Blinder Laser 'Diffuser' Install
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 220
Likes: 2
From: Where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge mountains
Blinder Laser 'Diffuser' Install
Here are some pics.
Mounting the heads is a pain on the stock '02 front bumper - they have to point straight ahead and they need to be level. The contours of the bumper make it difficult to keep them hidden, much less any place to mount the brackets. I thought about epoxying the heads (diffusers) - but wanted the option to remove them in the future - didn't like the idea of gluing them as much as screwing them on...
I had to route the wires through THREE firewalls! There's one from behind the front bumper into the trunk, trunk to battery compartment, and then through to the cabin. What a PAIN!
I wanted to keep the interior relatively stealthy - mounted the switch on the side panel for the center console - it was easy to get to and I figured reasonable to replace if I wanted to reverse the installation. I put the warning LED in the "batwing" console panel between the heated seats, and the speaker's up top behind the center console. I powered everything off the pigtail for the phone - along with the hardwired V1.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM for more pics, or experience with the Blinder. Finally - I have worked out a very good deal on the Blinder - and can probably supply them to folks for about $350 in the future if anyone's interested... Rennlister to Rennlister via Paypal...
My front bumper looks like hell - just needs a little TLC with a wash and polish... And I haven't detailed the interior since doing all the work.
Mounting the heads is a pain on the stock '02 front bumper - they have to point straight ahead and they need to be level. The contours of the bumper make it difficult to keep them hidden, much less any place to mount the brackets. I thought about epoxying the heads (diffusers) - but wanted the option to remove them in the future - didn't like the idea of gluing them as much as screwing them on...
I had to route the wires through THREE firewalls! There's one from behind the front bumper into the trunk, trunk to battery compartment, and then through to the cabin. What a PAIN!
I wanted to keep the interior relatively stealthy - mounted the switch on the side panel for the center console - it was easy to get to and I figured reasonable to replace if I wanted to reverse the installation. I put the warning LED in the "batwing" console panel between the heated seats, and the speaker's up top behind the center console. I powered everything off the pigtail for the phone - along with the hardwired V1.
If anyone has any questions, feel free to PM for more pics, or experience with the Blinder. Finally - I have worked out a very good deal on the Blinder - and can probably supply them to folks for about $350 in the future if anyone's interested... Rennlister to Rennlister via Paypal...
My front bumper looks like hell - just needs a little TLC with a wash and polish... And I haven't detailed the interior since doing all the work.
Last edited by eDoug; Nov 18, 2008 at 10:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 220
Likes: 2
From: Where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge mountains
I had the previous version of this unit, theM20 in my last car and it saved me a few tickets in Florida. They're ruthless with laser - no getting out and it's supposedly deadly accurate.
Two personal testimonials:
However, I also have a friend in Boca Raton, Fl who got a ticket, and was rightly reimbursed by the company as they include a ticket refund policy under specific conditions. However, he questions whether he actually got hit with laser - neither his V1 nor his Blinder went off. Who really knows?
Do they work? Well, if it's only 70% effective, it's worth it if you live in a high-use laser area, or if you're a habitual speeder (I personally think it's probably 95+% effective). Will they be outdated? Probably - but for less than $400 - it's worth it in this day and age of insane insurance rates.
Two personal testimonials:
- Living in South beach - they used to set up laser on Alton Rd (35mph) and they were shooting one day (I never went over 40mph) and I noticed the officer shoot me, then look at the gun, then shoot me, then look at the gun, I turned the blinder off, and he shot me and moved on to the next car...
- In Sebring, FLA - they had set up a test site apparently - and same thing happened to me.
However, I also have a friend in Boca Raton, Fl who got a ticket, and was rightly reimbursed by the company as they include a ticket refund policy under specific conditions. However, he questions whether he actually got hit with laser - neither his V1 nor his Blinder went off. Who really knows?
Do they work? Well, if it's only 70% effective, it's worth it if you live in a high-use laser area, or if you're a habitual speeder (I personally think it's probably 95+% effective). Will they be outdated? Probably - but for less than $400 - it's worth it in this day and age of insane insurance rates.
Last edited by eDoug; Nov 17, 2008 at 11:45 PM.
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From: Charleston, SC
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 18
From: Northern Nevada
How do these things work, are they passive, or active? Do they actually emit some sort of signal to confuse the officer's equipment? If so, they are totally illegal in most states. Not that I have a problem with that, but the fine is huge if you get caught with them.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 220
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From: Where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge mountains
These are laser - infrared light - which is governed by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), not by the FCC like Radar. Why is laser regulated by the FDA? I suspect because of medical procedures, agriculture, whatever... The FDA does not have any limitations about using a laser-jammer such as this but some states have enacted individual laws. On the other hand, Radar jammers are microwave, governed by FCC and illegal at the federal level as I understand the laws.
Here's a clip from radarbusters.com a.k.a. Radar Roy's site:
Legal
There are no federal laws in the U.S.A. that prohibit the ownership and/or operation of laser jammers.
However, some states have enacted their own laws that do prohibit the ownership and/or use of these devices. These states include: California, Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington DC.
However, some states have enacted their own laws that do prohibit the ownership and/or use of these devices. These states include: California, Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington DC.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 915
Likes: 18
From: Northern Nevada
They are active when they read laser - then they send out a corresponding infrared beam that confuses the gun. You want to slow down and turn off the unit so they can get a reading to minimize the officer's suspicion. Better to NOT torment them if you can help it... but I hear it's not uncommon for them to have to take a reading or two before locking in your speed.
These are laser - infrared light - which is governed by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), not by the FCC like Radar. Why is laser regulated by the FDA? I suspect because of medical procedures, agriculture, whatever... The FDA does not have any limitations about using a laser-jammer such as this but some states have enacted individual laws. On the other hand, Radar jammers are microwave, governed by FCC and illegal at the federal level as I understand the laws.
Here's a clip from radarbusters.com a.k.a. Radar Roy's site:
These are laser - infrared light - which is governed by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), not by the FCC like Radar. Why is laser regulated by the FDA? I suspect because of medical procedures, agriculture, whatever... The FDA does not have any limitations about using a laser-jammer such as this but some states have enacted individual laws. On the other hand, Radar jammers are microwave, governed by FCC and illegal at the federal level as I understand the laws.
Here's a clip from radarbusters.com a.k.a. Radar Roy's site:
Legal
There are no federal laws in the U.S.A. that prohibit the ownership and/or operation of laser jammers.
However, some states have enacted their own laws that do prohibit the ownership and/or use of these devices. These states include: California, Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington DC.
However, some states have enacted their own laws that do prohibit the ownership and/or use of these devices. These states include: California, Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, Oklahoma, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington DC.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 220
Likes: 2
From: Where the Smokies meet the Blue Ridge mountains
Just got to thinking - maybe I shouldn't have posted this! No need to add fuel to the fire in the whole "us vs. them" battle of speed enforcement!
Should I delete this post? Any opinions? Do I need to worry about "big brother" watching this board???
Should I delete this post? Any opinions? Do I need to worry about "big brother" watching this board???
Nice install.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 12,016
Likes: 130
From: Hyde Park, NY
Seriously, though, it sounds like you're acting within the law and haven't done anything illegal. I vote for leaving the post up - it might help someone some day.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,894
Likes: 11
From: near Seattle
My SRX also has detector/emitters mounted in the front air intake, both sides. It's claimed to be effective to within 400' of the source, at which point the source becomes so strong, the source overpowers the emitters.
Yet....due to their placement inside the front, I doubt they would be effective if the source was from a high overpass. If your speed was sampled from a distance, the angle might allow them to work.
Since no detector/emitter is a panacea (due to instant-on radar, being followed, etc.), I still try to stay in a speed zone where I think a ticket might be discretionary rather than required. So, I use the detector more as a way to be advised that speeds are being sampled. Who knows how long it will be before we get to speed averaging as in England....but it will probably happen.
Yet....due to their placement inside the front, I doubt they would be effective if the source was from a high overpass. If your speed was sampled from a distance, the angle might allow them to work.
Since no detector/emitter is a panacea (due to instant-on radar, being followed, etc.), I still try to stay in a speed zone where I think a ticket might be discretionary rather than required. So, I use the detector more as a way to be advised that speeds are being sampled. Who knows how long it will be before we get to speed averaging as in England....but it will probably happen.
