Archive for the ‘Radar Detectors’ Category

Auto Power Control – APC Power Hub

Friday, March 25th, 2011

We have had a lot of customers ask for a solution on the number of power cables routed around the vehicle when they install a radar detector, laser jammer and photoblocker. Over the years we saw the need, and in 2010 we decided it was an opportunity to provide a good product need. Customers want a method to reduce the visible number of cables and a simple power control to the radar detector, photoblocker and laser jammer. They want one power switch to switch between the jammer modes and safe modes of operation when discretion is needed on the highway. So, 1stRadarDetectors is introducing the APC, Auto Power Control, in April of 2011 and it is patent pending and produced exclusively by 1stRadarDetectors.

A radar detector can plug into the back RJ14 connector providing power in Mode II from the APC. A Blinder M47, which is a laser jammer, can be plugged into the back of the APC with laser jam power control provided in Mode II, and Park Assist provided only in Mode I from the APC. You can also connect the SCD photo jammer, (SCD, SCD-2, SCD-3, SCD-M) into the back of the APC unit, providing photo jammer power in Mode II of the APC and License Plate Lights only in Mode I. In addition, you can connect an Escort 9500ci or Bel STi-R Plus, as well as an Interceptor laser jammer to the remote power outlet, which is controoled by Mode II of the APC. Or if you prefer, connect either an Escort Redline, Valentine One, Passport 9500ix, Bel RX65, etc., into the APC.

The Auto Power Control is a highly versatile POWER HUB, and you will find it to be quite useful when you have more than one countermeasure installed into your vehicle.  How many radar laser power switches do you have in your vehicle? When you encounter a police speed trap, and you want to discreetly shut power down to all your radar, laser and photo radar products, do you get flustered by trying to find 2 or 3 power switches, while trying to keep your car in a straight line? You may have a Radar Detector power button on the windshield, a laser detector power switch down on the center console; perhaps a photo radar power switch somewhere else. Power cables around the vehicle. When you come into a speed trap, your emotions usually do not allow a calm response, but demand a frantic search for two or three POWER OFF buttons.

The Auto Power Control is a POWER HUB that organizes all those power cables to a single POWER SWITCH. The driver can switch all the radar laser products with a single Master Power Control switch. The Power Hub lets you calmly switch power on/off when you encounter a radar speed trap, a laser gun or a photo speed camera. Using one APC and one power switch, hide all your cables and switch power between a JAM/DETECT function and a PARK ASSIST/LP LIGHTS ONLY with a single power control module and one power switch.

The SCD Photo Speed Camera product also has an ACTIVE and SAFE power mode of operation, where ACTIVE power mode is a photo speed camera blocker and SAFE power mode is “license plate lights only”. The SCD product allows you to protect your license plate from being imaged or change to a SAFE mode where you simply turn on accessory license plate lights. Radar and laser alerts will be added to the SCD as those features become available.

What does the ACTIVE Mode II of the APC do for you? Some laser products provide two modes of operation. One power mode is an ACTIVE laser block mode used on the highway to block laser gun from reading your speed. The second, SAFE, power mode of several laser products is called PARK ASSIST. On rare occasions, a policeman might ask why he was unable to read your speed. Using the APC, you would have already switched from ACTIVE mode to SAFE mode, where PARK ASSIST would allow you to reply, “I have infrared Park Assist, which may have affected your laser gun!” And of course Park Assist is used when you are parking in a dark garage, so that you don’t bump into a wall and damage your car. The Park Assist in a laser blocker product is a SAFE power mode of operation.

The APC Auto Power Control Interface allows you to plug (plug and play) a laser blocker in, plug a photo speed camera blocker in as well, and plug a radar detector into the APC power control, allowing all three products to be managed by one power switch.

Hide all your cables under the dash and stop messing around with two or three power switches for your radar, laser and photo products. MODE II switches the laser defuser, photoblocker and radar detector on with a “Flick of a Switch”. Pressing MODE I switches the laser detector to “Park Assist” operation; switches the photoblocker to “License Plate Lights only” and switches your radar detector off. Or press “O” to instantly switch the entire system off!

You don’t have to be frantically search for where the power switches are to three different products, a radar detector, laser jammer and photo jammer! Simply use the APCI to power all of your radar, laser and photo products and hide your cables.

Radar Detector Test Speed Measurement Labs 2010

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

We completed our annual radar detector test on June 27, 2010 with Speed Measurement Labs. SML tested as variety of products, but we focus on the products with “Best in Test” performance; and we tested for the following major performance requests by our customers:

1) radar detector distance detection at 9 miles

2) radar detector detection performance “Over the Hill” at 1/2 mile distance

3) radar detector false alerts

4) radar detector photo speed camera alerts

5) laser detection distance

6) laser jamming performance

The following products and or companies participated in the annual radar detector test:

Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500ci, Escort Redline, Passport Qi45

Bel STi Driver

Valentine One

Blinder M47, Blinder M27

TPX motorcycle radar detector

Cobra 9970G and others

Whistler’s newest radar detectors

BG Tech (Korea) radar detectors

Our spread sheet, Best Radar Detectors, will be updated soon to provide the latest comparison information from the test. We found the Passport 9500ix is still the best over all radar detector mounted in the windshield for radar and photo speed cameras. The Escort Redline, Bel Sti Driver and Valentine One are still in the top 5 radar detectors. The Passport 9500ci is still the best remote radar detector, but we found superb results with the new Passport Qi45 remote as well.

We also found interesting changes in laser guns this year. In the past, we had tested for laser detection behind a lead vehicle, finding no laser detection from behind a lead vehicle. The primary reason for this is that most laser beams provide a horizontal beam pattern, which makes it difficult for laser to be seen behind the lead vehicle. However several new laser guns are vertically oriented, thus some laser reflects off the road surface under the lead vehicle, and can be detected behind the lead vehicle.  This is only on two new laser guns we found, which are very few in operation, so don’t think you are safe with just a radar detector. Remember, in 99% of laser gun situations, if you detect the laser beam, the laser beam is aiming at YOU, which means they already have your speed indicated on the laser gun.

