Radar/Laser Dectectors

[Trojan97]

Was shopping around yesterday and came across radar detectors at Wal-Mart. I've been thinking of picking one up for a little while now but I've heard they're quite unreliable these days. I believe the one I looked at had 5 channel radar detection and 4 channel laser detection if that helps.

What is the general consensus on them? Are they a thing of the past or can they still do a decent job of detection?

[I-Hate-Hulse]

There still somewhat useful on the highways as the RCMP still uses them, although they do have laser too. In cities, they're useless as local PD is pretty much all laser nowadays.

Forget about the claims of laser detection, by the time an aimed laser hits your detector, it's too late, you're probably been nabbed. Radar detectors were successful when given the propagation of a radar signal aimed at a car ahead of you also made it to your car and set it off. With laser your only hope is that the officer jiggles the laser and causes a stray beam to hit your detector, or some stray beam finds your detector.

There was an article in Car & Driver once that suggested that turning on your high beams threw out enough IR junk to jam lasers for a certain distance percentage (10%) I think. Removing bling like chrome (sorry 06 VW drivers) from your front end helped to reduce your tracking distance.

I'd get a radar detector for highway use if you do a lot of that driving. As with all things, you get what you pay for.

[@theCBE]

Someone told me (so take it with a grain of salt) the reason that radar detectors don't work so well any more is because the actually radar/laser guns they use now only turn on to take a reading and then quickly turn off so its harder for the detector to get a signal that there is one ahead.. unlike older radars that were consistently on while the cops were using them so it was easier for the detector to pick it up

anyone confirm this ? or tell me i'm full of it?

[ericschand]

They tried all sorts of "myth" methods, including tin foil the whole car,
paint the car with special paint, paint the car with black matte paint,
shoot chaff (like military jets do).

They also tried using LED's to shoot IR back to the detector.
They took the gun out of a microwave and set that up to shoot back.
They covered the car, removing all the chrome.

Nothing stopped the police radar, it got them everytime.

ers

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by ericschand

They tried all sorts of "myth" methods, including tin foil the whole car,
paint the car with special paint, paint the car with black matte paint,
shoot chaff (like military jets do).

They also tried using LED's to shoot IR back to the detector.
They took the gun out of a microwave and set that up to shoot back.
They covered the car, removing all the chrome.

Nothing stopped the police radar, it got them everytime.

ers

Was this on Mythbusters? That'd have been a cool episode.

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

Was this on Mythbusters? That'd have been a cool episode.

Yep, the only thing that even came close, was a windmill type thingy strapped to the hood of the car.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by arsenal

Yep, the only thing that even came close, was a windmill type thingy strapped to the hood of the car.

I figure at that range, even if you were driving a stealth bomber, you'd get nailed for speeding.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by ericschand

They tried all sorts of "myth" methods, including tin foil the whole car,
paint the car with special paint, paint the car with black matte paint,
shoot chaff (like military jets do).

They also tried using LED's to shoot IR back to the detector.
They took the gun out of a microwave and set that up to shoot back.
They covered the car, removing all the chrome.

Nothing stopped the police radar, it got them everytime.

ers

Guess they didn't know their electromagnetics boundary conditions

[Jayems]

Originally Posted by @theCBE

Someone told me (so take it with a grain of salt) the reason that radar detectors don't work so well any more is because the actually radar/laser guns they use now only turn on to take a reading and then quickly turn off so its harder for the detector to get a signal that there is one ahead.. unlike older radars that were consistently on while the cops were using them so it was easier for the detector to pick it up

anyone confirm this ? or tell me i'm full of it?

100% true. They wait until the last possible second to nab you. But its still enough time for their element of suprise.

[Incinerator]

The only thing that works in the city is a Laser Jammer, Tunerworks has the Blinder M20 for $425, from all things I've heard, it works. What it does is that the two sensors mounted behind your bumper below your headlights jams the laser gun and notify you simultaneously when the laser shot you, you then slam on the brakes and turn off the main jammer console in the car and slowly drive by the fuzz, as they shoot you again because the first reading was jammed you will now be travelling below the limit and they will most likely just shrug it off. Because many factors can affect laser gun readings, including intense sunlight.

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

The only thing that works in the city is a Laser Jammer, Tunerworks has the Blinder M20 for $425, from all things I've heard, it works. What it does is that the two sensors mounted behind your bumper below your headlights jams the laser gun and notify you simultaneously when the laser shot you, you then slam on the brakes and turn off the main jammer console in the car and slowly drive by the fuzz, as they shoot you again because the first reading was jammed you will now be travelling below the limit and they will most likely just shrug it off. Because many factors can affect laser gun readings, including intense sunlight.

I wouldn't advise slamming on the brakes as you could still end up getting pulled over for driving with undue care & attention or (in Alberta) Stunting.

The rest of the spiel on laser jammers is accurate. A word of note: I'm unsure of the legality of active laser radar jammers in Canada but they are illegal in 13 American States by specific reference and are federally illegal in the United States through FCC governance of 1977.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by Reaper

I wouldn't advise slamming on the brakes as you could still end up getting pulled over for driving with undue care & attention or (in Alberta) Stunting.

The rest of the spiel on laser jammers is accurate. A word of note: I'm unsure of the legality of active laser radar jammers in Canada but they are illegal in 13 American States by specific reference and are federally illegal in the United States through FCC governance of 1977.

well...yeah I exaggerated a bit there. I mean "calmly and subtly tap on your brake pedal"

[Draug]

Originally Posted by I-Hate-Hulse

Forget about the claims of laser detection, by the time an aimed laser hits your detector, it's too late, you're probably been nabbed. Radar detectors were successful when given the propagation of a radar signal aimed at a car ahead of you also made it to your car and set it off. With laser your only hope is that the officer jiggles the laser and causes a stray beam to hit your detector, or some stray beam finds your detector.

Actually, laser detection before it is too late is very possible. The laser can reflect off a car infront of you and give you enough warning to slow down. But, if you are the lead car, once the laser is detected, its too late. Also, it is important to note that laser can only be used if the shooter is 100% stationary.

But, laser is not as common here in Calgary as you would think. I've only detected laser 3 or 4 times here in Calgary in the past 3 years. More often than not, it is short KA band radar that the police use here in Calgary. All multinova, and the vast majority of traps are KA band. On the highway, longer range K band is used often - ussually by the RCMP who is driving and just leaves the radar on. A stopped RCMP in the median will likely be using KA.

With any radar, if you get painted cleanly before you know a cop is around, it will be too late. What you are hoping for with a detector is finding out the cop is there when they shoot at another car. It is that stray signal reflection that gives you warning and time to slow down.

As for what detector to buy, there are only two that offer much of anything. The Escort Passport and the Valentine One. Both are reliable, both are expensive. I personally opted for the Valentine One.

In the end, a detector is only a tool. It helps one avoid being caught for speeding. But, as with any tool, it's only as good as the person using it.