Radar Detectors

[Deleted member 478]

I had one on my old boat and it was a pain in the arse because lighting the stove caused it to go off. It also went balistic when the water pressure pump kicked in. Until I realised what was happening, I never got to make a cuppa because it was a case of "errr, I'd better take a quick look outside before I put the kettle on". About an hour later I'd remember that I wanted a cuppa and the whole "errr, I'd better take a quick look outside before I put the kettle on" would repeat itself.

Anyway, the one I had was really old and made by Lokata or something like that and the company no longer exists. Do any of you have a radar detector? If so, what type and are you happy with it?

Thanks

 

[Shanty]

I suspect you are talking about the Lokata Watchman radar detector. I have one of these. Its not affected by any onboard electrics, or electronics, but gets quite excited when there is shipping about.

I bought it from David Searle . He used to work for Lokata, and now services Lokata kit in his spare time. He built my unit from spare parts, and, if you contact him, he might still be building them.

 

[Deleted member 478]

Hi Shanty.

That is the one I had and David Searle refurbished it a few years ago. I think you will find that any electronics that have a pulsing characteristic, will affect it eg some water pumps and for some strange reason, cigarette lighters. Bizarre, but I did test my theory. There is still something else on my old boat that gets it excited, but I was never able to work out what it was.

 

[Birdseye]

ciggy lighters work with spark ignition. the first radio transmissions were generated by sparks. hence the interference.

 

[mikefleetwood]

I guess it's based on a fairly broad-band receiver, so susceptible to any interference around. Crude electric motors without suppression (pumps?) and spark igniters will probably all set it off! You could go round fitting interference suppression to every thing that moves, that might work. Beware, VHF transmission, mobile phone, petrol engine (outboard?), microwave(!) will all set it off, too, and not much you can do about it.

 

[jwilson]

Used a CARD one once and it was rubbish. Not many false alerts but sometimes saw ships steaming by with radars turning and not a beep from the machine

 

[Koeketiene]

Just because you see an open array radar turning, it does not mean the set is on

 

[mikefleetwood]

[ QUOTE ]
Just because you see an open array radar turning, it does not mean the set is on


[/ QUOTE ]
... or that anyone is looking at it!