Radar detector + tinted screen

[SMOKEU]

Is it worth mounting my radar detector on my CBR seeing that the windscreen has a fairly dark tint, or am I better off buying a new windscreen for it?

[bsasuper]

My experience is that a factory type clear screen works better

[LBD]

I have a clear screen and no problems with the detector

[Grumpy]

Shouldn't make any difference. Mine works fine through a tinted screen. I would try it first before spending the money.

[Balrog]

Shouldn't make any difference. Mine works fine through a tinted screen. I would try it first before spending the money.

+1

My understanding is Radar microwaves will pass through plastic or fibreglass easily and you to probably.
As long as there's nothing metal between it and the radar gun it should pick it up just fine.

Pic of my old Busa with detector stuck behind tinted screen. Don't use one on the GS :) .... yet

[=cJ=]

Should be fine, my radar detector workedevn when it was in the passengers footwell of my car, not brilliantly, but it still worked...

[Blackbird]

As stated, absolutely fine with microwaves (Ka band) but reduces effectiveness of laser. Moot point with laser though as it's already too late unless you have a reputable jammer.

[CookMySock]

Moot point with laser though as it's already too late unless you have a reputable jammerNa its possible to get a warning from some careless operator waving the beam around. But yeah Ka will go through any plastic. You could even put the detector in your boot and it will still work.

Laser is so widely UN used that I just turn it off.

Steve

[sinned]

As stated, absolutely fine with microwaves (Ka band) but reduces effectiveness of laser. Moot point with laser though as it's already too late unless you have a reputable jammer. If a cop is using a laser you are screwed with or without a detector.

I have the detector inside a tank bag and it works fine. Of course it won't detect laser.

[carbonhed]

If a cop is using a laser you are screwed with or without a detector.

I have the detector inside a tank bag and it works fine. Of course it won't detect laser.

You can pick up laser scatter from vehicles in front being targetted if you're lucky. It can also take them a few seconds to get a lock on you and a reading. Your RD can help in both situations.

But yes... the mark one eyeball does have it's place.

[p.dath]

I would think it would be dependent on what the tint was made from.

You can get tints that are metallic (not very common), and I could see them interfering. Otherwise, if there is no ferrous material in the windscreen I can't see how it could make any difference.

[3umph]

I kmow of people that have the detectors in tank bads and they still work.
My detector has a tinted plastic screen on the dectector so can not see a tinted screen making a difference...

Just don't forget... have detector you can still get a ticket.... trust me I know... but it did save me walking to Woodstock

[CookMySock]

have detector you can still get a ticket.... trust me I know...Yeah this is true. Once I wasn't carrying it, next time it wasn't plugged in, next time it was K band speed camera - little or no warning. There is also instant-on but thats pretty rare to see used.

90% of Ka band detects give you LOTS of warning. I don't use it as a mechanism to speed. I just find it fun to have, and it serves as a reminder to watch my speed.

Steve

[CHAPLIN]

Was out on my new(ish) cbr yesterday which came with a detector, came up to a blind crest when it went off so hit the brakes hard few secs later mr plod came over hill, he still got me doing +19, but at least was just a ticket, and he commented that those things dont work as he flicks his rader on/0ff, oh yeah Ive got a tinted screen.

[CookMySock]

Was out on my new(ish) cbr yesterday which came with a detector, came up to a blind crest when it went off so hit the brakes hard few secs later mr plod came over hill, he still got me doing +19, but at least was just a ticket, and he commented that those things dont work as he flicks his rader on/0ff, oh yeah Ive got a tinted screen.That is surprising.

Your detector will see him over the hill, but possibly not particularly well. If you had your speed fully legal by the time you saw him, then it's nearly infeasible that he pinged you with his radar.

Did he show you his display?

Steve

[TimeOut]

Yeah this is true. Once I wasn't carrying it, next time it wasn't plugged in, next time it was K band speed camera - little or no warning. There is also instant-on but thats pretty rare to see used.

90% of Ka band detects give you LOTS of warning. I don't use it as a mechanism to speed. I just find it fun to have, and it serves as a reminder to watch my speed.

Steve

The cops down here use instant on at least 90% of the time, the only early warning you get is if there's traffic up ahead.

Even then they quite often won't ping the first vechicle, I've been tenth in a line and was the first the cop pinged.

[CookMySock]

The cops down here use instant on at least 90% of the time, the only early warning you get is if there's traffic up ahead.

