Important:
S
ome newer cars have a plastic
safety coating on the inside of the windshield.
The windshield bracket may leave permanent
marks on this type of surface. To find out if your
vehicle has this type of windshield, check the
vehicle’s owner’s manual or ask your dealer. We
recommend that you do not leave the suction
cup bracket on the windshield in direct sunlight.
If the detector is removed, this may cause
blistering of the dash in some vehicles.
• Slide the detector onto the bracket until it
locks into place.
• If necessary, the unit may be leveled by
bending the windshield bracket. Press the
bracket release button and remove the
detector before bending.
Mounting Guidelines
• Mount the unit as low as possible near the
center of the windshield.
• Do not mount the unit behind wipers,
ornaments, mirrored sunscreens, etc. These
obstructions have metal surfaces which can
affect radar and laser signals and reduce
critical warning time. (Regular tinted glass
does not affect reception).
• Some windshields have an Instaclear
™
or
Electriclear
™
type coating, which affect radar
signals. Consult your dealer or the vehicle’s
owner’s manual to determine if your
windshield has this coating.
• Avoid placing the unit in direct contact with
the windshield.
• To reduce the possibility of theft, conceal the
unit when not in use.
Windshield Mounting
• Install the two suction cups and rubber
bumper onto the bracket by fitting them into
their holes.
• Press the suction cups onto the windshield at
the location you have chosen.
Model Features Summary ................................. 2 - 3
Installation ........................................................ 4 - 6
• Mounting Guidelines 4
• Windshield Mounting
4 - 5
• Power Connection and Fuse Replacement 6
Operation ....................................................... 7 - 14
• Power On Self Test & Volume
7
• Feature Engaged Confirmation 7
• Dim/Dark Mode 7
• Quiet/Auto Quiet Mode
7 - 8
• Audio Level Adjustment 8
• Teach/Tutorial Mode 8
• Highway Mode 8
• City/City 1/ City 2 Mode 9
• Setting Saver 9
• Alert Periscopes 10
• Filter Mode 10
• VG-2 Mode 11
• Safety Warning System
™
11
• Alert Priority
11
• Vehicle Battery Saver Mode 12
• Traffic Flow Signal Rejection (TFSR)
12
• Option Select Mode 13
• Stay Alert Feature 1
4
POP
™
Mode Alerts .............................................. 15
Laser/Radar Alerts .............................................. 15
• Speed Radar Audio/Visual Alerts
15
• Laser Audio/Visual Alerts
15
• Pulse Protection
®
15
VG-2 Alerts ......................................................... 16
Reset Features .................................................... 16
Troubleshooting Guide ....................................... 17
Care and Maintenance ........................................ 18
Are Detectors Legal? .......................................... 18
FCC Information .................................................. 19
Speed Monitoring ......................................... 19 - 22
• Radar Facts
19
• POP
™
Mode
20
• Laser Facts/Tips
20-21
• Other Speed Detection Systems
21
• Radar Detector Detectors
21-22
Warranty Information .................................... 22 - 25
Specifications ......................................................25
Accessories ......................................................... 26
WHISTLER FEATURES
Whistler’s ergonomic and user-friendly design provides a new
level of operating convenience. Special features include:
1. Bracket Release Button –
provides quick
and easy release of the mounting bracket.
2. Speaker –
provides distinct audio warnings
for X, K, Ka band radar, Safety Warning
System
™
, laser and VG-2.
3. Mounting Bracket Location
– slot holds
mounting bracket firmly.
4. Radar Antenna
– compact, high-efficiency
antenna receives radar signals.
5. Front Laser
– high gain optical lens provides
increased sensitivity and field of view for
leading-edge laser detection.
6. Rear Laser –
an integrated optical
waveguide provides superior detection of
laser signals transmitted from behind.
7. City Button -
reduces the annoyance of
false alerts typically encountered in urban
driving areas.
8. Quiet Button -
pressing QUIET before a
signal is detected engages Auto Quiet Mode
which automatically reduces the audio level after
the initial warning to a low audio level setting.
Pressing QUIET during a radar/laser encounter
silences audio alerts, while allowing visual
alerts to keep you informed.
9. Power / Volume Control –
turns unit on/off
and adjusts audio level.
10. Dim / Dark Button
- engages Dim/Dark modes.
11. Menu Button
- enters Option Select Mode.
12. OLED Text Display
- provides better
contrast, brightness and color/shows alerts
detected, signal strength, and indicates
engaged modes of operation.
