Random Thoughts... [Automotive Edition]

You drive around in numerically lowest gear until you hit redline?
 
That's a pretty long time.

Not really. It's only a little longer than ordering something from Amazon with free shipping. :p

Default behavior has to be tuned to work with your environment, there is no difference to V1 in that regard.

Never had to adjust my V1s from their default settings other than volume. :p

All RDs have that, and all will false/miss valid signals. After all it's just a modulated radio signal, and it's nearly impossible to tell one from another.

Actually, it's not - K-band is a range of frequencies, not just one. BLIS (generally) uses a different part of K-band than police radar (at current.) BLIS type systems also transmit differently and at different power levels than police radar.

Yeah it doesn't have any GPS, so it can't do a lot of stuff without extra equipment.

You are assuming that those things are worth doing and GPS is a worthwhile feature. I disagree. Among other things, it could hypothetically offer officers a way to incriminate you for your actual speed.

Laser detection is nothing but a ticket notification. Only exception are certain speed camera systems that scan the road via laser, in 99% of other cases once you are hit with LIDAR you are done.

Um, nope. While the beam doesn't widen anything like radar, it does spread somewhat due to diffraction in the air. Standard quoted spread is 20-24 inches at 1000 feet. It also reflects in all directions when it hits a surface, not just straight back at the gun. You can actually get 'ricochet' detection of reflected laser energy when it's not looking straight at you. Further, many laser operators start lasing long before their gun can get a consistent set of returns. Again, the V1 is the only one that I've seen actually be able to produce a useful lidar warning. And they use a lot of lidar around here. (No thanks to f***ing Stalker passing out 'free' toys to local LEOs.)

That is rather interesting, the most evil thing here is MRCT/MRCD, which are mobile cameras with low powered mix of K/Ka

Speed cameras, mobile or otherwise, are straight out banned in Texas.

I'm not even worried about radar anymore.

I've slowed down substantially in my old age.

This hasn't stopped the parade of traffic stops though. I swear to fuck I must be flagged in the PA state police's ANPR system with a "harass me!"

A V1 or other detector can help tell you where the police are so you don't get pulled over for other reasons. :p
 
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Escort now tells you direction, the Valentine is no longer the only game in town.

As for a 50-55mph limit: the VFR would literally be in second and still have half of 2nd left over.
 
Escort now tells you direction, the Valentine is no longer the only game in town.

As for a 50-55mph limit: the VFR would literally be in second and still have half of 2nd left over.

The 919 wouldn't even get out of first.
 
Not really. It's only a little longer than ordering something from Amazon with free shipping.
There are still people who don't have Prime?
Never had to adjust my V1s from their default settings other than volume.
That only means those settings are right for you, from my research you are in the minority. In fact the prevailing thought on RDF is that V1 pretty much requires a companion app at this point.
Actually, it's not - K-band is a range of frequencies, not just one. BLIS (generally) uses a different part of K-band than police radar (at current.) BLIS type systems also transmit differently and at different power levels than police radar.
I'm aware they are different channels in the band but you also have to keep in mind that signals have attenuation and can shift frequencies so if you are trying to detect radar you will end up having to "overscan". In fact, I forget the specific RD that does it, but there is one that is really good at filtering out BLIS but can miss certain types of K band with that feature enabled.
You are assuming that those things are worth doing and GPS is a worthwhile feature. I disagree.
That's a personal opinion of course, but I like the ability to automatically change sensitivity between city and highway based on speed (as just a basic example). Another thing I just thought of, useless in TX but nice elsewhere, is having RD warn you of fixed red light/speed cameras.
Among other things, it could hypothetically offer officers a way to incriminate you for your actual speed.
That hinges upon your unit actually recording your speed along with gps coordinates at any given point, not very likely if only because too much effort to implement.
Um, nope. While the beam doesn't widen anything like radar, it does spread somewhat due to diffraction in the air. Standard quoted spread is 20-24 inches at 1000 feet. It also reflects in all directions when it hits a surface, not just straight back at the gun. You can actually get 'ricochet' detection of reflected laser energy when it's not looking straight at you. Further, many laser operators start lasing long before their gun can get a consistent set of returns. Again, the V1 is the only one that I've seen actually be able to produce a useful lidar warning. And they use a lot of lidar around here. (No thanks to f***ing Stalker passing out 'free' toys to local LEOs.)
Again that's a very narrow set of circumstances and depends heavily on geography. Also cars in front of you do a very good job of blocking the beam leaving very little to pick up. Additionally mounting your RD for best laser detection is inverse to mounting it for best radar detection. If laser is a massive concern the only thing to do is get jammers, which IIRC are illegal in TX.
Speed cameras, mobile or otherwise, are straight out banned in Texas.
Y'all had to get one thing right.
 
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Or you know, drive smart and responsibly. I've never had a detector. I've also never even been pulled over, and I don't drive like a grandma.

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Or you know, drive smart and responsibly. I've never had a detector. I've also never even been pulled over, and I don't drive like a grandma.

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How dare you suggest this! :D

You are right however, middle of nowhere where you can see for miles, I don’t think 55-75mph is acceptable. I will do more out there but I also get used to the speed and may not see the police officer waiting for that one guy. Otherwise in town or traffic, I agree with you.
 
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I am laughing at this ad i got this morning apparently (on mobile at least) vw's main site has a menu that screams "we are sorry" and is promoting electric cars ?

Also like, what exactly was the point of it when all the cars listed on the site are still concepts and the ad is apparently trying to convince you to sign up for mailing lists which I cannot imagine many people signing up for
 
Or you know, drive smart and responsibly. I've never had a detector. I've also never even been pulled over, and I don't drive like a grandma.

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Yeah the speed limits around here are often ridiculous so I end up going over them, but my self imposed rule is "if you can't stop in time to slow down for the cop you probably wouldn't for another car/person/animal etc". The entire point of speed limits is supposed to be "speed that you can safely drive at on this road" but it has to account for a teenager driving a rickety old pickup and the old lady who should have stopped driving 10 years ago but her town doesn't have buses.

In this case I don't blame myself because I COULD see MY side of the road fine and it was completely empty, and stopped immediately just fine. I think most people could take that turn at 35 even in something like a van given it is very easy even in the bug. I wish they didn't mark down so many roads as lower.
 
Or you know, drive smart and responsibly. I've never had a detector. I've also never even been pulled over, and I don't drive like a grandma.

Kiki has never been pulled over, and she's somewhat... homicidal in her driving style. I can't figure out how she's managed to never get a ticket.
 
Or you know, drive smart and responsibly. I've never had a detector. I've also never even been pulled over, and I don't drive like a grandma.

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I didn't used to have an RD for the longest time and I average about a ticket every 2 years, however the problem with what you are saying is the following:
There would be less electronic toys for me to geek out over :p
 
Kiki has never been pulled over, and she's somewhat... homicidal in her driving style. I can't figure out how she's managed to never get a ticket.


How many times has she been pulled over?

Also, she is a woman and most cops are men.
 
How many times has she been pulled over?

Also, she is a woman and most cops are men.
Yeah I think I've benefited from this. Being white probably helps too.

I have been pulled over 3x total and only 2 of those were valid which is an ABSOLUTE SHOCK, given I so rarely go the speed limit.
 
Oops!
 
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Jesus christ thats the worst one of “those things” I’ve ever seen.
 
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