Radar detectors-Which one?

[ekpolk]

That could be done. You'd need an array of at least six antennas, maybe eight, spaced evenly around a horizontal circle (60/45 deg between each). Then you'd need the hardware to pull in the signals through the multiple channels, and a hardware/software combo that would allow real time comparison of the signal strengths. From that, you should be able to calculate a clean bearing to the threat emitter. On a large vehicle, you might mount two arrays, one at each end of the vehicle, and using the different bearings reported by each array, triangulation to a specific emitter location would be possible.

Alas, you could probably buy a nice used F-16 for what such a setup would cost. A couple hundred years of no tickets, and this lashup might actually pay for itself!

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: Shannow
Down here, Police are equipped with "Radar Detector Detectors".

$1000 fine if caught with a detector, and even more if you refuse to hand it over.


The answer to that is a cheap gps modified to emit a radar detector type super heterodyne signal in clear sight on your dashboard.

And your radar detector installed completely out of sight.

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Of course, if you're in the car that hits the radar beam at the wrong place/wrong time, you're probably had irrespective of what you're driving. But remember two things. First, if you position yourself so that someone ahead of you, by a workable distance, draws a radar shot from an enforcer, then you get the warning, and he gets the ticket, assuming there's one to be written. In my experience, I've seen this many times. Second, while I can't "prove" it either, I'm willing to assume that a red sports car will get more attention than a black Prius (or similar type of car). Of course that doesn't mean that the 'vette will get ALL the attention, and therefore, great care is always in order.

Ed, not radar, but In the 1960s I was driving down a slight freeway downgrade in a ratty, dull colored Renault R8 at about 80 mph passing a Yellow Corvette as we both passed under an overpass.

There was a California Highway Patrolman sitting on the overpass like a giant bird of prey waiting for a meal to come by.

As the CHiP came rocketing down the on ramp like a heat seeking missile, I thought oh [censored], another ticket. Instead, he nailed the guy in the Corvette that I had passed right in front of him.

Did he have a woody for Corvette drivers? did his mind subconsciously reject the possibility of a 1964 Renault going 80 mph?

I think he went for the target that captured his attention.

 

[Razl]

Originally Posted By: XS650
The answer to that is a cheap gps modified to emit a radar detector type super heterodyne signal in clear sight on your dashboard.

And your radar detector installed completely out of sight.


That reminds me of my uncles Escort detector from the 80s. It was the size of a phone book that had a large flashing amber light and analog meter bar. In those days you could pick up an X band 5 miles away and there was no such thing as instant-on, superwide Ka, Laser, etc. The only false alarm was interference from some else's detectors. I miss those day

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: XS650
...
Did he have a woody for Corvette drivers? did his mind subconsciously reject the possibility of a 1964 Renault going 80 mph?

I think he went for the target that captured his attention.


I defended a guy on a DUI case years ago, to a deserved Not Guilty verdict (the long story is, well, too long...). Anyway, the case started with a officious meddler calling 911 on her cell phone and reporting that my guy was doing 80 mph leaving Pensacola Beach, driving up the Bob Sykes bridge. For those of you unfamiliar with the area, this bridge has relatively steep slopes so that the road will clear the intercoastal waterway in a relatively short distance. It's one of the only actual "hills" on the roads in this area.

The only problem: my guy was driving a 1968 VW Microbus, which couldn't hit 80 mph coming down the Bob Sykes bridge if it had a shuttle rocket booster strapped to its roof.

I was lucky enough to end up with a couple leftover "hippies" (a very rare find in these parts) on the jury, one of whom was openly smiling and laughing during the testimony about my client's high speed Microbus antics.

Point of story (two actually): 1) some cops won't see the obvious and discount the impossible, and 2) although it's been over ten years, I still love telling this story; it was a humorous and satisfying win.

 

[moribundman]

You said it was a DUI case. Then you started talking about speeding. What am I missing here?

 

[alreadygone]

Have a '93 Miata I seldom ever drive. Have a cheap detector of some kind in it. Wildest thing to be 3rd-4th car in a line of traffic, 2-3 cars behind on a 2 lane hwy. Meet a cop and he'll wait till front cars have passed then "instant on" the little red convertible!! As if I gonna be running 80 in a long line of 50mph-ers!

