C50 Aircraft Zone Alerts - Help Needed (but not what you think)

**switch626** · 09-27-2010, 07:15 PM

Continuing what was started in other threads (Thanks to THX1138 for starting with this idea) I am looking for volunteers in states that use VASCAR from airplanes for speed enforcement.

Why?

The Cheetah C50 already has the ability to alert to areas it knows to be used for Aerial VASCAR. The problem is that people mostly only report red light cams and speed cams. The capability exists, all that is needed is the data (GPS coordinates).

Having this alert will help you with the C50 either on it's own, or in conjunction with a PCAS or TPAS (airplane detector). You would have alerts to tell you that you are approaching an air enforced zone, then check your airplane detector to know whether there is a plane overhead. You will know that you are approaching a trap and if the trap is live!

What?

I have already sent all of the known traps to Cheetah for inclusion in the Trinity database for Florida, and along I95 for VA, MD, DE, and PA. I also have been collecting data on other roads for VA, since they seem to be victims of this kind of trap even more than we are in FL

The problem is there are just way too many roads to cover in too many states. Some (like VA), just have an enormous number of traps to be found as well. I am also finding it difficult to spot the road markings in states that do not use lines as VA and FL do. I don't really know what I am looking for in states that I have never been to.

Where?
Data is collected mainly by following roads in Google Earth, but can also be collected from any place you can get GPS coordinates of a known location of VASCAR markings.

What am I asking of you?

Simply to list GPS coordinate locations of VASCAR markings that you know of or can find using Google Earth (or other similar tool). Then send that list to cameras@speedcheetah.com

I have been using an Excel file with columns for Road, Direction, Nearest Town, and the Longitude and latitude of the first and last markings you would encounter traveling on that road, You can definitely do this without me, or if you like, message me and I will send you the excel sheet that I have been using.

If you are in an area that uses VASCAR from airplanes, then this is a way to give yourself and others a defense. If well all chip in, it will be that much better for everyone!

**CactusMan** · 09-28-2010, 02:18 PM

Super good post. Very very informative and detailed. I live in rural Arizona but I wish people in my state would do the same. Again let me say a lot of thought and insight went into that post.

**switch626** · 09-30-2010, 05:28 PM

Thanks CactusMan

Update: The Florida aircraft enforcement zones are in the C50 updates that are available now. I installed them in mine and drove through a trap on the Turnpike in Hollywood. It gave me an alert to let me know when I was going to enter the zone, and then advised me of the posted speed limit. I suspect it would also tell me if I were over the limit, but I wasn't speeding this time. It then also told me when I had exited the zone.

This was exactly what I was hoping for when I first noticed this type of alert in the manual.

I am half way done collecting data for VA, and will upload it to Cheetah once it's complete. I am not sure If I'm going to do other states after that or not. Hopefully more people will become interested in finding and reporting these traps in their own states. I have an excel template for anyone that needs it (hint) ;-)

**rocky2** · 09-30-2010, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by switch626

Thanks CactusMan

Update: The Florida aircraft enforcement zones are in the C50 updates that are available now. I installed them in mine and drove through a trap on the Turnpike in Hollywood. It gave me an alert to let me know when I was going to enter the zone, and then advised me of the posted speed limit. I suspect it would also tell me if I were over the limit, but I wasn't speeding this time. It then also told me when I had exited the zone.

This was exactly what I was hoping for when I first noticed this type of alert in the manual.

I am half way done collecting data for VA, and will upload it to Cheetah once it's complete. I am not sure If I'm going to do other states after that or not. Hopefully more people will become interested in finding and reporting these traps in their own states. I have an excel template for anyone that needs it (hint) ;-)

That is freaking awesome !!! Thanks, for getting this started I am going to update my C50. I am driving from GA to WV here in a few months will run the C50 and see if I get any airplane alerts. Also will be helpful if I ever go to FL.