Decatur Electronics GHD User manual

Certied ISO 9001
Handheld Directional Radar
User’s Manual
GHDTM & SCOUTTM
Decatur Electronics(XURSH, Inc.
Auratie 9, 67600 Kokkola, Finland
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.DecaturEurope.com

GHDTM & SCOUTTM USER’S MANUAL
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Table of Contents
Welcome to Decatur Electronics ............................................................ 4
About This Manual ................................................................................. 5
1. Safety Information............................................................................... 5
2. Receiving Inspection..............................................................6
3. Getting Started ................................................................................... 7
3.1 Introduction ........................................................................... 7
3.2 Battery Charging - SCOUT ............................................................... 7
3.3 Removing The Battery Holder - SCOUT ............................................ 7
3.4 Battery Installation - SCOUT ............................................................ 8
3.5 Inserting The Holder Into The SCOUT ............................................... 8
3.6 Charging The Batteries - SCOUT ...................................................... 9
3.7 Charge Status Indicator (LED) - SCOUT .......................................... 10
3.8 Battery Run Time - SCOUT ...................................................... 10
3.9 Replacing Batteries - SCOUT .............................................11
3.10 Connecting The Power Cord - SCOUT ........................................... 11
3.11 Plug In The Power Cord - GHD & SCOUT .........................................11
3.12 Control Panel Functions ............................................................ 11
3.13 Measuring Target Speed In Faster Vehicle Mode .............................11
4. Components - GHD & SCOUT ................................................................. 12
4.1 Control Buttons ........................................................................... 12
4.2 Display ............................................................. 13
4.3 Trigger ............................................................ 15
4.4 Mounting Configurations............................................... 15

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5. Operating Modes ................................................................... 15
5.1 Menu .......................................................... 15
5.2 Directional .................................................................... 19
5.3 Strongest Signal Mode ................................................................. 20
5.4 Faster Mode .................................................................... 20
5.5 Faster-Toggle Mode ....................................................... 21
5.6 Faster-Hold Mode .................................................... 21
6. Serial Output Mode ................................................................................22
7. Performance Tips ................................................................................23
7.1 How Radar Works ......................................................................23
7.2 Interference Sources.........................................................23
7.3 Angular Interference (Cosine Error Effect)..................................24
7.4 Fan Interference ...................................................25
7.5 Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) ........................................25
7.6 Feedback Interference .................................................................26
7.7 Multi-Path Beam Cancellation ....................................................26
7.8 Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)...............................................26
7.9 Scanning.................................................................26
7.10 Vehicle Ignition Interference..................................................27
8. Testing The Device..............................................................................27
8.1 Operator-Requested Self Test......................................................27
8.2 Mini-Test............................................................................28
8.3 Tuning Fork Test..............................................................28
9. Care, Cleaning, and Storage..................................................................29

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10. Specifications.....................................................................29
10.1 Antenna Parameters K-Band.................................................29
10.2 Environment............................................................29
10.3 Speed Range Parameters...........................................................30
10.4 Power Consumption Parameters..................................................30
11. Legal Requirements ....................................................................... 31
11.1 FCC ..............................................................31
11.2 Radar Case Law ................................................................32
12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ......................................................33
13. Warranty ..................................................................................34
14. Service Return Procedure ....................................................................35
15. How To Order Additional Products..........................................................36
16. Communications Port.............................................................37
17. Maintenance and Repair Record ......................................................38
18 User Notes ....................................................................................39

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WELCOME TO DECATUR ELECTRONICS
Thank you for choosing this Decatur Electronics product—a highly
advanced trafc radar device that will reward your department with years
of dependable service. Both the Genesis Handheld Directional (GHD)™
and the SCOUT Handheld Directional (SCOUT)™ incorporate high
performance and long range with many leading features.
We urge you to study this manual before using the GHD or SCOUT so you
can maximize the benets of this sophisticated radar device. This Decatur
radar product might appear similar to earlier models, but its digital signal
processor (DSP) gives the device advanced capabilities. If you are as
pleased with its performance as we think you will be, ask your Decatur sales
representative about other Decatur products, including the Genesis™ line of
dash-mount moving radar products and the OnSite™ product line of speed
trailers and dollies. Also, Decatur Electronics offers the Responder™ in-car
video solutions.
Trafc ofcers told us exactly what they wanted in a hand-held radar
device, and we built it. Try any one of our products and see if you don’t
agree that it is best-in-class!
The GHD and the SCOUT are manufactured by Decatur Electronics, Inc.
We can be contacted by calling [phone] or by going to the web
at www.DecaturEurope.com.
—The Management and Staff at Decatur Electronics,
the Nation’s Oldest Radar Company
GHD & SCOUT 01
rev. 6-10-10

