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About 10-12 years ago, I bought a detector called Spybuster. I just found it while cleaning out my garage. It is missing the power cord and manual.
This unit alerts you to hovering airplanes. When I bought it, there was a lot of airplane surveillance in my state and it saved my several times.
Have any of you heard or know about this product? I have searched the net with no results. I'm sure the company who made it don't exist anymore, but I was trying to get a power cord and manual.
Thanks
They were made by Elctrolert, the same company that made the Fuzzbuster. They weren't sold for very long because they didn't go over too well, I heard it was because they had a very high level of false alerts.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomsts
I don't know where you could get the manual or anything for this.
If you ever decide to sell it, please let me know. I have a small collection of vintage detectors and other items, and I have been keeping an eye out for one of these for a while. If not, could you at least maybe send me some pictures of the unit? :D
Jim
I live near an airport and I just muted it while I was near there. I think another reason they didn't sell well was their price. Mine was a gift from my wife & I think it was over $300, but I just don't remember.
I was thinking about putting this on eBay, but I want to find the power cord and confirm it is still working first.
Thanks for your response.
Tom
I tried to google for such a thing, but it gets drowned out in some spy-ware removal software.
So please excuse my perhaps stupid question: what exactly would such a device purport to detect? Gravity waves from the iridium crystals in the pilot's Ray-Bans? Heightened ambient nitrous oxides from the aviation fuel? An annular confinement beam to detect the quantum filament alignment in the plasma coils? Analog synthetic Betazed empathic LEO-pilot-smugness wave receptor?
Or was it just some kind of RF scanner?
Thanks for any insight.
Hope you decide to list it, I'll keep an eye out for it....Quote:
Originally Posted by tomsts
If you think about it, shoot me a PM if you do decide to list it.
Jim
Jim,
Here is what it looks like. I used the toothpick container for size reference. I'm hoping Radio Shack has a plug that will fit it. After you told me who made it, I searched the net, but not much available info. Although, there was an Auto Week issue in the late 80's that had a story on it.
Tom
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ybuster001.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ybuster002.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...ybuster003.jpg
IIRC, it was designed to pick up air band frequencies. That does not make sense as the airborne cops don't use the air band at all do they? So maybe they were just an RF detector for low band frequencies, which were in widespread use by state police at the time. Regardless, it is an RF detector of some type.Quote:
Originally Posted by EastGermanOlympicJudge
I was going to get one back then, but knowing what I did about police radio systems, I was skeptical. This is the first report I ever heard from an actual Spybuster user!
GTO_04
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTO_04
It detected aircraft transponders in the 1.09 GHz range.
Here's the text from a couple of ads:
AMBUSH DETECTOR TRACKS POLICE PLANS OVERHEAD --
WARNS YOU WHEN THERE'S A BEAR IN THE AIR!
OVERHEAD SURVEILLANCE -- Your speed is being clocked
from above by a growing fleet of police-owned Cessna 172's
and 182's. They don't use radar (it can't be used from
airplanes), just a simple stopwatch, so your radar detector
won't help. And by the time you notice the tell-tale white
hash marks painted every 1/4 mile along the Interstates,
it's too late! Using aircraft surveillance, troopers
typically quadruple their tickets-per-hour versus radar
(8/hr vs 2/hr!). Ohio alone has a fleet of 10 Cessnas and 3
helicopters, with more on order. And in Florida, 1/4 mi.
markers have been painted on 140 miles of continuous miles
of Interstate. Clearly new technology is need to warn you
of spies in the sky!
A TRACKING COMPUTER -- Spybuster detects aircraft, not
police radar! Highly specialized SMD circuitry operating at
1-2 gigahertz [What I think they mean is that the thingy
receives signals over that frequency range. If, however,
they have built a computer with a clock speed of 2 GHz, I
would like to know more...] receives signals from the FAA's
ground-based aircraft surveillance system. As these signals
reflect off airplanes, Spybuster locates and tracks with
military precision [Well, that isn't saying much is it?
Does anybody recall the precision of the DIVAD?!?] any plane
within a 6 mile radius of your car (scans a full 360 deg.)
[Thanks. I was always confused about how many degrees were
in a complete radius]. With more than one plane in the
area, Spybuster locks on to the closest one (police planes
operate at a low 2000-5000'). It then computes that plane's
closing rate relative to your position, ignoring fast-moving
747's and jet fighters. Since surveillance Cessnas operate
at only 100-140 mph [So, theoretically, I could out run one
if I was going, oh, say 160...], Spybuster warns you
immediately of any plane "loitering" in your area, or
tracking a parallel course. Spybuster is occasionally [sic]
fooled by an innocent civilian aircraft, but has proven
uncannily accurate in identifying police planes before they
get into position to clock your speed!
