I don't think your statements are entirely correct. I have first hand experience with my detector picking up both laser and Ka radar from cops who aren't even targeting me. I've picked up laser from a cop heading the opposite direction on the freeway. Obviously he wasn't trying to get my speed. I get Ka readings from cops a mile away, and obviously they aren't targeting me specifically.

 

THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I TRY TELLING PEOPLE SAVE YOU $100...BTW the Valentine 1 has a huge ugly shape to it if that matter to you too...Unless you conceal it and then now you spending like double and stuff overpriced ishhh...

 

My X50 has detected Ka 11 miles away from two troopers who had already pulled a car over and left their radars on. Granted, I was on a perfectly straight road with flat elevation, but I have never been suprised by radar yet with this detector. Instant on radar and laser are going to be the hardest things to avoid. If you're the only one on the road for miles and the cop hasn't turned the radar on in a while until zapping you, you're pretty much caught. However, I've detected instant on from cops hitting cars a mile or two ahead of me and had time to slow down.

 

[QUOTE=2QYK4U,Apr 1 2006, 09:19 AM] I've picked up laser from a cop heading the opposite direction on the freeway.

 

^ So your saying all laser detectors are hand-held? There aren't ANY laser detectors that are actually mounted to a cops car? I know the difference between laser and radar. My radar detector gives me a X, K, Ka, POP, and LASER warning, depending on what is being used.

I said this before, and I'll say it again, I was driving south bound on a freeway and my radar detector displayed LASER as a cop went by north bound.

 

Although what you're saying here is generally true relative to radar signals, I think you're also overstating it by being so absolute.

Like any other light, the IR light from the lasers in those law-enforcement lidar systems scatters, and you can pick up the scattered light on your system (sometimes) if you're not the target. This isn't something to count on, however, like you can with the radar signals.

When I lived in New Mexico, the sheriff and his guys got a lidar system, and they would set up speed traps with it and a bunch of chase cars. There were several occasions when my V1 lit up while I was in a pack of traffic but I wasn't the ultimate victim, some poor guy in front of me was, and I was just getting a scattered signal off his car.

In addition to these "false" laser alarms, mine goes off when I'm behind certain vehicles whose tail (or brake) lights are deeply red enough to emit some of the IR that the V1 is tuned for. That's a pain.

My take on this whole thing is: when one of the V1's radar bands lights up, I pay attention, slow down, watch for the patrol car from where the signal's coming from; but when the laser band lights up, I hold my breath, slow down, and feel lucky if I don't get popped. HPH

 

[QUOTE=2QYK4U,Apr 1 2006, 03:34 PM] ^ So your saying all laser detectors are hand-held?

 

yes, it's possible that a scattered IR beam could be picked up by your detector, but very unlikely, beacuse of how focused the beam is and the part of the car the officers specifically aim for. i'd say maybe 2 times out of 10 at best. you have a better chance of picking up a cop shooting lidar with a shaky hand, and he moves his beam around a bit before nailing you or another car.

 

Mmmm k....I am going to say this and leave it at that: There are CHP cars running around with the detectors hard mounted to their dash, as well as some mounted to their front fender.

 

those are not lidar/laser speed measuring guns.

they are either:

car mounted radar;

car mounted camera systems used to take pictures of license plates, etc.
http://www.policeone.com/police-products/t...articles/95608/


and even if they were laser (which is unheard of thus far according to the police officers whom I've asked), they can't use them while they are moving. THERE IS NO LIDAR DEVICE THAT CAN BE USED WHILE MOVING. i'm unsure why this is a difficult concept to grasp.....