 72756

Customer Service Tel [phone]

www.whistlergroup.com

P/N 203336, ©Whistler 2003

OWNER’S MANUAL

If you have questions concerning the
operation of this Whistler product
please call:

C

uSTOmer SeRVICE

1-800-531-0004

Monday - Friday • 8:00 am - 5:00 pm CT

or visit our website

www.whistlergroup.com

Please keep the receipt in a safe place.

You may register your product online
at www.whistlergroup.com. For warranty

verification purposes, a copy of your
dated store receipt must still accompany
any unit sent in for warranty work. If
the unit is returned without a dated
store receipt an out of warranty service
charge applies. Note: Your warranty
period begins at the time of purchase.
The warranty is validated only by the
dated store receipt! Now is the time to
record the serial number of the unit in
the space provided in the warranty
section of the manual.

Topic Page
Model Features Summary 3 - 5
Installation 5 - 7

• Mounting Guidelines

• Windshield Mounting

• Power Connection And Fuse Replacement

Operation 7 - 15

• Compass Calibration

• Power On and Self-Test

• Setting Saver

• Feature Engaged Confirmation

• Audio Level Adjustment

• Integrated Real Voice

®

• Compass Mode

• Auto Quiet Mode

• Quiet Mode

• City/City 1/ City 2 Mode

• Highway Mode

• Dim/Dark Mode

• Engaging/Disengaging VG-2

• Teach/Tutorial Mode

• Option Select Mode

• Vehicle Battery Saver Mode

• Vehicle Battery Monitor

• Stay Alert Feature

• Memo Mode

Radar, Laser And VG-2 Alerts 16

• Safety Warning System™

• Speed Radar Audio/Visual Alerts

• Laser Audio/Visual Alerts

• Pulse Protection

®

• VG-2 Audio/Visual Alerts

• Alert Priority

Reset Features/Setting Saver 17
Troubleshooting Guide 18 - 19

Care Maintenance

Are Detectors Legal? 19
Speed Monitoring 20 - 22

• Radar Facts

• POP™ Mode

• Laser Facts

• Other Speed Detection Systems

Warranty Information 23 - 25
Specifications 25
Accessories 26

INTRODUCTION

Dear Whistler Owner,
With the change in time also comes change in technol-

ogy. Radar gun manufacturers have stepped up to the
plate. The new arsenal they carry is called POP™
Mode. BEE™ III is a normal K or Ka band radar gun
detectable by most radar detectors made in the past
30 years, unless the gun is placed in POP™ Mode.
POP™ Mode allows the radar signal to travel from the
radar gun to a target and back in less than a 1/10 of a
second. A normal detector can not “see” or “detect”
this transmission because it transmits too fast for the
radar detector to see it - until now!

Whistler introduces the 1783 and 1793 with POP™
Mode detection! These units are the beginning in
total protection. With POP™ Mode detection, these
units can react fast enough to detect this new technol­ogy. Packed with power you still have a full featured
radar detector:

• VOICE MEMO RECORDER digitally records your
voice message (1793SE only).

• COMPASS provides points of direction.

• REAL VOICE

®

ALERTS are given verbally

through the detector so you do not have to take
your eyes off the road to look at the display.

• TEXT DISPLAY shows laser-radar information,
VG-2 alerts, SWS messages, and detector status.

• New POP™ Mode Capabilities

Even though these units are packed full of
features, they’re still very easy to use. To fully utilize
your unit to its potential, we recommend reading this
entire manual or visit our FAQ page on our web site
www.whistlergroup.com.

Note: Compass must be calibrated before use! See
Compass Calibration set-up section.

Enjoy your new Whistler and please drive safely.
Sincerely,

The Whistler Group, Inc.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Whistler’s ergonomic and user-friendly design provides a
new level of operating convenience. Special features
include: Note: Not all units have all features listed.

1. Bracket Release Button – Provides quick and easy
release of the mounting bracket.

2. Speaker – Provides distinct audio warnings for X, K, Ka
band radar, safety radar, laser and VG-2.

3. Mounting Bracket Location – Slot holds mounting
bracket firmly.

4. Radar Antenna – Compact, high-efficiency antenna
receives radar signals.

5. Front Laser Antenna – High gain optical lens provides
increased sensitivity and field of view for leading-edge
laser detection.

6. Rear Laser Antenna – An integrated optical wave­guide provides superior detection of laser signals
transmitted from behind.

7. City Button - Reduces the annoyance of false alerts
typically encountered in urban driving areas.

8. Quiet/Menu Button - Pressing QUIET before a signal
is detected engages Auto Quiet Mode which
automatically reduces the audio level after the initial
warning to a low audio level setting. Pressing QUIET
during a radar/laser encounter silences audio alerts,
while allowing visual alerts to keep you informed.
Pressing and holding for 2 seconds allows you to enter
Option Select Mode (see page 12).