The new laser guns coming out is the Laser Eye and TruCam, both which defeated the Blinder M47 and Shifter ZR4 laser jammers. Because Blinder uses WEB updates, it will be able to defeat these laser guns with a new WEB update. The Shifter ZR4 does not offer WEB updates, thus if you buy the ZR4 without the laser gun updates, you will not be protected from the new laser guns. Escort may not tell us if they updated the Shifter laser jammer for the new codes. The Laser Eye laser gun changed from the standard 904nm laser wavelength to 915nm wavelength. Eagle Eye has changed from a horizontal beam axis to a vertical beam axis, which is interesting as we can now detect laser reflected under a vehicle in front of our vehicle. This laser detection behind a target vehicle was rare, since all other laser guns have used a horizontal beam axis prior to Laser Eye.

We used a Toyota For Runner for our test vehicle. You should have seen it! We had the Escort Redline, Valentine One, Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500ci radar detectors located up in the windshield, while the Blinder M47, Shifter ZR4 laser jammer and Bel Shifter Pack laser jammers were located on the front bumper, as well as the Passport Qi45 and Bel RX45 remote radar on the front bumper. We were driving through New Mexico on Interstate I25 when we turned everything on.  We had so much laser energy, we phased out of view. OK, I just being humorous, but imagine, we had 9 laser jammers turned on and 7 different radar detectors. Our altenator was working overtime.

I was surprised to find the Qi45 tested so well, as well as the Shifter ZR4 and Shifter Pack, both laser jammers from Escort. Last year the Shifter ZR4 did not test very well for laser jamming, but this year, both the Shifter ZR4 and Shifter Pack, a new version of the Shifter ZR4 offered only with the Qi45 and RX45, tested as well as the Blinder for laser jamming. Although these two Escort laser jammers do not have WEB updates, each of these laser jammers tested very well and are less expensive than Blinder, but Blinder does offer WEB updates for new laser guns.

1) Radar Detector Distance Detection – Most people are not aware of the value of testing at 9 miles distance. Understandably, it is not critical to know that a speed trap is out there at 9 miles, but let’s say, Mr. Policeman is out there shooting instant on radar at 9 miles. Billy Bob who is driving towards the police car gets hit with a big burst of radar at perhaps 1/2 mile from the policeman, and you get a small alert on your radar detector. That of course assumes you have a good radar detector, since a poor radar detector would sit quietly in your windshield with a 9 mile radar burst. As you drive closer, Sally Jane gets hit with a radar burst at 5 miles, and you get a larger signal strength signal. YOU KNOW MR. POLICEMAN IS OUT THERE. So 9 mile detection is useful to you the driver to let you know that Mr. Policeman is coming up soon.

9 Mile Signal Strength:

Passport 9500ix has a total of 6 bars. 6 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 9 miles would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength. For example 4/6 detection means 4 bars detection out of total of 6 bars possible:

X=  4/6 bars

K=  5/6 bars

Ka 33.8GHz = 4/6 bars    Ka 34.7GHz = 3/6 bars    Ka 35.5GHz = 5/6 bars

Bel STi Driver has a total of 6 bars. 6 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 9 miles would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength:

X=  6/6 bars

K=  5/6 bars

Ka 33.8GHz = 2/6 bars    Ka 34.7GHz = 3/6 bars    Ka 35.5GHz = 3/6 bars

Escort Redline has a total of 6 bars. 6 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 9 miles would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength:

X=  6/6 bars

K=  4/6 bars

Ka 33.8GHz = 3/6 bars    Ka 34.7GHz = 2/6 bars    Ka 35.5GHz = 3/6 bars

Escort 9500ci has a total of 6 bars. 6 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 9 miles would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength:

X=  6/6 bars

K=  4/6 bars

Ka 33.8GHz = 2/6 bars    Ka 34.7GHz = 3/6 bars    Ka 35.5GHz = 3/6 bars

Valentine One has a total of 8 bars. 8 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 9 miles would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength:

X=  6/8 bars

K=  5/8 bars

Ka 33.8GHz = 1/8 bars    Ka 34.7GHz = 1/8 bars    Ka 35.5GHz = 3/8 bars

Passport Qi45 has a total of 6 bars. 6 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 9 miles would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength:

X=  5/6 bars

K=  4/6 bars

Ka 33.8GHz = 1/6 bars    Ka 34.7GHz = 4/6 bars    Ka 35.5GHz = 5/6 bars

Adaptiv TPX 2 has a total of 6 bars. 6 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 9 miles would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength:

X=  3/6 bars

K=  3/6 bars

Ka33.8GHz=8.2 miles@2/6bar, Ka34.7GHz=1/6bar, Ka35.5GHz=2/6bar

2) Radar Detector Detection Performance “Over the Hill” at 1/2 mile Distance

Passport 9500ix has a total of 6 bars. 6 bars is max strength, so any signal strength at 1/2 mile would require a minimum of 1 bar of signal strength. For example 4/6 detection means 4 bars detection out of total of 6 bars possible:

Detecting a hidden radar trap, which is hiding on the other side of the hill is measured in the number of signal bars detected at ½ mile distance over the hill from that hidden radar trap. The performance is measured as follows: 2/6 is 2 signal bars detected at ½ mile distance, over the hill, out of a total of 6 signal bars for that radar detector. 5/8 is 5 signal bars detected at ½ mile distance, over the hill, out of a total of 8 signal bars for that radar detector. All values are averaged over two radar passes. The best performance “Over the Hill” was the Passport 9500ix, and #2 was the Bel STi Driver

