Radio Shack SWS VG-2 Guard User manual

Owner’s Manual VG-2 Guard
X•K•Ka Superwide Radar/Laser Detector
w/Safety Light
Please read before using this equipment.
Cat. No. 22-1698
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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 haz-
ards by detecting signals from transmitters that broadcast
Safety Warning Systemalerts.
You can use the Highway Safety Light to provide illumination
at night or when making repairs to your vehicle, or to let pass-
ing motorists know you need assistance. The light can serve
as a spotlight, fluorescent lamp, single and twin safety flasher.
Your detector has many useful features, including:
VG-2 Protection — makes your detector invisible to the VG-2
radar-detector detector when it senses VG-2 operation.
X-, K-, Ka-Band, and Laser Signal Detection — warns you
when it detects signals from traffic radar or laser devices. Dif-
ferent tones sound to let you know the type of signal received.
Safety Warning System Detection — alerts you to the pres-
ence of potential road hazards and emergency vehicles sig-
nalled by a Safety Warning System transmission.
1998 Tandy Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
RadioShack is a registered trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
FAST is a trademark used by Tandy Corporation.
Safety Warning System and SWS are trademarks of
Safety Warning System LLC.
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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 pre-
vent false alarms caused by non-traffic radar sources.
Auto Quiet — lets you set the radar detector to give you a full-
volume alert for about 5 seconds, then reduce its alert to mini-
mum volume.
Your radar/laser detector includes the following items:
• Coiled Power Cord
• Windshield Bracket with Suction Cups
• Hook and Loop Fastener
We recommend you record your detector’s serial number
here. The number is on the detector’s bottom panel.
Serial Number: _________________________________
Important: Some areas have laws regulating the use of radar
detectors. Check with your local law enforcement agency
about the laws in your area.
One or more of the following patents apply: 4,315,261;
5,146,227; 5,379,456. Other patents pending.
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CONTENTS
A Quick Look . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Mounting Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Hook-and-Loop Tape Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Windshield Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Connecting Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Detector Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Turning the Detector On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Adjusting the Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Demonstrating Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Muting Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Using Auto Quiet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Selecting the City and Highway Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Setting the VG-2 Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Receiving and Identifying Alert Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Resetting the Detector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Safety Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Using Vehicle Battery Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Installing/Replacing Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Charging Rechargeable Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Replacing the Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Replacing the Fuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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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. CITY Button — reduces false alerts typically encountered
in urban driving areas. Also works with the MUTE button to
turn the VG-2 option on or off.
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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.
10. Front Laser Detection Lens — receives incoming laser
signals from the front.
11. Radar Detection Antenna — receives incoming radar
signals.
12. Mounting Bracket Slot — holds the windshield mounting
bracket.
12
10 11
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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.
General Motor’s APV vans have a solar shield that keeps
the vehicle cooler during the summer, but also blocks sig-
nals. A detector installed in a vehicle with any of these fea-
tures will probably not detect a signal.
• Since window tinting reduces the received strength of laser
signals, you should not mount the detector behind any
tinted glass.
• Do not mount the detector where the driver or a passenger
might hit it in a sudden stop or accident.
Caution: Whichever mounting method you choose, place the
detector out of view when you leave the vehicle. This keeps
the detector out of sight of thieves and prevents exposing it to
extremely high temperatures, which can temporarily impair
performance.
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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. Remove the backing from one side of the tape and stick
the tape to the bottom of the detector.
Note: Do not place the hook-and-loop tape over the
detector’s serial number.
On a curved dashboard, cut the supplied strip in half and
use one strip on each side of the bottom of the detector.
3. Remove the backing from the other side of the tape and
press the detector onto the dashboard.
Serial Number
Hook-and-Loop
Tape
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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 dur-
ing an accident. If you use the bracket on this type of wind-
shield, you might permanently mar the windshield’s surface.
1. Align the groove in each suction
cup with the slots in the wind-
shield bracket and slide the suc-
tion cups out until they lock into
place.
2. Clean the selected windshield
area, position the bracket on the
windshield, and press firmly on
each suction cup to secure it in
place.
3. Slide the detector onto the base
plate until it snaps into place.
To level the detector, press the
bracket release button to remove the
detector from the bracket. Then bend
the bracket.
illus of suction cup
installation in
windshield bracket
illus of bracket
release button
location
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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 cigarette-
lighter plug.
• Unplug the power cord’s cigarette-lighter plug from your
vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket when you turn off the igni-
tion. This prevents your vehicle’s battery from being drained
if you leave the detector on when you turn off the ignition.
Plug the supplied power cord’s barrel plug into the detector’s
power jack. Then plug the cord’s cigarette-lighter plug into
your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter socket.
Note: If the detector does not operate when you turn it on,
remove the cigarette-lighter plug from your vehicle’s socket
and check the socket for ashes and other debris. Also check
the fuse in the cigarette-lighter plug and your vehicle’s fuse
block (see “Replacing the Fuse” on Page 27).
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DETECTOR OPERATION
TURNING THE DETECTOR ON AND OFF
To turn on the detector, press PWR.
The detector sounds a distinctive alert and displays the indica-
tors 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.)
All features selected are stored in memory. Each time a button
is pressed, one beep confirms the feature is on and two beeps
confirm the feature is off.
See “Receiving and Identifying Alert Signals” on Page 15 for
more information about alerts.
To turn off the detector, press PWR.
