Has anyone's radar detector ever failed them?

**oldrider** · 26th July 2008, 23:49

Originally Posted by Patrick

None to bikes - just boy racers...

Well Patrick, maybe I had better take that all back about no discretionary power then!

To be honest I have not had a ticket on a bike since 1959!

Have never used a radar detector on a bike either.

(have ridden with others with them though)

Something tells me I am going to be sorry for saying that.

John.

**Swoop** · 27th July 2008, 16:12

It was a pleasant discovery to learn that the STI's range against camera vans, is better than the RX65 Pro.

**Lias** · 28th July 2008, 09:29

Very interesting article on stuff this morning thats highly relevant given that we always seem to end up copying the aussies in these things.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4629014a28.html

Aussie police grapple with defective detectors
By ASHER MOSES - SMH | Thursday, 24 July 2008

Supposedly high-tech scanners bought by NSW Police this year to catch motorists with speed radar detectors installed in their cars are unable to detect some models, tests have shown.

Earlier this year Police Minister David Campbell announced 50 highway patrol cars in NSW would be fitted out with the scanner devices, confusingly dubbed radar detector detectors (RDDs).

Mr Campbell said the scanners - made by Queensland company Stealth Micro Systems with the model name Spectre - would cost police A$4000 (NZ$5119) each.

Motorists caught with a radar detector could be fined more than A$1200 and lose nine demerit points.

However, tests performed by radar detector sellers and an independent testing body have found that the Spectre scanners are useless at detecting at least two models, the Beltronics STI Driver and the newer Escort Passport 9500ci, which are freely available to buy in Australia.

Radar detectors were banned from being sold or used in NSW 21 years ago, but they are still legal for sale in other states such as Western Australia. That means police are powerless to stop people from buying them from online stores interstate, such as radars.com.au.

Police say the use of the detectors encourages dangerous driving as people could speed without fear of being caught.

Nick Balgowan, owner of radars.com.au, said the number of undetectable radar detectors was growing and even a budget radar detector was electronically much quieter than models from several years ago.

"All the radar detector manufacturers have the police scanners so they're working on ways around it all the time," he said.

Balgowan, who has worked in the industry for 10 years and has first-hand experience testing the technology, said the police scanners were designed to detect electronic noise emitted by the devices. However, the A$800 Beltronics and A$2500 Escort models include metal plates that prevent the noise from leaking out.

Tests conducted by Speed Measurement Laboratories, which tests radar detectors and related technologies for manufacturers and law enforcement agencies around the world, also found that the Beltronics model was undetectable by the Spectre police scanners.

The Escort 9500ci is based on the same design as the Beltronics model but includes a built-in police laser jammer.

The US distributor of the Spectre scanners, Stalker Radar, admits on its website that the devices are capable of detecting "all but two" radar detectors.

Further, even non-stealth radar detector models, such as the A$495 Whistler XTR690, could detect the police scanner long before the motorist was caught because even the RDDs - which are essentially modified radar detectors - produced noise, Balgowan said.

The Sydney Morning Herald asked NSW Police if it was aware that the RDDs it uses were not completely effective, and whether the revelations would undermine its efforts to catch radar detector users.

The traffic services commander, Chief Superintendent John Hartley, said: "Our RDD are state of the art and the software is immediately upgradeable by our supplier to combat any new radar detectors that are introduced on the market."

Balgowan, who said he had not received a single report of a customer being caught by police in more than two years, dismissed the response as nothing more than "scare tactics".

"They can upgrade their RDD software to scan more or wider frequencies when radar detector manufacturers bring out new radar detectors with mixers on different frequencies," he said.

"But as some of these designs have either no detectable emission (microwave or radio waves essentially) or extremely low emissions, then there is simply nothing for the police RDD to even look for."

**cs363** · 28th July 2008, 18:49

Originally Posted by Lias

Very interesting article on stuff this morning thats highly relevant given that we always seem to end up copying the aussies in these things.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4629014a28.html

What an absolute waste of tax payers money 'Police say the use of the detectors encourages dangerous driving as people could speed without fear of being caught.' That line there is a complete load of bollocks as anyone with a detector can confirm, realistically they'll let you get away with 10 - 15% max over the limit if you're lucky, so hardly dangerous driving, more like a dangerous loss of revenue, which they'll be needing if they keep wasting it on crap like that!

**madandy** · 28th July 2008, 20:35

Originally Posted by scumdog

What colour is it when the RD DOESN'T warn you of a revenue gatherer??

14 years since I first used one mate...never happened. Have had 3 tickets in 17 years and all three times I wasn't using a RD

.
As stated by several RD users, the RD is a tool, one of several we use to allow small (and sometimes not so small) deviations from written limits.
I can honestly say that ever since I started using a RD, every time I drive or ride with one I have been far more aware of my speed. Basically this means riding/driving at a pace that allows one to adjust ones' pace quickly in response to the RD's warnings. And that means travelling at speeds quite appropriate to the conditions - something you should be applauding rather than rubbishing.

