The following questions are the most common questions that we have been asked about Python detectors. If you have further questions that are not listed below, please email us at: sales@pythondetectors.com and we will answer these as soon as possible:
Q: What is Python?
- Python detectors are a TETRA radio frequency power detector that provides an audio and visual alert when it detects a transmitted signal from emergency services vehicles that may be nearby but not be in your direct line of sight.
- These vehicles include: Ambulances, Fire engines, Police cars transmitting radio frequency signals operating in the radio frequency range of 380-385 MHz.
Q: Why Design Python?
- Roads are becoming far more congested with the increase in the number of road users making journey times much longer. Also environmental conditions such as rain, fog, snow, heavy rain or road spray and also the hours of darkness can severely restrict the clear view of emergency service vehicles to the driver.
- Emergency service vehicles need to respond to traffic accidents, fires and other life threatening incidents very rapidly and as such need a clear road ahead of them to arrive as quickly and as safely as possible.
- Python detectors provide a visual and audible tone provides a warning to the driver and alerts the user of emergency service vehicles (such as marked and unmarked police cars), within the systems operational range, allowing the user to take quick or appropriate actions to allow safe passage of any emergency service vehicles.
Q: In what countries can I use my Python Detector?
-
The
Python detectors can be used in the United Kingdom (UK) counties
comprising of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the following Europeam Countries
where the police, ambulance and fire services use a communication system called
TETRA and where the emergency services transmitted radio frequency signal
operates in the radio frequency range of 380-385 MHz and there are no
regularity or other restrictions on its use:
·
- United Kingdom (UK)
- Austria (AT)
- Denmark (DK)
- Estonia (EE)
- Finland (FI)
- Iceland (IS)
- Italy (IT)
- Lithuania (LT)
- Norway (NO)
- Sweden (SE)
- For the latest information see our website www.pythondetectors.com/where-can-i-use-python
Q: Is Python Legal is use?
- Yes.
- The Python detectors are a passive detector and does not provide radio frequency signal demodulation and does not recover any received information content from a modulated radio frequency signal.
- There are some restrictions on use of Python detectors in certain countries and we have aim to provide you the very latest information. However we also recommend you always check you local laws and regulations. For information see our website www.pythondetectors.com/compliance
Q: Can other Emergency Service Vehicles Detect I am using a Python?
- No.
- The Python detectors do not provide any transmitted radio frequency signal and therefore cannot be detected by other Emergency Service Vehicles.
- The Python detector user interface and visual display can also be set to a number of different modes to allow the visibility of the detector to be reduced when driving at night, while still receiving the warning signals from the audio alert.
Q: What vehicle can Python be fitted too?
- Python detectors can be fitted into any motor vehicle and can be mounted using the unique and fully integrated windscreen mounting bracket located at the rear of the detector for securely fitting the detector to the vehicles windscreen.
- If you want to mount the detector in another location in your vehicle you can obtain a magnetic dash mount that will allow you to position your detector on the dash or center console. You can also use this in conjunction with the Higher Gain RF for increased detection and discrete mounting.
- Alternatively there are a number of dashboard mounting mats and anti slip mats available from our store allow you to mount the Python detector without direct attachment to the dashboard.
Q: Does Python need any special software or pre-registration before it can be used?
- No
- Python detectors can be used out-of-the-box, so you can benefit from all the features within minutes.
- Python detectors needs no special software to be downloaded or registration before it can be used.
Q: Can I easily transfer my Python to another vehicle?
- Yes
- All Python detectors can quickly and easily be transferred between different vehicles within minutes without the need for any special tools.
Q: How is the Python Powered?
- All Python detectors have a built-in internal battery that allows you to use the detector when it is not connected to the vehicles auxiliary power socket making it easily transferable from vehicle to vehicle.
- If you are using the detector for the first time and intend to power the detector from its internal battery, the battery must be fully charged before it is ready to use. The internal battery can be charged when the detector is powered ON or powered OFF and also plugged into the vehicles auxiliary power socket.
- If you are charging the detector with the power ON, charging to full capacity will take approximately 2-3 hours depending on the model.
