If you’re shopping for a radar detector, you may have come across models advertising “X band detection.” But what exactly does X band mean on a radar detector, and is it something you need to worry about?
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about X band radar – what it is, where it’s used, and whether a radar detector with X band detection is worth the investment.
Understanding X Band Radar
X band is one of the oldest radar frequencies used by police to enforce speed limits and catch drivers exceeding the posted limit. It operates on a frequency of 10.5 – 10.55 GHz.
X band was the first radar band used by police when radar guns were introduced in the 1950s. At the time, it was the most effective way to measure vehicle speeds at long range.
However, X band has some significant limitations compared to newer radar bands like K band and Ka band:
- X band has a very wide beam width, meaning the radar gun can’t pinpoint a single vehicle at long range. This leads to frequent false readings.
- X band is more prone to interference from things like garage door openers and microwaves, leading to false alerts.
- The long wavelength of X band means it can be detected by radar detectors very far away, giving drivers lots of advanced warning.
Because of these limitations, many police departments have phased out X band radar guns in favor of more modern K band and Ka band equipment.
Do You Need X Band Detection?
So if X band is an older technology that’s not widely used anymore, do you even need a radar detector with X band detection? The answer is – it depends.
In the U.S., X band is still used in a handful of states, particularly in rural areas with older police equipment. New Jersey and Ohio are a couple states known to still use X band.
However, in most of the country, X band has been largely replaced by K band and Ka band. And in Canada, X band is almost never used outside of Ontario.
This means that for many drivers, X band alerts are more of an annoyance than a helpful warning. Since X band is prone to false alerts, detectors that can’t filter them out will constantly beep and light up over non-police radar sources.
High quality radar detectors usually have some form of selectable band capability, allowing you to turn off X band detection if you know it’s not used in your area. Some also have advanced false alert filtering to silence X band alerts from common sources like garage door openers.
If you do a lot of driving in rural areas, or in the few states that still use X band, then a detector with X band capability can still be useful. But for most drivers, X band detection is not a make-or-break feature.
Choosing the Right Radar Detector
So if X band detection isn’t essential for everyone, what should you look for in a radar detector? Here are some key features to prioritize:
- Excellent K band and Ka band sensitivity, as these are the most common bands used by police
- GPS capability to memorize and filter out false alerts
- Updatable firmware to stay current with the latest threats
- Directional arrows to locate the direction of the threat
- Bluetooth connectivity to integrate with crowd-sourced alert apps
While X band detection is nice to have in certain areas, these other features will provide much better overall protection against police radar.
The Bottom Line on X Band
To summarize, here are the key takeaways on what does X band mean on a radar detector:
- X band is the oldest police radar band, operating around 10.5 GHz
- It has been largely replaced by K band and Ka band in most of the U.S. and Canada
- X band is prone to false alerts and interference
- For most drivers, X band detection is not an essential feature in a radar detector
- Features like K/Ka band sensitivity, GPS, and directional alerts are more important
So when you’re shopping for a radar detector, don’t get too hung up on whether it has X band or not. Focus on the core features that will give you the best overall protection and filtering. And if you do opt for an X band detector, make sure it has good false alert filtering to minimize those annoying false alarms.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