13. Alert Periscopes -
provide an additional
attention getting visual alert.
14. Power Jack -
provides connection for the
power cord.
FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION
INSTALLATION
Power On Self Test
Each time your Whistler detector is turned on, an
automatic self-test sequence confirms that the
speaker and display is functional along with many
of the saved settings.
Feature Engaged Confirmation
Each time a button is pressed, one beep confirms
feature “on”, two beeps confirm feature “off”.
Dim/Dark Mode
Dim/Dark Mode reduces the illumination of the
display
• Press and release the Dark button to reduce
illumination to a dim setting.
• Press and release the Dark button a second
time to engage Dark Mode. The display
illumination is further reduced.
Dim or Dark can be engaged during an alert. In
Dark Mode, the display goes dark for as long as
a signal is being detected and 20 seconds after,
then the display returns to the dimmer setting.
• Press and release the Dark button a third time
to restore the display to full illumination.
Quiet Mode
Quiet mode cancels audio during an alert and
any new alert within 20 seconds. After 20
seconds, 2 beeps are provided on any new alert
and unit then remains quiet.
• Press Quiet button to cancel the audio.
• Press Quiet button a second time during an
alert to restore the standard audio alert
pattern; or turn the unit off, then on.
OPERATION
OPERATION
Auto Quiet Mode
Auto Quiet mode provides an alternate alert
pattern approximately 5 seconds after a radar or
Safety Warning System
™
signal is detected
followed by clicking. The clicking will continue
for as long as the detected signal is present and
for any new signal within 20 seconds. Auto
Quiet mode does not affect laser alerts.
• Press Quiet (before a signal is detected) to
engage Auto Quiet mode.
• Press Quiet (when the unit is not alarming) to
cancel Auto Quiet mode.
Audio Level Adjustment
To Change the audio level:
• Rotate Power/Volume button back to increase
audio level.
• Rotate Power/Volume button forward to
decrease audio level.
Teach/Tutorial Mode
Provides simulated alerts for each type of signal.
• Press City and Quiet buttons simultaneously
• Display Shows:
• Press Dark button to exit.
Highway Mode
Highway mode provides full audio warnings any
time radar (X, K, Ka, Safety Warning System
™
) or
laser signals are detected, and is recommended
for open road driving.
For more information on City and Highway
modes, please visit our F.A.Q. page on our
website: www.
whistlergroup
.com
City/City 1/City 2 Mode
Whistler’s Three Stage City Mode is designed to
reduce the annoyance of automatic door
openers, intrusion alarms and other devices
which share frequencies with police radar.
Generally, X band is used for these devices.
• Press City button to cancel Highway Mode
and engage City Mode.
• Press City button again to enter City 1 Mode
• Press City button again to enter City 2 Mode
• Press City button a fourth time to cancel City 2
Mode and return the unit to Highway Mode.
In City Mode, weak speed/safety radar signals
give an initial alarm of two beeps, and then
remains quiet unless the signal becomes very
strong. When the signal strength increases, two
additional beeps are provided. City 1 and City 2
Modes operate the same as Highway Mode, but
in City 1 Mode, X band requires a stronger
signal to alert. In City 2 Mode, X-band is not
detected.
Caution:
Some towns/small cities may still be
using X band radar. City Modes do not change
the audio alert for laser or VG-2.
Setting Saver
Setting Saver saves your personalized settings
so that when the detector is turned off and then
on again, you do not have to re-enter them.
OPERATION
Alert Periscopes
Whistler’s Alert Periscopes provide an added
attention getting visual alert. The two extra
LED’s flash on and off when the unit alarms to
provide a unique visual alert. This alert can be
programmed through the Option Select Mode
to:
1.
Flash for all alarms
2.
Remain ON
3.
Turn LED’s OFF completely
Filter Mode
There are times when a radar detector in another
vehicle, can unintentionally emit a frequency
which can cause your detector to falsely alarm.
The Whistler Filter Mode options provide
additional signal processing to minimize the
occurrences of these false alarms. Filter mode
provides normal processing. Filter 1 mode
provides additional signal analysis before
alarming.
Filter Mode is the factory default setting and
should provide adequate filtering for most
conditions. If you experience excessive alerts
due to radar detectors in other vehicles, try Filter
1 mode. Filter Mode analysis occurs in Highway
Mode and all City Modes. See Option Selection
Mode to change the filter settings.
