Whistler XTR-500 User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

INTRODUCTION

XTR-500

Total Band Protection

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 260012, ©2007 The Whistler Gr

™

oup, Inc.

Dear Whistler Owner,

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

CuST

Omer

SeR

VICE

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!

ber of the unit in the space provided in
the warranty section of the manual.

To fully acquaint yourself with the
operation of your Whistler detector
and to better understand the differ­ences between detecting radar
and safety radar signals, we recom­mend reading this entire manual or
visiting our FAQ page on our website
www.whistlergroup.com

Enjoy your Whistler detector and
please drive safely.

Sincerely,

The Whistler Group, Inc.

Please record the serial num-

, laser

Model Features Summary ................................. 3 - 5

Installation ........................................................ 5 - 6

• Mounting Guidelines 5 - 6

• Windshield Mounting 6

• Power Connection and Fuse Replacement 6

Operation ....................................................... 7 - 13

•Dim/Dark Mode 7

•

Power On Self Test & Volume

• Setting Saver 7

• Feature Engaged Confirmation 7

• Integrated Real Voice

• Auto Quiet Mode 8

• Quiet Mode 8

• City/City 1/ City 2 Mode 9

• Highway Mode 9

• Teach/Tutorial Mode 10

• Dual LED

• VG-2 Mode 11

• Vehicle Battery Saver Mode 11

• Option Select Mode 12

• Stay Alert Feature 13

Safety Warning System™..................................... 13

POP™Mode Alerts .............................................. 14

Laser/Radar Alerts .............................................. 14

• Speed Radar Audio/Visual Alerts 14

• Laser Audio/Visual Alerts 14

• Pulse Protection

VG-2 Alerts ......................................................... 15

• Alert Priority 15

Reset Features .................................................... 16

Troubleshooting Guide ....................................... 17

Care and Maintenance ........................................ 18

Are Detectors Legal? .......................................... 18

FCC Information .................................................. 19

Speed Monitoring ......................................... 19 - 22

• Radar Facts 19

• POP™Mode 19

• Laser Facts 20

• Other Speed Detection Systems 21

Warranty Information .................................... 22 - 25

Specifications ......................................................25

Accessories ......................................................... 26

®

Alert Periscope

®

WHISTLER FEATURES

Feature Listings of XTR-500

1
6

7

9

8

10
8

10

14

12

Features of XTR-500

• Total Band Protection

• Red Text Display

• Detects POP

• 360° Protection

• Real Voice

• VG-2 Cloaking

• 3 City Modes

• Quiet/Auto Quiet Mode

13

3

2

11

7

™

™

Mode

®

4

5

• Dim/Dark Mode

• Stay Alert

• Setting Saver

• Vehicle Battery Saver

• Safety Warning System

• Alert Priority

• Dual LED Periscopes

™

™

™

FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS

Whistler’s ergonomic and user-friendly design pro­vides a new level of operating convenience.
Special features include:

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 – high gain optical lens provides
increased sensitivity and field of view for
leading-edge laser detection.

6. Rear Laser – 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 Button - pressing QUIET before a
radar signal is detected engages Auto Quiet
Mode which provides “clicking” sounds
after the initial warning. Pressing QUIET
during a radar encounter silences audio
alerts, while allowing visual alerts to keep
you informed.

9. Power / Volume Control – turns unit on/off
and adjusts audio level.

10. Dim Dark - engages Dim/Dark modes

11. Menu Button - enters Option Select Mode.

12. Text Display – provides distinct visual

confirmation of signals detected, signal
strength, and indicates engaged modes of
operation.

3

4

FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS

13. Dual Alert LED Periscope - provides added
visual alerts of threats ahead.

INSTALLATION

Mounting Guidelines

• Mount the unit as low as possible near the

center of the windshield.

• Do not mount the 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

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 the unit in direct contact with the

windshield.

• To reduce the possibility of theft, conceal your

unit when not in use.

IIMMPPOORRTTAANNT

T

: Make sure the unit is level

Rubber Bumper

™

or

Windshield
Mounting

INSTALLATION CONT.

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. 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 Cord 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.

:

NNoottee:

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.

IImmppoorrttaanntt:
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 slowly. The tip contains a

Dim/Dark Mode

OPERATION

Dim/Dark Mode reduces the illumination of the
display.

• Press the Dark button to reduce illumination
to a Dim setting.

• Pressing the Dark button a second time
engages Dark Mode. The display illumination
is further reduced.

Dim or Dark Mode 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 the Dark button a third time restores
full illumination to the display.

Power On Self Test & Volume

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

• Display shows in order:

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

5. LASER 6

9. B SVR ON 10. HIGHWAY

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”.

..

SR OFF 7. VG2 OFF 8. POP ON

5

6

7