- The detector can also be charged with the detector Powered OFF, charging to full capacity will take approximately 2 hours.
- Alternative the detector has a 12V DC Power Socket located on the left hand side of the detector that allows it to be powered from the vehicles auxiliary power socket using the in car charging lead which is supplied with your detector.
- To ensure continuous operation the detector needs to be connected to the vehicles auxiliary power socket to re-charge the battery.
Q: Python gives me a warning alert but I can not see any Emergency Service Vehicles?
Your Python detector may provide you with a visual or audio alert but you cannot see an emergency service vehicle. This may be because of some of the following reasons:
- The emergency service vehicle may be obscured by other vehicles, objects or buildings.
- The emergency service vehicle may not be in your direct line of sight, for example it may be in your blind spot.
- The emergency services may be operating in a different type of vehicle than you would normally recognise.
- Dark or poor weather conditions may affect your visibility of emergency service vehicle.
- A higher powered RF signal is interfering with the normal detection of the detector.
- The detector sensitivity may be subject to electromagnetic interference (EMI) due to the vehicles switching components or from other objects brought into the vehicle.
Q: Python does not give me an Alert when Expected?
- If you see an emergency service vehicle but the Python detector did not provide you with a visual or audio alert when expected. This is because there is no radio frequency power transmitted from the emergency service vehicle for your Python detector to detect.
Q: How can I increase the detection range of my Python?
The detection sensitivity is preset at the factory to the default setting of 2 = Medium Sensitivity for the P1 detector and 3 = Medium Sensitivity for the P2 and P2/IB detectors.
You can further increase the detection sensitivity by pressing the button "marked S" on the top of the detector, and each short press of the button will increase the detection sensitivity by 1 level until it reaches your preferred setting.
The highest detection sensitivity level is level 3 for the P1 detector and level 5 for the P2 and P2/IB detectors and you should see five blue LEDs as shown in the User Manual. After changing the setting the new setting is stored in memory.
You can further increase the detection range of your Python detectors by upgrading with a number of accessories:
- The standard RF antenna can be upgraded to a higher RF gain antenna. Please see the summary table at the bottom of the following page:
http://www.pythondetectors.com/how-it-works
- The detection range on the Python P2 detector can also be increased by upgrading to a plug in “Power Booster Module”, this fits into the expansion port and this can increase the detection range of the device by approximately 25%.
Q: Why has the detection range of my Python decreased?
- Ensure that the antenna is in the vertical position and check that the nut that connects RF antenna connector to the detector is tight and if you are using the standard RF antenna, check that it is fixed in the vertical position and carefully rotate the nut in a clockwise direction until it is finger tight.
- Make sure you do not over tighten the antenna nut. This will damage the screw thread and internal components of the detector. Over tightening the antenna nut will cause failure of the detector.
- Check that the sensitivity setting is set to the highest level by pressing the button "marked S" on the top of the detector until all 5 Blue LED's are illuminated, this is the highest sensitivity level.
- If you have fitted the optional Power Booster Model to your Python P2 detector the sensitivity level is automatically set to level 6 and the green BST LED should be illuminated on the visual display and the green LED should be illuminated on the Power Booster Module showing that the power booster is active.
Q: Why has the audio alert on my Python has stopped working?
- Check that the detector is powered on and the top interface panel is illuminated red.
- Check that your audio alert is NOT set to the OFF.
- To change the audible alert press the button "marked M" on the top of the detector. The audible alert can be adjusted to 4 different settings:
1 Chirp = Alert Off
1 Bleep = Alert On
2 Bleeps = Alert Repeat 1 (Slow) for Python P2 and P2/IB
3 Bleeps = Alert Alert Repeat 2 (Fast) for Python P2 and P2/IB
Q: Why has the visual display on my Python stopped working?
- Check that the detector is powered ON and the top interface panel is illuminated red.
- Check that the visual display brightness is not set to OFF or Darkmode. You can increase the visual display brightness by pressing the button marked " > " on the top off the detector.
- If there are no detected signals the front visual display will be blank, apart from the red power ON LED, this is the normal operational mode for the detector unless you have fitted the optional Power Booster Module, in this case the green BST LED should be illuminated on the visual display.