Alert Type Audible Alert Visual Alert
X Low steady 8and yellow LED
K High trill 8and red LED
Ka Medium warble 8and yellow/red LEDs
Safety None S. and red LED
Laser None L
VG-2 None –
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ADJUSTING THE VOLUME
To adjust the detector’s volume, hold down PWR until the vol-
ume 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 demonstra-
tion, press and release MUTE and CITY at the same time with
the detector turned on. The detector demonstrates the alerts
for X, K, Ka, safety warning, laser, and VG-2 (if selected), in
that order. These audible and visual alerts sound and display.
To stop the demonstration, press PWR.
MUTING ALERTS
While a radar, laser, or safety warning alert is sounding, you
can press MUTE to temporarily silence the detector for the cur-
rent alert and any new alert that it receives within 20 seconds.
Visual alerts are not affected.
Alert Type Audible Alert Visual Alert
X High trill 3and yellow LED
K Low steady 5and red LED
Ka Medium warble 7and yellow/red LEDs
Safety Low ascending/descending S. and red LED
Laser High-low L
VG-2 4-tone ascending –
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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 dis-
plays A, then returns to Hor C.
To turn off Auto Quiet, press MUTE when the detector is not
sounding an alert. The detector beeps twice
SELECTING THE CITY AND HIGHWAY
MODES
Your detector’s City mode is designed to reduce annoying
false alerts triggered by automatic door openers, intrusion
alarms, and other devices that share frequencies with police
radar.
Note: City mode has no effect on laser or VG-2 operation.
To select the City mode, press CITY once. The detector beeps
once and displays C. If the detector receives a weak speed/
safety radar signal in City mode, it beeps twice, then remains
quiet unless the signal becomes very strong. If the signal
strength increases, the detector again beeps twice.
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To cancel the City mode, press CITY a second time. The detec-
tor 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. Your
radar detector can sense a VG-2 system and shift its operating
frequencies out of the range detected by VG-2, making your
radar detector essentially invisible to this system.
To turn on the VG-2 option, hold down MUTE for 2 seconds.
Press CITY to engage or cancel.–appears when the detection
mode is engaged. Press PWR to exit.
Notes:
• Your detector does not detect speed radar when VG-2 has
been detected.
• To use the VG-2 option, you must turn it on each time you
turn the detector on.
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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 sig-
nal 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.
Safety Radar Alerts
Your radar detector detects all safety radar including the new
Safety Warning System. This system provides advanced
warning of hazards and lets you respond appropriately to
potentially dangerous conditions.
Note: Not all areas have Safety Warning System transmitters.
Your radar detector only alerts you to hazards if the area you
are in has transmitters sending signals.
When your radar detector encounters safety radar, it sounds a
distinctive tone and displays the signal strength. In addition,
your radar detector displays S.
Laser Audio/Visual Alerts
When your radar detector detects a laser signal from ahead or
behind, the laser audio sounds and the radar detector displays
L for as long as the signal is present (for a minimum of 3 sec-
onds).
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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.
RESETTING THE DETECTOR
The detector keeps the audio level, city/highway mode, mute
mode, auto quiet mode, VG-2 option, and on or off setting in
memory when power is removed. When you reapply power, it
returns to these same settings.
To reset the detector to its factory default settings, unplug the
detector’s power cord from the cigarette-lighter socket, hold
down PWR and MUTE, plug in the power cord, wait for the
detector to beep twice, then release PWR and MUTE. The
detector turns off the auto quiet and VG-2 options, returns to
the highway mode, and sets the volume to its maximum level.
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SAFETY LIGHT
You can power the Safety Light from your vehicle’s battery
power (using the supplied DC power cord), or from six C bat-
teries (not supplied). Torch Bulb
Red Flasher
Amber Flasher
Fluorescent
Lamp
Six C Batteries
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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. Using a power cord that does not meet these specifi-
cations could damage the Safety Light or the power cord.
2. Unplug your vehicle’s cigarette-lighter and plug the large
end of the DC power cord into the cigarette-lightersocket.
INSTALLING/REPLACING BATTERIES
You can power the Safety Light using six C batteries (not sup-
plied). We recommend alkaline batteries, such as Cat. No. 23-
551.
You can also use rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries, such
as RadioShack Cat. No. 23-124, but you must charge them for
10 hours before using them (see “Charging Rechargeable Bat-
teries” on Page 20).
Cautions:
• Use only fresh batteries of the required size and recom-
mended type.
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• Do not mix old and new batteries,different types of batteries
(standard, alkaline, or rechargeable), or rechargeable bat-
teries 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. Slide the battery compartment cover in the direction of the
arrow marked on it and carefully lift it open.
2. Insert six C batteries into the compartment as indicated by
the polarity symbols (+ and –) marked inside.
3. Replace the cover.
When the lights dim, recharge or replace the batteries.
Cautions:
• If you do not plan to use the Safety Light for a week or
more, remove the batteries. Always remove old or weak
batteries. Batteries can leak chemicals that can destroy
electronic parts.
• Dispose of old batteries promptly and properly. Do not burn
or bury them.
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• 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.
CHARGING RECHARGEABLE
BATTERIES
You can charge rechargeable batteries inside the safety light
using vehicle battery power (using the supplied DC power
cord) or standard AC power (using an optional AC adapter,
such as Cat. No. 273-1653). It takes about 10 hours to fully
charge the batteries. You can use the Safety Light while charg-
ing it, but this increases the charging time to about 20 hours.
Warning: Do not connect a power cord to the Safety Light’s
D.C. 12V jack if you installed non-rechargeable batteries (stan-
dard, extra-life, or alkaline). Non-rechargeable batteries
become hot and can even explode if you try to recharge them.
Using Vehicle Battery Power
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. Using a
power cord that does not meet these specifications could dam-
age the Safety Light or the power cord.
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