TARGET RANGE READOUT -- Spybuster's power switch
performs a self-test [Ok. How's it do that? Must be a damn
complex switch.] and permits muting of the audio alert. The
second green LED is the Tracking Indicator, and lights only
when Spybuster has locked on to a suspect aircraft. [When
will the surface-to-air missile option be available?] The
4-segment Range Readout then flashes in sequence as the
target plane or helicopter closes in. Variable Range
Control lets you set the distance at which Spybuster alerts
you. So when the audio is triggered, and the Range Readout
begins to sequence, there's probably a Bear in the air!
...
Price: $299
"The SPYBUSTER(TM) is truly a star wars device. Over three years in
design and development by the man who invented the Fuzzbuster(R), it
will do what has been considered impossible...IT WILL DETECT
SURVEILLANCE AIRCRAFT! Now you can defend yourself against this ever
expanding menace."
"The Federal Aviation Administration's new radar system now keeps
track of virtually all aircraft in U.S. airspace. The SPYBUSTER(TM)
utilizes Big Brother's own signals to automatically alert you to the
presence of surveillance aircraft. This unique and highly
sophisticated operating principle makes the SPYBUSTER(TM) effective
and LEGAL throughout the country."
The price of this wonder is $279.95 + $3.00 s&h, and you can order it
from Electrolert, Inc., by calling 1-800-543-3848.
I really appreciate the pictures! Though I had known these were out there, I had never even seen one or even a picture of one before. I kind of expected something the size of the original Fuzzbuster, but I see that isn't the case at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomsts
All I had ever found in my search for one of these is an old trucker hat that had "Spybuster" on the front. Maybe I'll wear it for my next avatar :lol:
I am sure radioshack would have a plug for it, looks pretty standard to me.
Jim
Fantastic information. Thanks, guys. I never considered the onboard transponder.
This thread is far too factual, so I'm going to add an anecdote of questionable veracity. Back in the 80's, one of my gearhead buddies had a really worked 6.6 liter Trans Am - kind of built for acceleration, not top speed, but still. He recounted a story of having been pulled over. The quote from the Leo was "Well, when the plane lost sight of you, you were going 123 miles per hour...." Good times. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by jimbonzzz
I this is still working, and I have no reason the believe it isn't. I just didn't have a cord. Maybe if the 160mph info is valid, I should install it on top of my Escort in my ride.
Tom
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...MagnumSide.jpg
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...agnumFront.jpg
Only 160MPH Huh? Well I could outdo that w/ room to spare. :D
(never would of course).
How about the old plane with a stopwatch: I honestly always thought this was cool....actually until a few years ago when it was shown to be *insanely* inaccurate. (Ok so normally it would be off slightly just because reaction time...but 45MPH off thats a pretty sketchy method to use especially for higher speeds.) Sam Tilley who got a 205MPH ticket on his RC51 yeah right :roll: , and the cop stands by his quarter mile clocking of 4.39 seconds which is simply impossible and unbelieveable *beep*. :roll:
Yeah I would, in a state like Ohio you gotta throw everything you can at em' :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by tomsts
Jim:
I didnt know u have a collection of oldschool detectors...maybe you will have the one, or know of it (because I cant find any info on it) that my dad has two of.
Here are some details:
Got it around 1980ish he said (not 100% sure...long time ago).
All black 'Passport'
Had 'Highway/City' modes that could be toggeled to one or the other by a grey switch on the left side.
Just to the right of that it has a 'Power' on/off switch (green in color).
A Green light just to the right (power indicator).
Then to the right of that 8 red display lights (signal strength indicator)
To the right further a yellow/orange light that always lights up when a source is detected wether strength of 1 or 8.
The last thing all the way on the right is a orange switch that toggles between mute/dark.
On the left inset into the detector is a volume control...1-10
"Cinncinati Microwave" in white on the middle/back. to the left is an output jack for a external speaker/earpiece. to the right id the 9volt input.
It has visor clip(bracket) saying Passport and a suction cup bracket also (a single suction cup).
Obviously its a passport...would u have any clue from that description as to its model/do u have a similar one?
I will have to take a picture sometime.
Sounds to me like the original Passport. I have a few of these around I think. I think old units still have a loyal following, because I've seen them sell on ebay for a LOT more than a 25 year old detector should :shock: I think some old-timers have used them for years and refuse to use anything else when their unit breaks :lol: Of course in their day they were the bestyou could get, and would probably even rival todays units on X and X band.
