User Manual

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 7
• Setting Saver 7
• Feature Engaged Confirmation 7
• Integrated Real Voice
®
8
• Auto Quiet Mode 8
• Quiet Mode 8
• City/City 1/ City 2 Mode 9
• Highway Mode 9
• Teach/Tutorial Mode 10
• Dual LED Alert Periscope 10
• 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
®
14
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
WHISTLER FEATURES
W
histler’s ergonomic and user-friendly design
p
rovides a new level of operating convenience.
Special features include:
1. Bracket Release Button – provides quick
a
nd easy release of the mounting bracket.
2. Speaker – provides distinct audio warnings
for X, K, Ka band radar, safety radar, laser and
V
G-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
i
ncreased sensitivity and field of view for
leading-edge laser detection.
6. Rear Laser – an integrated optical
w
aveguide provides superior detection of
l
aser signals transmitted from behind.
7. City Button - reduces the annoyance of
f
alse alerts typically encountered in urban
d
riving 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.
FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS
1
3. Dual Alert LED Periscope -
p
rovides added
v
isual 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,
o
rnaments, mirrored sunscreens, etc. These
obstructions have metal surfaces which can
a
ffect radar and laser signals and reduce
c
ritical warning time. (Regular tinted glass
does not affect reception).
•
Some windshields have an Instaclear
™
o
r
Electriclear
™
type coating, which affect radar
signals. Consult your dealer or the owner’s
m
anual supplied with your vehicle to determine
if your windshield has this coating.
• Avoid placing the unit in direct contact with the
w
indshield.
• To reduce the possibility of theft, conceal your
unit when not in use.
I
I
M
M
P
P
O
O
R
R
T
T
A
A
N
N
T
T
: Make sure the unit is level
FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS
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
l
ocation you have chosen.
Important: Some newer cars have a plastic safety
coating on the inside of the windshield. The
w
indshield 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
a
sk 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
c
ause blistering of the dash in some vehicles.
• Slide the detector onto the bracket until it locks into
p
lace.
•
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.
N
N
o
o
t
t
e
e
:
:
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.
I
I
m
m
p
p
o
o
r
r
t
t
a
a
n
n
t
t
:
:
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.
INSTALLATION CONT.
OPERATION
Integrated Real Voice
®
When selected, Real V
oice
®
will be used to
articulate the following:
1. Band Identification
2.
Safety Warning System messages
3.
Featur
e Selection
Note: In certain cases the voice message does not
replicate the text message.
Auto Quiet Mode
Pressing QUIET before a radar signal is detected
provides an alternate alert pattern, consisting of four
beeps (indicating X, K, Ka or Safety Radar) followed
by clicking. The clicking will continue for as long as
the detected signal is present or any new signal is
detected within 20 seconds, becoming more rapid
as the strength of the signal increases.
• Press Quiet (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 aler
t and any new
aler
t
within 20 seconds. After 20 seconds,
approximately 2 beeps are provided on any new
alert and unit then remains quiet.
•
Pr
ess 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.
OPERATION
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 button to cancel Highway Mode
and engage City Mode.
• Press City button again to enter City 1 Mode
• Press City button again to enter City 2 Mode
• Pressing City button a fourth time cancels City 2
Mode and returns the unit to Highway Mode.
In City Mode, weak speed/safety radar signals
give an initial alarm of two beeps, and then
remains quiet unless the signal becomes very
strong. When the signal strength increases, two
additional beeps are provided. City 1 and City 2
Modes operate the same as Highway Mode, but
in City 1 Mode, only the X band sensitivity is
lowered. In City 2 Mode, X-band is not detected.
Caution: Some towns/small cities may still be
using X band radar. 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 ar
e
detected, and is r
ecommended for
open r
oad driving.
For more information on City and Highway modes,
please visit
our F
.A.Q. page on our website:
www.whistlergroup.com
OPERATION
Teach/Tutorial Mode
Provides simulated alerts for each type of signal.
• Press City and Quiet buttons simultaneously
• Display Shows:
• Press Dark button to exit.
Dual LED Alert Periscope
Whistler’s new Dual LED Alert Periscope provides
an added attention getting visual alert. The two
extra LED’s flash on and off when the unit alarms
to provide a unique visual alert. This alert can be
programmed, through the Option Select Mode to:
1. flash for all alarms, 2. remain on, or 3. turn LEDs
off completely.