X Band=10.525GHz, K Band-24.15GH,

Ka1=33.8GHz, Ka2= 34.7GHz, Ka3= 35.5GHz

Passport 9500ix

X=4/6    K=3.5/6    Ka33.8=6/6 Ka34.7= 5.5/6 Ka35.5= 5.5/6

Bel STi Driver

X= 6/6    K= 4/6 Ka33.8= 5/6     Ka34.7= 5/6      Ka35.5= 3.5/6

Escort Redline

X= 6/6    K= 3.5/6  Ka33.8= 5.5/6   Ka34.7= 5/6     Ka35.5= 3/6

Valentine One

X= 5/8    K= 5/8     Ka33.8= 5/8        Ka34.7= 3/8    Ka35.5= 3.5/8

Passport Qi45

X= 5.5/6  K= 1.5/6  Ka33.8= 4.5/6    Ka34.7= 3/6   Ka35.5= 2.5/6

Bel GX65

X= 2.5/6  K= 2 / 6   Ka33.8= 4/6       Ka34.7= 4/6       Ka35.5= 2.5/6

TPX 2

X=3/6     K= 3/6       Ka33.8= 2/6       Ka34.7= 2/6      Ka35.5= 1.5/6

Cobra 9970G

X= 3/5    K= 2.5/6   Ka33.8=1/5        Ka34.7= 1/5      Ka35.5= 1/5


3) Radar Detector False Alerts

It was not even close with False Alerts. Passport 9500ix and Passport 9500ci Remote uses GPS and memory to remember where the false radar locations are. When you drive by Best Buy, JC Penny, Sears etc., these stores use X band or Ka band radar to detect motion in front of the door. This is called a false radar alert, because the radar detector alerts to a radar not transmitted by police speed traps. The majority of radar detectors will alert to these false radar signals, but the Passport 9500ci and Passport 9500ix can automatically remember the false radar locations, or you can manually target the false radar location. The Bel GX65 can also manually remember the false radar locations, but because it is manual, the Bel GX65 is not as accurate or reliable to decrease false radar alerts.


4) Radar Detector Photo Speed Camera Alerts

Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500ci and Cobra 9970G all alerted to Photo speed camera locations, but the Passport 9500ci and Passport 9500ix provided more accuracy and better advance notice.


5) Laser Detection Distance

We found two interesting points. Nearly all radar detectoprs can detect laser at 3 miles, but laser guns can not aquire speed at distances much further than 2000 feet. So it is fair to say that you can detect laser at distance, but you have to be in a very precise location to detect the narrow beam. We also determined this year that several laser guns have changed form a horizontal laser beam to a vertical laser beam. This means it is possible that you could detect laser behind a primary target vehicle, but again; you have tyo be in a very precise location. We strongly suggest a laser jammer if you want laser protection.


6) Laser Jamming Performance

We tested the Blinder M47, Blinder M27, Shifter ZR4 and Shifter Pack. Blinder M47 provided the best results across the board, while the Shifter ZR4 and Shifter Pack significantly increased its performance over 2009 Shifter test results. I would say on average, the Blinder M27  (2 laser modules), Shifter ZR4 (3 laser modules) and Shifter Pack (2 laser modules) tested about the same in laser jamming performance. However, since the Blinder has WEB updates, while the Shifter does not, and the Blinder has a 2nd mode of operation called Park Assist and the Shifter does not, that makes the Blinder M27 the better of the three laser jammers. M47 laser jammer provides 4 laser modules, WEB updates and Park Assist, making it the best laser jammer for 2010.

7) Radar Detector Detector Performance Test Results

How well did the radar detectors perform against the typical RDD used?

Spectre RDD is nearly identical to OPP Spectre used in Canada and Stalcar RDD used in AU

————————-VG2       Spectre iii       Spectre Elite

Bel STi Driver —–ND          ND                       ND

Passport Redline -ND          ND                       ND

Passport 9500ci –ND          ND                       ND

Valentine One —–ND          135 ft                  189 ft

Passport Q145 —–ND          294 ft                 84 ft

Passport 9500ix –ND          228 ft                 310 ft

Bel GX65 ————ND          307 ft                 334 ft

TPX——————-2 164 ft   1320 ft             1320 ft

Cobra 9970G—— 1060 ft   1320 ft               1320 ft

Annual Radar Detector Test 2010

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

The annual radar detector test will be held in El Paso, Texas from June 25 to June 27, 2010. We will be testing radar detectors under various conditions, as well as laser jammers. There is a new radar gun using pulse radar to detect movement, then switches to continuous wave radar. It operates at 24.15GHz (24,150,000,000 hertz). There is a new laser gun from LTI coming out, operating at 905nm, which is the usual wavelength. It is referred as the TruCam, which includes the laser speed detection, combined with imaging; thus it reads your speed and takes a picture of the vehicle,  Probably video, as well as a single image. We do not yet know the repetition frequency of the laser gun. In addition a new laser gun from Eagle Eye operating at 915nm is just now being introduced, and operates similar to Laser Atlanta Stealth laser gun.

For radar, we will be testing distance at 9 miles, false alert rejection, over the hill radar detection, and the standard X, K, Ka radar detection while monitoring the strength bar signal. This last test gives you a good idea, how each radar detector compares on each radar band at a specific distance. We will also test for radar detector detector, RDD, using VG2, Spectre III and a new Spectre, perhpas referred to as Spectre V. Spectre RDD of course wants to prove they can detect all radar detectors. so I hope Beltronics and Escort Radar pays close attention.

I am not aware of any new radar detectors coming out and the Passport 9500ix should still come in #1, followed by the Escort Redline and STi Driver from Beltronics. Last year, the Passport 9500ci was the very best remote radar detector, and I see no other remote radar detectors that even come close to the Escort 9500ci performance. More details to follow. Call John Turner at 303-678-9101 to discuss the radar detector test.

Speed Measurement Labs

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

Speed Measurement Labs has been around for many years, supporting radar gun manufacturers, radar detector manufactures and eventually laser jammer manufacturers. Carl Fors is the President of SML and is very well know in this industry as the “Go To” man for professional product testing of radar, laser and photo products. He travels across the USA, Canada and internationally quite often conducting radar and laser symposiums.

Speed Measurement Labs, SML, conducts its annual test in El Paso, Texas each year, typically in June, although I have never figured out why one would test in El Paso in June, where your brain fries during the day. Never the less, Carl likes the heat, so to speak. So once you have your cowboy hat on, sunburn lotion dripping from your arms and face, then we all slide into our vehicles and start testing radar detectors, laser jammers and photo radar detectors. Carl, it was in jest!

