Why doesnt my radar detector work overseas?

Question

I recently got transferred to the middle east, I have a radar detector that worked very well in the US but has failed every time in this country. What is the problem?

Answer 1

Its racist?

No..probably the radar, speed detector system, laser, in that country work off different frequencies to the one that your detector operates off.

By the way...I know that in several countries using a radar detector is actually illegal.

You might want to check on that.

Answer 2

Police radar guns use different radar bands (frequencies) in various countries. Many countries outside the US use the same bands that are used in the US, but as you've found, some countries use different bands. Better radar detectors cover more police radar bands and will work in more countries. Some radar detectors, like the Valentine One, for instance, can be programmed to work in countries outside the US. You don't mention what kind of radar detector you are using, so I can't tell you much more about it.

LASER frequencies are the same around the world. Most radar detectors detect laser, but you only have .2 seconds (2 tenths of a second) to slow down after your radar detector alerts to laser. That makes a radar detector pretty pointless for detecting laser. If you are concerned about laser, you'll need a laser jammer (also legal in most states). See my sources for a list of laws concerning radar detectors and laser jammers in the USA and elsewhere, as well as links to the top 5 best radar detectors in the world and laser jammers.

Answer 3

They use different frequencies and therefore the radar detector you have is not set up to accept those frequencies, or is not programmed to determine those are frequencies used in that part of the world.

Just like electrical outlets will vary, where the USA uses 60hz (hertz is a frequency) most of the world uses 50hz.