Radar detectors. Do they work?

MD · 18th April 2009, 10:06

Originally Posted by Ixion

More importantly, does Brenda do out-calls?

Clear off! I found her first. I turned X band on just to hear Brenda's sweet seductive voice saying..."X Alert"

Originally Posted by roogazza

Maybe we can get Brenda and Trevor (my V1 ) together !!!!! ha ha. See ya at the trackday tomorrow huh ? Gaz.

Trevor hey. Not sure I like the sound of Trevor. Sounds like he might have eyes for my Brenda's curves.

Originally Posted by Jantar

Leave K band turned on, and if you have already turned it off then turn it back on. The latest speed cameras apparently operate on K band rather than Ka band.

Yes, lots of false alarms when going through towns. I have a power switch to my sounder so I can turn the sound off but leave the display active in town.

Yeah I tested this. It's K band now. Personally I see no need for the radar in town. It's just an open road thing for me, especially when wanting to blast past slower traffic.

Brenda is a Cobra 9440.

**1vanvan1** · 18th April 2009, 10:56

So what modes do i need to pick up radars, speed cameras and lazers?

**CookMySock** · 18th April 2009, 11:01

Originally Posted by 1vanvan1

So what modes do i need to pick up radars, speed cameras and lazers?

K, Ka, Ku?, POP, Laser - all ON. Turn X off.

ALL of these warnings to be taken seriously, except K when near a building that obviously has a door-opener - a slow speed area anyway.

Instant on (POP?) warnings mean brake really hard right NOW, and maybe you will get away with it. I don't see many POP warnings.

Ka warnings can, and usually do give you eons of warning well in advance, but occasionally not.

K and weak Ka? warnings are speed cameras - to be immediately taken very seriously, as the cameras are low power and therefore low range, and are pointed on an angle ACROSS the road, NOT down the road - the result of this is the detector cannot see them until you are right on top of them. You should have SEEN the speed camera vehicle WELL before this though.

Laser warnings - IF the laser is left running, and the operator triggers and swings the beam arbitrarily through the traffic :slap: then you have a good chance of detecting him while he goofs around with it. If he is not using a tripod, and you are on a motorcycle, AND you are greater than 700 meters from him, I think it will be very difficult for him to get a solid lock on you - certainly he is going to flash your detector and reveal himself well before he gets a useable lock - plenty of time to do something about the situation. Basically, its fucking difficult to point and hold a handheld laser on something a kilometer away. Get a laser pointer and try it.

Steve

**_STAIN_** · 18th April 2009, 11:56

Originally Posted by Anthrax

If the cops are using Instant on and you're the only vehicle in the vicinity (eg not getting any scatter off other vehicles that have been pinged) then they only tell you when you are about to get a ticket. Stick closer to the speed limit on the busy roads and choose your time and place carefully to wind it up. This way you'll limit your contributions.

This is the one situation no detector can beat, your only chance is if you pick up a scatter from a previous speed check / ping.
It is a cat and mouse game and the only detector with stealthing is Bel STi or XR (same). Their game at present is to go out of their way to nab anyone with a detector......Hawk and other radar devises have snoop which enable them to see detectors the same way we can see radars. The cheaper the detector the easier they can see it, alerting them to possible speeder approaching. This is when they go into hide / conceal and use INSTANT ON. As the ticket is handed over you will see them casually glance and then tick their note book. Score another X50, something to gloat about in the canteen tonight. Just google radar detector tests to read more. Eyes are best defense and have run for last 2 years this way as this is better than sending out a beam " speeder approaching"

**_STAIN_** · 18th April 2009, 11:57

Originally Posted by 3umph

i thgink laser is a wast of time... when that locked you afe fucked...

I just have ka activated... have an escort 8500 x50 with wireless led in the helmet

seems to work well and gives good warnings.... if you are speeding... desclaimer: I dont cause I only have the radar for research proposes

.... you will have to jump on the brakes as soon it goes off

they are not a gaurenteed I wont get a ticket device but for the speeders I'm sure they will pay for themselves quite quick

Most do not seem to understand the difference, This is a narrow light speed reflected beam, not radio wave like radar. There is a very slim chance you may pick up a scatter beam. There is no way you can react faster than the speed of light if trigger is pulled directly at you. Only thing that may help in case of suspicious character in a vest partly hiding behind the pillar of the Bank is to put your self into a fast wide weave

. The defence needed is a Blinder, Cloaker or similar that upon detection sends back a falsing beam, completely legal. This is a stand alone unit, your radar detector may "detect laser" but will not send out a falsing beam.

