$6 Diffusing Tape vs. $100 Veil Reflection/Night Shot Images

[ELVATO]

Just to let you guys know, edweird and I did some testing Friday afternoon. Did a couple runs with the "diffusing" tape to see how it really worked. Will post the results and and video up tomorrow night when I get to a high speed connection.

Sadly, neither of us had any Veil lying around to do direct comparison. Mostly my idea, I just wanted to see if the stuff worked.

[onefastzx9r]

Ok, I got the shot using a different 3 Megapixel camera and it appears diffusing tape is on top followed by Veil.



Left Plate=Diffusing Tape Top Half, State plate-bottom half.
Middle=Veil Plate
Right=State Plate

Done with infrared light only. Sony camcorder in night shot mode.

[Veil Guy]

onefastzx9r,

While your experiment is interesting. I should point out one thing.

Retro-reflective plates are funny and present a unique challenge for stealth because of there significant magnification effect in their reflection of light.

If you are using Veil directly on the plate, something we generally don't advocate (better to put it on a cover or lasershield in front of it) you should put two coats on.

I believe that two thin coats directly on the plate do a better job of one thick coat.

Or you may find one thin coat on top of your tape will do even better than either one alone. (One coat only directly on plate or tape only directly on plate).

Your IR camera, may demonstrate this.

Keep in mind the sensitivity to IR with your camera likely goes across a much greater bandwidth than what police laser operates.

Veil Guy 8)

[onefastzx9r]

Yes it was a bad idea to put Veil directly on the plate, I think it has eatin away at the paint or whatever they use and now there are spots where its just bare tin with Veil on top. I think the best thing would be a clear cover with Veil, it would be less noticable than Veil directly on the plate.

But overall Veil should not be recommended for plates unless it was clear, I prefer the diffusing tape, it cannot be noticed unless one is in within 10 feet of it.

I was never good at optics so the only real test now would be to get a laser gun and see what happens.

[ELVATO]

Here is the video where edweird and I tested the diffusing tape. Draw your own conclusions.

http://blip.tv/file/200311

[onefastzx9r]

Dude, that is awesome, I want a gun!

So I'm guessing it cuts it from 1414 feet down to 797 feet. And it aided the LPP by reducing it from 372 feet to 291 feet.

How come the detector didn't beep on the rear shot? I though the front antenna should of picked that up?

What about the chrome grill, that should be a reflective surface right?

[ELVATO]

The grille isn't chrome. There is only a chrome strip, and it is angled "up."

Please keep in mind that this is an older gun, so I don't know how well the tape would work against newer guns.

Though not in the video, there was a point where edweird shot me in the rear, and the X50 alerted. Then again, I was 1000 feet out.

[ELVATO]

I think I'll just get it at Wal-mart. :roll:

[jwardell]

After a good week of searching I finally found my video camera. I went out to the garage last night to experiment a bit. Black video with no light of course. Flip to nightshot...still black, then the IR lamp comes on a second later and everything under its beam lights up. It is SHOCKING just how reflective license plates are to infrared...the plate is just always solid white overexposed. So I ordered my veil can, and my similar testing should be done within the next few weeks.

[LittleOverPSL]

A picture is worth a thousand words, moving pictures even better.

3M Clear Duct Tape vs. LTI Marksman

How does it look? Is it noticeable? Yadda, yadda.
Get a roll for $5 and put aside 2' for your own R&D on your license plate.
The rest can be used as duct tape!!

EDIT: added text to video of what's on the plate and what's not on the plate.