Question about V1's laser performance-->

[Jim Will]

I've read all the tests about the V1 and it performance. I've had my V1 for over 5 years now (I've got to ship it out for upgrading), and I'm more than satisfied with it.
I've got a couple questions for other V1 owners.
1. will the new V1 prevent those laser warnings that I get behind every new Chevy Truck with a LED CHMSL? (Blazer/Envoy/Avalanche/Escalade)

2. I know that laser radar is only detectable from a very narrow angle, and that means that you usually don't get a warning unless it's aimed directly at you, or a car directly in front of you. But living Near the GS Parkway, I get a regular test of the laser detection in my area. (for those of you who know, in the center median, heading northbound, just south of exit 131) A trooper regularly sits there, and shoots laser at vehicle's just as they crest the slight hill and hed into the gulley (where the trooper is sitting) I regularly receive the laser warning while I'm still over 1/4 mile away, not quite over the rise, and nowhere in the line of sight of the trooper. What gives? I thought that laser didn't bounce/scatter?

Thanks in advance.

[vpr1980]

1) Nope still gonna go off.
2) Thats really odd because it DOESN'T bounce or spread. Maybe something else could be triggering it.

Edit: Let me rephrase that...laser does bounce back and off the cars but its really narrow so if you are picking it up before cresting that hill it must be going off the cars on top which is really cool.

[HPH]

...that's how the lidar receiver sees you. And if they scatter directly back to the receiver, they also scatter sideways and everywhere else. The V1 antenna is sufficiently sensitive to see this scattered light, and that's why yours goes off the way it does.

It's true, of course, that the lidar systems transmit their signal in a much tighter beam than radars do -- this is why the lidar systems are able to pick out individual cars more easily, and it's also why if you get a full strength laser alarm, you're probably toast (in contrast, a full-strength radar alarm may be you or it may be someone else nearby that's toast).

And I don't know about the tail-light false alarms, but I hope they fix that. It's a pain. HPH

[ESN]

[steined]

1.) No... The FAQ at valentineone has reasons why. - http://www.valentineone.com/lab/Previously7.asp

2.) Lasser's beam in approximately 36" wide at or around 1000 ft, so it is possible at further distances, to pick up the stray from that. If you read about laser jammers at http://www.speedzones.com/ they discuss that a bit.

Eric

[beep-beep]

• this article denyes any shatering, but I think it depends on location.

[beep-beep]

How often do you see this cop? Any particular patern (mornings, evenings, weekday or weekends)?

[HPH]

...and lidar systems work via reflections from the target vehicle. Because the laser is aimed at a license plate and because at distance the laser spot is much larger than the plate, some of the light goes elsewhere -- under the car, through the windshield, off the windshield at odd angles, etc. This reflected light (light at the laser's wavelength) is then available to be picked up by whatever device is tuned to it, V1s included.

The article you referenced is a reasonable, nontechnical overview, and it in no way suggests that there is no scattering. Sheesh. HPH

[beep-beep]

we have two ways to get a laser signal, aimed at other car: (1) beam is wide and some parts of it will go though windshield/under the car to the next car. (2) ligh will reflect from car to the some object on the road to your car.

And here why it does not work well:

1. Radio wave reflects from smoth surface. Smoth means that it is smother then a 1/4 of wave lengh (otherwise waves will cancel each other on 1/4 wave lenght diferences). For radio frequence any metal surface would do it. For IR you need some very smoth mirrors. (license plate has small cristals with mirrored surfaces and headlight has internal mirror in it). In case of radiwaves, let say 10% will reflect from the car toward the roadsign and then 10% (1% or original) from the roadside to your car. In case of the laser only 0.1% will be reflected toward sign and then only 0.1% (or 0.001% of the original signal) toward your car. This is not enough.

2. this article explaied practical test where following car did not get uch from the beam passed though windshield of prev. car.

3. Also note, that light has much shorter wave length, then radar radio. As a result light will not do any difraction tricks, wich radiowave do.

4. In case of IR your also need to filter out all outside nose, so you cannot make your system too sensetive.

And of course, all manuals say, that it does not reflect much.

[ESN]