3 Questions

[tom_48]

Quick Q:
If I mount a V1 Valentine next to the rear view mirror in my coupe, will it decrease its capabilities if it were mounted in the center of the windshield? Or is the difference so minute that I should not be even bothered?

2nd: If a cop is inside his car, can he still shoot his laser, that is with windows closed?

And a 3rd, stupid Q (to which I think I know the answer):
Do laser jammers block radar waves?

[BlackSapphireZ]

one answer....

just slow down

[Mikewarlover]

Originally Posted by BlackSapphireZ

one answer....

just slow down

lol theres nothing rong with driving faster when the circumstance allows the driver to do so. Police have to distinguish between racing and driving fast because little or no traffic.

I ve got no clue for the OP
Sumeone plz help him.

[rc'Z]

1. Little difference in real world.
2. From using lasers for years, I would be worried about deflection if shot thru a windshield. Get name of manufacture and write them.
3. Laser is a light, radar is a radio wave, no, laser won't jam it.

[tom_48]

Originally Posted by rc'Z

1. Little difference in real world.
2. From using lasers for years, I would be worried about deflection if shot thru a windshield. Get name of manufacture and write them.
3. Laser is a light, radar is a radio wave, no, laser won't jam it.

Thanks for your response, because comments like "just slow down" are neither helpful, nor funny

As for Q #2, I am just trying to decide on a radar detector or a laser jammer. I pretty much just drive in the city, and have never seen a cop shootin a laser, just radar. That's why I was wondering if cops can shoot through the windshield, so that could be why I have never seen any. Well thanks again.

[MMMazing07]

i had a V1 hardwired next to my rearview. it was the perfect location. all the cops in my area use laser so it was pretty much no use other than for speed cameras and vans. i sold it and now have blinder. if i were going to do it again i would go for the blinder

[jragan]

The "proper" position for a radar detector is as high, as level, and as straight as possible.

[M_Six]

All the info you'll ever need: Radar Detector Forums

If the cops in your area use radar, get a radar detector. If they use laser, get a jammer. Out here they use both, but it's so open you can see the laser cops for a mile before they can zap you. It's the instant on from the cops traveling in the opposite direction that I worry about. I've gotten pretty good about spotting oncoming cops before they switch on, though. Other times I just get lucky.

[rc'Z]

Toyou Slow Down guys, some of us like to run about 10 over, most folks run faster than that on a day to day basis. I don't want a chicken $hit ticket for 10 over. I also don't want a lot of cs tickets for 10 over. My use of a detector now would be to avoid cs tickets, not to run 130 or so down the street like I used to do back in the 80's.

[apexstrafer]

Looks like the other issues are covered, but here's my $.02 re: mounting a V1 in an M Coupe.

The only place it'll work as intended is just below the mirror, right in the middle of the windshield. NOT up at the top of the windshield above or to the left or right the mirror. The unit needs a clear line of sight straight out the back window for its rear facing detector to have any decent range. The way the roof curves downward in back, the rear detector will just hit the headliner if it's any higher and be of no use. You're slightly decreasing the forward range by placing it below the mirror, but this is the only way your V1 will work as intended. Mine has saved me countless times and the arrows have been invaluable in locating a threat and knowing how to deal with it accordingly.

This obviously doesn't apply to other detectors - any other units should be placed as high up as possible. But if you're mounting a V1 any other way, you wasted your money and should've just gotten an Escort for $100 less.

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by rc'Z

1. Little difference in real world.
2. From using lasers for years, I would be worried about deflection if shot thru a windshield. Get name of manufacture and write them.
3. Laser is a light, radar is a radio wave, no, laser won't jam it.

1. I don't disagree with too much. As long as the detector has an unobstructed view, it should be fine.

2. Laser is a high intensity shot of EM radiation at a particular frequency. If you can see through the window, there's no doubt that the laser will penetrate.

3. Radio and light are much more related than you think rc. They're both produced by photons, the only real difference is frequency and wavelength or energy of the particle. If you can jam radio waves, you can jam laser, theoretically. However, a radar jamer won't jam laser and visa-versa.

[tom_48]

Originally Posted by rc'Z

Toyou Slow Down guys, some of us like to run about 10 over, most folks run faster than that on a day to day basis. I don't want a chicken $hit ticket for 10 over. I also don't want a lot of cs tickets for 10 over. My use of a detector now would be to avoid cs tickets, not to run 130 or so down the street like I used to do back in the 80's.

Exactly, thank you!

[epbrown]

Originally Posted by rc'Z

Toyou Slow Down guys, some of us like to run about 10 over, most folks run faster than that on a day to day basis. I don't want a chicken $hit ticket for 10 over. I also don't want a lot of cs tickets for 10 over. My use of a detector now would be to avoid cs tickets, not to run 130 or so down the street like I used to do back in the 80's.

