OT: GPS w/ built in radar detector

[130iguy]

YES I KNOW THE FOLLOWING IS "ILLEGAL" IN MOST STATES.. BUT LETS FOR CURIOUSITY SAKE DISPENSE WITH SUCH FORMALITIES

so last night as i sat at home (alone ) eating reheated thai food and watching the princess diaries on channel 7, i had a brainwave which thought i may be my "million dollar idea"

why hasnt someone combined both a radar detector and a GPS unit in one??

low and behold such a system already exists..
http://www.escortradar.com/iq/

browsing the website for the IQ system i came to the frequencies it detects, and before jumping the gun and buying one i thought i might ask, does anyone know what frequency our "radar" systems operate at??

the PASSPORT iQ™ can detect the following Operating Bands
X-band 10.525 GHz ± 25 MHz
K-band 24.150 GHz ± 100 MHz
Ka-band 34.700 GHz ± 1300 MHz
Ku-band 13.450 GHz ± 25 MHz
Laser 904nm, 33 MHz Bandwidth

[///M-pressed]

You need one of those laser jammers that are in-built into the parking sensors that block a laser gun for only 2-3seconds then switch back on. Very rarely are the old radars used anymore. Now it's LIDAR, mobile camers , fixed cameras.

But this would be good too, because you need to know the laser gun has hit your car and this detector will tell you. But to do this properly you're looking at spending close to 2k.

[130iguy]

its my understanding that the above system can detect laser?

[Dec540]

You were only a few months off the pace. This unit came out about 6 months ago. Kinda pointless in Australia though as i'm pretty certain they don't make one with Australian maps.

You also want to check that it is un-detectable as there are devices called radar detector detectors which pick up on frequencies leaked by cheaper radar detectors. If you were to get a radar detector like a beltronics STI or Escort 9500ci you can be guaranteed that they don't leak anything and therefore can not be detected unless they are physically seen by a police officer.

There is no point being able to 'detect' laser, as it is a direct beam the system only picks it up when the gun is pointed at you and thus when they have a reading.

You need a Laser Park Pro which is a tiny little black box that sits on your front bumper. It 'Jams' the laser gun for 4 or 8 seconds (depending on which one the user chooses) to give you time to slow down. Once you slow down you flick the system off or wait for it to flick itself off and the coppa gets a reading. Whilst the gun is jammed it shows the same error as if a cop was to point the gun at glass, chrome or not holding it still enough so most cops don't pick up on it.

That only protects you against laser though which are the handheld guns. You also need a radar detector to pick up K band (mobile and fixed RADAR cameras) and Ka band (in car radar). X band isn't used in Australia so no need to worry about that, most people simply turn it off.

Also keep in mind that there are new FIXED cameras which use sensors in the road to calculate distance over time. These don't emit any radar or laser signals so are impossible to detect or Jam. These will be signed though and i'm about 90% certain they are still in testing and not actually issuing fines yet.

[WOPALX]

Thought about one of these a while ago, issue in NSW is the fine is $1800 & 16 or 18 points . So really not worth the risk IMHO.

[aus135i]

if i were to look into this can some1 point me to the right direction? wont get my license back til end of yr.. so i can study it up =)

[130iguy]

Originally Posted by aus135i

if i were to look into this can some1 point me to the right direction? wont get my license back til end of yr.. so i can study it up =)

what state are you in?

if you are looking at the legalities of such an item you would probably want to access your states:
road usage/transport regulation acts
criminal code
and possibly police powers and responsibilities act

i wasnt worried about the legality of such an item but the practical application in so far as what speed traps are used on our road and the operational frequencies of those that dont use the old speed = distance/time equation..

[Dec540]

Believe it or not the laser park pro's are actually legal. The reason behind this is due to them operating primarily as a parking sensor on an open / public laser frequency. They do interfere with other laser devices on the same public frequency but alert the user to the interference and shut themselves off after 4 or 8 seconds (depending on which the user chooses). Obviously the creator of the LPP made it for the sole reason of jamming police guns but he can't help it if its actually legal.

Obviously if you admit to the device being a laser jammer or its spotted and they also find your radar detector then your kinda fu$#ed.

Having said that, i have a friend who was recently pulled over for tint, ride height etc. (his car attracted a bit of attention) he also had a far from flush install for his LPP. Essentially it was zip tied on. The police officer saw the device and asked my mate what it was, he advised it was a front parking sensor. Being a highway patrol officer he knew exactly what it was and was like i know its a Laser jammer mate, i'll get the gun out and test it... In the end my mate admitted to it. They ripped out the Laser Park Pro, leaving the beltronics STI which he also had installed in the car. It had a more intricate install and i believe the laser jammer fine is the same as the radar one but maybe slightly higher. Either way they didn't worry about the bel sti.

My mate had to go to court. He has a terrible driving record. Lost 20 odd points over 3 years. Surprisingly hasn't had a fine in the last 12 months... Walked away with a $600 fine and no points... Considering he drives 2000kms a week, it had well and truly paid for both the unit and the fine.

This was in QLD btw boys. Other states are probably worse.