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  1. #1
    Newcomer
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    Default Can You Educate Me on Instant-On Radar?

    This past weekend, I let my youthful exuberance overtake me . . . and three other cars . . . on a rural road. ops:

    By the time I got around the third, I was, er, slightly above the speed limit. At which point I noted that the second of two cars that had crested a hill about 1/4 - 1/2 mile away was sporting some hardware on the roof. :shock:

    I dropped the anchor immediately and was greeted by a full "You're screwed" alert from my V1. I kept decelerating, to something near the speed limit, and watched my mirror. No lights, no rapid U-turn, no big fine. Thank you, Jesus.

    I promise to be better in the future. However, here's the question: I have to believe that I was in the "no forgiveness" zone when the V1 alerted. I recall reading, long ago and far away, that radar units would not lock in a speed reading of a rapidly decelerating car. Something about internal verification. I have to believe that modern radar units can react much more quickly and are not likely to be fooled by a nitwit like me decelerating rapidly.

    So, here are the possibilities:

    -The LEO took mercy on me (not likely, given my speed)
    -The radar unit couldn't lock onto me, due to my rate of deceleration (Dunno???)
    -The radar unit had to work for a few tenths of a second to sort out the speed of my car among the four approaching vehicles, giving me a little bit of a margin to bring myself back into compliance with the law (a guess).
    -Radar unit operator error.
    -I had an angel sitting on my shoulder.

    Just curious. Anyone out there who can explain how I might have been fortunate enough to avoid getting nabbed?

  2. #2

  3. #3
    Old Timer
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    Jun 2005
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    Default

    How far away was the cruiser when your V1 alerted? Were there cars between you and the cruiser? Was it K or Ka band (asking, because most Ka band guns are newer and more sophisticated), how far over the limit were you when your V1 alerted?

    It could just be that the cop didn't want to bother at the time. He could have been off his shift and just hit the radar to scare you, or he just wanted to slow you down rather than give a ticket. Or the radar simply locked in on one of the cars in front of you that wasn't going as fast...
    If I'm passing you on the right, YOU are in the wrong lane!

    If speed kills, how come I'm still alive?

    Active Countermeasures: V1 3.858, Escort Redline, Beltronics STi-R+, LI Dual 7.1x CPU/8.7 Heads (front)
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    Vehicle: 2002 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro
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  4. #4
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jimbonzzz
    You got lucky
    Well, that's a good an explanation as any. I felt like a bonehead afterwards . . . albeit a very lucky bonehead. I was, to use the technical term, truly hauling a**, and there was not any particular reason I needed to.

    I'd generally consider myself a slightly fast, but very safe and alert driver. The V1 didn't save me . . . it just confirmed that I was being sprayed by microwaves, after I had already begun my braking. Truthfully, I could have probably braked to 55 by the time the V1 alerted, but it could have caused problems for the folks I just passed.

    Quote Originally Posted by kpatz
    How far away was the cruiser when your V1 alerted? Were there cars between you and the cruiser? Was it K or Ka band (asking, because most Ka band guns are newer and more sophisticated), how far over the limit were you when your V1 alerted?

    It could just be that the cop didn't want to bother at the time. He could have been off his shift and just hit the radar to scare you, or he just wanted to slow you down rather than give a ticket. Or the radar simply locked in on one of the cars in front of you that wasn't going as fast...
    Just a guess on all of these things: It was K-band and I'd guess we were between 1,000 and 1,500 feet apart when the V1 first lit up. There was only one car between us--a car traveling in front of the cruiser in the same direction. As far as speed . . . not sure. I'd guess, (hypotheticall,y if this were ever to occur, that is), that I was going about 90-100 when I completed my pass. However, as I mentioned, I saw the cruiser and began decelerating before I got blasted.

  5. #5
    Good Citizen
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    Default

    what was the speed limit and how fast were u going?

  6. #6
    Professional
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    Jun 2005
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    Default

    two cars that had crested a hill about 1/4 - 1/2 mile away was sporting some hardware on the roof. :shock:
    I dropped the anchor immediately and was greeted by a full "You're screwed" alert from my V1.
    I like your imagery there. Keep the stories coming! Welcome to the board!

  7. #7
    Radar Fanatic
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    If you started decelerating before the RF hold switch was released, and if you are decelerating rapidly enough, it is possible to prevent an immediate lock. I have seen this with Stalker radars, and they are as fast as anything around. However, I would not count on this countermeasure as a matter of routine, everything has to be just right!

    GTO_04

  8. #8
    Advanced Member
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    Moving radar? Remember, the unit must first establish the LEO's speed then the target object in the beams speed. Sometimes conditions are not right to immediately determine the LEO's speed so it might take a few seconds to see your speed.

    Not a LEO but I love to play with my HR-12. You learn so much about how radar reacts to certain conditions.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by GTO_04
    If you started decelerating before the RF hold switch was released, and if you are decelerating rapidly enough, it is possible to prevent an immediate lock. I have seen this with Stalker radars, and they are as fast as anything around. However, I would not count on this countermeasure as a matter of routine, everything has to be just right!

    GTO_04
    This is what I'm guessing occurred. If the copper had locked onto me near my maximum speed, I'm relatively certain he would have swung around and ticketed me. My guess is that I may have beaten the radar unit's ability to compute its own speed and cogitate on the velocity of the fastest/closest of four approaching cars (that would be me).

    I promise to be better in the future . . .


  10. #10
    Scratonicity Groupie
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    Default

    totally off topic but that picture....

    million jokes went through my head

 

 

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