Anyone use a screamer on their radar detector?

[Blackbird]

I'm in the process of upgrading my detector to an Escort 8500 from Ryan at Discountbay (plug for Ryan: discountbay@ihug.co.nz - thanks Lou). On my existing detector, I have an earpiece in my helmet connected by wire through a connector between the tank and seat. This works really well but the downside is that I've broken a wire on more than one occasion through mainly getting off the bike and forgetting to unplug!

I'm not all that enthusiastic about using a visual cue like H.A.R.D as an audio prompt should give a better reaction time. I've seen the piezo "screamer" advertised on American radar detector sites which should give me the best of both worlds. Has anyone had direct experience of these devices and do they work in a high wind noise environment (let's use a hypothetical case of a 200km/hr + wind noise :whistle: ).

Cheers

Geoff

[Pixie]

I make and use an interface with a tiny piezo buzzer for Valentine1's.This is fitted in the helmet
with a sound moderation mod.
I don't think any thing that is fitted outside of the helmet is going to work,I've tried it and couldn't find anything loud enough.
However I can help with a cable design that won't break if you forget to disconnect.The type of cable and connectors I use will disconnect if pulled on,but won't be damaged and will be reliable.

[Hitcher]

The last screamer I had the "pleasure" of encountering was my flatmate's girlfriend when I was a university student, just prior to the jurassic period. A veritable aural symphony. Young Di's feverish cries of passion building to her inevitable but never soon enough climax, accompanied by the noise of a wirewove bed base that had piles of bricks for legs and a loose headboard that pounded relentlessly against the wall, all-the-while accompanied by Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Strangely, I found I couldn't stop thinking about tomorrow...

[scumdog]

Whats a radar detector?? And C.B. is a screamer in bed at times, does that count??

[Biff]

The last screamer I had the "pleasure" of encountering was my flatmate's girlfriend when I was a university student, just prior to the jurassic period. A veritable aural symphony. Young Di's feverish cries of passion building to her inevitable but never soon enough climax, accompanied by the noise of a wirewove bed base that had piles of bricks for legs and a loose headboard that pounded relentlessly against the wall, all-the-while accompanied by Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Strangely, I found I couldn't stop thinking about tomorrow...

And she was strapped to your bike, how?

[SPman]

Details, details.......:whistle:

[Hitcher]

And she was strapped to your bike, how?
Actually, her boyfriend Mike had a motorbike. Some sort of mid-70s Suzuki 750. He was an arsehole, so I didn't take that much interest in it.

[SPman]

PS mr Biff - I've just had the misfortune to study your avatar...

dis-gust-ing!

:puke:

[Blackbird]

Thanks Pixie - the only non-deranged one here. Will get back if I don't get a sensible reply here (and that's looking somewhat remote I must admit) :rofl:

Mr Hitcher, you clearly didn't get a classic education in an English private school as your normal good use of grammar suggested. I trust you wore boxing gloves that evening and could find a willing partner the next day by the name of Baaaa bara.

I bid you good evening.

[scumdog]

And she was strapped to your bike, how?

Whew! I thought you were talking about C.B & me!!!!

You haven't been watching have you??

[Biff]

Whew! I thought you were talking about C.B & me!!!!

You haven't been watching have you??

Who needs to watch - you can hear her cries from up here!
You really should switch off your work radio, and stop leaving it on the bed side table transmitting. And what is it with you asking her to call you "Mr Snugglepup"?

[scumdog]

Who needs to watch - you can hear her cries from up here!
You really should switch off your work radio, and stop leaving it on the bed side table transmitting. And what is it with you asking her to call you "Mr Snugglepup"?

Hah!! You got it wrong!! It's "Long-Schlong" you putz!!

And it ain't the fun you think - YOU try and look un-embarrassed when you ask for a motel room that is "at the other end, we need a bit of privacy, my wife is a bit of a screamer"
Nobody in: Blenhiem, Kiakoura, Rangiora, Amberley, Kaiapoi or any other similar places will let us stay a second time ( although that place that we met Dangerous at in Ch-ch was not so fussy) but when we 'come' to stay with you ya better have the ear-plugs in!!