Even then they quite often won't ping the first vechicle, I've been tenth in a line and was the first the cop pinged.Dunno whats going on with that. I've seen instant-on used at me twice in the last two years. Mostly they drive around here painting the sky with the thing.

My rules are, if you can't afford it - don't speed, and if there is any other traffic around - don't speed.

Steve

[roogazza]

Was out on my new(ish) cbr yesterday which came with a detector, came up to a blind crest when it went off so hit the brakes hard few secs later mr plod came over hill, he still got me doing +19, but at least was just a ticket, and he commented that those things dont work as he flicks his rader on/0ff, oh yeah Ive got a tinted screen.

The policeman must have got a lock on you ? When you get down to it, it's a matter of who's first, you with the picks or him with his finger on the button ! That's the game we play. G.

[CookMySock]

The policeman must have got a lock on you ? When you get down to it, it's a matter of who's first, you with the picks or him with his finger on the button ! That's the game we play. G.Well if the police radar operator cannot see you by eye, then it is unlikely the radar unit can either. It is theoretically possible for the radar to get somewhat of a signal around a corner or over a rise (reflection, refraction), but a "lock" I wouldn't think so, and I don't like their chances of arguing the maths and science of that in court.

Reflecting or refracting a signal normally knocks 20dB off it at least. Knocking 20dB off the reflected signal after the same has already been done to its' outbound leg makes it utterly microscopic and will almost certainly push it well below what the radar unit is used to seeing, and probably below its' thermal noise floor. While the operator might get some indicative tone over a rise, I doubt the unit will lock it on the display, and if it did, I doubt whether a judge will want to hear it. ;)

Steve

[CHAPLIN]

I guess I just wasnt quick enough to react, not used to the detector, managed to scrub off a lot of velocity.Yes I asked to see the reading, so took it on the chin, I havnt had a ticket in over 5yrs, then I buy this CBR and wammy!

[imdying]

Is it worth mounting my radar detector on my CBR seeing that the windscreen has a fairly dark tint, or am I better off buying a new windscreen for it?Fella I rode with yesterday had one with a tinted screen, it managed to pick up an officer on a side road (had stopped somebody else) about 600 metres away, so yup, works fine :)

[SVboy]

Mine works fine thru a clear screen and has sooooo paid for itself!! You cant beat eyesight but detectors are a great help.

[CookMySock]

I guess I just wasnt quick enough to react, not used to the detectorYes, it took me along time to get used to it. Now my response is instant - speed check followed by brake. I turn everything off except Ka band - I'm only interested in the stalkers, and then react instantly to any sound from it regardless.

Steve

[mulletman]

That is surprising.

Your detector will see him over the hill, but possibly not particularly well. If you had your speed fully legal by the time you saw him, then it's nearly infeasible that he pinged you with his radar.

Did he show you his display?

Steve

Like everyone here says tinted screens are fine, it picks up signals from behind as well no probs (Bell RX65),

They dont have to show you there display, they just need to sight it, a mate got caught recently and cop refused to show alledged speed.

Cops are definately using instant on as 'normal' rather than driving around with it on, been 'lucky' a few times this year, for sure marked cars are fairly easy to see, its the muftis thats getting a lot, eg Blue Toyota Camry, Black,Green and a Red Commies that ive seen this year, esp Ch Ch to Coast or to Kaikoura. Oh and a black holden crewcab around Methven way.

[woodyracer]

Fella I rode with yesterday had one with a tinted screen, it managed to pick up an officer on a side road (had stopped somebody else) about 600 metres away, so yup, works fine :)

i smell bullshit.......we all know you just sit at home and go on KB....all these rides you talk of are just make-believe.....

[ckai]

+1

My understanding is Radar microwaves will pass through plastic or fibreglass easily and you to probably.
As long as there's nothing metal between it and the radar gun it should pick it up just fine.

Pic of my old Busa with detector stuck behind tinted screen. Don't use one on the GS :) .... yet


If a cop is using a laser you are screwed with or without a detector.

I have the detector inside a tank bag and it works fine. Of course it won't detect laser.

So just to clarify, I could, say, mount my detector under the fairing so it can't be seen at all and it will still be all good?

If I could bring myself to have a tank bag (I'm shallow) that would be an easy fix but I could maybe rig up something inside a fairing or something but the detector not having a clear sight. This would make things a lot easier.

[imdying]

I guess anything in the way will have some effect on the ability of waves to get to the detector... just how much your plastic or fibre glass fairings cut the range of the device, you'll have to test that for yourself. Plastic can't be too bad, they make the body of the unit from it.

