- Last updated: September 17, 2023
MRCD (MutaRadar CD) is a modern radar technology utilized in traffic monitoring and law enforcement applications, predominantly in European countries, but more commonly found in North America. This system operates by altering its frequency to avoid detection by traditional radar detectors, making it a stealthy tool for speed enforcement.
The MRCD radar units are characterized by complex modulation and lower power output compared to older radar systems. This means they are harder to detect, giving them a distinct advantage in catching speeders. There’s a constant cat-and-mouse chase between radar detector manufacturers and speed-monitoring radar manufacturers.
Where is MRCD being used?
While predominantly being used all over Europe, MRCD technology has made great leaps in adoption within the borders of Canada and the United States. Almost every province and territory in Canada uses this tech to some degree. Not only to measure speed but also to determine at which pace to control traffic lights.
Within the borders of the United States, the following states have been fast to adopt the technology in their bigger metropolitan cities:
- New York
- Illinois
- Virginia
- Texas
- Maryland
- Washington D.C.
Where do police officers place the cameras?
This honestly depends on the officer placing the camera. Overall, the most common places reported have been inside vehicles, behind rear-window glass, on traffic light polls, near traffic lights, in bushes, and on the side of the road on a tripod (temporarily placed).
What does MultaRadar look like?
MultaRadar CD systems are typically deployed in a static environment, such as mounted on poles, overhead structures, or on the roadside in enclosures to monitor traffic speeds. They might not have a distinctive “look” that a layperson could easily identify, as they are often housed within generic protective casings or integrated into other roadside infrastructure. Here is a general description:
- Pole or Ground Installation: The MultaRadar CD system can be installed on existing poles or structures. As mentioned above, they may be placed in boxes on the ground, often alongside roads or highways. These installations can resemble electrical boxes or other common roadside equipment, making them somewhat inconspicuous.
- Rectangular Shape: The housing for the radar equipment often takes the form of a rectangular box. This can be a neutral color like grey or white, helping it blend in with its surroundings.
- Antenna and Camera System: Within the enclosure, there would be radar antennas that send and receive radar waves. It is usually paired with a camera system to photograph the license plates of vehicles that are detected to be speeding.
- Not Always Visible: In some cases, the radar system might be integrated into existing traffic infrastructure, like speed signs or traffic lights, making them not immediately visible to drivers.
It’s important to note that their appearance can change based on specific implementation requirements and might vary based on geographic or jurisdictional specifics. To identify them, some individuals rely on radar detectors which can detect the frequencies used by MultaRadar CD systems, something that the Uniden radar detectors can do quite well.
What makes MuteRadar hard to detect?
MRCD (MultaRadar CD) systems are hard to detect due to several factors:
- Low Power Output: They emit weaker radar signals, which are difficult for detectors to pick up until close to the source.
- Frequency Modulation: Constantly changing frequency radar waves make it hard for conventional radar detectors to recognize the signal.
- Complex Modulation: The system’s sophisticated modulation technique differentiates objects effectively, confusing traditional detectors.
- Multibeam Technology: MRCD’s multibeam technology scans multiple lanes precisely, reducing false alarms and making detection tough.
- Directional Radar Beams: The use of narrowly focused radar beams means detectors not directly in its path struggle to identify it.
These characteristics mean radar detectors must constantly evolve to keep up with MRCD technology.
Did they invent this just to beat radar detectors?
MRCD (MultaRadar CD) wasn’t necessarily invented to “beat” radar detectors but it was designed to be more effective and versatile in monitoring traffic speeds and enforcing speed limits. Its development naturally incorporated features that make it difficult for traditional radar detectors to identify.
However, one can infer that its development took into consideration the widespread use of radar detectors, as evidenced by the sophisticated technology it employs, which includes but is not limited to:
- Frequency Modulation: It utilizes changing frequencies to avoid easy detection by standard radar detectors.
- Low Power Output: Operates with a weaker signal, making it less detectable until one is fairly close to it.
- Multibeam Technology: This allows it to scan multiple lanes at once and reduce false alarms, hence evading detection more effectively.
So, while not explicitly designed to beat radar detectors, its technology inherently makes it difficult for such detectors to pick up its signals efficiently, thus giving it an upper hand in speed enforcement.
What is the difference between MRCT and MRCD?
Certainly! MRCD and MRCT are two kinds of speed radar systems that law enforcement uses to check the speed of vehicles on the road. They are quite similar but have a few differences. Let’s break them down:
MRCD Radar
- Older Version: MRCD is an older generation of the radar technology. It has been used for quite a while and is a trusted tool for monitoring vehicle speeds.
- Single Direction: This system generally focuses on a single direction of traffic. It can monitor multiple lanes, but usually, it concentrates its radar beams in one direction to catch speeding vehicles.
MRCT Radar
- Newer Version: MRCT is like the younger sibling in the family, bringing new features to the table. It’s a newer generation technology, meaning it has benefited from advancements made after the introduction of the MRCD.
- Multi-Directional: The significant difference between MRCT and MRCD is the ability of MRCT to monitor multiple directions of traffic simultaneously. It can keep an eye on more lanes and even on vehicles coming from different directions, making it a more flexible tool in traffic monitoring.
Similar Goal, Different Abilities
Although they have different capabilities, both MRCD and MRCT have the same goal: to help ensure that vehicles are sticking to the speed limit to maintain safety on the roads. MRCT just comes with a few upgraded features, allowing it to monitor more areas at once compared to MRCD. Think of them like different models of a smartphone: both can call and text, but the newer one can do just a bit more. It’s always about aiming to improve and make things better with new updates.
Should I buy an MRCD radar detector?
The answer is yes, but with a caveat. If you live in Europe, go for it without a doubt. The same goes if you live in Canada, especially the highly populated cities like Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, etc. Within the United States, while some states have started to make this a tool in their arsenal, if you don’t live in a state, let along a city that is known for having MRCD setups, don’t bother.
You probably want to know which radar detectors to buy for good MRCD detection, the Uniden detectors are quite good. Recently with some software updates, the R1 and R3 are good, affordable choices. However, if you want the longest detection range, Uniden R4, R7 and R8 would be the top choices.
MRCD versus older methods
Before MRCD, the older systems are the systems we currently see being used on a regular basis. Radar bands such as X, K and Ka band (X-band with limited use) and Laser/Lidar systems are still used to this day. The company that invented MRCD is Jenoptik, a German based company. The exact time of invention is hard to pinpoint, but the rough time frame is estimated to be the early to mid 2000’s.