9. Power/Dim Dark - Turns unit on/off and engages
Dim/Dark modes (press and hold for 2 seconds).

10. Volume Up/Down Buttons – Adjust volume up or
down.

11. High Visibility Text Display – Provides distinct
visual confirmation of signals detected, signal
strength, and indicates engaged modes of operation.

12. Power Jack – Provides connection for the power
cord.

34

WHISTLER FEATURES FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS

1

9

8

7

2

6

4

5

3

10

12

1

9

8

7

2

6

10

12

• Digital Compass

• Real Voice

®

• High Visibility Text Display

• POP™ Mode Detection
Capabilities

• All Band™

• 360° Protection

• VG-2 Cloaking™

• Safety Warning System™

• 3 City Modes

• Quiet Mode

• Auto Quiet

• Vehicle Battery Saver

• Setting Saver

• Stay Alert™

• Tutorial Mode

1793SE Additional Features

• Memo Voice Recorder

• Vehicle Battery Monitor

Accessories:

Windshield Bracket, Power
Cord, Travel Bag and Socket
Multiplier

1783

1793SE

Feature Listing of 1783 and 1793SE

1783 Accessories:

Windshield Bracket,
Power Cord

11

11

FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS

• Real Voice®Alerts - Alerts are given verbally
through the detector so you do not have to take
your eyes off the road to look at the display.

• POP™ Mode – Detection Capability

• Stay Alert - The Stay Alert feature is designed to

test a drivers alertness.

Mounting Guidelines

• Mount the unit as low as possible near the center of

the windshield.

• Do not mount your unit behind wipers, ornaments,

mirrored sunscreens, etc. These obstructions have
metal surfaces which can affect radar and laser
signals and reduce critical warning time. (Regular
tinted glass does not affect reception.)

• Some windshields have an Instaclear

™

or Electriclear

™

type coating, which affect radar signals. Consult your
dealer or the owner’s manual supplied with your
vehicle to determine if your windshield has this
coating.

• Avoid placing unit in direct contact with windshield.

• To reduce the possibility of theft, conceal your unit

when not in use.

Windshield Mounting

• Install the two suction cups and rubber bumper onto

the bracket by fitting them into their holes.

• Press the suction cups onto the windshield at the

location you have chosen. IMPORTANT: Some newer
cars have a plastic safety coating on the inside of the
windshield. The windshield bracket may leave
permanent marks on this type of surface. To find out if
your vehicle has this type of windshield, check the
owner’s manual or ask your dealer. We recommend
that you do not leave the suction cup bracket on the
window in direct sunlight.

INSTALLATION CONT.

5

If the detector is removed, this may cause blistering of
the dash in some vehicles.

• Slide the detector onto the bracket until it locks into
place.

• If necessary, the unit may be leveled by bending the
windshield bracket. Press the bracket release button
and remove the detector before bending.

Power Connection

•

Plug the small end of the power cord into the unit’s power jack.

•

Plug the large end into the vehicle’s cigarette lighter.

NOTE: Cord fits tightly into detector. When installing the
cord, expect some resistance.

Fuse Replacement

The lighter socket plug is equipped with a replaceable
2 amp 3AG fuse located behind the silver tip. To replace the fuse,
carefully unscrew the tip of the plug.

IMPORTANT: Unscrew slowly. The tip contains a spring which
may fly out when disassembling.
Insert the new fuse with the spring and screw on the tip. With
use, screw cap on plug may loosen. Retighten occasionally.

Unscrew the tip of the lighter socket plug carefully when replacing the 2 amp fuse.

Compass Calibration Set-up

The unit will need to be calibrated in order for the com­pass to provide accurate readings. To calibrate the unit,
perform the following procedure:

1. Mount the unit level in the center of the vehicle’s
windshield in which it will be used. Make sure there
are no other magnetic sources near the detector
(i.e., speaker).

6

INSTALLATION

OPERATION

78

OPERATION OPERATION

Compass Calibration Set-up Continued

2. Select a large clear area (parking lot or field) without
any power lines.

3. 1783 only - While parked, press both volume buttons
simultaneously.
1793 Only: Press and hold quiet button until
display says CALMODE.

Then press both volume buttons simultaneously and the
display shows (scrolling):

4. If calibration does not automatically finish press both
volume buttons simultaneously to complete
calibration. The unit will beep twice and display, for
example:

Note: If unit mounting is relocated in the vehicle, (i.e.,
visor to windshield mounting or dash mounting), or if the
unit is moved to another vehicle, you must recalibrate the
compass.