[LB]

.
.
Blackbird, I'm not going to lower the tone by responding to Mr Hitcher's posting (eloquent though it is!!)

I currently have a laser light thingy but there's about a second's delay between the sound on the detector and the light coming on, plus I don't react as quickly to the light as I do to sound.

I found the earpiece uncomfortable (I tried several diff sorts) which is why I went to the laser light thingy.

I would be very interested to see what you and Pixie come up with.

.
.

[Blackbird]

Hi Lynda

Glad that there are some sane people in State service :yes: Us taxpayers want to make sure that we're getting value for money. The jury is out on the answer.

I don't have the earpiece actually touching my ear. I have a small, flat speaker from Dick Smith attached with velcro to the inside of the helmet and it's just behind the ear - works well. I'll do some more research on screamers (of the electronic kind) first and then decide if I still want to use a wire. You can see the screamer advertised here: http://www.motorcycleradar.com/products_pg2_4.htm#Radar%20Screamer

It's supposed to have a 108 dBA volume, so should be ok.

Geoff

[Lou Girardin]

Who needs to watch - you can hear her cries from up here!
You really should switch off your work radio, and stop leaving it on the bed side table transmitting. And what is it with you asking her to call you "Mr Snugglepup"?

And there I was thinking that it was a Takahe. They say their call carries.

[Lou Girardin]

I believe the Escort has an earphone socket?
If so, I'm in the process of setting up a helmet speaker instead of a Piezo buzzer. I'm thinking of a speaker from a set of headphones. I'll let you know how it goes.

[Blackbird]

I believe the Escort has an earphone socket?
If so, I'm in the process of setting up a helmet speaker instead of a Piezo buzzer. I'm thinking of a speaker from a set of headphones. I'll let you know how it goes.

Yes it does. The attached pic is the speaker and socket in my helmet. It's a $5 jobbie from Dick Smiths and works really well. The problem is that I have a non-stretch wire and tend to break soldered connections on occasions, hence the dialogue with Pixie. If I can get away without having a wire connection by using a screamer, so much the better.

[Pixie]

Hi Lynda

Glad that there are some sane people in State service :yes: Us taxpayers want to make sure that we're getting value for money. The jury is out on the answer.

I don't have the earpiece actually touching my ear. I have a small, flat speaker from Dick Smith attached with velcro to the inside of the helmet and it's just behind the ear - works well. I'll do some more research on screamers (of the electronic kind) first and then decide if I still want to use a wire. You can see the screamer advertised here: http://www.motorcycleradar.com/products_pg2_4.htm#Radar%20Screamer

It's supposed to have a 108 dBA volume, so should be ok.

Geoff
Alas you can't expect sanity from me either -just a warning
If the Escort has audio coming out of the earphone jack (as it most certainly will have)your options are limited because the piezo devices need 12v to drive them.
A good speaker in your helmet ear cavity should work.JayCar have 19mm mylar diaphragm speakers for a couple of bucks
If you decide to go with the cable-to-helmet option let me know and I'll do you a cable for just the cost of parts and postage :ride:

[Lou Girardin]

Yes it does. The attached pic is the speaker and socket in my helmet. It's a $5 jobbie from Dick Smiths and works really well. The problem is that I have a non-stretch wire and tend to break soldered connections on occasions, hence the dialogue with Pixie. If I can get away without having a wire connection by using a screamer, so much the better.

I've just twigged as to what you want. It's to hear the "screamer" with your helmet on and no connection.
I don't think that's possible, ambient noise is too high. Unless you use an alarm type piezo siren, which will drive you and everyone around you nuts.
I'm using a headphone coil cord from Jaycar Electronics now, it doesn't flap around when I'm riding and stretches to 3 metres if I move away from the bike.

