Police Radar Detectors

[RollaRollin]

Stumbled upon a police radar detector site last night (radars.com.au)

They're stuff looks pretty expensive, nothing really under the $400 mark.

Having a look online and can get detectors from the US for the $100 mark delivered.

Theres so many different radar frequencies but the one above covers the NSW Police radars that are in HWY Patrol Cars (Ka Band)

And also the handheld lasers that they point and shoot (Prolaser 2 & 3)

Now I know they are illegal in NSW and carry huge fines, with police having RDD (Radar Detector Detectors)

And that speeding is stupid and of course dangerous

But I'm interested in them and if anyone uses them in their car? DO they even work etc?

Appreciate anyone with an opinion shedding some light

Edited June 22, 2011 by RollaRollin

[DJKOR]

I'm expecting to hear back from Metal13 about this as he uses one in WA.

From what I've heard, a quality detector comes with a cost so try not to skimp too much if you are planning on getting one.

[k_san]

Cops have radar detector detectors now? Maybe we should try and invent a radar detector detector detector?

[DJKOR]

Cops have radar detector detectors now? Maybe we should try and invent a radar detector detector detector?

Then they will just have to create a Radar detector detector detector detector.

On topic... Valentine One radar detectors seem to get some pretty solid reviews.

[RollaRollin]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/police-grapple-with-defective-detectors/2008/07/22/1216492432489.html

Hmm makes for an interesting read.

The name the Beltronics STI Driver and the newer Escort Passport 9500ci as undetectable to RDD's

NSW Police use Radar Detector Detectors such as the Spectre System

http://www.spectre-rdd.com/spectre.asp

But there are various models of the Spectre RDD's from V1 to V4 and I'm not sure what the NSW Police use now?

Because the $100 US Detector will pick up Spectre 1 & 2

Information overload

Reason I'm trying to get as much info as possible:

$1900 fine

9 Demerit Points off your license

Detector Taken

Lots of ouch if caught

Edited June 22, 2011 by RollaRollin

[Branno]

What is worse, carrying a speeding fine or a fine like that?

[Andrew357]

I have been told by 2 guys (One owns a GT3 he other an Aston DB9) that the Whistler Pro 78se has saved them multiple times from fixed speed cameras but you need to make sure you have the latest revision software.

STYLSH tells me however, the handheld radar detector is useless as by the time it registers it's presence; it's too late and it will have your speed.

Given the legal status on these in QLD however, I wouldn't be putting one in.

[DJKOR]

I'll stick with driving responsibly. Free to do and not really that hard.

STYLSH tells me however, the handheld radar detector is useless as by the time it registers it's presence; it's too late and it will have your speed.

I agree with that and it's reasons like this that make a radar/lidar detector even more useless to me. I won't forget the time I was caught by highway patrol going around a mountain bend. I was going over the limit and when I saw their bonnet around the bend, I hit the picks. No more then 2 seconds after I saw the middle of their car where the lights were, they had them turned on. When they pulled me over, they had recorded the exact speed I was going when I first noticed their bonnet. I'm sure a radar/lidar detector in that case would have done shi* except for reminding me that I'm stuffed.

[ImPulse]

From my experience you kinda get what you pay for - have to find the balance between price and quality/features. I run a cheap one - one of the low end Beltronics, but they're next to useless against the new LIDAR guns that cops are using right now - you just don't get enough of an opportunity. Because lasers aren't constant 'on', by the time your detector has sensed the beam, you've already been acquired.

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on some of the higher end models, what you're effectively paying a premium for. Possibly less false alerts - my detector these days seems to be more of a 'petrol station detector' than a radar detector :P

Anyone run jammers? Apparently theres some legal loophole in WA that lets them be marketed as 'parking sensors' - which legally allows you to have them installed. These need to be actually built into your bumper/front grille though, and at roughly $2000 you might just consider paying the once off fine? :S

Alf

[RollaRollin]

I have been told by 2 guys (One owns a GT3 he other an Aston DB9) that the Whistler Pro 78se has saved them multiple times from fixed speed cameras but you need to make sure you have the latest revision software.

STYLSH tells me however, the handheld radar detector is useless as by the time it registers it's presence; it's too late and it will have your speed.

Given the legal status on these in QLD however, I wouldn't be putting one in.

Did any of the owners quote on roving patrols, such as Highway Patrol Cars and the radar they put out?

I drive the same route every day and pass only one fixed camera, so really its only Highway Patrol that would be able to catch me speeding

Oh and those damn Mobile Roadside Cameras (Unmarked Ford Territory RTA Revenue Raisers)

Honestly though not that I speed consistently, just looking for info on them, really interested as its the first Ive seen them

Edited June 22, 2011 by RollaRollin

[DJKOR]

Unmarked Ford Territory RTA Revenue Raisers...

I laugh every time I hear someone call a speed camera a revenue raiser. They only raise revenue because idiots give them reason to.

[Andrew357]

Sounds like you're looking to beat the system.

[RollaRollin]

From my experience you kinda get what you pay for - have to find the balance between price and quality/features. I run a cheap one - one of the low end Beltronics, but they're next to useless against the new LIDAR guns that cops are using right now - you just don't get enough of an opportunity. Because lasers aren't constant 'on', by the time your detector has sensed the beam, you've already been acquired.

I'm hoping someone can shed some light on some of the higher end models, what you're effectively paying a premium for. Possibly less false alerts - my detector these days seems to be more of a 'petrol station detector' than a radar detector :P

Anyone run jammers? Apparently theres some legal loophole in WA that lets them be marketed as 'parking sensors' - which legally allows you to have them installed. These need to be actually built into your bumper/front grille though, and at roughly $2000 you might just consider paying the once off fine? :S

Alf

Only thing with Jammers is, while they are effective at deflecting/bouncing/scrambling the laser signal.

