22-1698.fm Page 1 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM Owner’s Manual VG-2 Guard X•K•Ka Superwide Radar/Laser Detector w/Safety Light Please read before using this equipment. Cat. No.
2-1698.fm Page 2 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM FEATURES Your RadioShack VG-2 Guard X•K•Ka Superwide Radar/Laser Detector can alert you to all known police traffic radar and laser systems. It receives X-, K-, and Ka-band radar signals and also detects both the instant-on and laser systems many police departments use to measure vehicle speed. Plus, your detector can give you advance warning of potential road hazards by detecting signals from transmitters that broadcast Safety Warning System alerts.
22-1698.fm Page 3 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM 360× Detection — detects laser signals from both the front and the rear of your vehicle. City/Highway Modes — let you minimize alerts when you are in areas that have false radar sources. FAST (False Alert Suppression Technology) — helps prevent false alarms caused by non-traffic radar sources. Auto Quiet — lets you set the radar detector to give you a fullvolume alert for about 5 seconds, then reduce its alert to minimum volume.
22-1698.fm Page 4 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM CONTENTS A Quick Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Mounting Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Hook-and-Loop Tape Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Windshield Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Connecting Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22-1698.fm Page 5 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM A QUICK LOOK 1. Rear Laser Detection Lens — receives incoming laser signals from the rear. 2. PWR (Power/Volume) Button — turns the detector on and off and lets you adjust the volume. 3. MUTE Button — press before a radar/laser signal is detected to reduce the level of audio alerts that sound when there is a signal. Press after a signal is detected to silence the alert, but still have visual alerts to keep you informed. 4.
22-1698.fm Page 6 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM 5. Band Identifying LEDs — identify the type of radar detected. 6. Digital Display ∇ προϖιδεσ διστινχτ ϖισυαλ χονφιρµα τιον οφ σιγναλ στρενγτη ανδ ινδιχατεσ τηε σελεχτεδ οπερατινγ µοδεσ. 7. Speaker — sounds distinct audio alerts. 8. Power Jack — the power cable plugs in here. 9. Bracket Release Button — lets you quickly remove the detector’s bracket. 12 10 11 10. Front Laser Detection Lens — receives incoming laser signals from the front. 11.
22-1698.fm Page 7 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM INSTALLATION MOUNTING GUIDELINES Follow these guidelines when selecting a location. • Choose a location that does not block the driver’s view of the road. • Mount the detector in a level position with a clear view to both the front and rear. • The detector’s view of the road must not be blocked by any metal object. • Some vehicles have InstaClear or ElectriClear defogging windshields, which have metal coatings that block signals.
22-1698.fm Page 8 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM HOOK-AND-LOOP TAPE MOUNTING For some dashboards, the hook-and-loop tape included with your detector might be best for mounting. Follow these steps to use the hook-and-loop tape. 1. Use a damp cloth to clean the bottom of the detector and the dashboard. Let both surfaces dry. Note: The tape’s adhesive might not stick to a surface treated with vinyl cleaner or protectant. 2.
22-1698.fm Page 9 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM WINDSHIELD MOUNTING The supplied suction-cup windshield bracket lets you easily mount the detector on the windshield. Caution: Do not use the bracket in a vehicle that has a plastic coating on the windshield designed to protect passengers during an accident. If you use the bracket on this type of windshield, you might permanently mar the windshield’s surface. 1.
22-1698.fm Page 10 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM CONNECTING POWER Caution: • Use only the supplied power cord. If your power cord is lost or damaged, you can order a replacement cord from your local RadioShack store. • Before plugging the power cord’s cigarette-lighter plug into your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket, make sure the plug’s tip is screwed firmly onto the plug. See “Replacing the Fuse” on Page 27 for more information about the cigarettelighter plug.
22-1698.fm Page 11 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM DETECTOR OPERATION TURNING THE DETECTOR ON AND OFF To turn on the detector, press PWR . The detector sounds a distinctive alert and displays the indicators for each alert type as a self test, in this order. (The VG-2 indicators only sound/appear if the feature is selected. See “Setting the VG-2 Option” on Page 14.) Alert Type Audible Alert Visual Alert Safety None 8 and yellow LED 8 and red LED 8 and yellow/red LEDs S.
22-1698.fm Page 12 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM ADJUSTING THE VOLUME To adjust the detector’s volume, hold down PWR until the volume reaches the desired level, 1–4 (1 is the lowest level). DEMONSTRATING ALERTS To familiarize yourself with the different alerts your detector sounds, you can run a demonstration. To start the demonstration, press and release MUTE and CITY at the same time with the detector turned on.
22-1698.fm Page 13 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM USING AUTO QUIET Auto Quiet reduces the selected audio level to a minimum level about 5 seconds after it detects a radar signal. The audio alert sounds at the minimum level for any new signal received within 20 seconds. VG-2 or laser alerts are not affected. To turn on Auto Quiet, press MUTE when the detector is not sounding an alert. The detector beeps once and briefly displays A, then returns to H or C.
22-1698.fm Page 14 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM To cancel the City mode, press CITY a second time. The detector beeps twice and displays H. The highway mode provides maximum alert response for open-road driving. SETTING THE VG-2 OPTION VG-2 is a system used by some law enforcement agencies to detect the use of radar detectors in vehicles. The VG-2 system detects the weak radio signals used in radar detectors.
