If you are like most law enforcement agencies, you probably have a few speed detection devices in need of a radar repair service. Maybe you have been putting-off calling a provider thinking that it may be too expensive to get your units repaired. If this is the case, I’d like to share with you a few techniques that could save you time and money. These techniques are only valid for mobile radar units with remote antennas.

The idea is to isolate the problematic part of the radar such as an antenna, cable, counter, etc. Then simply call your local radar repair company or the manufacturer and order a new part.

Obviously, the difficult part of this is to identify the failing device.

False Readings (Ghosting)

Problem: The radar is reporting erratic speeds when there is no target in range.

Action: Assuming the radar is not receiving a non-vehicle target like your heating/cooling fan or radio transmissions from a local transmitter, the problem is likely the antenna. The receiver diode has aged and has become unstable. Replace suspected antenna with a known good antenna. If the problem goes away, order a new antenna or send the antenna in to the radar repair facility to get the receiver diode replace. This way you do not have to remove all of the cables.

If this action does not solve the problem, you probably have a defective antenna cable.  Place suspected antenna back in original position. Now on the rear of the counter, place the front antenna cable in the rear antenna port and rear antenna cable in the fwd antenna port. If the problem goes away, order another antenna cable.

It is very rare for this problem to be generated from within the counting unit. But if the above methods do not solve the problem simply try another counting unit to see if the issue gets resolved. If so, contact a reputable radar repair shop or the manufacturer to get the counter repaired.

This is the first of a multi-part article series I will be posting to help you diagnose your radar problems.  You can read the next article here:  Radar Repair: No Range