What I like about SML, is that they are objective in their testing and will listen to the new things we as product sales, needs for testing. Traditionally, SML tested for distance only for radar. But over time, SML has added “Over the Hill” radar detection testing, which is important, as many people are trapped with a police car hiding on one side of a hill, waiting for drivers to crest the hill. Ticket Time! So testing the capability or lack thereof, of a radar detector to detect over the hill is important, and we now track that radar detector performance annually with SML and post it on our annual radar detector test chart. We also do many or our videos at the annual radar detector test, because people like to see how the tests are conducted and listen to the background discussions.

SML has also added false radar alert testing, laser jammer testing and photo radar detection testing over the years. The people who conduct the tests are trained policemen from El Paso, who are very well trained in radar gun, laser gun use. In our years of testing with SML since 1997, we have often brought dealers we work with from around the world, who find it amazing that we test countermeasure products using police. Up in Canada, the RCMP would likely fine anybody conducting such a test, as they also would in Australia, UK and most of Europe. We in the USA, do not realize, how authoritarian (socialistic) other countries are, yet we have the freedom to prove what products are good for our customers. Well anyway, the Aussies and Canucks find it amazing that we test with SML, but the data is absolutely objective, and once we have the results, we update our annual radar detector test chart.

Other companies or groups that test products are seldom objective. One test company that specializes in testing radar detectors, is hired by manufacturers to do tests and positive technical write ups on the products they tested. While the article produces great marketing exposure on the products tested, the test results never discusses poor performance, yet we test products every year at SML that prove to have less than desirable radar/laser performance, yet gets great write by some test companies. Other test groups tend to test, knowing which product they want to come out on top. In both cases it is a subjective test, and does not provide the customer what they need for real product evaluation. Thus SML appears to be the only objective test facility on our radar, laser and photo market that provides objective testing, using professional staff to collect the data and conduct the product tests.

When we first got into this industry in 1993, we relied on the manufacturers product literature to verify who was best, as I always wanted to sell the best products. It took one year to figure out the manufacturers usually indicate on every product box that that product is the best. Some manufactures use every possible adjective, action verb and phrase possible to describe useless product descriptions. The unwary customer tends to read the product information, and is convinced they have the next best thing to sliced bread. We quickly realized that relying on product literature was not the wise thing to do when picking the best product performance. So we started doing highway tests, but found it was inconsistent, unless you had your own equipment. Thus we came across SML in 1996, started testing products soon after, and over the years we have gained tremendous experience in what to look for in a radar detector, laser jammer and photo radar detectors. The product testing with SML has permitted 1stRadarDetectors to identify which radar detectors and laser jammers are best for our customers each year. Some products stay at the top or near the top, such as Valentine One, while some companies introduce leading edge technology and are always at the top, such as the Passport 9500ix radar detector. The Passport 8500 used to be the #1 radar detector, followed by the Bel Rx65, STi Driver and Valentine One. There is often several very best products, which is what we look for. We discuss these different products in other articles, but the important point it that we don’t sell everything, as with other dealers. We focus on “Best in Test”, which is why it is important to work with an objective test facility such as SML. I think you would find nearly all the other dealers use product literature and second hand knowledge from SML and annual test results to suggest which product is best. But dealers who do not test their products,  have no technical knowledge or test experience to rely on. A customer can tell who knows what they are talking about and who is blowing smoke.

Call 1stRadarDetectors at 303-678-9101 to discuss which radar detector, laser jammer or photo radar detector is best for you.

Passport 9500ci Radar Detector

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

The Passport 9500ci is the finest radar detector in 2010, introduced in early 2009 as a remote radar detector combining some of the best technologies in one remote radar detector. It is designed for hidden installation and includes a blue display, which I prefer, especially for night driving. Blue is easier on your eyes when driving at night. The radar module uses the new dual antenna configuration from Beltronics, who provides leading edge, radar detector technology, and is owned by Escort Radar.  The dual radar antenna is split up into an X band antenna and a second antenna supporting K band and Ka band. This dual configuration is unique in that it also supports 100% invisibility to all radar detector detectors, RDD, used by police around the world to detect who has a radar detector in their car. But the 9500ci is 100% invisible. That is due to this dual antenna radar antenna using a unique phase inversion, that no other company can use due to Escort and Beltronics patented antenna design.

The Passport 9500ci also provides voice alerts; and the blue display provides radar frequency, signal strength, radar bands and the 9500ci radar detector can alert to multiple radar signals as well. The radar detection performance is superb, combined with 100% RDD invisibility. If the radar module is installed, hidden on the passenger sunvisor, or up on a ski rack, it will provide front and rear radar detection. Although most installers will think that a remote radar detector should be installed down in the grille, which is the traditional discrete location, that is the worst place to put a radar detector. Heat from the radiator is high down there, making the Passport 9500ci radar module operate hotter, thus less efficient. Road noise from the road surface is high, thus reducing its radar detection distance. While it may be trick to hide a radar module down in the grille, it is less efficient, worse performance, and more expensive to locate it down there. But, wow, it is trick! But if you want to double the radar detector performance, hide the radar module up in the sun visor, or up on a ski rack, and if you want trick and performance, locate the radar module in a special polycarbonate box behind the rear view mirror. In all three locations, you will get outstanding radar detection performance, longer life and better day to day performance. The idea it to get maximum radar detection performance. There are superb installers and there are poor installers, but they don’t always know the technical aspects of the products. We by the way, have a list of installers around the USA, who have superb install skills, and who listen to technology advise. Call us if you want the best remote radar detector and a superb installer in your area of the USA.

The Passport 9500ci combines a GPS antenna module with the radar module. The GPS knows where it is at on planet earth by longitude and latitude at all times, as long as it has access to the GPS satellites up in space. Since there are a good number of satellites in the sky, it is rare that you do not have good GPS reception. The GPS location is combined with on board memory, thus the Passport 9500ci can be programmed with photo radar data, specifically where all the speed cameras and red light cameras are located. This was a fantastic inclusion to the Passport 9500ci product. But Escort Radar took it a step further by also including an AutoLearn feature, which allows the AutoLearn software to store each radar alert (longitude, latitude and frequency) in temporary memory. If the memory sees the same longitude/latitude/frequency in three successive passes over a period of time, it is 99.9% sure to be a store front, false radar location. When you walk into many stores today with automatic door openers, as you look above the door frame, you will frequently see a little black box. That is usually X band or sometimes K band radar, low power we hope, which detects motion.

Thus the Passport 9500ci can stop alerting to that location. But if a police car pulls into a parking lot location at that store front, the police car frequency will be different, thus the Passport 9500ci will alert to a sneaky police car, but reject the storefront radar. When you drive by these stores in suburban areas, that is why your traditional radar detector alerts all the time. Does it drive you mad? Then get a radar detector such as the Passport 9500ci that can remember where these X and K false radar locations are.

The Passport 9500ci also combines a ZR4 laser shifter, Escort’s version of a laser jammer, with the 9500ci radar detector. The Shifter ZR4 is designed to program as a laser detector only for those 7 states banning laser jammers; or it can be programmed as a laser detector and laser jammer in those 43 states and western Canada and western Australia where it is legal. The Shifter ZR4 will jam 2/3 of the most prevalent laser jammers, and if you want laser gun usage information, check our article on laser guns used in different states. We like to combine the Blinder M47 laser jammer with the Passport 9500ci to provide superb, radar detector, laser jammer and photo radar detector system.

Passport SR7 Radar Detector

Sunday, May 9th, 2010

Passport Radar developed the Passport SR7 as a remote radar detector, designed for hidden installation into vehicles. At the time in 2004 time frame, it was the best out there. It is the predecessor to the Passport 9500ci radar detector, which is the best remote radar detector today. The Passport SR7, also known as the Escort SR7 radar detector  is still sold quite a bit by installers and provides a single, internal, radar antenna to detect radar at the primary US radar bands of X, K and Ka superwide radar.

It provides a radar antenna, voice speaker, display and control module, making this SR7 radar detector fairly simple to install. The display provides a red LED matrix display, giving you signal strength, radar band; while the voice speaker gave you voice alerts.

The radar antenna is good at detecting radar, however, the historical location to install the radar detector by installers, is to locate the radar module down in the grille. Installers are good at installing, but locating a radar module close to the highway surface, may be trick, but it reduce the radar detection efficiency. The closer to the highway surface you get, the poorer the radar detection performance. Why did you buy a remote radar detector, you ask? Most people do not make the connection between radar detection and trick installations. The reality is that you want a trick install that provides superb radar detector performance. We will discuss that in another article.

Over all, the Passport SR7 is an excellent remote radar detector, providing good radar detection as a pure radar detector; i.e, it detects radar, but does not add GPS, photo, memory or 100% RDD electronic invisibility, as does the Passport 9500ci radar detector. If installed with the radar detector module as high in your vehicle as possible, such as hidden behind the rear view mirror in a special polycarbonate box, or hidden up on the sun visor using a good radar detector visor holder, then the Passport SR7 will give you good X, K, Ka radar detection. It has no software ability to filter out false alerts, so this comes with the lower cost of the Passport SR7.

Radar Detector Laws – USA

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Review radar detector laws, laser jammer laws and radar jammer laws in the states with in the United States that ban these devices. States are listed alphabetically.

California radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans radar jammers and laser jammers

Jamming: Electronic Speed-Measuring Devices

28150. (a) No vehicle shall be equipped with any device that is designed for, or is capable of, jamming, scrambling, neutralizing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with radar, laser, or any other electronic device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects.

(b) No person shall use, buy, possess, manufacture, sell, or otherwise distribute any device that is designed for jamming, scrambling, neutralizing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with radar, laser, or any other electronic device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) is an infraction.

(d) When a person possesses four or more devices in violation of subdivision (b), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who has a valid federal license for operating the devices described in this section may transport one or more of those devices if the license is carried in the vehicle transporting the device at all times when the device is being transported.

Added Sec. 1, Ch. 493, Stats. 1998. Effective January 1, 1999.

Colorado radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans radar jammers and refers to laser jammers at one point.

42-4-1415. Radar jamming devices prohibited – penalty.

(1) (a) No person shall use, possess, or sell a radar jamming device.

(b) No person shall operate a motor vehicle with a radar jamming device in the motor vehicle.

(2) (a) For purposes of this section, “radar jamming device” means any active or passive device, instrument, mechanism, or equipment that is designed or intended to interfere with, disrupt, or scramble the radar or laser that is used by law enforcement agencies and peace officers to measure the speed of motor vehicles. “Radar jamming device” includes but is not limited to devices commonly referred to as “jammers” or “scramblers”.

(b) For purposes of this section, “radar jamming device” shall not include equipment that is legal under FCC regulations, such as a citizens’ band radio, ham radio, or any other similar electronic equipment.

(3) Radar jamming devices are subject to seizure by any peace officer and may be confiscated and destroyed by order of the court in which a violation of this section is charged.

(4) A violation of subsection (1) of this section is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense, punishable as provided in section 42-4-1701 (3) (a) (II) (A).

(5) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to peace officers acting in their official capacity.

History
Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 340,  1, effective July 1.

Illinois radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans radar jammers and laser jammers

Sec. 12-613. Possession and use of radar or laser jamming devices prohibited.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), a person may not operate or be in actual physical control of a motor vehicle while the motor vehicle is equipped with any instrument designed to interfere with microwaves or lasers at frequencies used by police radar for the purpose of monitoring vehicular speed.

(b) A person operating a motor vehicle who possesses within the vehicle a radar or laser jamming device that is contained in a locked opaque box or similar container, or that is not in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and that is not in operation, is not in violation of this Section. (c) Any person found guilty of violating this Section is guilty of a petty offense. A minimum fine of $50 shall be imposed for a first offense and a minimum fine of $100 for a second or subsequent offense.

(d) The radar or laser jamming device or mechanism shall be seized by the law enforcement officer at the time of the violation. This Section does not authorize the permanent forfeiture to the State of any radar or laser jamming device or mechanism. The device or mechanism shall be taken and held for the period when needed as evidence. When no longer needed for evidence, the defendant may petition the court for the return of the device or mechanism. The defendant, however, must prove to the court by a preponderance of the evidence that the device or mechanism will be used only for a legitimate and lawful purpose.

(d) A law enforcement officer may not stop or search any motor vehicle or the driver of any motor vehicle solely on the basis of a violation or suspected violation of this Section.

(Source: P.A. 94-594, eff. 1-1-06.)

Minnesota radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans Radar Jammers and Laser jammers are inferred

Subd. 12. Radar jammer. For purposes of this section, “radar jammer” means any instrument, device, or equipment designed or intended for use with a vehicle or otherwise to jam or interfere in any manner with a speed-measuring device operated by a peace officer.

No person shall sell, offer for sale, use, or possess any radar jammer in this state.

Nebraska radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans radar jammers only

Section 60-6,274
Terms, defined.

For purposes of sections 60-6,274 to 60-6,277:

(1) Radar transmission device shall mean any mechanism designed to interfere with the reception of radio microwaves in the electromagnetic spectrum, which microwaves, commonly referred to as radar, are employed by law enforcement officials to measure the speed of motor vehicles;

(2) Possession shall mean to have a radar transmission device in a motor vehicle if such device is not (a) disconnected from all power sources and (b) in the rear trunk, which shall include the spare tire compartment, or any other compartment which is not accessible to the driver or any other person in the vehicle while such vehicle is in operation. If no such compartment exists in a vehicle, then such device must be disconnected from all power sources and be placed in a position not readily accessible to the driver or any other person in the vehicle; and

(3) Transceiver shall mean an apparatus contained in a single housing, functioning alternately as a radio transmitter and receiver.

Section 60-6,275
Radar transmission device; operation; possession; unlawful; violation; penalty.

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or possess any radar transmission device while operating a motor vehicle on any highway in this state. Any person who violates this section shall be guilty of a Class IIIA misdemeanor.

Section 60-6,276
Authorized devices.

Section 60-6,275 shall not apply to (1) any transmitter, transceiver, or receiver of radio waves which has been lawfully licensed by the Federal Communications Commission or (2) any device being used by law enforcement officials in their official duties

Section 60-6,277
Prohibited device; seizure; disposal.

Any device prohibited by sections 60-6,275 and 60-6,276 found as the result of an arrest made under such sections shall be seized, and when no longer needed as evidence, such device shall, if the owner was convicted of an offense under such sections, be considered as contraband and disposed of pursuant to section 29-820.

Oklahoma radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans radar jammers and laser jammers

Section 11-808 – Radar Interference Devices – Advertising, Sale, Manufacture Or Distribution Prohibited – Exemption – Penalties

A. As used in this section:

1. “Jammer” means any instrument, device, or equipment designed or intended for use with a vehicle or otherwise to jam or interfere with in any manner a speed measuring device operated by a law enforcement officer in the vicinity; and

2. “Speed measuring device” shall include, but is not limited to, devices commonly known as radar speed meters or laser speed meters.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to use or possess a jammer.

C. It shall be unlawful to manufacture, advertise or offer for sale, sell or otherwise distribute any jammer in this state.

D. This section shall not apply to any person who lawfully possesses a license issued by the Federal Communications Commission for the use of a jammer.

Tennessee radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans laser jammers and radar jammers

39-16-610. Radar jamming devices. -

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) “Radar jamming device” means any active or passive device, instrument, mechanism, or equipment that is designed or intended to interfere with, disrupt, or scramble the radar or laser that is used by law enforcement agencies and officers to measure the speed of motor vehicles;

(2) “Radar jamming device” includes, but is not limited to, devices commonly referred to as “jammers” or “scramblers”; and

(3) “Radar jamming device” does not include equipment that is legal under FCC regulations, such as a citizens’ band radio, ham radio, or any other similar electronic equipment.

(b) It is an offense for any person to knowingly possess or sell a radar jamming device.

(c) It is an offense for any person to knowingly operate a motor vehicle with a radar jamming device in the motor vehicle.

(d) It is an offense for a person to knowingly use a radar jamming device for the purpose of interfering with the radar signals or lasers used by law enforcement personnel to measure the speed of a motor vehicle on a highway.

(e) Any radar jamming device that is used in violation of this section is subject to seizure by any law enforcement officer and may be confiscated and destroyed by order of the court in which a violation of this section is charged.

(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity.

(g) (1) A violation of subsection (b) or (c) is a Class C misdemeanor.

(2) A violation of subsection (d) is a Class B misdemeanor.

[Acts 2006, ch. 853, 1.]

Utah radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Source: Bans radar jammers and laser jammers

41-6a-609. Radar jamming devices and jamming radar prohibited — Defense — Exceptions — Penalties.

(1) As used in this section, “radar jamming device” means any instrument or mechanism designed or intended to interfere with the radar or any laser that is used by law enforcement personnel to measure the speed of a motor vehicle on a highway.

(2) (a) A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a highway with a radar jamming device in the motor vehicle.

(b) A person may not knowingly use a radar jamming device to interfere with the radar signals or lasers used by law enforcement personnel to measure the speed of a motor vehicle on a highway.

(3) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under Subsection (2)(a) that the radar jamming device was in an inoperative condition or could not be readily used at the time of the arrest or citation.

(4) This section does not apply to law enforcement personnel acting in their official capacity.

(5) A person who violates this section is guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 2, 2005 General Session

Virginia radar detector laws and laser jammer laws. Bans radar jammers and laser jammers

� 46.2-1079. Radar detectors; demerit points not to be awarded.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth when such vehicle is equipped with any device or mechanism, passive or active, to detect or purposefully interfere with or diminish the measurement capabilities of any radar, laser, or other device or mechanism employed by law-enforcement personnel to measure the speed of motor vehicles on the highways of the Commonwealth for law-enforcement purposes. It shall be unlawful to use any such device or mechanism on any such motor vehicle on the highways. It shall be unlawful to sell any such device or mechanism in the Commonwealth. However, provisions of this section shall not apply to any receiver of radio waves utilized for lawful purposes to receive any signal from a frequency lawfully licensed by any state or federal agency.

This section shall not be construed to authorize the forfeiture to the Commonwealth of any such device or mechanism. Any such device or mechanism may be taken by the arresting officer if needed as evidence, and, when no longer needed, shall be returned to the person charged with a violation of this section, or at that person’s request, and his expense, mailed to an address specified by him. Any unclaimed devices may be destroyed on court order after six months have elapsed from the final date for filing an appeal.

Except as provided in subsection B of this section, the presence of any such prohibited device or mechanism in or on a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth shall constitute prima facie evidence of the violation of this section. The Commonwealth need not prove that the device or mechanism in question was in an operative condition or being operated.

B. A person shall not be guilty of a violation of this section when the device or mechanism in question, at the time of the alleged offense, had no power source and was not readily accessible for use by the driver or any passenger in the vehicle.

C. This section shall not apply to motor vehicles owned by the Commonwealth or any political subdivision thereof and used by law-enforcement officers in their official duties, nor to the sale of any such device or mechanism to law-enforcement agencies for use in their official duties.

D. No demerit points shall be awarded by the Commissioner for violations of this section. Any demerit points awarded by the Commissioner prior to July 1, 1992, for any violation of this section shall be rescinded and the driving record of any person awarded demerit points for a violation of this section shall be amended to reflect such rescission.

(1962, c. 125, 46.1-198.1; 1975, c. 108; 1976, c. 90; 1978, cc. 87, 91; 1981, c. 303; 1989, c. 727; 1992, c. 825; 1998, c. 300.)

Best Radar Detector

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

How does the STi Driver (and Escort Redline) differ from the Valentine One and Passport 9500ix radar detectors? Which is the best radar detector?

The STi Driver has two antennas, both facing to the front; while the Valentine One has two antennas with a large radar antenna facing to the front and small radar antenna facing to the rear. The Passport 9500ix has one antenna only facing front. Each of the radar detectors can detect radar front and rear, but Valentine can tell you which direction the radar is coming from. A lot of people buy the V1 for that reason, but if you think about the radar encounter, when you get a radar alert, 95% of people slow down first before looking at the display. Slowing down implies that performance is more important than display aesthetics. So, while the V1 display is unique and informative, the display has no advantage to detection. STi Driver and Escort Redline both have dual antennas, and both antennas face to the front, one X antenna and 1 K/Ka antenna. The STi Driver and Redline also incorporate total electronic invisibility with the dual antennae setup. Passport 9500ix uses one antenna to the front supporting X/K/Ka in that single antenna. The summary is that V1 detects very well, provides directional alerts, is very difficult to program, and has higher levels of false alerts. The Escort Redline detects equally as well as the V1, alerts to front and rear radar, provides total electronic invisibility, has fewer false alerts than V1, provides audio, visual and voice alerts and is easy to program.  The Bel STi Driver detects almost as well as the V1, alerts to front and rear radar, provides total electronic invisibility, has fewer false alerts than V1, provides audio, visual and voice alerts and is easy to program.

The reason the STi Driver and Escort Redline have two antennas is to aid in electronic invisibility, while increasing signal reception. RDD invisibility is accomplished by using wavelength filtering to the local oscillator RF signal that is trying to escape from the radar detector.Each of the dual antenna are tuned to a more narrow radar range, thus it allows better signal to noise calibration. Thus, the K and Ka radar bands were separated to one large front antenna in the STi Driver, significantly increasing K radar detection and Ka radar detection, enough that the STi Driver performance nearly the same as the Valentine One and Passport 9500ix. The advantage is nearly equal radar detection performance on X, K and Ka radar bands, while adding total (100%) electronic invisibility to police RDD and reducing the number of false radar alerts. The second antenna in the STi Driver is a smaller X band antenna. The end result is the STi Driver can get 9.1 to 9.2 miles detection distance on X, K, Ka radar in dry climates (we test every year down in El Paso, Texas with Speed Measurement Labs), while providing 100% electronic invisibility to all police radar detector detectors (RDD). So people in Eastern Canada, Australia, Virginia love the STi Driver for its radar performance end electronic invisibility to police.

Valentine One has one front antenna, and has very good signal detection. It also provides a small rear facing antenna in support of direction radar alerts; however the level of false alerts by the Valentine One are typically higher, which is the feedback we get from customers. We also see higher false alerts in road tests. The Valentine 1 also detects radar to the rear, using a small rearward facing antenna, and rear radar detection is about 1.5 miles, while Bel STi Driver, Escort Redline and the Passport 9500ix is from 1 to 1.25 miles detection to the rear. The Valentine One can point in the direction of the front or rear radar, while Passport 9500ix, Escort Redline and STi Driver can only tell you radar is out there, but does not point in the direction. The Valentine One directional alerts are the primary reason people buy the Valentine 1, and while it is unique and quite interesting, but pointing in the direction of the radar is done after the fact of detecting the radar, so it is adding a marketing feature, rather than a performance feature. If you think about it, a person’s first response to a radar alert is to reach for the brakes, rather than look for what direction the radar is coming from. So detecting the radar is more important to driver needs than the the display of radar. While Valentine 1 is pretty good at electronic invisibility to RDD (radar detector detector), it is not 100% as with the STi Driver. The Valentine One points to side radar, but it is a marketing concept more than a useful function. Most people think the side radar tells them of a police car pointing radar at the side of their car as they drive by, but radar can not detect vehicle speed unless the vehicle is moving towards or away from the radar gun. For example, you could be doing 200 MPH in your Ferrari, drive by a policeman aiming his radar gun at your vehicle as you drive by, and his radar gun would register perhaps 1 MPH, if at all. The reason for this is called the Cosine Error. As you drive towards the radar gun the angle is 0 degrees, and the Cosine Error is 0. As the radar gun angle increases from zero towards 90 degrees (right angle), the Doppler radar signal decreases until it reaches zero (0) Doppler frequency, i.e, no change in frequency. So while the right and left facing arrows on the Valentine one display are interesting, what it really is useful for is telling you when you are driving by a radar source, such as a speed camera. Any radar gun pointing at your right or left door (at 90 degrees) as you drive by would measure zero MPH, as you drove by. The end result is the Valentine One can get 9.4 miles detection distance on X, K, Ka radar at our SML radar detector tests, but can not provide 100% electronic invisibility to all police radar detector detectors (RDD) and customer feedback indicates higher false alerts.