22-1698.fm Page 15 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM RECEIVING AND IDENTIFYING ALERT SIGNALS Your detector gives different audible and visual alerts for each signal. In addition, the alert tone pulse rate increases with signal strength and the detector displays a digit from 1 to 9 to indicate the signal strength (1 is weakest and 9 is strongest). When your detector senses instant-on radar, it sounds an intense, 3-second tone and displays P.
22-1698.fm Page 16 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM Any laser alert, regardless of duration, requires immediate action! If you are the targeted vehicle, a laser gun can often determine your speed within seconds after you receive an alert. However, if you are traveling near or behind the targeted vehicle and receive an alert, you should have time to respond.
22-1698.fm Page 17 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM SAFETY LIGHT You can power the Safety Light from your vehicle’s battery power (using the supplied DC power cord), or from six C batteries (not supplied).
22-1698.fm Page 18 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM USING VEHICLE BATTERY POWER 1. Plug the supplied DC power cord’s barrel plug into the Safety Light’s D.C. 12V jack, located on the side of the Safety Light between the red flasher and the fluorescent lamp. Caution: The supplied DC power cord supplies at least 12 volts and delivers at least 600 mA, and has a center positive plug that properly fits the Safety Light’s D.C. 12V jack.
22-1698.fm Page 19 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM • Do not mix old and new batteries, different types of batteries (standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable batteries of different capacities. • If you use alkaline batteries, do not set the Safety Light’s bottom switch to the bottom (charging) position with the DC power cord connected. Follow these steps to install batteries in the Safety Light. 1.
22-1698.fm Page 20 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM • At the end of a nickel-cadmium battery’s useful life, it must be recycled or disposed of properly. Contact your local, county, or state hazardous waste management authorities for information on recycling or disposal programs in your area. Some options that might be available are: municipal curbside collection, drop-off boxes at retailers such as your local RadioShack store, recycling collection centers, and mail-back programs.
22-1698.fm Page 21 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM 1. Plug the supplied DC power cord’s barrel plug into the Safety Light’s D.C. 12V jack. 2. Unplug your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter and plug the large end of the DC power cord into the cigarette-lighter socket. 3. Set the Safety Light’s bottom switch to the bottom (charging) position. The charging indicator lights steadily. Using AC Power Caution: You must use an AC adapter that supplies at least 12 volts and delivers at least 600 mA.
-1698.fm Page 22 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM OPERATION Cautions: • Do not immerse the Safety Light in water. • Keep the lenses clean for brighter, more intense light. • Do not turn on the fluorescent circuit without a tube installed. • Turn off the Safety Light when you finish using it. To operate the safety light, slide the function switches to the desired positions.
22-1698.fm Page 23 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM REPLACING THE BULBS Fluorescent Lamp 1. Press the head cap release button, then remove the head cap, yellow ring, and transparent cover. 2. Twist both metal end caps on the tube so the pins line up with the slots in the bulb holders, then remove the tube. Caution: Twisting the tube itself could break the tube and cause injury. 3. Replace the tube with a new 9-inch 6-watt tube. 4. Replace the transparent cover, yellow ring, and head cap. Torch Bulb 1.
22-1698.fm Page 24 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM Red Flasher Bulb 1. Press the head cap release button, then remove the head cap, yellow ring, and red flasher cover. 2. Unscrew the bulb, remove it, and replace it with a new 9 volt, 0.3 amp bulb. 3. Insert the red flasher cover’s tab into the slot in the case and replace the cover. 4. Replace the yellow ring and the head cap. Amber Flasher Bulb 1. Open the battery compartment cover and remove the batteries, if necessary. 2.
22-1698.fm Page 25 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM TROUBLESHOOTING If you have problems operating your radar/laser detector, the suggestions in this section might help. If you cannot solve the problem after trying these suggestions, take your detector to your local RadioShack store for assistance. If the detector does not turn on: • Be sure all power connections are secure. • Check the fuse that controls power to the cigarette-lighter socket. See your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
22-1698.fm Page 26 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM If the detector gives a false alert when you use accessories such as power windows, motorized mirrors, brakes, and so on: • Check the vehicle’s electrical system, including the main battery cable and alternator connections. • Install a filter capacitor (1,000 µf, 35 volts, such as Cat. No. 272-1032) on the back of the cigarette-lighter socket, across the power connections.
22-1698.fm Page 27 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM REPLACING THE FUSE If the detector stops operating, check the fuse in the DC power cord’s cigarette-lighter plug. If it has blown, follow these steps to replace it with a 2-Amp, 11/4 × 1/4 mm, fast-acting fuse (Cat. No. 270-1007). Caution: Using a fuse that does not meet these ratings or defeating the fuse protection can damage your detector or the vehicle’s electrical system. 1. Carefully unscrew the tip of the cigarette-lighter plug. 2.
22-1698.fm Page 28 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM DETECTOR WARRANTY Limited One-Year Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for one (1) year from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers.
22-1698.fm Page 29 Friday, August 6, 1999 11:32 AM SAFETY LIGHT WARRANTY Limited Ninety-Day Warranty This product is warranted by RadioShack against manufacturing defects in material and workmanship under normal use for ninety (90) days from the date of purchase from RadioShack company-owned stores and authorized RadioShack franchisees and dealers.
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