**Ragingrob** · 18th April 2009, 11:58

Originally Posted by MD

Brenda is a Cobra 9440.

Brenda sure does sound interesting.... The kinda interesting that I like! There are a few about trademe going cheap cheap but only one 9440 right now, I wonder how the other models of this brand stack up.

**_STAIN_** · 18th April 2009, 12:06

Originally Posted by Boob Johnson

You get what you pay for

1) Bel STi
2) Valentine One
3) Escort 8500

In that order, anything else is an expensive plastic box with pretty lights.........that won't save you from the not so pretty lights

Originally Posted by MD

Sorry Boob. That's another KBer urban myth.

The list should be shortened to this 1st one, "only"

**3umph** · 18th April 2009, 12:16

Originally Posted by _STAIN_

The list should be shortened to this 1st one, "only"

why???? nothing wrong with my escort

**TimeOut** · 18th April 2009, 12:49

Originally Posted by MD

Sorry Boob. That's another KBer urban myth.

I used a V1 for a few years. Last year I bought a new Cobra for the kingly sum of $198 and it works just fine. No better, no worse. In fact I prefer the Cobra.

I have a Cobra and an STi. Yes the Cobra works very well but the STi picks up signals from a far greater distance (8km is the best) and I don't get any false warnings (that may change when I turn "K" back on after reading this thread) my Cobra would even pick up other Radar Decters!

**gates** · 20th April 2009, 14:23

yeah have beltronics sti, works bloody well, you still got to be ready with the brakes all the time though. cost $1100 bucks has saved plenty of times ? still lot of coin

**smoky** · 20th April 2009, 15:58

where could I buy a decent mount from?

Not a Mount as in Mt Panorama, nor am I wanting to mount 'some one', nor a picture hook......... a radar mount for my bandit.
Just thought I'd clarify that, after all it is KB

**Swoop** · 20th April 2009, 16:00

Originally Posted by _STAIN_

The list should be shortened to this 1st one, "only"

I've been preaching this for ages around here. Those who will not listen.....$

Originally Posted by gates

yeah have beltronics sti, works bloody well, you still got to be ready with the brakes all the time though. cost $1100 bucks has saved plenty of times ? still lot of coin

They do not cost anywhere near that amount. Where did you get told that price for an STi?

**saltydog** · 20th April 2009, 16:16

I've got one in the car, hell i couldnt even tell you what type (uniden?) and it has saved me plenty, its also a 'she', her name is 'Mummy'
But what I want to know is the mounting. Stem mounted...to much vibration? or mounted on the fork stem?...or a gay looking Ram mount on the handlebars??
Whos got what and why???
How should i mount mummy?

**Mikkel** · 20th April 2009, 16:36

Originally Posted by _STAIN_

There is no way you can react faster than the speed of light if trigger is pulled directly at you.

Laser guns are range finders operating in the micro-wave part of the electromagnetic spectrum. They measure the distance to an object about once every millisecond, calculate the difference and then return the speed. This is why it is possible to design a laser jammer - 1 ms is plenty of time for good electronics to establish the incoming frequency and start emitting a very noisy background which drowns out the laser's own signal.
Most human beings have a reaction time slightly higher than 1 ms...

Radars on the other hand operate based on the doppler shift for a reflected beam. There's no viable way to jam a doppler radar.

**TLMAN** · 20th April 2009, 16:44

Originally Posted by saltydog

I've got one in the car, hell i couldnt even tell you what type (uniden?) and it has saved me plenty, its also a 'she', her name is 'Mummy'
But what I want to know is the mounting. Stem mounted...to much vibration? or mounted on the fork stem?...or a gay looking Ram mount on the handlebars??
Whos got what and why???
How should i mount mummy?

Tank mount

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-214185241.htm