Just installed Passport SR7 Radar detector / Laser Jammer

nice install! i've been wanting a unit like this for a while. let me know how it works out hehe

 

Very clean looking installation!! I have been thinking about doing something like this on my Prius for quite a while.. Maybe this weekend I will finally install mine!!

 

Nice install but for the lfe of me I cannot fathom why you would need it. The Prius is all about mileage *not* going faster than the law allows.

On a sports car sure. It makes sense. Not on the Pri IMHO of course. YMMV.

 

That's a lame excuse. The only valid excuse for speeding is a real emergency.

Tom

 

does that thing really "jam" radar? does it work?

 

Meh. I went through two V1s (ticket-free) before finally deciding that the detector/jammer thing was pointless. The jammer heads are mounted in about the ideal location but you are still unlikely to avoid a ticket if you are moving fast enough to get one. These headlights are BIG and return a heck of a lot of laser energy. That, and Escort doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to keeping up with LIDAR technology. Even Blinder has fallen behind and they used to be the 'gold standard'. Long story short, don't develop any false sense of security lest you wind up with a ticket and, a state or two to the south, a court summons resulting from your attempt to interfere with the duties of an officer. (But only if it works.) Then there's radar. What self respecting traffic cop just leaves it on, anyway? One zap and you are done.

But hey, to each his own. I understand wanting to know when you are being watched, and believe that you have a right to that effect. But like I said, don't make any false assumptions about what that equipment is actually worth. It could get expensive.

 

Be careful. Below the speed-limit or not, the device is illegal in Virginia - hence your low profile installation?

 

As Jack66 said, Radar Detectors are illegal in this "great" commonwealth.

Also: With your receiving antennas being so low, by the time you get the alarm, it's too late. Most of the radars operate at a very high frequency, therefore are line of sight. This means as you come over a hill, remember the police sit over the crest of hills, the radar already has a "lock-on" on your car BEFORE your low-mounted unit detects the radar.

Another item: Some of our police units ALSO have Radar Detector detection units. They pick up small spurious RF some radar detectors give off. That's enough for them to stop you and give you a ticket because you have an illegal radar detector.

 

True, but then there is no need for that sort of equipment if you don't speed. Any other explanation is a rationalization. I like people to be honest about their motives. If you like to speed and are willing to take the risk, then go for it, but then I would expect to see you stand up and say "Yep, I'm a scoff law. I don't think speed laws are important, so I choose to ignore them." We all make our choices, and we all live with the results.

Tom

 

Unless the radar is used as a revenue generator (California is basically teetering on bankruptcy; local governments are in a similar situation). It is almost impossible to accurately keep the car at the speed limit; given the cost of additional insurance premiums, a radar detector can be justified on the savings in insurance costs alone. It this a rationalization? Probably. But it can also be a response to an unreasonable attempt to pick your wallet to make up for a budget shortfall that has collateral consequences (increased insurance premiums).

 

Just so you know, I work in law enforcement, and any radar/laser detector or jammer simply does not work. Its amazing all of the people that get stopped and complain about how their expensive detector didnt work, or that I must be mistaken about their speed because they have XXX unit.

The equipment we have today will instantly lock onto you and your current speed. All the detector will do is let you know your getting a ticket before you see my lights. Also, most police (except revenue officers) generally will use judgement before writing a citaiton, BUT if you have a detector in your car, its a guaranteed ticket. I hardly write people unless they are jerks, or have a detector.

The only time it will benifit you is if I happen to clock someone about a mile in front of you. As most officers wait for big fish, and your being the big fish, you will eventually get caught.

Moral of the story? Stay +/- 10 mph under the limit. I give 15 personally, but most of the highway patrols or more revanue oriented departments will only give 10, or sometimes 5.

Just stay safe.