[Max Cruz]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-12-03 19:00, Crimecrusher wrote:
Sorry, but the radar detector will only warn you of other radar in the area, such as a cop radaring another vehicle around you. If the officer doesn't have his radar on and turns it on your car only...then the detector will not help you.

If you must speed, then go speed, just be smart about it and save your $200 plus dollars on a go fast mod.</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

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Is that really how it works? I didn't know about this at all, from what my manual of my radar tells me it doesn't really refer to a radar pointing right at your vehicle other than a Laser signal (which it says that you have 3 seconds to slow down to the appropriate speed limit or else). On the VG2 mode (Radar Detector Detector + X, K, KA band jammer) it has gone off several times in the Plano, TX area, and for those Virginia residents the VG2 mode is used by cops to detect radar dectectors since in VA ya can't have 'em there.

Any radar stories out there? I guess I've been lucky then, since I thought I've been saved by my radar detectors throughout the years.

Cheers and Beers!





_________________
Max Cruz

Black Bullitt 3207
Black V10 Excursion 4X4
And an Old 92 Crown Vic

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1NastyFordGT on 2001-12-06 03:04 ]</font>

 

[bullitbill]

My radar detector has already saved me several hundred bucks. Quite often, cops will always have their radar on. Or, they won't have a good fix on you when they start to gun you. In this case, your detector starts to go, so you slow down. Especialy if you speed when there are OTHER CARS on the road. No, they aren't infallible, but I recommend it. Spend the $200. It will be worth it.

 

[BUL2294]

Actually, radar is a radio signal. Just like other radio signals, it bounces off things giving you a huge range/warning. However, if the cop is using "instant-on" radar, it makes no difference if you have a $50 el-cheapo radar vs. a brand new Valentine One--in instant-on, there's no signal, then there is a signal. Instant-on is only truely useful in low traffic situations (i.e. yours is the only vehicle on a country road). In urban areas, instant-on is quite ineffective (assuming the officer is honest and doesn't pick you for the hell of it) simply because the beam spreads too much in a sudden shot (unless you're perpendicular to the officer--but by then you should have seen him anyway...) But most cops I've seen in urban areas using radar park themselves under a bridge or median and just shoot non-instant-on radar, waiting for a catch. This is ideal for the urban radar user as you'll get a good 1/2 mile warning--yet for the cops it's very effective against those without a detector.

Laser can be a much more useful tool, but it has serious drawbacks for the cop. Laser can be used to pick a vehicle out of a crowd due to the extreme focus of the beam compared with radar. This makes it useful in high-traffic urban situations, especially against vehicles that have a front license plate. But the drawbacks are that laser can't be used (well, is not accurate) in fog, rain, drizzle, snow, from a moving vehicle (yet), should't be shot through glass, and must be shot almost directly the opposite direction of what's being targeted (i.e. almost directly at the front of a targeted vehicle). However, with a laser detector, there's very little warning as the beam spread is small and really doesn't bounce off other objects like cars.

(I read somewhere once that at a distance of 500 feet, radar has a spread of 40 ft, while laser has a spread of only 6 ft.--or something like that. Correct me if I'm wrong...)

That's my story & I'm sticking to it...

_________________
True-Blue Bullitt #2294
Chicago, IL (proper)

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: BUL2294 on 2001-12-05 21:07 ]</font>

 

[BULLITTBRO1]

The thing with radar is that it can be on but not transmitting, we have a little botton that we hit which turns the radar on. now say i am using my radar to track a car that just hoped around a corner and you have not come around that corner yet and you have your detector on then it will probably warn you of what is around the corner. so yes they work, but if your that car that happens to pop around the corner or up over that hill then look out.

 

[TXBullitt]

Don't believe the claims that laser is pinpoint accurate. The most commonly used speed enforcement unit uses multiple emitters and has unreasonable wide beam width for the application. At the angle of deflection from the roadside to the outside travel lane, the unit can't separate you from the broad side of a barn or more appropriately the semi behind you in the next lane in. Last year, NASA's laser guru testified against it in Ohio and had it ruled unacceptable by the court. If it's being hand held it's also inadmissable as evidence because it clocks solid stationary objects like walls as speeding.

 

[Five Oh B]

My $100 Bel Radar/Lasar Detector has saved me thousands of $'s in tickets and increased insurance premiums. But I believe my own good judgement in knowing where I can safely speed has saved me even more. That good judgement was learned the hard way, though - one ticket at a time when I was younger.

 

[Nasty Bob]

I have a good rule of thumb I usually follow;


On the highway, I let some other hotrod run the gauntlet while I ride about 1/4 mile back and when I hit a small town, I run exactly the speed limit or a taste under.

I used to run detectors in my 18 wheeler, but technically, it's against Federal law to have one in a commercial vehicle now. Lots of truckers still use them, but the ticket is very hefty. :sad:

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: 1NastyFordGT on 2001-12-06 12:10 ]</font>

 

[MacStang]

I agree with the above posts. When entering small towns, I go the limit or a little over it, same with school zones. Everyone loves to have a 'rabbit' in front of them, but since I have gotten my snake, I am often the one hopping in front of everyone else. I use a Cobra detector and it has saved me a couple of times, but it gives me so many false alarms that p*ss me off. Maybe some day I will get a V-1, most people seem to like them.

 

[crs2879]

I hear you Nasty. The old "front door" trick is what I use as well. The problem with having a Mustang is everyone wants YOU to be the front door. Most cars have a "sweet spot" (speed) where they feel the best cruising on the interstate. Unfotunately, my Bullitt's "sweet spot" is 90.

 

[mr.pj]

I never go above the speed limit through a school zone the fines are ludicrous. I have a little radar detector that has saved me a few bucks and thats what counts.

 

[PCRMAN]

Yeah, not only are the fines ludicrous in a school zone but you can actually hit the many children present if speeding...

 

[BULLITTBRO1]

the 1/4 back is a good one, let the speed demon ahead of you be the bate, but whatch out for the pairs that sit together. also radar does not have to be pointed at you vehicle to get you. There is a button me have to set the range form side to side.

 

[stinkfinger]

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font size=-1>Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT SIZE=-1><BLOCKQUOTE>
On 2001-12-06 12:47, BULLITTBRO1 wrote:
the 1/4 back is a good one, let the speed demon ahead of you be the bate, but whatch out for the pairs that sit together. also radar does not have to be pointed at you vehicle to get you. There is a button me have to set the range form side to side.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

:lol: You're stupid! :lol:

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: stinkfinger on 2001-12-06 15:23 ]</font>

 

[PCRMAN]

I don't see the value of the quarterback system.
You think you're home free until you look in the mirror and see a new quarterback-one with flashing lights.

 

[Max Cruz]

Well thanks for all the replies about this topic, I do think that even with the radar you have to be cautious on what areas you want to speed, ya gotta know the roads pretty well and know where most of the traps are, once familiar, it is a lot of fun like one member said: "stretch the Bullitt's legs".

More Cheers and Beers!

 

[Crimecrusher]

BUL2294 is mostly correct so read his reply again. However, the laser hand held has a red dot scope on it that allows it to pin point out a single vehicle up to 4000 ft away. If it can be seen through the scope then it will read it. A speed will be given to the officer in 1-2 seconds. A driver can only react in about 2 seconds once his detector goes off.
If an officer is driving around with his radar on and transmitting all the time, then he is not looking for speeders. He is just leting it run so people with detectors will slow down and feel like they are getting over on the cop. And the dumb a__ will get stopped for being stupid.

 

[Railcop094]

Crimecrusher is absolutely right. If my intention is to catch speeders, it is quite easy whether you have a detector or not. I have had many drivers want to disagree with me because their detector did not indicate to them that I was there until they were caught. That's because I was not emitting any signal until I chose to. If you drive around with the radar on, your intention is not to catch speeders, you are just advertising.

Detectors are usful in detecting someone in front of you being radared and hopefully will give you enough advanced warning to slow down. But there is nothing like having a good front door to soak up all those radar waves. It also helps a little to stay in a lane as far right as possible. The more angle you can produce to an oncoming radar the better. Radars are most accurate when an object is coming straight at it. As you increase the angle of attack the radar will begin to lose its accuracy.

If you are the only car on a lonely road and come over the hill into the path of a radar...you're screwed. But here is another thought. If I am sitting on the side of the road and a car comes by and hits my radar at 140 I don't even move. My chances of catching a car going 140 from a dead stop are pretty slim unless I'm out in the desert or somewhere where I can see for miles. So happy motoring!

 

[JT3357]

I have seen many people with radar detectors get tickets. It depends on the officer using the radar. :grin: If the officer is smart he only turns it on when he sees a fast one. By the time the radar detector goes off in that fast car it's too late.

 

[iceman]

Here is a web site that may help FYI just thought it good info. www.radartest.com

 

[jjz109a]

Radar is for kids real cops use lidar.