User's Manual

10
Operation
Power up
When the BEE III is turned on, it will go through a complete self test. The radar will first perform
a light test, in which all of the display's indicators will light, and then the radar will perform a
speed test on the internal circuitry
When the BEE III is first plugged in, it will also go through a complete self test and then power
down. This allows the user to know the radar is OK when the remote batteries are dead.
BEE III tuning fork tests in general
A tuning fork test is the standard test for proving that the antenna and counting unit are functioning
properly. In older analog radars, the dual tuning fork tests actually checked two different circuits,
one each for patrol and target speeds. However, the BEE III uses a single circuit, the digital signal
processor (DSP), to determine both speeds, so that testing the BEE III with a single tuning fork in
stationary mode actually ensures that the entire radar is working. Despite this fact, MPH
recommends that you follow your court -proven department guidelines for performing tuning fork
checks.
Stationary mode tuning fork tests
To perform a stationary mode tuning fork test, strike the tuning fork on wood or plastic and hold
the ringing fork in a fixed position two or three inches in front of the antenna with the narrow edge
of the fork facing the antenna front. This will cause the target s peed window to display the speed
labeled on the fork ( + 1 mph). While performing the tuning fork test, the audio volume level may
be set to a desirable level.
Fastest mode may be tested by using the lower speed tuning fork as above and by placing the
ringing higher speed fork into the antenna beam at a greater distance since the fastest target should
be a weaker signal than the target. The fastest button must be pressed and held on the remote. The
audio will switch to the fastest target when present. For example, for forks marked 35 mph and 65
mph, the target would read 35 (the closer fork) and the fastest window would read 65.
Moving mode tuning fork tests
Moving radar units are designed to acquire a patrol speed and look for target speeds that are faster
(opposite direction) or slower (same direction) than the patrol speed. These two speeds can be
simulated using tuning forks. The two forks are manufactured to vibrate at different frequencies.
One will be used to simulate patrol speed and the oth er target speed. In moving mode, the speed
printed on the target fork will not match the speed shown on the BEE III display. It will be added
to or subtracted from the patrol speed depending on the mode switch selections.
For opposite direction moving mode, the lower speed fork will simulate patrol speed while the
higher speed fork will represent the target. For same direction moving mode, the higher speed will
be the patrol fork while the lower speed will be the target.