cdodkin

So two points on that:

1) The operational range (ie range in which they get a lock) is short - but the LASER can still hit you at a greater distance giving you warning time

2) LEOs have a habit of hitting cars early, i.e. before you have accelerated past the limit, or ahead of the lower speed limit zone for example - They don't know you have a detector, so figure they'll just start hitting you until they get a kill - this gives you warning and time to react.

cdodkin

For an ex LEO view of V1 Vs Passport

http://www.radarroy.com/archives/254

Note the following section from this review:

Wellardmac

Point 2 I'll agree with.

Point 1 I'm not sure I am interpreting your comment correctly, as the laser can lock onto the target at long and short distances - it's all in the skill of the operator on ensuring they're hitting their target.

Melchior

I have been using the Whistler Pro3450 for about 4 yrs and love it. I cost under $200 and installs remotely so all that is in the car is the small display. I installed my display above my right knee so I am the only on that sees it; perfect for when I have to drive on a military base.

http://www.whistlergroup.com/print-pro3450.html

cdodkin

They can hit you with a LASER at a far greater distance than they can legally obtain a speed lock, and hence a ticket.

So due to either poor training, or over zealous LEOs - they tend to start hitting your car long before you are close enough for them to lock and ticket you.

So you have a 'warning' and time to brake

Wellardmac

Ahhh. I know it varies from state to state - I hadn't noticed that some states limit the maximum distance for their use. I do not believe that rules are uniform across the country.

The main problem is that laser has a "spot" size of 18 inches at 500 feet. Unless your detector falls within the spot, then your detector stands a low chance of alerting, as scatter is low and weak. I agree that them being over zealous is just about the only chance you have of avoiding the ticket if they're out and using laser guns.

I mentioned that drive through CT where my detector was alerting every 5 mins - that was because they were out in force zapping everyone... it really gave the game away.

tooloud10

<shrug> I leave mine in the "middle" logic mode all the time.

There's a statute of limitations on knowing the direction of the radar source? I've no idea why it would be any less useful now than when it first came onto the scene, and I think we all know why the V1 is the only detector with the arrows.

Let me ask you this: if the other manufacturers were allowed to put the arrows on their detectors, do you think they would do so?

Obviously a SiRF Star chip can't be delivered with a software update, but GPS doesn't get rid of the whole "head swivel" routine every time the detector goes off. If there's something you shouldn't be doing while speeding, it's having to look in 360 degrees of rotation to find the source of your "beep".

cdodkin

That's why you mount your LASER detector low on the windshield - so you have a chance of catching the LASER.

Mount it up by the visor and you are severely limiting your chance of early detection.

cdodkin

When you have reliable alerts, all you need to be doing is braking.

Wellardmac

yup - mine is (when I use it) mounted low.

I'm just glad that the majority of states have not yet migrated onto laser, otherwise we would have more tickets being handed out. The one speeding ticket that I have had the joy of receiving was from a laser. I was not happy.

cdodkin

All too common here in California I'm afraid - the CHP have them, as do local law enforcement in some cities.

I saw a trap on I15 south of Temecula, where the CHP had a car under an overpass running radar, which was hence easy to detect and avoid - and then a mile or two up the hill where you'd naturally pick up your speed again, they had a motorcycle on side of the road with LASER.

So they trick you into speeding back up after you've avoided the RADAR, and then get you on LASER - B@ST@RDS!!

tooloud10

Not true. I do a lot of Interstate driving...based on the arrows and strength of the signal, it's usually pretty easy to figure out whether the officer is heading towards you or coming from behind. If there's traffic ahead of me and the signal is low to moderate, I gradually slow down (or don't at all, depending on the speed of traffic). Same thing with a signal from the rear...there are any number of reasons I don't bother to slow down even when I get a reliable alert that there's radar in the area.

Also, when the detector goes off and I see a cop, I actively watch the V1 to make sure the arrows change as I go by--I'm looking to see if he's just a decoy for the actual radar source over, say, the next hill. If the detector just beeped, I'd have no real way of knowing exactly where the radar is coming from.

I don't mean to be rude, but dismissing the arrows as a gimmick is simply burying your head in the sand. Again, we all know why the Valentine is the only one with the arrows, and it was clearly something of a coup on Mike Valentine's part when he came up with them. Would a GPS chip be helpful? Ideally, sure it would, but I've used detectors for so long that minor false alarms are really not an issue. A radar detector is just a tool to locate certain radio waves, and learning to use that tool is the most important part of all.

What I most certainly do NOT want to happen is what wellardmac speaks of--you know, that "hear a beep, hammer on the brakes" type of speeding. I occasionally hear the V1 beep, I glance at the display to see where the arrow is pointing, and within about a half-second I can figure out what's going on and how to react. Simply nailing the brake pedal every time ANY detector sounds an alert is a poor way of using one...hell, on the rural Interstates around here, it's not uncommon to pass a cop not using radar and going the other direction while I'm traveling 95-100 mph.

Speeding is kind of an "art"...too many people think you just floor it and nail the brake pedal when the detector sounds any alarm--that's dangerous, if you ask me.

Wellardmac

Unfortunately, I'm seeing this tag team approach becoming more common. They know the reality and are using it to their advantage.

cdodkin

So the modern Passport detectors have a true muti-band, multi radar display that shows in real time, multiple sources including multiple radar units on the same band.

That's far more useful than an arrow.

I get signal strength for each and all of these real time triggers, and can judge is the signal is close or far, whether it's increasing in strength (getting closer), and adjust my driving style accordingly.

Nobody said anything about hammering on the brakes - braking wasn't a binary operation last time I looked.

And out this way, the cops have openings in the central divide to turn around and come chase you after you've shot past them - and they do - so any trigger is taken seriously.

The arrows have had their day, but they are just so far behind modern technology and intelligent systems design.

Mike should have spent some of the millions he's made from dedicated Porsche drivers, on staying ahead of the game with his detector.

I can guarantee you he's busting his gut right now to do a GPS version of the V1 - and judging by the increased frequency of his ads in the Porsche mags, his sales must be suffering pretty badly right now.

The only burying of heads in the sand is from the loyal V1 crew - hanging on to their once great detector when technology has clearly passed it by.

Wellardmac

I agree, which is why I stopped using my radar detector. It's ridiculous to be braking on reflex when others are traveling far faster than you are. It's not a matter of slamming on the brakes, but braking on reflex even if you know that you're not running at high speed. The detector rules you, rather than the other way around. The Bel RX65 I have has multiple frequency warnings and intensity readouts, but honestly, it's easier to brake on reflex and look at the threat later because you know that most of the time the threat is real and imminent.

Unfortunately, you and I live in different realities. We're discussed this before - the profile of speed enforcement is vastly different in highly populated areas like the NE corridor than Iowa. They really cannot be compared. Enforcement is higher profile and more aggressive here. Populated areas offer more police, more false alarms from buildings and more areas for police to hide. If you're doing more than 73 mph on I-276 they will ticket you if they see you. If you're doing more than 78 mph they will give you a ride to see a judge. If you speed by a cop going the opposite direction here, he will spin around and pull you over, even if he was not running radar.

PA state troopers don't use laser, but they do use instant on radar and your warning time can be less if they're sitting there waiting for cars that are going faster than the flow of traffic.

The biggest issue here in PA is that the local police are not allowed to use radar and use VASCAR - that's a pain in the *** because we have white lines painted all over the roads and you really can't see if a cop is sitting there until you're in the trap... I'd take radar any day over those things.