The Passport 9500ix uses one antenna in front, does not use phase shifting, thus it is not 100% undetectable like the STi Driver. The Passport adds a GPS antenna and on board memory to remember where red light cameras are, where speed cameras are, and to learn where false radar, store front locations are. It has the same detection performance as the Valentine One, using one antenna, and like the STi Driver, the Escort 9500ix can also detect radar to the rear, but not quite as good as the Valentine One. The real advantage of the Escort 9500ix is radar detection + Photo Radar detection + false alert reduction + WEB updates. Given it has equal performance as the Valentine One radar detector, but has many more useful features than V1 radar detector, the Passport 9500ix took 1st place in over all performance last year at Speed Measurement Labs. When the Passport 9500ix was first introduced in 2009, the major marketing push was that it added speed camera alerts, red light camera alerts and WEB updates. But most of our customers, while they really like the red light camera capability, speed camera alerts and WEB updates, the really positive feedback is the capability of the Passport 9500ix to automatically learn (AutoLearn) where local false store front radar alerts are; thus reducing false radar alerts significantly. The Passport 9500ix is a windshield mounted radar detector, and the cousin to the 9500ix is the Passport 9500ci radar detector, which has all the capabilities of the Passport 9500ix (radar detector, photo radar detector of red light cameras and speed cameras, WEB updates, AutoLearn) and then adds a Shifter ZR4 laser jammer, 100% electronic invisibility and hidden installation.

The Passport 9500ix will be your best all around radar detector for city and highway driving; while the STi Driver would be an outstanding radar detector for cross country driving only and used where you do not want the police to know you have a radar detector. The Valentine One provides both US radar frequencies and international frequencies, so Europeans love it, but beware, as it is not 100% electronically invisible for European drivers, and their fines are quite harsh. The Passport 9500ci has it all for Canada, USA, New Zealand and Australia by combining radar detection, photo radar detection, electronic invisibility, laser detection, laser jamming, WEB updates and hidden installation.

Call 1stRadarDetectors.com at 303-678-9101 to discuss the best radar detector.

John Turner

Radar Detector

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

Many companies produce radar detectors for the driving public. Which radar detector is best? It usually depends on where you drive, such as country or state or province. Some people need a pure radar detector with superb levels of radar detection; while other drivers want radar laser detectors or radar photo detectors. Drivers in the USA, AUS, Canada and New Zealand use the same radar frequencies, X, K, Ka radar. Drivers in Asia use Ku, K band and Ka radar. Europe drivers use Narrowband Photo Ka radar and Ku radar. So the radar detector best in the USA is may or may not support your needs in Europe and Asia.

The really good radar detectors today are beginning to combine a radar detector with a photo radar detector. Radar detectors detect traditional X, Ku, K, Ka narrowband radar, as described above. Photo radar detectors use GPS antennas to identify a “LOCATION” of a photo radar speed trap. Photo radar is a combination of a speed camera and a radar gun, where the radar detects the vehicle speed and the photo camera takes a picture of the speeding vehicle. We discuss photo radar in other blogs.

Radar detectors also detect laser, but the smart person will do some study and find that detecting a laser gun is like putting lipstick on a pig. Let’s compare a radar gun to a laser gun. Let’s say 6 drivers are coming down the highway and a policeman aims a radar gun and pulls the trigger. The radar beam looks like a fog bank, traveling down the highway (at sub-light speed). As it impacts each vehicle, a doppler signal reflects off each of the 6 vehicles, reflecting back to the police radar gun. The radar gun will display only one of those speeds, unless it uses the very advanced Fourier Transform technology, which is far and few between. So only one speed is displayed, thus the drivers have an argument, “It was not my speed.”

A laser gun is a beam of concentrated light. Many of you have been in a meeting where a red laser pen pointer is used to highlight information during a presentation. The red light beam is a visible red light, but a laser gun uses an invisible infrared light, which drivers can not see and which travels at light speed down the highway. In this case, the laser beam travels past 5 drivers, not seen by the driver, not detected by the radar detector in their windshield. Remember, the laser beam is small, but it does grow in diameter as it travels down the highway. However, it is aimed aimed down on the license plate. In most cases the radar detector will not detect the laser beam down on the license plate. But let’s say it is a really good radar detector and does detect the beam “aimed at your vehicles“. So at the same moment your radar detector alerted you, the laser beam reflecting at light speed back to the laser gun, detects your speed. Are you getting this? Detecting a laser gun is useless! You have to use a laser jammer to protect you from laser guns, but that is another story.

The best windshield mounted, radar detector for the USA and Canada is the Passport 9500ix, which combines radar and photo radar and is truly outstanding. It also comes in a remote hidden version called the Passport 9500ci, which combines radar detector with photo radar detector and a laser jammer, called the Shifter ZR4.

Many customers in AUS and NZ love the Bel STi Driver, called the BEL STi XR in AU, both which are identical in radar detector frequency detection. The Bel RX65 is an outstanding radar detector for Europe as it detects both Ku radar and narrowband Photo radar, as well as all traditional radar.

Police use radar guns on average 65% in the USA and Canada. Over time this will change with photo radar and laser taking over 50% of the market by 2013 or 2015. Europe uses a lot of Photo radar and in some countries they use Ku radar as well as laser, so Europe is not completely consistent. We do have laser jammers, as well as photo radar jammers for both applications in Europe and we also have radar detectors that are quite good in Europe.

Call 1stRadarDetectors.com at 303-678-9101 to discuss radar detectors.

John Turner