Power On and Self-Test

Each time your Whistler detector is turned on, an
automatic self-test sequence confirms that the speaker
and visual displays are functional.

• Press Power or apply Power.
Display reads in order:

1. WHISTLER 2. X-band 3. K-band 4. Ka-band

5. LASER 6. SR ON 7. VG2 OFF 8. B SVR ON

9. POP ON 10. HIGHWAY 11. NE 45°

Setting Saver

Setting Saver saves your personalized settings so that
when the detector is turned off and then on again, you do
not have to re-enter them.

Feature Engaged Confirmation

Each time a button is pressed one beep confirms feature
“on”, two beeps confirm feature “off”.

Audio Level Adjustment

The audio levels can be adjusted high to low, or low to
high, in seven steps.

• Press Volume up to increase audio level.

• Press Volume down to decrease audio level.
As audio level is adjusted, beeps are provided and the dis-

play indicates volume level.

Integrated Real Voice

®

When selected, Real Voice®will be used to articulate the
following:

1. Band Identification

2. Safety Warning System messages

3. Feature Selection

NOTE: In certain cases the voice message does not
replicate the text message.

Compass Mode

The unit is programmed from the factory in “Combo
Mode”. Combo mode means that the unit provides both
compass readings as well as detecting laser/radar signals.
Through the “Option Select Mode”, either laser / radar or
compass features can be turned off meaning, Radar
equals detection of all police bands and laser; Compass
equals no detection of police laser/radar.
Note: The unit must be calibrated to provide accurate
compass readings. See Compass Calibration Set-up sec­tion on page 7.

Auto Quiet Mode

Auto Quiet reduces the selected audio level to level (1)
approximately 5 seconds after a radar or safety radar sig­nal is detected. The alert for any new signal within 20 sec­onds will resume at level (1). Auto Quiet does not affect
VG-2 or laser alerts.

CAL DONE

NE 45

Drive in two complete circles

9

City/City 1/City 2 Mode Continued

CAUTION: Some towns/small cities may still be using X

band radar. If Auto Quiet is engaged in City 1 or City 2
modes and the unit receives a strong radar signal, the unit
performs the Auto Quiet feature. City Modes do not
change the audio alert for laser or VG-2.

Highway Mode

Highway mode provides full audio warnings any time
radar (X, K, Ka, Safety Radar) or laser signals are detected,
and is recommended for open road driving.

For more information on City and Highway mode, please
visit our FAQ page on our website:

www.whistlergroup.com

Dim/Dark Mode

Dim/Dark Mode reduces the illumination of the
display.

• Press and hold Power for 2 seconds to reduce
illumination to a Dim setting.

• Pressing and holding the power button for 2 seconds a
second time engages Dark Mode. The display
illumination is further reduced.

Dim or dark can be engaged during an alert. In Dark
Mode, the display goes dark for as long as a signal is
being detected and for 20 seconds after, then the display
returns to the dimmer setting.

• Pressing and holding the power button a third time
restores full illumination to the display.

Engaging/Disengaging VG-2

See option select mode to turn this feature on.
Note:VG-2 must be turned on each time the unit is turned

on to receive VG-2 Alerts.

Teach/Tutorial Mode

Provides simulated alerts for each type of signal.

•Press City and Quiet simultaneously and release.

10

OPERATION OPERATION

Auto Quiet Mode Continued

• Press Quiet/Menu (before a signal is detected) to
engage Auto Quiet.

• Once the Auto Quiet mode is engaged, you may
cancel the audio alarm by pressing Quiet.

• Press Quiet (when the unit is not alarming) to
cancel Auto Quiet mode.

Quiet Mode

Quiet cancels audio during an alert and any new alert with­in 20 seconds. After 20 seconds, approximately
2 beeps are provided on any new alert and unit then
remains quiet.

• Press Quiet to cancel the audio.

• Press Quiet a second time during an alert to restore the
standard audio alert pattern; or turn the unit off, then on.

City/City 1/City 2 Mode

Whistler’s Three Stage City Mode is designed to reduce
the annoyance of automatic door openers, intrusion
alarms and other devices which share frequencies with
police radar. Generally X band is used for these devices.

• Press City to cancel Highway mode and engage City.

• Press City to engage City.

• Press City a second time engages City 1.

• Press City a third time engages City 2.

• Pressing City a fourth time cancels City, City 1, and City

2 and returns the unit to Highway Mode.

In City Mode, weak speed/safety radar signal give and
initial alarm fo two beeps, and then remains quiet unless
the signal becomes very strong. When the signal strength
increases, two additional beeps are provided.

In City 1 Mode, only the X band sensitivity is lowered. In
City 2 Mode, X-band is not detected.