[Blackbird]

Lou/Pixie, sorry for not making myself more clear. Yep, wanted to avoid a helmet connection if possible and it's likely that the advertised screamer could drive people nuts, although volume is adjustable. I think a coil cable to the helmet could be the way to go first anyway. I tuck the existing cable inside the double flap of my jacket to stop it blowing about but that means I have to open the flap to lift the helmet off which can be a pain sometimes. If a coil cable can go outside without flapping, so much the better.

Pixie - a really kind offer thanks and I'll almost certainly take you up on it as it will save me a trip to one of the bigger centres to get parts - one of the disadvantages of living in Tokoroa! I'll get the detector installed first so that I can check it all out first. Should be delivered by this weekend.

There.... another sane conversation. Hitcher must be occupied in publicising another poor sod caught at Wellington Airport with an illegal cheese sandwich :clap:

Thanks again guys.

Geoff

[What?]

I have a radar screamer, though it is not currently fited to the bike, but yes, these things are loud! hearing it at great velocity will not be a problem.

[Blackbird]

Thanks What. Did you feel a dick in town if it ever went off there? My main worry is drawing unwelcome attention when not on the open road. Think that I'll be continuing with a helmet speaker for the time being, just with a different design of cable.

Cheers

Geoff

[What?]

The screamer comes with a mute switch that mounts to something like a clutch lever bracket, so easy to shut it up when necessary.

[sAsLEX]

Thanks What. Did you feel a dick in town if it ever went off there? My main worry is drawing unwelcome attention when not on the open road. Think that I'll be continuing with a helmet speaker for the time being, just with a different design of cable.

Cheers

Geoff

couldnt you just put a socket at the base of your jacket and the base of your helmet, then keep the cord in your jacket (sew it in maybe) then just plug in when you hop on, and if you choose the right connectors they will just break apart when you leave forgetting to unplug

[Ixion]

I have the perfect solution.

Fasten the male terminal of a large banana plug to the saddle. Stuff socket part of said plug up arse. Swallow a suitable length of cable and keep swallowing until it can be attachd to said socket. Other end of cable out of corner of mouth (or , for advance users, poke it up through the soft palate and out y'r ear'ole).

Now when you sit down, it's connected. Get up and it's unconnected.

See, perfect solution :rofl: :devil2:

[Blackbird]

couldnt you just put a socket at the base of your jacket and the base of your helmet, then keep the cord in your jacket (sew it in maybe) then just plug in when you hop on, and if you choose the right connectors they will just break apart when you leave forgetting to unplug


That's effectively what I do now, but "the right plug" and/or a stretchy cord will make a big difference. I did originally plan to have the cord held in my jacket with ties but connecting it "blind" at the helmet was a right royal pain. Being an engineer, I'm never bloody satisfied but I think Pixie's solution will come pretty darned close. I'll see how loud (or quiet) the speaker in the detector is first.

As for you Ixion, that's a typically stupid IT suggestion if I may say so - how can I have something up my arse when it's clearly reserved for talking out of? Mother always said not to talk with something in your mouth. :nono:

[ManDownUnder]

Imagine the disappointment - I see an article about "screamers" then find out they're the electronic kind...

never mind... as you were

[Lou Girardin]

I have the perfect solution.

Fasten the male terminal of a large banana plug to the saddle. Stuff socket part of said plug up arse. Swallow a suitable length of cable and keep swallowing until it can be attachd to said socket. Other end of cable out of corner of mouth (or , for advance users, poke it up through the soft palate and out y'r ear'ole).

Now when you sit down, it's connected. Get up and it's unconnected.

See, perfect solution :rofl: :devil2:

Some people would wear the connector out.

[Blackbird]

Imagine the disappointment - I see an article about "screamers" then find out they're the electronic kind...

never mind... as you were


You must be related to Hitcher and Scumdog :motu:

[ManDownUnder]

You must be related to Hitcher and Scumdog :motu:

You forgot Biff - and for some reason BJ hasn't been in here to comment - most unlike him...

