WTB: Radar detector and laser jammer combo

[Macstar]

Hey KBers

I'm in the market for a radar detector and laser jammer combo (top of the line stuff). Have got quotes from Radar2go and Radardirect and browsed TM. Any other stores I should approach, or someone selling their rig?

Cheers.

I spoke to Inspector Ron Phillips at the NZ Police HQ this morning (apparently he is the traffic police guy)...

The NZ Police confirmed that Laser Jammers are legal and there is currently no intent to ban the use of these.

He warned that the NZ insurnace council is looking at using drivers with laser jammers as an escape clause for non-payment of claims.

[Blackbird]

www.motorcycleradar.com are great to deal with in the USA - 4 day service for my detector mount and screamer. I don't think they do jammers though and you might want to investigate the price from another USA source as the price should be much better than in NZ. Motorcycleradar might recommend someone. The Blinder jammer still tops laser jammers in terms of performance.

[Morcs]

Ebay is your friend.
Make sure is US ebay though. they are heaps cheaper.

Laser jammers are illegal here I think.

[cs363]

Ebay is your friend.
Make sure is US ebay though. they are heaps cheaper.

Laser jammers are illegal here I think.

Jammers of any type are illegal. If looking at Valentine One detectors be aware that though Radar Direct and some others advertise themselves as NZ distributors they are talking BS. If you contact Valentine they will tell you that they do not have any international distributors and in fact only ship within the US. Just check the price on their website (US$399 last time I looked) and do the math on what they sell for here. I and plenty of others have purchased these from the US and they work just fine without any alledged 'retuning' for NZ conditions. Only catch is you need a US shipto address who can then forward them on.

[Swoop]

Laser jammers are illegal here I think.
Bollocks.
The light spectrum is un-regulated unlike the radio spectrum.

Do NOT get an "integrated: unit (detector & "jammer" = they are crap).
Have a look at www.calvotech.co.nz or (09)415 0454
They sell on tardme but you can go direct to them. They also install.

Also, have a look at www.parallelimported.co.nz as they stock the better brands of detectors.

[cs363]

Actually let me rephrase that - radar jammers are definitely illegal as they are a transmitter and therefore need to be licenced....good luck with that!
There is also the fact that you are interfering with a legal radio signal which is also illegal.
Laser jammers are probably not illegal in theory, however I would imagine that if caught using one the boys in blue could make a pretty good case for obstruction or similar.

[Macstar]

Yeah NZ is a rip off agreed. Best price so far is $1869 w/o installation for:

Beltronics Sti
Weather case
Tank-mounted stand
M20 jammer set
HARD system
Hardwire kit

According to the motorcycleradar US site I could get the same set up bar the Laser Jammers for around $1000 (laser jammers are about $5-600). so no real savings advantage from that site, but I will check eBay tx.

[Macstar]

I'll contact the Police tomorrow to see what their view on Laser jammers are.

[bully]

the jammers only jam laser? correct?

[Macstar]

Wouldn't have a clue

[cs363]

I'll contact the Police tomorrow to see what their view on Laser jammers are.


Cool - that will be interesting to see their response

[cs363]

the jammers only jam laser? correct?

Yes, as far as laser jammers go. I have seen so called radar jammers advertised in the past, but I've never heard of any that work. Besides if you talk to anyone that has experience with radar and/or jamming it (military types etc) apparently the amount of gear needed to effectively jam radar couldn't be fitted into/onto a car or bike.
For that matter I can't say I've heard anyone extolling the virtues of their laser jammer either....
Most good rdar detectors with laser capability will detect laser, but it's generally the scattered beams from when the cops are aiming at other vehicles.
This makes for some interesting reading: http://www.valentine1.com/laserhowto/
The rest of the site is well worth a look to.

[Macstar]

I spoke to Inspector Ron Phillips at the NZ Police HQ this morning (apparently he is the traffic police guy)...

The NZ Police confirmed that Laser Jammers are legal and there is currently no intent to ban the use of these.

He warned that the NZ insurnace council is looking at using drivers with laser jammers as an escape clause for non-payment of claims.

[bikerboy011]

Am also planning on buying a detector, but unsure which is the best. What do you think of cobra detectors? i got my eyes on one worth 350$ from trademe.

[cs363]

I spoke to Inspector Ron Phillips at the NZ Police HQ this morning (apparently he is the traffic police guy)...

The NZ Police confirmed that Laser Jammers are legal and there is currently no intent to ban the use of these.

