Has anyone's radar detector ever failed them?

**jrandom** · 8th July 2008, 16:20

After not one but two dumbarse chickenshit speeding tickets on the weekend from Highway Patrol boys trawlin' the straights on the Napier-Taupo road with their radars on (I know because I asked) I've decided to bite the bullet and get a radar detector.

I can pinch the budget real hard and pay $900 new, plus a screamer and cost of installation, for the radar detector du jour, the Beltronics STi (or $660-ish plus the hassle of getting it back from the USA), or I can look for something cheaper and/or secondhand from one of the reputable brands, like the Beltronics RX65, a model which I've been assured is 'pretty good'.

Frankly, if it wasn't for the demerit points angle, I wouldn't consider a $1,000-ish radar detector worth the hassle. A grand pays a lot of speeding tickets.

However, I'm about to endure a three-month licence suspension and don't want to endure another one in the future. You can't put a dollar value on not having to use the pushbike every day.

Now, I know that plenty of you have had good experiences with radar detectors. My question is, though, have any of you ever had a radar detector, of any brand, fail to save you from a ticket?

If so, what were the circumstances, and do you think a more expensive model might have saved your arse where the one you had didn't?

PS: A certain KBer fuckin' well owes me about ten pints, and they know who they are.

**kiwifruit** · 8th July 2008, 16:47

just slow down.

**robertydog** · 8th July 2008, 16:51

Ive got a Bell sti. And no it hasnt let me down. Yet

**jrandom** · 8th July 2008, 16:52

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

slow down.

I have reported your post as off-topic.

**Morcs** · 8th July 2008, 16:52

Radar hasnt failed me.

Of course it only works effectively against the wankers who have their radar guns operating almost constantly, so you can pick them up a mile off.

Or If you are going sooo fast that when the radar goes off, and a split second later a cop comes over the hill up ahead... but thats another story. The radar didnt let me down then either.

Highly recommende a whistler cruisader. Picks up every cop that Raj does with his valentine1 (though not quite as early), and its waterproof, and you dont need to remove it from an ugly tank mount everytime you leave your bike...

**kiwifruit** · 8th July 2008, 16:52

My RX65 never failed to pick up mr plod with his thingie turned on. Most of them don't turn their thingie on until they see a vehicle. Eyeometers work better.

Just slow down

I'll send you that screamer unit i have spare

**jrandom** · 8th July 2008, 16:57

Originally Posted by Morcs

Of course it only works effectively against the wankers who have their radar guns operating almost constantly, so you can pick them up a mile off.

That's fine - my recent series of ridiculously avoidable little speeding tickets were all due to that scenario.

One time coming round a corner up Albany hill.

One time over a crest toward that long bridge over the big chasm heading through the hills toward Napier.

And then again, two days later, on the plains headed toward Taupo, riding over a crest into the setting sun and low forward visibility.

I used to think I could trust my eyeometer, but as stated in the OP, I have decided to admit imperfection and rely on technology.

Here's another question: given the presumably-ideal situation of two vehicles headed directly toward each other at constant speeds, does anyone know how long the police radars take to lock onto the oncoming vehicle's speed once turned on?

**sinfull** · 8th July 2008, 16:58

Only ever tried the V1 and swear by it $1000 brand new with hard set up ! Sure i'm walking now for the next 3 months, but like you i waited till i was up in demerits b4 doing sommit about it !
Was more a case of avoiding getting stopped and them taking it on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere !

**johan** · 8th July 2008, 16:58

I use one in my car, they work very well for radar. The laser detector is probably not working very well.

**jrandom** · 8th July 2008, 16:59

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

I'll send you that screamer unit i have spare

**bikerboy011** · 8th July 2008, 17:03

Originally Posted by sinfull

Only ever tried the V1 and swear by it $1000 brand new with hard set up ! Sure i'm walking now for the next 3 months, but like you i waited till i was up in demerits b4 doing sommit about it !
Was more a case of avoiding getting stopped and them taking it on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere !

So the V1 isnt any good as i was thinking of getting one.

**jrandom** · 8th July 2008, 17:04

Originally Posted by sinfull

Was more a case of avoiding getting stopped and them taking it on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere !

Well, yeah; I have no difficulty staying below 140 when I'm on State Highways and just risking tickets rather than a roadside suspension, but I'm doing a fair few cross-country miles these days, and my occasional slipups are nickel-and-diming my licence to death.

**Morcs** · 8th July 2008, 17:05

Originally Posted by jrandom

That's fine - my recent series of ridiculously avoidable little speeding tickets were all due to that scenario.

One time coming round a corner up Albany hill.

One time over a crest toward that long bridge over the big chasm heading through the hills toward Napier.

And then again, two days later, on the plains headed toward Taupo, riding over a crest into the setting sun and low forward visibility.

I used to think I could trust my eyeometer, but as stated in the OP, I have decided to admit imperfection and rely on technology.

Here's another question: given the presumably-ideal situation of two vehicles headed directly toward each other at constant speeds, does anyone know how long the police radars take to lock onto the oncoming vehicle's speed once turned on?

heres the equations: http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu...und/radar.html

my general rule of thumb, is that if you can see the cop, he can see you. if at that time he is bouncing radar off you, and you are speeding, all you can do is reduce your speed and pray...

if a laser gets you. they have you. simple.
but there are only something like 14 laser guns in the entire country.

Same with Instant on (Pop radar) if they ping you, you are fucked.

see the radar FAQ: http://pages.quicksilver.net.nz/geof...r/Radarfaq.htm

**jrandom** · 8th July 2008, 17:09

Originally Posted by Morcs

my general rule of thumb, is that if you can see the cop, he can see you. if at that time he is bouncing radar off you, and you are speeding, all you can do is reduce your speed and pray...

Yeah, I'm well aware that theoretically, all it takes is a single Doppler pulse return to detect speed.

However, I'm wondering what the practical limits of the system the cops use are, given that they have to get a speed 'locked in'. Do they have to fumble around and push a button? Does the system discard any speed that remains constant for less than 500 milliseconds? Et cetera, et cetera.

Originally Posted by Morcs

see the radar FAQ

Good link. Ta.

**saul** · 8th July 2008, 17:09

Originally Posted by kiwifruit

My RX65 never failed to pick up a cooper with his thingie turned on. Most of them don't turn their thingie on until they see a vehicle. Eyeometers work better.

Just slow down

I'll send you that screamer unit i have spare

Yep agree totaly just slow down.

Fruity send that screamer to me

Ps my escort has been fantastic but I always use me eyes with it, apart from the other day when I did something naughty

past a policeman which made the heart race a bit, but we all tootled off

.