What wavelength do typical police radar units operate in?

Typical police radar units operate in the K-band or Ka-band, which are specific frequency ranges used for speed detection.

The K-band operates at frequencies between 24.05 to 24.25 GHz, whereas the Ka-band spans from 33.4 to 36.0 GHz. These bands are favored in law enforcement for their ability to detect the speed of vehicles while offering a balance of range and accuracy. The specific wavelengths in these bands provide radar units with the capability to effectively measure the Doppler shift caused by moving vehicles, allowing officers to determine their speed.

Understanding the function and application of these frequency ranges is essential. K-band radar is commonly used because it offers ample performance for both short and long-range detection, while Ka-band tends to be utilized for high-performance devices.

Frequencies in other ranges, such as the ultra-high frequency or VHF band, are not typically used for speed detection, as they do not provide the precision and responsiveness required for this application. Similarly, the infrared range is primarily used for different types of measurements and technologies, such as heat detection, rather than for speed measurement.