He warned that the NZ insurnace council is looking at using drivers with laser jammers as an escape clause for non-payment of claims.

Interesting. Trust the insurance burglars to jump on the chance of not having to pay out!
Given that Laser is a line-of-sight tool and that the effective range is not great (at least as far as traffic laser goes) I still question the need for such devices. If you are alert you 'should' be able to spot the laser operator unless they are being really sneaky and hiding their car and sitting behind bushes etc. My Valentine has had a pretty good record of picking up laser the few times I've struck it (mainly in Auckland), I've certainly never had a ticket from one (touch wood).
The biggest threat remains mobile radar used in 'instant on' mode. (About which there is some debate as to accuracy/legality of use)

[cs363]

Am also planning on buying a detector, but unsure which is the best. What do you think of cobra detectors? i got my eyes on one worth 350$ from trademe.

IMHO if you are going to spend the money get something that's decent - Bel, Escort & Valentine are considered to be the best. Most of the rest will just tell you that you are about to receive a ticket.
I've owned my Valentine for about 6 years now and in that time have not received a ticket (and I got plenty prior to that), I've also imported a few for friends all of whom have had similar results.
I also have a couple of friends that have Bel detectors which also have a very good rep.

[Qkchk]

I contacted these guys this morning:

Delonix Radar (http://www.delonixradar.com.au/products/stealth1bike.html) in Auzzie. They do a pack with STi Radar (Beltronics?) plus Bluetooth Visalert system, brackets, wiring, waterproof box etc - Complete Package for $1199 AUD! They also set a kit that includes a Jammer for $1799.

Just waiting to hear back via email if their units will pick up the NZ Bobbys Laser Pointers.....

Its based on UK law but they do have some valid pointers in here:
Save your Licence (http://delonixradar.com.au/manuals/saveyourdrivlicence-UK-1gd5.pdf)

Its not for me - Qkkid has the heavy right hand! ;)

[bikerboy011]

IMHO if you are going to spend the money get something that's decent - Bel, Escort & Valentine are considered to be the best. Most of the rest will just tell you that you are about to receive a ticket.
I've owned my Valentine for about 6 years now and in that time have not received a ticket (and I got plenty prior to that), I've also imported a few for friends all of whom have had similar results.
I also have a couple of friends that have Bel detectors which also have a very good rep.


Fair enough, id go for valentine 1 then, they cost 800 bucks of trademe is that a good price? where do you get brackets from though?

[cs363]

Bel STi is a good unit and will be fine for NZ. The best detectors are nearly always the American made ones, after all they make all the equipment that the cops use, so who better to foil it?! :)

[cs363]

Fair enough, id go for valentine 1 then, they cost 800 bucks of trademe is that a good price? where do you get brackets from though?

$800 is not bad if you just want to get it easily (FYI they cost approx NZ$550 in the US - but you have to have a US shipping address and someone to send it to you from there. So probably add another $100 or so for freight costs and $60ish for GST/Customs if it gets stopped)
It's certainly cheaper than some of the retail shops aretrying to get for them.

Ram mounts are good: www.ramsolutions.co.nz and Radar Direct also have bike mounts

One of the things I really like about the Valentine is the fact that it can track multiple radar signals and give you their direction. very handy when the coppers are having a blitz on a certain road etc.

[Macstar]

If you are alert you 'should' be able to spot the laser operator unless they are being really sneaky and hiding their car and sitting behind bushes etc.

Near my house, the cops often set up stings and hide in the local bus shelter with their laser guns pointing at traffic rolling down a steep hill i.e. drivers naturally roll their speeds over 50kph. Then the cops walk out on to the road and usher the offending motorists into a side street for ticketing.

I got caught a while back just before the Gillies Rd off ramp, a biker cop was sitting in the small strip behind a concrete barrier and between the proceeding on ramp and the actual motorway - I would have thought it was an unsafe place to park a vehicle...? Anyway, point is, the laser gun operators are extremely sneaky in my opinion and do find ridiculous and sometimes unsafe places to hide...


I contacted these guys this morning:

Delonix Radar (http://www.delonixradar.com.au/products/stealth1bike.html) in Auzzie. They do a pack with STi Radar (Beltronics?) plus Bluetooth Visalert system, brackets, wiring, waterproof box etc - Complete Package for $1199 AUD! They also set a kit that includes a Jammer for $1799;)


Thanks, but that quote is barely cheaper than my NZ one ($1869)... I'll have a read up of the materials though.