Are all cops this stupid, or just Arkies?

Bob

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: alreadygone
Have a cheap detector of some kind in it.


I keep a small box in my car that I can use to set off every radar detector within a 500 yard range.

 

[Julian]

 

[moribundman]

Hecho en el garage.

 

[ekpolk]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
You said it was a DUI case. Then you started talking about speeding. What am I missing here?


...that the alleged speeding was the beginning of what turned into a DUI case. Lady apparently didn't like that my guy cut too close in front of her. She calls 911 on cell and makes the 80 mph report. Cops intercept after my guy and he and several others are involved in fender bender accident 3/4 of a mile down road. My guy and cop get into it somewhat (verbally) and next thing you know, he's charged with DUI. Cop insisted my guy refused breath test, but unlike virtually all other DUI cases I've seen, they don't video the "refusal" (my guy says never offered). State tried it as a refusal to blow case, on alleged impairment alone. Only problem was that there was almost no evidence of any impairment either. Pretty much just that he was supposedly argumentative, and was reported to have been going 80 mph when he could not have been doing so. Clearer I trust?

 

[moribundman]

If you'd made it clear from the beginning, I wouldn't have asked!

 

[ekpolk]

That's cool. BTW, you got any specs on that "device"?

 

[moribundman]

I can only tell you it covers X, K and Ka bands.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: moribundman
Originally Posted By: alreadygone
Have a cheap detector of some kind in it.


I keep a small box in my car that I can use to set off every radar detector within a 500 yard range.

Essential and sensible electronic countermeasures for stealth street maneuvers. You never know when you're going to encounter Crown-Vic-man and need to force him into a more discrete driving profile.

 

[moribundman]

Gary, do you receive those ELF messages that I'm transmitting to your sub?

 

[Gary Allan]

I am not aware of any such operations, nor could I confirm or deny such operations if they in fact existed.

 

[John-r]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
Originally Posted By: John-r
Never seen one that worked, there a waste of your hard earned money.


You haven't seen or used a Valentine One. All detectors, from the cheapest to the priciest are vulnerable if you are the unlucky one who happens to drive into an isolated instant-on trap. If so, you're done. The vast majority of the time, however, the officer is shooting others with his I/O radar, and decent detectors give you plenty of warning. The V1 even tells you the direction that the radar beam is coming from. Works very, very well. Save you money if you don't feel you want or need one, but don't generalize your preferences into one-size-fits-all proclamations. My V1 works, and it has paid for itself several times over.




I have written many, many tickets over the years to people that have them in their vehicles, doesn't seem to help.
When I see one in a vehicle that I've stop, I always ask if they work very good, most of the time the answer is NO.

And if they tell me they work, well I guess I just got lucky that time.

Slow down, or save your money to pay the tickets.

 

[moribundman]

Originally Posted By: John-r
When I see one [radar dectector] in a vehicle that I've stop, I always ask if they work very good, most of the time the answer is NO.


D'oh!

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: ekpolk
reporting that my guy was doing 80 mph leaving Pensacola Beach, driving up the Bob Sykes bridge. For those of you unfamiliar with the area, this bridge has relatively steep slopes so that the road will clear the intercoastal waterway in a relatively short distance. It's one of the only actual "hills" on the roads in this area.

The only problem: my guy was driving a 1968 VW Microbus, which couldn't hit 80 mph coming down the Bob Sykes bridge if it had a shuttle rocket booster strapped to its roof.


Case down here where a woman was booked through a stationary speed camera doing in excess of 160km/hr in a 30 year old Datsun 120Y. The Cameras have been declared "scientific instruments" about 5 years ago, and therefore you cannot challenge their accuracy as a defence.

She naturally lost her case.

Wasn't until a racing driver offered to test her car, on camera for a current affairs show that the case was re-opened, and the evidence that the car phsically could not do what was claimed was allowed that she got off a charge that was obviously wrong in the first instance.