Taiwan Microwave Group (TMG)

[Aussie Stinger]

Has anyone heard of, or had any experience with Taiwan Microwave Group?

Specifically their TMG GRL-309 detector?

[GTRADAR]

Has anyone heard of, or had any experience with Taiwan Microwave Group?

Specifically their TMG GRL-309 detector?

I've had a GRL309 at the office here for testing for over a month now.

Positives:
* Nice enough packaging
* Nice compact unit
* I like the power button is on the cigarette socket (and it's red... cool!!!)
* Reasonably easy to navigate through the menu (could be v.tricky for John Citizen though)

Negatives
* States it is Spectre immune but it is detectable*** (see below for explination)
* Pretty poor Ka range
* Software sync with the detector didn't work
* Windscreen bracket seems very unstable
* A hell of a lot going on on the display... bit like a C-182T cockpit!

***Ok... we all know the Belscort Total Shield Technology... Spectre immune. The GRL309 states it shuts down the radar detector internally when you fall below a set speed (in "Fixed Threshold" mode) or a speed depending on your location (in "Adaptive Threshold" mode) a varying speed limit (namely the posted speed limit).
Now this "internal shut off" (or "no radar=no leakage") is a great concept but it wouldn't work in reality for 2 reasons:
1) Because the honest truth is that everyone speeds either purposly or unknowingly... all be it only 5-10km/h but it would be enough to put you over the threshold, activate the radar, leak it's signal, and BOOM! that is when you will get stung!
2)If you use the Fixed Threshold mode then it will need to be set low otherwise the detector will never be active. If you set it at say 50km/h and you are then doing 65km/h in a 60 zone, you are speeding and you are also detectable... doing an extra 5km/h over the limit is easier than blinking!

A quote from the supplier:
"Furthermore, it has a built-in speed limit map that controls on and off of the radar detector. GRL-309 only switches the radar detector on when the driver goes beyond speed limit of current road. This feature reduces 90 % of false alerts, saves upto 80% of power consumption, and makes the detector totally undetectable by the most advanced radar detector detectors. This feature is currently patent pending.

Even when the driver goes beyond speed limit, the distance of being detected by a SPECTRE IV RDD for GRL-309 is relative short comparing to our competitors under test, for we have lower the strength of RF signals by half from our Taiwanese version."

Like I said, it's a great concept but I think the maunfacturer is just opening itself up for a lot of claims when users get caught while using the "adaptive mode" as they are relying on a private database (not trinity database) to constantly alter the threshold depending on the current posted speed limit... disaster waiting to happen.

IMO, if you want an undetectable model, go for a Belscort... if you want a GPS unit to block out false alerts, go for a Belscort. There is a hidden pattern some where there... find it and go with the pattern!!!

[TurboNerd]

Does this company have a website? I could not find it. Thanks

[mattcam3]

I think this is their site-

TMG-Facets

[STiMULi]

The english or chinese sites have no real material that would entice a resonable person in to buying one of these.

[Eloi]

No rdd-proof ...dont even think one microsecond

[TurboNerd]

I'd still like to see these tested!

[Aussie Stinger]

I'm getting a loan of one to test.

Will post when I have some feedback.