[cs363]

Near my house, the cops often set up stings and hide in the local bus shelter with their laser guns pointing at traffic rolling down a steep hill i.e. drivers naturally roll their speeds over 50kph. Then the cops walk out on to the road and usher the offending motorists into a side street for ticketing.

I got caught a while back just before the Gillies Rd off ramp, a biker cop was sitting in the small strip behind a concrete barrier and between the proceeding on ramp and the actual motorway - I would have thought it was an unsafe place to park a vehicle...? Anyway, point is, the laser gun operators are extremely sneaky in my opinion and do find ridiculous and sometimes unsafe places to hide...




Thanks, but that quote is barely cheaper than my NZ one ($1869)... I'll have a read up of the materials though.

Yep...hence the 'should' in my comment. It's been a while since I checked into the legalities of the practices you outline above, but unless things have changed dramatically I believe you will find that these practices are not in accordance with the police operations manual, giving you an automatic defence if ticketed in such a manner.
However, that is based on information I gleaned a few years ago so things may have changed but as with all tickets, you would be well advised to make your own notes, photograph the area/operation etc and defend your ticket.
The cops get away with much of the stuff they do merely because people just take it and do not bother to defend themselves. Above all you should never ever admit liability to the ticketing offer.
Far better to say nothing except the required name & address details than drop yourself in it on the side of the road.

[cs363]

^^ Just remember the cops have to comply with the same rules as we do.

[Qkchk]

Thanks, but that quote is barely cheaper than my NZ one ($1869)... I'll have a read up of the materials though.

Is that with or without a Jammer?

$1199 AUD Full Kit
$1799 AUD Full kit + Jammer.

[Macstar]

Is that with or without a Jammer?

$1199 AUD Full Kit
$1799 AUD Full kit + Jammer.

See this:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1638280&postcount=7

If your friend is keen let me know, maybe we can buy together and get a better price again? 10% off $1869 would be $1682... that's a bit more do-able financially.

[sinfull]

Mrs bought me a V1 for xmas last and by god i'll swear by it ! Pick up most cops well b4 the eyes would ! Be a guestamate but the odd 5 to 8 k distance on some occations on a straight and haven't had a ticket since having it (till friday but wasn't a speeding ticket)!
Wishin i had it years ago and i wouldn't be walking for 3 months now !
Not sure of where from, but can find out if needed ! But was around the grand mark with hard unit and bar mount etc !
Not gonna save ya, if the cop uses instant on (unless your damb quick on the picks) but most cops that are after speedsters are using it well before you get there, Unless you are the hunted lol
Haven't come accross any laser guns with this gear so dont see the need for a jammer as yet ! (well for the next 3 months at least)
This one time at band camp !!! lol I had a mad dash from my local-home About 15 k SH1, was a thurs arvo and all these cops were headed south (must have been a training day), not once did the radar detec. go off rrrr 6 or 7 cop cars were flying past me at phenominal speeds ! Well shit i was thinkin not one had the radar on hehehehe ! Pulled off at home just south of town and swapped for the car to go bottle storing it, lol one car waiting 2 k up from my place with a laser, another waiting at the north end of town !
Mrs was on her way home in the other direction and saw two cars south of levin with lasers facing south lol (felt a bit like a gezell in africa about that time)
Think it took a good 7 days to get the bike out again after that one !

[scumdog]

Anyway, point is, the laser gun operators are extremely sneaky in my opinion and do find ridiculous and sometimes unsafe places to hide...

Sorta sounds like a few riders on KB ' Are extremely sneaky and do find ridiculous and sometimes unsafe places to ride.'

[Gubb]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXKOsajNZY4

[Macstar]

Sorta sounds like a few riders on KB ' Are extremely sneaky and do find ridiculous and sometimes unsafe places to ride.'

Thanks for providing the flip side there Mr SD

[Morcs]

Am also planning on buying a detector, but unsure which is the best. What do you think of cobra detectors? i got my eyes on one worth 350$ from trademe.

Ive bought 2 cobra detectors. neither worked (not even powered on). and I didnt get any refunds either.

[bikerboy011]

Ive bought 2 cobra detectors. neither worked (not even powered on). and I didnt get any refunds either.

hmmm i wont get a cobra than, but whats the best though?

[cs363]

hmmm i wont get a cobra than, but whats the best though?


Read the whole thread..... :)

But to summarise, Valentine One (my personal choice) seems to be leading the unnoficial poll, closely followed by Bel. Escort are also good (made by the same company as Bel) everything else comes under the 'pay your money and take your chances' file.