New Whistler Videos Coming Online

[Veil Guy]

Although video documentation has been slow (because of limited encounters over a good number of weeks), I have managed to get some and will begin posting them online as part of my upcoming in-depth review. More will be appearing on STH's youtube channel.

Here we examine the relative performance of the Whistler Pro-3600 Remote, Beltronics STi Driver, and Escort Redline radar detectors to CO 34.7Ghz Ka away-facing radar, around multiple curves. This first video is more of a demonstration of compressed sensitivity differences as a consequence of this particular encounter type.

It is important to point out that often times, in around-the-curve encounters, the relative sensitivities of radar detectors can become much less apparent because of the nature of the waveform propagation.

Notice when all three detectors essentially alert at the same time, they do so at or nearly at full-strength. Had this encounter been a long-distance straight and unobstructed approach to CW radar, the higher sensitive Beltronics and Escort, would tend to alert first.

Such encounters often significantly provide less detection range than would otherwise be the case in straight-on line-of-sight type approaches and effectively demonstrates that one does not always benefit from using a very highly sensitive radar detector.

[AirMoore]

Wow, all 3 detectors were shocked by that off-axis attack. You could throw a baseball and hit them before anything alerted.

[TRun]

Wow, all 3 detectors were shocked by that off-axis attack. You could throw a baseball and hit them before anything alerted.

x2 on that

[nosbusa]

Veil Guy, enjoy your work on the RD videos. Keep them coming..

[barryswanson]

The Whistler sounds like Mario Brothers on my old super nintendo.

[Vette6893]

Good video. Very helpful to hear your narrative and read your assessment. One question. There has been alot written about not using multiple detectors in one vehicle due to interference. I believe the remote unit is far enough away to allow the use of a window unit. However, I would think that running 2 window units could cause interference with one another. I did notice that you were running two M3 platform units (good reference units) and they do not "leak" like other detectors (A cobra would really cause a problem). Your choice in detectors may be the reason you can run them at the same time and so close to one another. Thanks for the video.

[Veil Guy]

I think these two videos in particular substantiate to a large degree videos I had made quite some time ago in my other vehicle with the Pro(SE) series and the two remotes from Bel and Escort, the STi-R and the 9500ci. Some criticized them for being misleading (due to alleged mis-mounting of the 9500ci). Now the situation is completely reversed. The 3600 is mounted in the front (with an unobstructed view forward in my wife's 'bru) and the two dash-mounts (both of which do not have LO leakage).

The compressed differences in alerting are similar. This doesn't mean that the two dash-mounts (or the two remotes in the original videos) aren't more sensitive (than the Whistlers), it merely means that sensitivity differences are not always observable.

Making head-on approaches to CW facing radar will likely bring those differences in stark relief. It just so happens that often times encounters aren't like that, that there are curves and fixed obstructions that affect wave propagation of the radar, which in turn, can minimize the differences in sensitivities. I have made these assertions over the years, but have found that my points have sometimes been drowned out by certain detractors.

In the cases above, for example, to experience any appreciable alerting difference, the more sensitive detector may have to have an increase in sensitivity of 6, 9, or 12 or more dBs to effectively gain an edge.

I have had such discussions with Mike B about this.

I will publish some more videos including some with more straight on approaches, when I actually encounter them.

Wow, all 3 detectors were shocked by that off-axis attack. You could throw a baseball and hit them before anything alerted.

x2 on that

[Veil Guy]

Good video. Very helpful to hear your narrative and read your assessment. One question. There has been alot written about not using multiple detectors in one vehicle due to interference. I believe the remote unit is far enough away to allow the use of a window unit. However, I would think that running 2 window units could cause interference with one another. I did notice that you were running two M3 platform units (good reference units) and they do not "leak" like other detectors (A cobra would really cause a problem). Your choice in detectors may be the reason you can run them at the same time and so close to one another. Thanks for the video.

Correct.

Any more, if and when I run more than one detector in a vehicle, the models that I use as a baseline are non-LO-leaking detectors.

In the case of testing a conventionally designed remote (such as the 3600), the baselines are the Redline and Driver mounted on the windshield and separated by a lot of distance and RF shielding metal of the hood and the front vehicle assemblies.

In the case of testing a conventionally design windshield-mount detector, I use the non-LO-leaking STi-R(+) and 9500ci as baselines separated by the metal hood and the front vehicle assemblies.

I am going to hit the road in attempt to accumulate more of 'em and help serve as a basis to allow me to finish up my review, that some of you have been patiently waiting for.

[happya$$]

Now I like videos like these because they are very educational. Major kudos on things like this!

[Vette6893]

Good video. Very helpful to hear your narrative and read your assessment. One question. There has been alot written about not using multiple detectors in one vehicle due to interference. I believe the remote unit is far enough away to allow the use of a window unit. However, I would think that running 2 window units could cause interference with one another. I did notice that you were running two M3 platform units (good reference units) and they do not "leak" like other detectors (A cobra would really cause a problem). Your choice in detectors may be the reason you can run them at the same time and so close to one another. Thanks for the video.

Correct.

Any more, if and when I run more than one detector in a vehicle, the models that I use as a baseline are non-LO-leaking detectors.

In the case of testing a conventionally designed remote (such as the 3600), the baselines are the Redline and Driver mounted on the windshield and separated by a lot of distance and RF shielding metal of the hood and the front vehicle assemblies.

In the case of testing a conventionally design windshield-mount detector, I use the non-LO-leaking STi-R(+) and 9500ci as baselines separated by the metal hood and the front vehicle assemblies.

I am going to hit the road in attempt to accumulate more of 'em and help serve as a basis to allow me to finish up my review, that some of you have been patiently waiting for.

This makes sense, thank you for the reply. The video's are great and the explaination of sensitivity measuring/observance is helpful.