OPERATION
VG-2 Mode
See Option Select Mode to turn this feature
on/off. When a VG-2 signal is detected, the VG-2
is sounded and the display flashes “VG-2”. After
3 seconds the audio is canceled and the display
no longer flashes. This cycle is repeated if the
VG-2 signal is again detected.
During the period a VG-2 signal is detected, a
radar signal cannot be detected. However,
because the VG-2 alert has confirmed that a
patrol car is nearby, you are already aware of the
potential for speed monitoring and can adjust
your speed accordingly. Laser detection is not
affected while a VG-2 signal is detected. (See
page 15 for more information)
Vehicle Battery Saver Mode
The Vehicle Battery Saver Mode automatically
shuts off your detector after 3 hours. The timer
is reset if the detector is turned off, unplugged
or any button is pressed before the timer has
expired. The detector will alert you with an
audible and visual warning before it shuts off.
During this war
ning, you can momentarily r
eset
the timer by pressing any button. If the unit has
automatically tur
ned itself off, press any button
to tur
n the unit back on.
Refer to “Option Select Mode” for instr
uctions
for deactivating battery saver mode feature.
OPERATION
Option Select Mode
Entering Option Select Mode allows you to customize
options such as Tone Select, Abbreviated Power Up
Sequence and VG-2 Mode. Press the Menu button to enter
Option Select Mode. When selecting options, the Dark or
Quiet buttons must be pressed within 20 seconds or Option
Select Mode will automatically be exited. To enter:
Pr
ess and hold Menu button to exit Option Select Mode.
OPERATION
Stay Alert Feature
The Stay Aler
t Feature is designed to test a driver’s
alertness. To engage (when the unit is not alarming) :
• Press and hold the City button for
approximately 2 seconds. Release the button
during or immediately after the alert is given.
Display shows:
Within 30-60 seconds, two beeps ar
e sounded;
to show alertness, the driver must press either the
City, Menu, or Quiet buttons within 3-5 seconds. If a
button is pressed within 3-5 seconds, the cycle is
repeated.
If a button is not pr
essed within 3-5 seconds, an
alar
m sounds and the display shows:
• Press the Dark button to exit the Stay Alert feature.
WARNING!!! Stay Alert is NOT intended as a
substitute for adequate rest. You should NOT
operate a vehicle if you are drowsy. During
extended periods of vehicle operation, you should
take frequent breaks. Improper reliance on the Stay
Alert feature may result in vehicle damage,
personal injury or death.
NEVER OPERATE A
VEHICLE IF YOU ARE DROWSY
.
SWS
™
Safety W
arning System
™
In communities where transmitters are located,
the Safety Warning System
™
displays over 60
text messages. When Safety Radar is detected
the audio alert is geiger counter-like.
Safety W
ar
ning System T
ext
Example: Poor - Road - Sur
face.
Note: Not all ar
eas have Safety Warning System
™
transmitters.
OPERATION
Dear Whistler Owner,
If you have questions concerning the
operation of this Whistler product
please call:
CuSTOmer 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.
INTRODUCTION
Note: Your warranty period begins at
the time of purchase. The warranty
is validated only by the dated store
receipt!
Please record the serial
number 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,
laser 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.
Windshield
Mounting
3
456
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Feature Listings of XTR-500
Dim/Dark Mode
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 confir
ms 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
.
.
SR
OFF
7. VG2 OFF 8. POP
ON
9. B SVR ON 10. HIGHWAY
Setting Saver
Setting Saver saves your personalized settings
so that when the detector is tur
ned of
f and then
on again, you do not have to re-enter them.
Featur
e Engaged Confir
mation
Each time a button is pressed, one beep confirms
feature “on”, two beeps confirm feature “off”.
Rubber Bumper
4
5
• Total Band Protection
™
• Red Text Display
• Detects POP
™
Mode
• 360° Protection
• Real Voice
®
• VG-2 Cloaking
• 3 City Modes
• Quiet/Auto Quiet Mode
• Dim/Dark Mode
• Stay Alert
™
• Setting Saver
• Vehicle Battery Saver
™
•
Safety Warning System
™
• Alert Priority
• Dual LED Periscopes
3
F
eatures of XTR-500
13
2
11
7
1
2
8
9
6
1
10