*wanders off*... "BJ" - "BJ!" Looking for a BJ!"....

[Blackbird]

Biff might ride a Blackbird but being Welsh, he gets stripped of Superman status automatically. Combine being Welsh and the proximity to all those innocent Canterbury lambs and you get something infinitely worse than a Screamer, you get a bleater :whistle:

[fritter]

I had one (the actual one sold as part of the radar detector pack on some websites) on my R1 connected to an escort detector. 200kph+ won't stop you hearing the noise. It's not far off one of the piezo screamers that they have inside for burglar alarms.

Had three modes on it, loud - which is fine to about 120ish, mute - used the most often lol, and FUCKING LOUD, which works to 200kph easily, even with earplugs you'd still hear it. I was more worried about the noise from the screamer itself attracting cops to be honest.

[Blackbird]

Thanks Fritter - I have the same worries and have decided to stick to a helmet speaker for that reason.

Cheers

Geoff

[Biff]

Biff might ride a Blackbird but being Welsh, he gets stripped of Superman status automatically. Combine being Welsh and the proximity to all those innocent Canterbury lambs and you get something infinitely worse than a Screamer, you get a bleater :whistle:

Just catching up on posts - and read this - you bitch. It's a load of bahhhlox about me and lambs. I don't go for sex with minors. But show me a cute mature sheep and I'll have my velcro gloves out in a flash. :motu:

[ManDownUnder]

Just catching up on posts - and read this - you bitch. It's a load of bahhhlox about me and lambs. I don't go for sex with minors. But show me a cute mature sheep and I'll have my velcro gloves out in a flash. :motu:

You don't have to stoop so low ... if you go for a bigger animal

[Blackbird]

Just catching up on posts - and read this - you bitch. It's a load of bahhhlox about me and lambs. I don't go for sex with minors. But show me a cute mature sheep and I'll have my velcro gloves out in a flash. :motu:


Hello Biff - welcome back :motu:

Geoff

[Jantar]

I took a ride down to Balclutha on Saturday, but as I had a broken earplug lead on my Escort detector (it lasted 2 days) I was relying on the built in sounder. With the volume on full, and the Auto-mute function turned off, I could still quite easily hear the warning at 100 kmh, but I wouldn't like to rely on it at any greater speeds.

The Ka band alert sounded twice, and both times gave me ample warning that a cop was in the vicinity. But I think I definitely need something just a tad louder. :yes:

[scumdog]

Shoulda called in Jantar!
I was on nights but we could have done some radar detector 'experimenting' eh :whistle:

[Biff]

Hello Biff - welcome back :motu:

Geoff

I can tell you missed me Geoff - and yes I did bring back a heshe for you from Bangkok as requested. :buggerd:

[Jantar]

Shoulda called in Jantar!
I was on nights but we could have done some radar detector 'experimenting' eh :whistle:

We didn't really have much time SD. It was just a short trip to see Mrs J's Mother in Holmdene (it was her birthday), then home again via Tuapeka West and Lawrence. I'll be carrying out some more extensive testing with a certain Snr Sergent before he departs for the Solomons. :ride:

[Blackbird]

I'll be carrying out some more extensive testing with a certain Snr Sergent before he departs for the Solomons. :ride:


Hi Malcolm - I'll email you separately with my Escort findings so far - we must compare notes!

Cheers

Geoff

Biff - thanks mate but I'm not sure about you being able to resist the temptation and try it out first :puke:

[Yarg]

hey Blackbird,

I have the screamer fitted to my escort 8500. i find it works well , can be heard above 160km (not sure above 200), not worried about cops hearing it as it has a mute button. save the hassle of cord & things.

[Blackbird]

Cheers Yarg

If I get sick of the cord, I might fit one. Being able to mute it for town work sounds ok.

Geoff

[Jantar]

Ok, I've done it. Fitted a screamer that is. Total cost to build it was less than $10, and I can easily hear it at illegal speeds.

I'll start a new thread describing the process of making and fitting it. :woohoo: