Tigers List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: (email redacted)

Maybe I'm the last to know, but I read in the paper that the local police
are now using/testing laser speed guns. I assume that means that all those
radar detectors will soon be useless. I also wonder if there can even be a
detector for laser speed guns.

Jay

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Theo Smit <(email redacted)>

There have been laser detectors on the market for years. The big problem is
that unless they pick up some scatter from when the police try the cars in
front of you, it's too late, since acquisition is pretty much instant.

Car and Driver did testing on the laser guns years ago, in two separate
articles.
The first focused on making you car invisible, and they found that the
following features helped to 'stealth' your car against LIDAR: Having little
or no chrome on the front, not having a front licence plate (that was worth
50% acquisition range reduction itself!), having a more steeply raked
windshield, having a bra on the front of your car, and having retractable or
other aero headlights. They tested on a Merc Cougar and Ford T-bird, and
they found that by removing the front plate and taping off the chrome
windshield trim, the T-bird became undetectable to the LIDAR. (as far as I
can recall, the Cougar got hurt by having a chrome grille, which the T-bird
didn't have).

The second article aimed at swamping the (infrared) LIDAR return with random
signals, and they got good results with mounting a 8" Hella driving light on
the front bumper and using that in addition to the headlights. Given that
you can get 100W (or higher) bulbs for H4 headlight setups, you should be
able to put a serious amount of heat on the detector.

Both of these articles are at least five years old, so modern LIDAR
technology may have defeated one or both of these methods, but given the
physical attributes of Tigers and Alpines, method 2 is probably the best
choice. After all, the rally Tigers had five spot and floodlamps, right?
"Sorry officer, I aimed my lights conservatively, to the right, so I
wouldn't fry oncoming traffic. Sorry about the fried optics on your toy"

Theo

> -----Original Message-----
> From: (email redacted) [SMTPemail redacted)]
> Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 10:57 AM
> To: (email redacted); (email redacted)
> Subject: Obsolete Radar Detectors
>
> Maybe I'm the last to know, but I read in the paper that the local police
> are now using/testing laser speed guns. I assume that means that all
> those
> radar detectors will soon be useless. I also wonder if there can even be
> a
> detector for laser speed guns.
>
> Jay

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Sencindiver Jim D NSSC <(email redacted)>

Jay,

Laser speed determination has been around the Police world for about
a decade. It uses a series of infrared "light" pulses to determine the
change in range over time. The police usually aim at your license plate,
since it's reflective. Several companies make license plate covers that are
translucent to visible light, but dissipate infrared. Most, if not all, of
the radar detector manufacturers offer a combined radar/laser detector. Car
and Driver does a comparison of the latest versions from the manufacturers
every couple of years. Unless you're very lucky, all the laser detector
will tell you is that you have been "lasered." Unlike radar, the laser beam
is very narrow, about 4 -6 FEET wide at a range of one mile. Radar has a
beam width of about 5 degrees, and the beam would cover the entire highway
at this range.

I've been told that infrared lights are available to "jam" the
police lasers, but that your car's high beams have a significant infrared
signature, and have caused police lasers to malfunction. I would not count
on this, however!

Jim Sencindiver, PMS411C2
Surface Ship USW Combat Systems
Systems Engineering Group
703-604-5070 ext 240
703-604-5333 (Fax)


-----Original Message-----
From: (email redacted) [mailtoemail redacted)]
Sent: Monday, April 17, 2000 12:57 PM
To: (email redacted); (email redacted)
Subject: Obsolete Radar Detectors


Maybe I'm the last to know, but I read in the paper that the local police
are now using/testing laser speed guns. I assume that means that all those
radar detectors will soon be useless. I also wonder if there can even be a
detector for laser speed guns.

Jay

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: "Patrick Lauber" <(email redacted)>

Yes, they do make radar detectors that claim to cover laser,
but the instant-on nature of laser detection makes it tough
to beat. Older X and K bands seemed to need a longer "dwell"
time, giving your detector more time to detect and warn.

I have had multi-band detectors (Escort & Whistler) for the
past couple of years, but seldom hear the blip indicating a
laser gun. If I do hear it, it's too late if the guy is
pointing at me! I seem to recall several positive comments
from the list about the Valentine One, though.

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Steve Laifman <(email redacted)>

Jim,

Good rundown. I do think, however, that the tight beam gets reflected,
and has a pretty good range, so you just might get lucky and catch them
beaming someone else, to know they are around. The same thing goes with
radar guns. If they aim it at you, the detector is too late, but you
can hope for the reflections off a 'shoot' of someone else. Mine seems
go give a level one beep at most major surface street intersections.
Maybe the traffic lights are synched with microwaves that are tripping
the first sensitivity level. Good reminder to watch you step, anyhow.

Steve

--
Steve Laifman < Find out what is most >
B9472289 < important in your life >
< and don't let it get away!>

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