Radar Stealth???

Hi Ekpolk,

I tell you what. Replace the bumper mounts with hydraulic cylinders. Get rid of the styrofoam under the over, and put in a corner cube machined from billet reflector. Then put in a RWR, and when it detects anything run a PRBS signal into the hydraulic cylnders. This will but a broad band noise into the reflection and reduce the S/N of the pure speed doepler. Can't do this on aircraft, but very practical on a car.

 

Nah, you're all making this waaay more difficult than it needs to be. All you gotta do is keep up with the racer boy next to you long enough to challenge his self-assumed superiority. "Haha, that Prius wants to race. What a joke. We'll show him!" Then, he'll race off into the distance and find the radar for you. It's usually good for at least an extra 20mph.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ 2007 10 01 19:17) [snapback]520106[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, that's the idea. My favourite pace car is a 5 litre Mustang. Technique beats brute force and ignorance every time. Besides, if you do get pulled over, you can try to rely on radar's inaccuracy and the golf cart theory. "What? 140 kmh? No, officer, that couldn't have been me. I don't think this car even goes that fast."

Unfortunately, a few silly celebrities experimenting with terminal velocity may have ruined this for us.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Oct 1 2007, 07:17 PM) [snapback]520106[/snapback]</div>

I have been using that model for the past 2 years and it has saved me from at least 5 citations.... It works with non-Corvettes as well. Cars like Mustangs, p-cars, and b-mers are just as effective for running point. If someone else is in a hurry and I am also, maintaining a few hundred yard following distance with the Escort on high is the best insurance against radar tickets.

 

Another possibility: How fast were you going? Many of these roadside radar signs are programmed to light up only when the car is exceeding the speed limit. If you drive by at or under the limit, the sign is dark.

 

ive been "detected" dozens of times, including every day now since i pass one of those speed display signs every day.

 

Hi All,

Never seen a sign that did not light up. The letters turn red and start blinking here (from yellow and non-blinking), when you are over what the police set it to as something they would ticket you for.

 

Interesting. I have two black cars, my Prius and my RSX. Both cars either don't set off those speed signs at all, or the sign is ubable to tell my exact speed if it does see me.

Speed signs: as I pass one, it will continuously and randomly display numbers all over the speed scope, even telling me that I'm going 100mph, even though I'm only going whatever speed is the limit in that area. Happens with and without my cruise controll set. And sometimes, they don't even see me and remain blank as I pass by.

Intersection lights sometimes also fail to notice that I'm waiting to cross. Even if I rock back and forth, they still fail to see me (especially at night). I only have this problem on sight-based lights. Weight-based doesn't have any trouble.

Perhaps this is a black car thing? Or a black car with a shape like the Prius & RSX?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Starbug @ Oct 4 2007, 04:30 PM) [snapback]521415[/snapback]</div>

Its the Pirate thing. You are like a ghost ship to radar. :lol:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ekpolk @ Sep 30 2007, 08:15 PM) [snapback]519651[/snapback]</div>

My Xebra ought to be pretty much immune, then: Fiberglass body; no radiator; no engine block (or engine); and since it's licensed as a motorcycle, there's no front license plate. I think the only metal in it are the pedals, the axles, and the electric motor, small and low in the real axle.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Starbug @ Oct 4 2007, 04:30 PM) [snapback]521415[/snapback]</div>

It's because you're driving a ghost ship, Angela! When the moon is full no cop in the state would dare stop you.

 

I have discussed hand held radar, laser speed readers, and the speed display trailers at length with some police buddies.

Usually the radar gets their reading from the rad, and if that doesn't work well (Corvette for example where it's sloped) the front wheels give a really nice relection. The wheels are quite large pieces of metal.

The laser device works best from the front license plate. If you don't have one of those (I don't) they work off the chrome grill.

The speed display trailers use the old radar technology. Drives me crazy as they use so much power, are on continuously, and have so much range. The ones around here work well below the speed limit and have no trouble detecting my car. The colour of the car will have no effect on radar. While these devices are not monitored by the police, they -are- effective at slowing down traffic, as most people are guilt ridden when they see their speed displayed for all to see. Here they only seem to use them in construction zones, where it's a good idea to be going slower anyway.

I was going to shut off the "X" band detection in my V1, but the photo-radar uses this band here, so it would be counter productive if I did. Too bad, as a lot of the automatic door openers also use "X" band. I tell passengers my V1 is a "door detector".

Finally, there are always "unintended consequences" to using technology on public roads. Certain youth cliques seem to get great satisfaction photographing their speed displayed on the trailer units - usually the higher the speed the better. I've seen them used in avatars on forums - "Posted speed 50 MPH, your speed 95 MPH".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Oct 5 2007, 09:57 AM) [snapback]521828[/snapback]</div>

First time I have heard about youth being behind the curve (so-to-speak). What about running the car at max speed and photographing the tach and speedo - don't need a radar detector for that (and some detectors max at 99 mph....). Even my MINI can beat 99 mpg. If you get on a race track, you could even do the run legally.... Goodness, so yesterday....

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(David Beale @ Oct 5 2007, 12:57 PM) [snapback]521828[/snapback]</div>

Radar speed detectors need regular, certified calibration. I doubt whether these road-side unmanned radar indicators are calibrated regularly - since they're not used for law enforcement, it's likely many of them are not maintained as they should be.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dogfriend @ Oct 4 2007, 04:59 PM) [snapback]521422[/snapback]</div>

Sweet! B)

"Arrrrgh, matey! No traffic sign is a match for me!" :lol:



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(daniel @ Oct 4 2007, 05:15 PM) [snapback]521432[/snapback]</div>

They know better than to risk becoming my prisoner! I even keep a fierce Bangal Tiger (see avatar) as a guard to make sure prisoners don't escape.....alive. Bwa-hahahahahaha!

 

Wow, with smaller Radar signature our Prius have, all they need is radar absorbing paint.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ceric @ Oct 6 2007, 01:23 AM) [snapback]522113[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure why you think the Prius has a small radar signature. My observations are it doesn't. It has a large vertical rad, and headlamps that don't pivot/retract . Both of these are perfect radar reflectors. The portable roadside speed displays work just fine on my car. Even from a distance.

While the RCMP officer on highway 1 in B.C. didn't stop me for doing 75 kmPH in a 60 zone, I suspect it was because he/she was looking for the "real" speeders, the ones doing 90 or more. The funny part of this was he/she didn't turn on the radar (instant on is what they use here) until almost beside me, probably ignoring the "slow" Prius and going after the two SUVs that were behind me. He/she certainly scared them, they slowed down, I didn't. Funny things that happen on the road.

 

Here in washington state, HP uses the front license plate for their main reflective surface...
I think we all get fewer tickets because driving like jerks lowers MPG

 

I think most officers know who's speeding just by observation. The radar is merely the proof, and 'instant on' is pretty hard to beat. Certain driving techniques help, and many things can be done to reduce the reflected signal, but even a bicycle shows up on radar. Dangit.