What is a bigger threat - Chrome or Front Plate?

[erickonphoenix]

Originally Posted by Aggie

Do you think I will need all four LI heads up front or would two front and two rear work? I have the Laser shield and Veil that I will be apply this wekend (Monday).

I would run all four up front.

[Aggie]

Yeah good idea. I could always cover up two when I get tested to see how only two work with the other passive measures. If it passes that then move two to the back. However, I haven't seen a rear attack in central Texas in quite some time. But I recall Dallas loves the rear overpass.

[TSi+WRX]

^ Agreed.

Temporary-mount the front, and optimize when you're able to get testing done.

When testing, start out with two front heads, position-optimized, to see if that, along with your passive measures, suffices.

My feeling is that it likely will.

But having the ability to bring up the other two will certainly help you rest easier at night. Still, I'd see if two up front won't do the trick. Like I said, my guess is that it will.

[Stealth Stalker]

Originally Posted by erickonphoenix

I would run all four up front.

Me too. Everyone -- including Cliff -- seems to think I would only need two heads on a Tahoe, even thought I was ready to spring for four heads. But, even though the Tahoe is bigger than that thing of yours, the Tahoe has no real chrome to speak of, and that makes all the difference.

[TSi+WRX]

Update.

Look at nitricacid's results, from the latest Northeast Jamming Test:

Northeast Jammer Test Results!!!

He's got a Nissan Frontier:

2008 Nissan Frontier Truck - Nissan USA Official Site

It's one size smaller than the Tundra of yours Aggie, but I think that it does bode well that he was able to achieve such a degree of success, regardless.

Given that your front grill offers excellent flexibility in selecting proper mounting points, and the "variable" manner in which "chromed" surfaces behave (ref: The VEIL Guy's YouTube Channel IR-videos), I'd say that it could well be that with proper coverage of your vehicle's hardpoints via VEIL and properly addressing the front plate with VEIL and LaserShield, you'd likely do very, very well with "just" a dual-head LI setup, up-front.

Again, I'm optimistic about this - and as others here will tell you, I'm rarely that optimistic, especially when it comes to LIDAR.

[TSi+WRX]

More to add.....

Note that nitricacid's particular Frontier is highly decorated with chrome along its front aspect (look at his picture, on page 2 of that thread) - it's got just as much, if not more, coverage, than the Titan of the OP's.

Certainly, smaller in overall physical size - that should mean that the Frontier is easier to defend - but at the same time, the additional chrome on a smaller vehicle also makes for a "denser" target.

Also, it's worth noting that nitricacid's truck employs no passive protective measures.

I'm really rather optimistic about Aggie's odds, with "just" a dual-LI setup, up-front.

[Sufu]

Would be it be practical to apply Veil to the LP itself? License plate covers are illegal in MA, and the route I take to work is just one massive speed trap

[TSi+WRX]

^ Yes, VEIL directly to the plate is a valid method of attack, and is historically proven.....

But there have been reports both of G4 actually physically "stripping off" the paint/finish of the plate and/or its lettering, and/or G2 doing the same to the registration stickers (and remember, your stickers themselves may also carry "reflective" material within).

If you go this route, I would test a small area of the plate, first.

[Stealth Stalker]

Originally Posted by Sufu

Would be it be practical to apply Veil to the LP itself? License plate covers are illegal in MA, and the route I take to work is just one massive speed trap

I can positively guarantee you that, if your troopers are pissed off by a plate cover, they will be absolutely livid at a Veiled licence plate. If they tell you to take a plate cover off, you've lost about five bucks. But if you Veil your LP, and they tag you, you're going to end up with a fourty buck ticket, AND have to buy new plates. Good luck with that.

I think even most of you who think the cops in your state don't care are mistaken. State troopers care about whatever they choose to care about, law or not. And if you do anything to blatantly bring attention to yourself with something that is obviously anti-law enforcement, there is a good chance you'll find one who cares. Doesn't matter whether your plate cover is legal or not. I can find two or three ticket-worthy violations on any car if you give me a couple minutes. And if you give me reason to take interest in you and your vehicle in the first place, you just gave me those couple of minutes.

Ever wonder why red Mustangs and Corvettes get stopped more? Well, of course there is the simple fact that they drive like arseholes more than the average driver. That's the biggest factor. But there is also the fact that they get tagged because they simply brought attention upon themselves.

Stealth is more than radar detection and laser absorption. Stealth is about staying low-profile visually. Don't bring attention to yourself. Every cop that drives past you looks at two things: your face and your licence plate. Those are two things that you don't want to draw attention to. And if there is a smoked/tinted/veiled plate cover on there, he takes a second look. And he knows what that plate cover is there for. Whether or not it is legal, it simply does not matter. You still just gave him a reason to take interest in you. Can he write you a ticket for it? In the vast majority of states, yes. There is some law in almost every state's books that applies to plates that are difficult to read. And the trooper gets to decide how "difficult" is too difficult, not you. But it ain't about the ticket. It's about drawing attention to yourself and risking a hassle when there is no good reason to do so. If you do, you're an idiot.

[TSi+WRX]

Originally Posted by Stealth Stalker

Stealth is more than radar detection and laser absorption. Stealth is about staying low-profile visually. Don't bring attention to yourself.

Exactly.

But again, you're superimposing your own set of prejudices over the entire spectrum.

VEIL on the plate, judiciously, particularly G2 (as I've yet to see it done with G4), appears, to the naked eye just like a "dirty" plate would.

If your vehicle is kept in a similar condition, it may actually be the most un-noticeable plate-treatment, compared to anything else - LaserShield, 3M Clear Duct Tape, replica plate, etc.

Here in my local area, on the front plate, LaserShield gets a clean pass. So would either it or a clear plastic cover, treated with VEIL, as "tinted" (albeit not so as to be near-opaque) covers are also given the same.

But anything that distorts - such as the various RLC/speed-camera "defeating" covers - that's almost a surefire way to be cited. And because of this consideration, a rear LaserShield is iffy, too.

It all depends on the particular prevaling attitudes in your local area - as well as what you, with the unique vehicle and with your unique profile (as the driver/owner), can pull off.

There's no hard and fast rule.

As you said, *anything* can draw an enforcer's attention - and he or she can initiate the stop based on just those highly variable and highly subjective concerns.

VEIL can do this. LaserShield or any of the other similar products can, too. So can 3M Clear Duct Tape. So can a replica plate.

So can certain accessories on a car, or the type of vehicle itself.

A nice car in a less-than-decent area, at the wrong hours, can do this. So can the reverse.

So can being Black - or Asian or Hispanic - in a nice car, in an affluent area, at certain hours.

What strikes the enforcer's fancy is subjective and highly variable.

This is why it's up to each individual hobbyist/user to decide what he/she feels would be the most beneficial for him/her to use, in their specific and unique application, and given their specific outlook on the risks involved - which should, of course, encompass a review of their local and area enforcer's attitudes and enforcement practices.

----

Aside:

There's many different definitions, also, of "stealth," as it applies in our community.

A part of this, as you suggest here, is indeed one of being "below the radar." Not standing out. Blending in.

Indeed, this, in terms of speed-detection countermeasures, is a very valid and very real concern.

I'm just now understanding the benefit of driving a car that's well "below profile."

At the same time, there's also another definition - one of being "undectable" or "harder to detect," even as active measures are being undertaken to lock your vehicle's speed.

It is in this second respect that The VEIL Guy and many in the LIDAR-countermeasures community speak, when they say the word "stealth."

It's not to be un-noticeable.

It's rather, to be "un-clock'able."