[Balrog]

So just to clarify, I could, say, mount my detector under the fairing so it can't be seen at all and it will still be all good?

If I could bring myself to have a tank bag (I'm shallow) that would be an easy fix but I could maybe rig up something inside a fairing or something but the detector not having a clear sight. This would make things a lot easier.

You probably could, but you want to be able to pick up getting zapped from behind so you don't want any metal behind it either.
+ unless you are running a HARD system, you need to be able to see and mostly hear the detector going off. Not to mention you need easy access to it so you can remove it when you park up.

I just used the suction cups to hold it to the windscreen. When they are on properly its quite hard to remove. Never came off in two years of using.

As to visible or not, they aren't illegal yet so ok to have one.... but if you did get caught speeding its not going to help your cause.
But these days, you'll get the ticket 99.9% of the time anyway if you've been snapped.

either way, I'd always make it easy to take on and off. You do that quite a lot if you park away from home.

:)

[sinned]

I guess anything in the way will have some effect on the ability of waves to get to the detector... just how much your plastic or fibre glass fairings cut the range of the device, you'll have to test that for yourself. Plastic can't be too bad, they make the body of the unit from it.

Firstly it is unlikely plastic will attenuate the signal, but metal will depending on whether or not it forms a shield (ie an RF shield). Without all the gear it is difficult to test properly. However there is a way to test your set up: Find one of those X band pole mounted speed readouts on a straight section of road and go back up the road until the detector is just triggering, that is where you can test the installation of the detector. Try the detector out in the open and test the vertical angle it needs to be set to trigger and test the triggering where you want to locate it on or in the bike. Then you will know if the signal is attenuated by the fairing, screen of whatever else is in the way. BTW - in an earlier life I used to know about this shit - now the less I have to do with calculations of 'permeability of free space' etc the better.

[Stormer]

You`re better off with a detector than without...unless you`re one of those absolute law abiding type (clones) who will NEVER EVER exceed the posted speed limit.
In that case, the radar waves may even bounce off your flouro vest and will save you from the ticket and the dreaded demerits.

[ckai]

I guess anything in the way will have some effect on the ability of waves to get to the detector... just how much your plastic or fibre glass fairings cut the range of the device, you'll have to test that for yourself. Plastic can't be too bad, they make the body of the unit from it.

This is a good point. Mine is made from metal though...to stop the "leakage".


You probably could, but you want to be able to pick up getting zapped from behind so you don't want any metal behind it either.
+ unless you are running a HARD system, you need to be able to see and mostly hear the detector going off. Not to mention you need easy access to it so you can remove it when you park up.

I just used the suction cups to hold it to the windscreen. When they are on properly its quite hard to remove. Never came off in two years of using.

As to visible or not, they aren't illegal yet so ok to have one.... but if you did get caught speeding its not going to help your cause.
But these days, you'll get the ticket 99.9% of the time anyway if you've been snapped.

either way, I'd always make it easy to take on and off. You do that quite a lot if you park away from home.

:)

I'm not worried about making it hidden, more of a fact of ease of mounting. Never been keen of having all this kit around the dash so if I can put it in an easily accessible place away from the dash, all the better.

I have a "smart cord" which flashes when a signal goes off. Was thinking of running that around by the top of the screen to catch my eye. Of course this is all theory and I''m waiting for the bike to arrive to check.


Firstly it is unlikely plastic will attenuate the signal, but metal will depending on whether or not it forms a shield (ie an RF shield). Without all the gear it is difficult to test properly. However there is a way to test your set up: Find one of those X band pole mounted speed readouts on a straight section of road and go back up the road until the detector is just triggering, that is where you can test the installation of the detector. Try the detector out in the open and test the vertical angle it needs to be set to trigger and test the triggering where you want to locate it on or in the bike. Then you will know if the signal is attenuated by the fairing, screen of whatever else is in the way. BTW - in an earlier life I used to know about this shit - now the less I have to do with calculations of 'permeability of free space' etc the better.

This would be a good way to test it. BUT I can't be assed :) I know it works not to bad on the passenger's floor so plastic is gotta be better. I might give it a crack and see what happens.

[CookMySock]

I have a "smart cord" which flashes when a signal goes off. Was thinking of running that around by the top of the screen to catch my eye.Nah not bright enough by a long shot. Often theres only seconds in it, so a gey blinky LED won't do it.


So just to clarify, I could, say, mount my detector under the fairing so it can't be seen at all and it will still be all good?Yes that should be fine. Don't mount the sensor "lens" right behind a metal part of the fairing.


