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Originally Posted by jmaellis
...Radar units are "calibrated" by the factory in accordance with a recommended schedule, department policy and any relevant law. Tuning forks (usually frequencies for 35 MPH and 50 MPH) are used to check the accuracy of the radar, usually at he beginning and end of each shift (that was my practice anyway) Tuning forks don't calibrate anything, they're used to check/verify the accuracy of the factory calibrated unit.
This is how things were for the radar units that I used. Any tinkering with the insides of the units was strictly done by the manufacture. I suppose there could be units out there that are not used for law enforcement purposes that might allow tinkering or self calibration .. dunno.
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I'm surprised by this. As an engineer who uses calibrated test equipment every day in my job, I can't imagine using a piece of test equipment that remained uncalibrated for an arbitrary length of time. Perhaps where you worked, they had a set schedule for sending the units back to the factory for calibration, but an informal checking of accuracy with a tuning fork before / after each shift is NOT sufficient metrology to pass any kind of rigorous lab procedure, nor should it be sufficient for law enforcement purposes.
But, we are digressing here. No amount of calibration can overcome the proud papa phactor.