**sinned** · 28th July 2008, 21:22

It is not that the detector fails but because of the situation insufficient warning is given. Speed and you will get caught but not as often with a detector.

I tend not too speed much on the HP hunting grounds and that is partly because of the STI (most excellent device). With the STI you see more cops on the road. This was a wake up for me with my first trip with the STI in the cage to a track day in Taupo - from that trip I realised there are more unmarked cars on the road and parked up than I had noticed before.

My last ticket was in the cage SH50 115kms, quiet road, just me and the cop and no STI mounted. A year ago on the SV1000 with STI, around a bend and the STI chirped, no time to slow - he had me. 114kms - as I was riding a big bike I was advised to cool it, no ticket.

I spent the dosh on the STI after getting pinged in what I thought was and should be a 70kph zone (a 50kph zone) with a cop just around a bend from an overbridge. I was coasting just at the second 50kph sign. This pissed me off heaps - a revenue spot.

For most of the time an RD keeps you alert when they are out hunting. At the best they will save a few tickets if you speed. Best rule is keep below 110 in the high risk areas even with an RD - and go with the wind on the motorcycle roads.

**robertydog** · 28th July 2008, 21:43

Im glad i got an STI then.

**TimeOut** · 29th July 2008, 07:41

buying one today

**Winston001** · 29th July 2008, 12:31

Originally Posted by robertydog

Im glad i got an STI then.

Oh dear. Sexually Transmitted Infection.

Never mind, a course of tetracycline will clear it up and next time.......be careful out there.

**Swoop** · 29th July 2008, 12:42

Originally Posted by TimeOut

buying one today

This thread seems to lifted sales...
A bare minimum of three.

**rustycharm** · 29th July 2008, 23:35

Doesn't seem to be too much support here for the valentine... After owning 3 - 4 RD's over the years... just can't recommend them highly enough. Seems to pick up radar slightly earlier than most and gives you that extra second or two to scrub off the extra kms.
That said... what ever you use .... yer stuffed if the bacon is running in pulse mode and you don't see the blue and red antlers in time.

**Swoop** · 30th July 2008, 12:15

Originally Posted by rustycharm

Doesn't seem to be too much support here for the valentine...(

That is simply beacause the independant testing (posted earlier in the thread) proves that the Valentine doesn't stack up in capability, nowadays. It needs an upgrade. They are "good" though, but I like "bloody excellent"...

**BigG** · 30th July 2008, 12:40

Since I blew my old Radar up Ive had two tickets, must get me another, cos who looks at their speedo when riding you maybe keep glancing at it but how often, theres to many things to keep watching out for and your speed tends to creep up eh!

**RiderInBlack** · 30th July 2008, 13:09

Had a Escort 8500 x50 for 3years now but it is packing a sad. Screen not reading properly and can't reprogram it. It's gone back to factory default so I get to know where all the petrol stations and Banks are as well as the cops as long as long as it doesn't restart after hitting a bump again. Cost me $500. Only got 1 ticket ($150) for speed since having it and have covered over 50,000km since having it. Total cost of $650 for speed related expenses in 3years, so ruffly $217/yr. Was it worth it. I like ta think so, but a close call that one. Next RD? The Escort was not bad, but frustrating when it started ta pack a sad. How well will the next one last (considering the pounding the last one got even in the waterproof housing I made for it)?

**Macstar** · 30th July 2008, 16:52

Originally Posted by rustycharm

Doesn't seem to be too much support here for the valentine... After owning 3 - 4 RD's over the years... just can't recommend them highly enough. Seems to pick up radar slightly earlier than most and gives you that extra second or two to scrub off the extra kms.
That said... what ever you use .... yer stuffed if the bacon is running in pulse mode and you don't see the blue and red antlers in time.

I've been happy with my trial test of a new V1 on the road to Ruapehu and back. Good detection range and lots of it i.e. a lot of cops on that stretch of road. Picked up the narrow beam of a speed camera van from about 500m away and that was pointed away from me at traffic on the other side of the motorway. That would have been ample time to adjust your speed if need be. Also picked up a sneaky copper (approx 200m before an overpass). The cop was shooting radar down the motorway on ramp ahead of me getting cars from behind - but I knew his intentions at least 500m before I would have even come into his radar range. My detection range suffered greatly when I was behind a truck though i.e. it went down to about 2-300m when an oncoming copper came my way.

Went through the roof on Tip Top corner of the Southern Motorway as a cop fired laser at me. Not sure however if by that point the cop already had my speed or not. Anyway, I wasn't speeding at that particulary time so no probs.

Haven't tried a STI, but happy with the V1 and the inidicative arrows pointing where the radar is coming from is so awesome i.e. a cop sneaking up behind you, or a speed camera van to your side etc...