Advanced PROTECTION System TM ®®®® with Shadow Technology ® BEL 980 & BEL 950 RADAR • LASER • SAFETY DETECTORS DIGITAL PLL SYNTHESIZED OSCILLATOR Operating instructions for models 980 & 950 TM
introduction Thank you for purchasing a bel 980 or bel 950 Radar/Laser/Safety detector with the Advanced Protection System™ and Shadow Technology® II. bel 980 and bel 950 build on the company’s long history of technology firsts with advancements that usher in a new era in Radar/Laser/Safety Detection. Remember, owning a Radar detector does not give you a license to speed. Alerts from a Radar detector serve as an effective reminder to check your speed.
table of contents Profile of Features l page 4 Description of Features l page 5 Power-Up Test Sequence/Start-up Mode l page 5 Tutorial Mode l page 6 Set and Forget Memory l page 6 Reset to Factory Settings l page 7 Voltage Warning l page 7 drk (Bright/Dim/Dark) Button l page 7 aud (Auto-Mute/Volume Control) Button l page 7 cty (City/Highway) Button l page 8 Selectable Features l page 9 Entering Selectable Features Mode l page 11 Installation l page 11 General Guidelines l page 11 Understanding Radar, Laser
profile of features 6 7 1 Advanced Protec with Shadow Tech tion System nology II 8 PWR DRK AUD CTY BEL 980 9 Ka 9 2 3 1. 4 5 pwr (Power/Start-Up Mode) Button: pressing and holding pwr will turn the unit on. Press the pwr a second time to scroll through the three start-up mode options: NORMAL, MODS (Modifications), Q-START (Quick Start) plus TUTORIAL MODE. 2 3. 4. 5. 6. Text Message Display: communicates all mode selections (i.e.
7. 8. 9. Laser Optical Sensors: collect Laser signals from in front and behind. Audio Alert Speaker: all audible alerts and Digital Voice Messages are emitted from this location. Power Jack: using the straight or coiled cord, bel 980 or bel 950 operate in any vehicle with a 13.8 volt dc negative ground system (10.5 volt to 16 volt range).
Q-START (Quick-Start Mode) Unit will bypass any form of a power-up test sequence and will display “CITY” or “HIGHWAY” depending upon the mode previously selected. Unit is ready for operation. TUTORIAL MODE The Tutorial Mode allows you to become more familiar with all audible and visual alerts.
Reset to Factory Settings You can reset your unit to factory settings for Start-Up mode, volume, drk, aud, cty and Selectable Features. To reset, press and hold the cty button until the display shows “RESET”. Two “beeps”will sound and your unit will cycle through the Normal Start-Up Mode. Voltage Warning Your bel 980 or bel 950 continually check your vehicle’s voltage to ensure proper performance of your detector. The unit’s operating range is 10.5 to 16.0 volts. If voltage falls below 10.
Volume Control Press and hold the aud button to engage the volume control. The Audio level has 9 settings for bel 980 and 5 settings for bel 950. Release the aud button when you have reached your desired audio setting. cty (City/Highway) Button The cty mode has been designed to effectively reduce unwanted audio alerts caused by intrusion alarms, door openers, and other devices which share X band with police Radar—without reducing sensitivity.
approach for improving selectivity on X, K and Super Wideband Ka and is ideal for use in areas with a high level of microwave transmissions which can cause falsing on all Radar bands. While in City All mode, bel 980 will provide an initial short X, K, or Ka audio alert coupled with visual confirmation of the band detected and signal strength in the display. No further audible alert is provided until the signal strength reaches a preset level.
X/K/Ka Band On or Off (bel 980 only) Select “X o n /X o f f ”,“K o n /K o f f ” or “Ka o n /Ka o f f ” depending upon your driving environment and selectivity requirements. This mode is especially useful where falsing may occur and disabling the offending band may be required. Factory setting is on for all three Bands. Auto-Mute On/Off With “A m u t e o n ”, unit will provide several X, K, Super Wideband Ka audio alerts followed by the Digital Voice announcement of the signal detected.
setting is “SWSv o i c e ”. When “SWSt o n e ” is selected, Digital Voice is replaced by "tone/clicking” only. Factory setting is “SWSv o i c e ”. Audio/Visual Scroll Rate When “SCRLs l o w ” is selected, unit will provide a slow cycling of audio/visual messages.When “SCRLf a s t ” is selected, unit will provide a fast cycling of audio/visual messages. Factory setting is “SCRLs l o w . ” Entering Selectable Features Mode 1. With the unit off, press and hold the pwr and cty buttons simultaneously.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. as an option on some vehicles. This type of windshield makes any dash, visor or windshield mounted detector ineffective. (If in doubt, check with an appropriate dealership to see if this applies to your vehicle.) To achieve optimum performance, regardless of which mounting position you choose, follow the basic steps on the following page. Consider occupant safety when selecting a mounting location. Choose a location where the unit will not be hazardous in case of an accident.