The cop will be surprised, reload and press the trigger again, thinking its just an error with the gun

If the second time he still cannot get a reading on your speed because its being deflected/bounced/scrambled by the system

I'm sure the alarm bells will be going off to him/her that the 50 cars hes read speeds before worked perfectly and yours hasn't and I'm sure he/she will be on your tail in no time and have you on the side of the road going over your car to find them.

Police can check the glove box, engine bay etc and inspect the car.

They cannot use say tools to pry something open, without having reasonable grounds to so.

They can get your vehicle sent to an inspection station if they are really p!ssed or are certain you have something hiding

If its well hidden and disguised, they don't stand a chance and will let you drive off 9/10

But if the do find it... In NSW, ouch.

[RollaRollin]

Unmarked Ford Territory RTA Revenue Raisers...

I laugh every time I hear someone call a speed camera a revenue raiser. They only raise revenue because idiots give them reason to.

Don't see how they reduce the road toll when 9/10 you don't even see them

So yes, I consider them a pointless money making scheme

Surely there are better methods than unmarked cars on the side of the road to slow people down

[Andrew357]

Punishments to the breaking of applied rules can be an effective way of stopping repeat offenses.

In this case, reducing the amount of accidents which is caused by excess speed. Whether you see the camera or not is irrelevant. It can get you thinking twice about speeding (especially knowingly) because oh don't know where you might get caught.

In QLD it's useful anyway, it fixes the roads. So if you ask me, more people need to speed!

[Seby123]

i really dont see why aussies complain about mobile speed cameras...sure it sucks but theyre not exactly hard to spot imo...big reflective stickers, roof rack with lots of stuff on it....and they even put up signs.

speed cameras here in general are a joke because you get two or even three signs saying speed camera ahead...in NSW at least. in VIC i know this is not the case. mobile speed cameras have no signage or stickers whatsoever, just white cars with what appear to be fog lights or driving lights on the front..

but then again, in my opinion the speed limits here are also bull****, and im not saying this just because im german and we dont have speedlimits in some parts etc....but sometimes they really could be 20kph higher without any problem.

i understand why you want a detector, i thought about it, until i saw that the cops have RDDs and the fines involved.

[DJKOR]

If you think speed camera revenue is pointless... here's something. What if people don't speed? No revenue, then you can't complain about it raising revenue. But no. People still choose to speed so the cycle continues. It's not a point of it's effectiveness at reducing speeding, it's The point that drivers are simply letting them raise this revenue.

It's like the stupid girl complaining that her boyfriend treats her like crap yet she still stays with him. The complaining can stop if you simply make the changes yourself.

Anyways, on the radar detector topic, your best approach is with both a radar detector and jammer so that when your detector picks up a radar/lidar, you can then turn the jammer off. In either case, if you are taking the risk to have one, you may as well have the other.

As for the increased speed limits thing, while I personally think some places as well could do with an increase of 20km/h, I also think such a thing wouldn't be wise. At the end of the day, you will always have people that are never comfortable sitting on the speed limit and will travel 10-20km/h higher. Now imagine a 110km/h road brought up to 130km/h. Next thing, idiots will go flying down the road at 150km/h which with the amount of idiots on the road out there... is not really safe in comparison to how it was before. But each to their own. If you don't agree with the road rules, get rid of your car and start walking.

[Andrew357]

It's like the stupid girl complaining that her boyfriend treats her like crap yet she still stays with him. The complaining can stop if you simply make the changes yourself.

What is the deal with these chicks who do this? It's so frustrating!

[ImPulse]

Anyways, on the radar detector topic, your best approach is with both a radar detector and jammer so that when your detector picks up a radar/lidar, you can then turn the jammer off. In either case, if you are taking the risk to have one, you may as well have the other.

This. I believe the system I was looking at was marketed as such - the jammer would turn itself off and the detector would let you know you've been 'shot at'. This leaves you a window to slow down if you need to and when the cop fires off another laser you're doing the speed limit or below.

You do need pretty decent reactions times I would imagine.

Alf

[k_san]

In QLD cops cant look in your glovebox if it has a lock on it without a warrant, isnt that the ruling? (just for my info)

In any case, my gps tells me where the fixed speed cameras and red light cameras are so i generally stay good when i see it appear on my gps unit...it would be handy to know where the evil knievel's are hiding - but more often than not im some how not speeding when ever i do pass one, so i guess it wouldnt be worth risking a massive fine when they do find a detector detector?

[RollaRollin]

Your best approach is with both a radar detector and jammer so that when your detector picks up a radar/lidar, you can then turn the jammer off. In either case, if you are taking the risk to have one, you may as well have the other.

But each to their own. If you don't agree with the road rules, get rid of your car and start walking.

I was under the impression that, the radar puts out a signal (frequency?) as the highway patrol car/mobile roadside is recording speeds of cars.

This signal than can be picked up in the air(?) from a Radar Detector even though its not being directly pointed at you, the radar signal is still able to be 'found' by the radar detector as all electronic devices output a signal. VIdeo below is my reasoning after watching it, correct me if I'm wrong though

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/gZiD77qGxZI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'm more talking about Highway Patrol Cars & Mobile Roadside Cameras that are constantly scanning passing vehicles, I would think with Radar?

Fixed Speeds Cameras do not output radar or laser, they have 'things' embedded in the road that quickly calculate how fast your going via a tiny distance to distance algorithm and then if its too quick, they snap a photo.

If a cop is sitting in his car pointing his laser gun at you, then a jammer (that shuts down) and a detector would be your best bet.

If your really that desperate to not be caught :)

Edited June 22, 2011 by RollaRollin