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About This Manual
This manual contains valuable information to help you set up, use and
maintain your radar. Please take a moment to read through it, and keep it
handy for future reference.
Note the following symbols in this manual:
Indicates a warning message about safety precautions.
Please read it carefully.
Indicates a helpful tip or precaution to note.
1. Safety Information
All service needs should be referred back to the manufacturer.
Do not over voltage the radar - it can damage the unit!
The GHD and the SCOUT are designed to operate off of conventional +12
VDC (10.8 to 16.5 VDC) from their power cables. In addition the SCOUT
is also designed to operate at 7.2VDC from the internal batteries. Over
voltage to the power cables or incorrect batteries can cause damage. Use
only Nickel-Metal-Hydride batteries in the SCOUT.
Opening the GHD or the SCOUT automatically voids any warranty
still in effect. There are no user serviceable parts inside.
Do not expose the GHD or the SCOUT to excessive moisture. Never
submerge the device. Violation of these guidelines may void the
warranty.
Do not drop the GHD or the SCOUT on hard surfaces since damage
could occur. Units damaged by dropping or abuse are not covered for
warranty repair.
When replacing batteries in the SCOUT you should replace all 6 with
new batteries even if you suspect that only one cell is defective. Use
rechargeable Nickle-Metal-Hydride batteries only.

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2. Receiving Inspection
• When you receive your radar, inspect all components for freight damage
that might have happened during shipping or unloading.
• Notify the freight company immediately of any damage, preferably while
the driver is present. Record the damage on the bill of lading and keep a
record of the problems or damage.
• The package should include the following pictured items along with this
User’s Manual.
SCOUT or GHD Radar SCOUT - detachable power cable
GHD & SCOUT - Tuning Fork SCOUT - batteries & battery holder

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3. Getting Started
3.1 Introduction
The GHD and SCOUT are stationary radars that give you the option
to track vehicles approaching, receding, or moving in both directions
simultaneously. Directionality dramatically enhances the target
selection process. For example, if the radar is set in toward (t) mode,
it will track only vehicles coming toward the radar and ignore all
vehicles moving away from it! In heavy trafc situations, you can
choose to make trafc moving in either direction invisible to the
radar.
3.2 Battery Charging - SCOUT
The SCOUT is designed to operate off of six (6) rechargeable Nickel-
Metal-Hydride batteries (or off the DC power cord). When you rst
receive your radar, the batteries will need to be charged for the rst
time before using. Once batteries have been charged if you do not
use the SCOUT for 3-4 weeks, you will want to recharge the batteries
before use in order to get the full run time. You can either charge the
batteries prior to placing them into the holder by using an optional
Nickel-Metal Hydride battery charger or you can charge the batteries
by following steps 3.6 to 3.7.
3.3 Removing the Battery Holder - SCOUT
The battery holder is located inside the handle of the SCOUT and is
accessed by means of a sliding door. When rst received, the holder
has no batteries in it, so it will need to be removed and loaded with
batteries. To remove the battery holder slide the battery cover to the
right until the battery holder is released as shown in gure 3.3. The
door can be completely removed from the slide.
Figure 3.3

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3.4 Battery Installation - SCOUT
Insert the batteries into the battery holder following the polarity
guide that is on the inside of the battery holder (Figure 3.4a.) Once
properly loaded the battery holder will look like the example in
Figure 3.4b
Figure 3.4a Figure 3.4b
Notice that the negative side of each battery goes to
the spring contacts of the holder.
3.5 Inserting the Holder into the SCOUT
The battery holder is designed so that it can only make contact with
the power connections inside the gun if the holder is slid into the
gun in the correct way. If you look closely at the holder you will see
that there is a positive and negative terminal on it. These need to be
inserted into the gun with the terminals located at the top as shown in
the picture below.
Figure 3.5