OPERATION
VG-2 Mode
See Option Select Mode to turn this feature
on/off. When a VG-2 signal is detected, the
VG-2 alert is sounded and the display flashes
“VG-2”. After 3 seconds the audio is canceled
and the display no longer flashes. This cycle is
repeated if the VG-2 signal is detected again.
During the period a VG-2 signal is detected,
a radar signal cannot be detected.
However, because the VG-2 alert has confirmed
that a patrol car is nearby, you are already aware
of the potential for speed monitoring and can
adjust your speed accordingly. Laser detection
is not affected while a VG-2 signal is detected.
(See page 16 for more information)
Safety Warning System
™
- SWS
In communities where transmitters are located,
the Safety Warning System
™
displays over 60
text messages. When SWS is detected, a unique
audio alert sounds.
Safety Warning System Text
Example: Poor -
Road - Surface.
Note:
Not all areas have Safety Warning
System
™
transmitters.
Alert Priority
When two or more signals are received at the
same time, the alert priority is:
1.
Laser
2.
VG-2
3.
Speed Radar
4.
SWS
Example:
If X band is alerting, then suddenly a
VG-2 signal is detected, the VG-2 warning will
override the X band alert.
OPERATION
OPERATION
Dear Whistler Detector Owner,
If you have questions concerning the operation of
this Whistler product please call:
C
uSTOmer
S
eRVICE
1-800-531-0004
Monday - Friday • 8:00 am - 5:00 pm CT
or visit our website
www.
whistlergroup
.com
Please keep the receipt in a safe place. You may
register your product online at www.
whistlergroup.
com.
For warranty verification purposes, a copy of your dated
store receipt must accompany any unit sent in for
warranty work. If the unit is returned without a dated
store receipt, an out of warranty service charge applies.
Note:
Your warranty period begins at the time of
purchase. The warranty is validated only by the dated
store receipt!
Now is the time to record the serial
number of the unit in the space provided in the
warranty section of the manual.
To fully acquaint yourself with the operation of your
Whistler Detector and to better understand the
differences between detecting radar, laser and safety
radar signals, we recommend reading this entire
manual or visiting our FAQ page on our website
www.whistlergroup.com
Enjoy your Whistler Detector and please drive safely.
Sincerely,
The Whistler Group, Inc.
Windshield
Mounting
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
XTR-438
Rubber Bumper
4
5
3
Option Select Mode
Entering Option Select Mode allows you to
customize options such as Tone Select,
Abbreviated Power Up Sequence, and VG-2
Mode. Press the Menu button to enter Option
Select Mode. When selecting options, the Dark
or Quiet buttons must be pressed within 20
seconds or Option Select Mode will
automatically be exited.
Press and hold Menu button to exit Option
Select Mode.
OPERATION
12
Vehicle Battery Saver Mode
The Vehicle Battery Saver Mode automatically
shuts off the detector after 3 hrs. The timer is
reset if the detector is turned off, unplugged or
any button is pressed before the timer has
expired. The detector will alert you with an
audible and visual warning before it shuts off.
During this warning, you can momentarily reset
the timer by pressing any button. If the unit has
automatically turned off, press any button to
turn the unit back on.
Refer to “Option Select Mode” for instructions
for deactivating battery saver mode feature.
TFSR - Traffic Flow Signal Rejection
When turned on in option mode, helps
eliminate excessive alerts from erroneous X and
K-band sources. Traffic flow monitoring systems
are getting more common. Many of these
systems generate radar signals to measure the
flow of traffic across multiple lanes. Most
detectors will alert you to it unnecessarily. This
rejection feature examines the incoming signal
and will aid in reducing the alerts to such
sources.
We suggest you turn TFSR on if you are
experiencing excessive X or K band false alerts
every half mile or so along stretches of roadway
that contain these traffic flow sensors.
Note:
Enabling this feature disables K Pop
detection (Ka Pop functions normally).
1
2
6
8
10
9
11
7
13
12
14
Power Cord Connection
• Plug the small end of the power cord into the
unit’s power jack.
• Plug the large end into the vehicle’s cigarette
lighter socket.
Note:
Cord fits tightly into detector. When
installing the cord, expect some resistance.
Fuse Replacement
The lighter socket plug is equipped with a
replaceable 2 amp, 3AG fuse located behind the
silver tip. To replace the fuse, carefully unscrew
the tip of the plug.
Important:
Unscrew slowly. The tip contains a
spring which may fly out when disassembling.
Insert the new fuse with the spring and screw on
the tip. With use, screw cap on plug may loosen.
Retighten occasionally
.
IMPORTANT
: Make sure the unit is level.