I'm pretty sure Jin (BlackSapphireZ) was kidding. In his years on the Z4 forums, I've never gotten the impression that he's just poking along out there - he was in his late teens when he bought his older brother's car, iirc.

As for speeding - on a road trip, I hover at 15 over and will add an occasional burst for passing if it's clear. (er, sometimes the person I want to pass is a mile to so ahead.) Typically, cops won't stop you for 15 or less over on the highway - I've never gotten a ticket for it. I've never used a radar detector, preferring cunning and guile. (Burt, I was wondering what the HELL all that beeping was in your car before I noticed your V1 )

[rc'Z]

FWIW: The worse I was ever caught at, with a detector in use about 20 years ago, was 116 in a 55, in a Porsche, with the brakes on as hard as they would go. I don't do it any more.

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by rc'Z

3. Laser is a light, radar is a radio wave, no, laser won't jam it.

Laser and radio wave are both electromagnetic waves but of different wavelengths. For the laser, the EM waves are in the visible spectrum whilst the radio waves are much longer wavelengths. EM wave jammers are built to jam a specific range of EM waves. So typically, a radar jammer will not jam a laser and vice-versa.

Cheers.

[pmeloche]

Originally Posted by tom_48

Thanks for your response, because comments like "just slow down" are neither helpful, nor funny

To each his own I suppose and I guess we could debate if it's that funny but IMO it's the best advice you got so far. First, you do 70 in a 55 zone then it's 80 then eventually it's 116 in a 55 zone and then you have an accident and kill yourself and/or someone else.

Go track your car if you want to drive fast in a controlled environment.

Cheers.

[Rick Hunter]

Just sit lower... it makes you feel like you're going faster.

[tom_48]

Originally Posted by pmeloche

To each his own I suppose and I guess we could debate if it's that funny but IMO it's the best advice you got so far. First, you do 70 in a 55 zone then it's 80 then eventually it's 116 in a 55 zone and then you have an accident and kill yourself and/or someone else.

Go track your car if you want to drive fast in a controlled environment.

Cheers.

In my defense, I have never gone faster than 80mph in my car . And that was on the highway when pretty much everyone does it or goes even faster. I don't think I drive fast! All I ever do is hover around 10-15mph above the speed limit.

I just think I need a radar because around where I live cops are everywhere and sometimes when I just drive a bit more aggressively, I just want to be more aware of my surroundings.

Originally Posted by BlackSapphireZ

one answer....

just slow down

And as for BlackSapphireZ, maybe he's right.

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by pmeloche

Laser and radio wave are both electromagnetic waves but of different wavelengths. For the laser, the EM waves are in the visible spectrum whilst the radio waves are much longer wavelengths. EM wave jammers are built to jam a specific range of EM waves. So typically, a radar jammer will not jam a laser and vice-versa.

Cheers.

Isn't that what I said?

[rc'Z]

You might want to remember, sports cars, especially rare ones, are trophys to our friends the police when they are running radar and giving out tickets. The first words that came out of the policeman's mouth to the station house when he stopped me in the Porsche was, "I got me a Porsche!" I can get by with higher speeds in my Suburban or Q45 than I can the Z.

[quickfast]

I would mount it as apexstrafer described. Middle of the windshield is best for both the operation of the detector and your own ability to see it.

You said youve only seen them shoot radar, but without a proper detector Im not sure how you would know unless you got real close to the police. The laser and radar guns look very similar. Having a V1 for laser detection is useless, it needs to be paired with a laser jammer for you to be properly defended. The V1 will pick up the laser signal, but will not jam. The difference between radar and laser is that a laser cannot be detected until it is literally pointed at you because it is a direct beam, in which case you have been clocked. It does not leak like radar does.

I would recommend a V1 paired with the Laser Interceptor, along with a couple of other things.

It is a feckless discussion to tell someone not to drive how they drive. Personally in this day and age, I cant see a single reason for the interstate speed limit NOT to be raised to 90+, as all modern cars are perfectly capable of traveling at that speed. There is absolutely no correlation between speed and accidents. Sometimes I cant believe the blind beliefs of the people on the forum. There is reckless driving, which can happen at any speed. Then there is cruising at 100mph through an empty interstate. Why not..

See Montana for example.
http://www.hwysafety.com/hwy_montana_2001.htm

Or just think of the Autobahn.

So... dont slow down! Drive as the situation permits, use judgement...

[Burt Reynolds]

Mount the V1 level and as high up as you can. I prefer the drivers side of the mirror b/c the rear detector is on the right. If you mounted the v1 on the passenger side of the mirror, you would put the rear detector even further off the center axis. Also, as EP said you will compromise some rear detection but 9/10 cops tag you from the front so having much better detection from the front of the car is a fair trade-off for me (especially since our cars sit so low to the ground). I would say the rear detection is only slightly compromised.