They dont have to show you there display, they just need to sight it, a mate got caught recently and cop refused to show alledged speed.Just go look in his window and shoot a photo of it with your camera phone - it's not against the law.


Steve

[SVboy]

What about a single earpiece mounted in your helmet, and a lead to your detector?. Far from ideal because of the dangly lead and propensity to put tension on the detector jack point[which can be quite weak] but cheap and does not need batteries like a HARD system.

[Blackbird]

It works fine, but I found that you either disconnect it moving around the bike and don't notice or hop off the bike without thinking and break the connection. I've had a screamer on for the past 4 years - the perfect solution.

[3umph]

I use to have an earpiece... wrecked so may I then went to the HARD system... shit hot unless you leave the led reciever on, other then that batt life is good... I carry spare batteries all the time so just incase i'm away and it dies I have spare...
I also have some LED's mounted on the screen and powered by the jackpoint, these are not to bad but you dont always see them going off...

[ckai]

What about a single earpiece mounted in your helmet, and a lead to your detector?. Far from ideal because of the dangly lead and propensity to put tension on the detector jack point[which can be quite weak] but cheap and does not need batteries like a HARD system.


It works fine, but I found that you either disconnect it moving around the bike and don't notice or hop off the bike without thinking and break the connection. I've had a screamer on for the past 4 years - the perfect solution.

"Breakaway" or inline plug would fix this.


I use to have an earpiece... wrecked so may I then went to the HARD system... shit hot unless you leave the led reciever on, other then that batt life is good... I carry spare batteries all the time so just incase i'm away and it dies I have spare...
I also have some LED's mounted on the screen and powered by the jackpoint, these are not to bad but you dont always see them going off...

I was thinking of doing the LED thing under the screen as well. Mainly for shits and giggles. Was gonna have red and blue :) I thought 5 on each side would get my attention. May cause problems at night with other motorists and it possibly would cause problems when the cop sees them that the detector has picked up!

As long as you can't see them from the front I wouldn't think it would be an issue. Alas, I need to mount the detector first before worrying about anything else.

[Blackbird]

"Breakaway" or inline plug would fix this..

Had one and it didn't always work. Oh and you don't react as quickly to visual cues as opposed to audible ones, small that the difference might be.

[breakaway]

Sorry what am I supposed to fix?

[Mikkel]

The Ka band (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ka_band) covers the frequency range from 26.5 to 40 GHz. This equals a free-space wavelength in the range of 7.5 to 11.3 mm.

Seeing as the wind screen is most likely thinner than one wavelength it would have to be a very effective shielding material in order to cause any significant attenuation of the radar signal.

[TerminalAddict]

Mine is mounted permanently in my givi topbox.
And agree with Blackbird; screamer is the only way to go, and reduces the clutter around the dash when the detector is stashed elsewhere (like in the topbox)

[CookMySock]

I also have some LED's mounted on the screen and powered by the jackpointHow did you wire this up?

Steve

[ckai]

Had one and it didn't always work. Oh and you don't react as quickly to visual cues as opposed to audible ones, small that the difference might be.

Interesting. The types of racing I've done as sports had both sound and lights for the starts. I had to change my habits to go off the lights because I was told they were faster. Could have been wiring but I always got better starts. I suppose it comes down to you reacting faster to sound instead of light when not paying attention. This I can see (or hear).


Sorry what am I supposed to fix?

hahah

[kwaka_crasher]

The cops down here use instant on at least 90% of the time, the only early warning you get is if there's traffic up ahead.

Even then they quite often won't ping the first vechicle, I've been tenth in a line and was the first the cop pinged.You know that microwave speed detection can't actually identify the actual source of a reading and they can't just select a single vehicle to measure the speed of, right?

[Flip]

You know that microwave speed detection can't actually identify the actual source of a reading and they can't just select a single vehicle to measure the speed of, right?

Well that was the justification used when the cops got the lasers. No they can't they just lock onto the strongest signal.

[slofox]

I was thinking of doing the LED thing under the screen as well. Mainly for shits and giggles. Was gonna have red and blue :) I thought 5 on each side would get my attention. May cause problems at night with other motorists and it possibly would cause problems when the cop sees them that the detector has picked up!

As long as you can't see them from the front I wouldn't think it would be an issue. Alas, I need to mount the detector first before worrying about anything else.

The TPX comes with LED flasher AND a wireless earpiece that fits in helmet - test this morning proved that it is L.O.U.D...