Jim
This is the detector, one of the two identical ones, (I just threw her up there it is not where she normally sits... she normally sits high right under the RVM.)
The other detector you see is the Bel E795 I am testing out for this site.
http://image61.webshots.com/61/3/0/8...8JWCMAp_ph.jpg
Display:
(Sorry for the terrible photo, but I think you get the view)
-So Jim or anyone else...is this the original or what are we looking at here.-
http://image56.webshots.com/56/2/91/...8zcSEeq_ph.jpg
I have more pictures if you think you know what it is,if you need them to determine what model it is.
Yep as I suspected, that's the "Original Escort Passport" from back in the day. :D
Jim
HaHa....Oldschool!Quote:
Originally Posted by jimbonzzz
Thanks for your input here Jim.
Now as you stated previously it has some serious k band protection. (I am sure it has good X band too, however there are no police Xband sources I could test its range against around here). It does, however, pick up ANY, and people I mean ANY x/kdoors. The idea of minimizing falses was not a prioriety back then apparently, this thing screams with fury when it comes to doors.
Back to the K band.... I got a warning (from constant on Sheriff) sitting at the firestation behind the sign down the road from my house a few weeks ago with a whistler, (not pictured which I am also testing for this site and waiting to write a review on until I gather more encounters.) Anycase I took this thing out after i got home (What I now know is the Original Escort Passport)... and the whistler got a .2-.3 mile warning out there for me (el cheapo 1730 I found I had a month ago-bought it like a year back and forgot about it-) and the *beeping* Passport got a blurp of signal '2 strength' (im assume it was the sheriff...it has no 'band indicator' as you know so I have no clue what it was picking up, but im assuming in such a rural area it was the sheriff) at .9miles (almost a mile, I only took a road which put me a mile past the fire station ....so i wasnt going by the sheriff to much) then stayed silent until .7miles where is got another '3 of 8' then kept that for about 2 seconds, went silent for a tiny bit and at .6 right up to the sheriff it kept gaining slowely. I was shocked. (Does this seems consistant with what they used to be able to do? I was suprised).
If we didnt have to worry about KA/Laser and this thing didnt false for everything! I would consider it darn decent. (I am assuming from what you said, not to mention it being so elderly its only X/K band)?
Yes, that is pretty consistent with what they could do.
There used to be a page on the V1 site about how most detectors actually "lost ground" on X and K band when they added superwide Ka.
You can read it HERE.
Also, here's the image from the page comparing range of older detectors (including the original Passport)with newer ones at that time:
http://www.valentine1.com/images/range90s.gif
One of these times when the GOL test, we'll throw some older units into the mix just for kicks! :wink:
Jim
I have one of these Passports & it is still in use by my wife every day. I also have 2 Escort DSP (s), one powers on & appears ok but doesn't detect anymore (anything) and the other one, I lost the unlock key (or the 2 keys I still have are for other ones since lost) it only gives a red blink to let you know it needs unlocking & then goes dead. I'd pay to get either or both fixed but can't find anywhere.
Welcome to the forum...Quote:
Originally Posted by lwsii
I would be willing to give it a shot. If nothing else, I'll bet I could make one good working unit out of the two.
Jim
Good job Jim on fixing his detectors!
nice thanks JIM for bringing this up. cool so you might test older rd units sometime this year? do you have the passport 5000 model x,k,ka band and laser i belive it detectes these bands HO w good is this unit i wonder?. has anyone seen this unit before or own one? beforeQuote:
Originally Posted by jimbonzzz
I might have one of these laying around that we could test :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by carlito
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...zzz/p5000b.jpg
I am not too optimistic on the performance though...
Jim, j/w cuz i know you collect detectors, but how many all in all do you have?
:lol: :lol: :lol: :D :P dang JIM why so many of the same model>? anyway so i am guessing range sucks on them like on KA band whats the most range you have gotton from these units have you testted them out on k or ka? band with your radar guns the reason i ask my friend is selling one fro $40 and i was thinking about getting this for someone up in mexico need to know bye the end of today he wants the cash fast its like brand new works and all he just never got the chance to use it any opions please should i get it is it worth it<>?Jim :lol: 8)Quote:
Originally Posted by jimbonzzz
I wish I knew, maybe I'll count them all one day :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by A-TownNavi
:lol: im guessing youll need more than your hands and feet to count em lol :lol: .Quote:
Originally Posted by jimbonzzz
I don't think I would pay $40 for one, but it might be cool if you like to try different units. If you do, just be careful driving with it until you know it's limitations. :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by carlito