Laser Detector Test 2008

[delonix]

Laser Detection tests for 7 different radar detectors.
No real surprises there, other than how poorly the STi-R did.
Also if you want to detect laser it's best to mount your detector low on the windscreen (contrary to what most people prefer)

Enjoy....

[The STIG]

Well from a V1 owner..I'm not surprised. Very nice test and but some how not surprised about the lack of performance from a remote mounted system like the Bel STi-R.

Thanks for the test and good job.

[TSi+WRX]

Very nice!!!!

It's good to have some quantitative numbers on this, framed in a way which shows how to properly interpret such numbers. Great job.

A while ago, fellow countermeasures hobbyist ELVATO on RD.net/LPP Support Forums posted a similar, albeit very, very "rough"/qualitative demo of this phenomenon, with his Ford Expedition/x50 combo as the test platform. While his videos certainly showed this effect, your testing is just as certainly that much more conclusive.

Great job.

[samq45]

I am suprised the remote mounted STI-r did so poorly, The windshield mounted STI did much better - Perhaps this is why Escort is packaging the ZR4 with the 9500ci, just to improve laser reception.

I am beginning to re-think my desire for getting and STI-r or 9500ci. Those new remote mounted detectors seem a bit overpriced. Makes a LPP with a VI or STI look like pretty cost effective options, unless you need stealth.

[CJR238]

Very nice and informative!!!

Laser scatter? If your RD is mounted low the reflection off the hood will most likley bounce right over it.

[Anonymous]

Valentine One is the King of Laser and also King of Radar!!! Everyone bow down to Valentine One. Felt sorry for STi-R, this thing cost alot.

Good job on the test, it is very interesting.

[whistlerfan]

The problem I have with these test is that. How do we know that each unit was mounted properly level. A leveler bubble is need to ensure every detector is mounted true. Example of this the pro 78 yield better with a lower mount and the xtr 690 yield better with a higher mount. Both of these units should have yield pretty much the same result. Instead they look like two very different units. Also the beem target where aim really low on some test and higher on others hence skewing the results. Also I know the xtr 690 does 10 times a better job on laser then what was depicted on these videos. It was a great test but the control on it was really off. I think stealthcb will agree with me on it as well.

[delonix]

All radar detectors were mounted on the same marked position of the windscreen each time, and all were mounted level.

Next time we do a similar test, We'll use two video recorders, one behind the laser gun, and one inside the car.

I thought it was much more important to see through the LTI HUD than inside the car, hence the use of radios to hear the detector's alerts.

The downside to using two cameras per test is footage time. We already went over 10 minutes on three of the above videos, and had to cut them back so YouTube would allow them to be posted. In the 200m test you'll notice the titles for each test are cut real short! We had to do this to get the overall time down.

I agree with you there was some "bounce" in some of the tests. The operator repeated any that he thought would be skewed from the bounce.

Next time, we'd like to make a camera mount made that holds the video camera to the back of the laser gun, and then have the whole set-up mounted on our tripod. This will reduce the laser bounce that we did get in some of the longer range shots. It may not have been perfect, but it was our first attempt and it's hard work holding the camera steady for all that time. At least everyone can see with their own eyes exactly where the laser is aimed at, and the results. Our objective is always to back our results with video footage.

[whistlerfan]

Next time use a leveler bubble it makes all the difference. Take the bubble and place it on the underside of the detector then bend the bracket or whatever according to true center on the bubble. Because it can look really level but when compared on a leveler bubble you can be a great deal off and when it comes to close up laser it can mean everything. Try pointing the detector downward on a high mount and see how the laser detection improves. This should give a great example of how anal retentive you have to be when mounting level correctly. I found that when my mount was going slightly upward my laser detection was not just bad it was horrible. The leveler bubble makes a night and day difference try it you will be surprise.

[delonix]

Originally Posted by whistlerfan

Next time use a leveler bubble it makes all the difference. Take the bubble and place it on the underside of the detector then bend the bracket or whatever according to true center on the bubble. Because it can look really level but when compared on a leveler bubble you can be a great deal off and when it comes to close up laser it can mean everything. Try pointing the detector downward on a high mount and see how the laser detection improves. This should give a great example of how anal retentive you have to be when mounting level correctly. I found that when my mount was going slightly upward my laser detection was not just bad it was horrible. The leveler bubble makes a night and day difference try it you will be surprise.

Awesome info, good to know.

Pity the average Joe doesn't pay much attention tho...detectors pointing to the sky comes top mind!