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x2. The only extra overage you will be getting is on extreme ANGLE shots, not extreme headlight shots. And horizontally, the angle needs to be too extreme for a PT, so the cosine effect would make it not worthwhile.Quote:
Originally Posted by crazyVOLVOrob
Another thing to consider is that headlights use parabolic reflectors, with the bulb placed either slightly forward or back from the focus in order to project a spread pattern. Fast paraboloids rapidly develop severe astigmatism off-axis. This means that, when shooting lidar off-axis at headlights, that much less of the lidar beam gets reflected back toward the lidar gun. Even less lidar would get reflected back towards the lidar gun if headlight covers didn't have all those little prisms which serve to further disperse the headlight beam.
Now lets consider the corner-cube reflectors which are built into a car's taillights. These little puppies send light straight back in the same direction which it came from. This is why, even with LI dual heads on the back of your car, PTs are much more common. Many states have laws which specify how bright a car's taillight must be. And many states have laws which prohibit covering tail lights with any material. The one really discreet thing which I can see doing is to apply Veil only over the corner-cube reflectors built into your taillights. Keep in mind that I am NOT endorsing this -- especially if you live in a state which has strict taillight laws. Anyway, this is something which I want to test at the next Atlanta Jammerfest event.