2. 3. 4. Clean the selected windshield area, position the suction-cup mount on the windshield, and press firmly on each suction cup to secure it in place. Use a screwdriver or a small coin to adjust the angle of the suction-cup mount until the base plate is level. Slide detector onto base plate until it snaps into place. Note—some vehicles have a plastic coating on the inside of the windshield designed to protect occupants in case of an accident.
Fuse Replacement 1. If the fuse has blown, remove the tip from the lighter plug followed by the old fuse. Replace the fuse with a 1-amp, 3AG fuse. Defeating the fuse protection can damage your unit or your vehicle’s electrical system and will void your warranty. Note—the tip is in two pieces; be careful not to lose either piece or the spring inside the holder. (See diagram above).
Total Tracking Laser™ (ttl™) Unlike Radar signals, which are highly reflective, Laser signals have very poor reflective characteristics. Many of today’s Laser detectors do not have the high sensitivity necessary to detect Laser within a large “field of view”. bel 980 and bel 950 incorporate bel’s number one rated Laser detection. Twin Laser ports detect energy far outside the main Laser beam—including off-axis signals—providing the largest achievable 360° “field of view.
Since Radar signals travel in a straight line, this Radar encounter potentially offers maximum warning range. Once the signal is received, the initial warning consists of an X, K or Super Wideband Ka audio alert coupled with simultaneous identification of the Radar band (X, K or Ka) and signal strength in the Text Display. The number of bar graph segments displayed depends upon the strength of the signal received.
until you are relatively close to the source. Once an alert is received, expect the strength of the signal to increase very quickly. Advanced warning in this situation may be reduced. 3. Stationary Radar concealed by the crest of a hill aimed in your direction. Radar signals travel in a straight line and do not pass through earth. Consequently, police Radar aimed at the crest of a steep hill cannot be received until you are at or near the top.
Instant-On/Pulsed Radar This type of signal appears suddenly when a Radar unit is “triggered”. The instant-on alert consists of an intense, three second audio “burst”, coupled with the type of band detected and flashing of the signal strength bar graph in the display. Instant-on/pulsed alert to Ka band (bel 980) Ka 9 Instant-on/pulsed alert to Ka band (bel 950) Ka Typical False Alert (Radar) Ideally, a Radar detector should only alert in the presence of police Radar.
Safety Warning System® (sws™) Alerts With the Safety Warning System® feature on and an sws™ transmitter in use, your detector will provide a unique, 2 second sws™ tone coupled with a Safety Warning System® category word (i.e.“Ha z d Zo n e ” indicating Highway Hazard Zone Advisory) to quickly orient you to the type of situation ahead. This introductory message is followed by a specific Text Message (i.e.“SHARP CURVE AHEAD ”) and Digital Voice Message which is repeated twice.
“ Mo v i n g ” confirms Emergency/Slow Moving Vehicles in transit (messages 61–64) “Me s s a g e Un k n o w n ” confirms incomplete or unknown messages Note—for a complete listing of the five Safety Warning System® categories and corresponding messages, please refer to the Safety Warning System® Alert Card enclosed with your manual.
Conditions that Affect Laser Alerts If you feel your unit is not properly alerting to the presence of Laser signals, keep in mind that rain, fog, high humidity and traffic conditions can affect the range that the Laser beam can be detected. troubleshooting Solutions for Common Problems If your unit is not operating properly, please refer to the outline below.
consumer warranty 2-year Warranty–bel 980 1-year Warranty–bel 950 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. This warranty covers all defects in materials and workmanship. This warranty does not apply if the unit has been subject to physical abuse, improper installation, modification, or if the housing or serial number of the unit has been removed. The enforceability of this warranty is limited to the original consumer purchaser and is not transferable to, or enforceable by, any subsequent owner.
service Warranty Service If you feel your detector is not functioning properly please review this manual, particularly the section on Performance Verification. If you still feel service is required, please follow the instructions below. 1. To obtain service during the warranty period, please call the appropriate number below to obtain an RA number and shipping instructions. Remember to return your detector postage paid, insured and in suitable packaging. 1-800-341-2288 usa 1-800-268-3994 can 2.
list of accessories model cost number usa description Suction Cup Kit (2) Straight Power Cord (4') Coiled Power Cord (6') Power Cord Fuses (2) Hook & Loop Fastener Visor Bracket Windshield Bracket 4 Non-Skid Dash Mounting Pads Protective Travel Case Owner’s Manual cost canada da-6 da-16 da-17 da-19 da-20 da-48 da-702 $ 3.95 $ 9.95 $ 11.95 $ 3.95 $ 2.95 $ 9.95 $ 11.95 $ 4.95 $ 11.95 $ 16.95 $ 5.95 $ 3.95 $ 11.95 $ 16.95 da-1000 da-62 980/950 $ 2.95 $ 13.95 n/c $ 3.95 $ 19.
