Could someone please explain scatter?

[justin81]

Sorry if this seems pretty basic and n00bish but I was wondering how a laser detector can actually "see" scatter when other vehicles are being targeted by lidar.

I thought that the detector wouldn't alert unless the light particles actually came into contact with the laser sensors. If an LEO is shooting the car ahead of you, what exactly is the laser detector picking up on or coming into contact with that could raise the alarm?

[Just1n]

The laser (a form of light) bounces off various objects and enough minute amounts of laser make their way to your detector's laser sensor producing an alert.

The officer may also inadvertently (unsteady aim, missing the target, etc) shoot through the other driver's windshield or directly at your windshield while targeting other drivers, again, producing an alert.

[robcollins5]

Think of it like a disco ball. You shine a light at a disco ball (the light in this case is the laser gun) and the disco ball leaves little dots all over the wall. Same kind of deal with laser. When the cop shoots any surface the light is reflected or deflected. When it is reflected he gets your speed. when it is deflected, meaning off-axis, it might just find your detector unit. Since the beam is EXTREMELY narrow, there is not as much light to reflect/deflect, and therefore it is far less likely that you will receive scatter as there just isn't that much of it.

rc

[Colinsutra]

There are instanced in my experiance where you have a much better chance at picking up scatter. This weekend for instance heading back from Lake Louise and a day of snowboarding (yup their still open, and the snow is great) the speed limit through the park is 90km/hr but absolutly everyone is driving at least 120-130.

First speed trap, RCMP was standing behind a sign next to the left lane shooting laser. Even though traffic was going fast, traffic was extremly congested, so between myself and the laser there are 5 or 6 other cars. in this case the LEO must shoot laser at the left headlight, being the one closest to him, as there are no front licence plates in Alberta. This, I'm assuming, really increases the chance of picking up scatter off the sides of cars and their windows, it seams I always get an alert, and if it was actually a hit there is no way I shouldn't have been pulled over.

Second laser trap on the way home (I actually had 3 legit saves all weekend) was just over the crest of a hill, but luckily the LEO had left Ka running in his car and I was alerted way before I crested the hill.

Laser is used alot around Calgary and in Alberta so I definitly respond as fast as I can to All laser alerts.

[CJR238]

Sorry if this seems pretty basic and n00bish but I was wondering how a laser detector can actually "see" scatter when other vehicles are being targeted by lidar.

I thought that the detector wouldn't alert unless the light particles actually came into contact with the laser sensors. If an LEO is shooting the car ahead of you, what exactly is the laser detector picking up on or coming into contact with that could raise the alarm?

You are correct, there is no laser scatter, and you need a direct hit for the laser sensors to pick it up.

Anything else is just random luck if your alerted.

[Colinsutra]

I wonder what a good way to test this would be, I really really want to believe that this isn't just luck.

[Z1NONLY]

You are correct, there is no laser scatter, and you need a direct hit for the laser sensors to pick it up.

Anything else is just random luck if your alerted.

My V1 has done it twice.

[noTe]

You are correct, there is no laser scatter, and you need a direct hit for the laser sensors to pick it up.

Anything else is just random luck if your alerted.

Wrong. Please know what you are talking about before you spread wrong information on the internet.

I've had scatter 5 or 6 times. The higher you mount the V1, the more you will pick up scatter.

From Valentine1.com:

Advanced warnings (a warning in time to do some good) are more likely if one can avoid some problems caused by the low mounting position. Advance warnings require the greatest possibility of receiving a weak fragment of the beam while it is being used on traffic a good distance ahead. To maximize reception of weak signals, one must reduce blockage and interference.

Mounting high on the windshield will position the detector to "see" through the windows of most vehicles ahead. Glass in vehicles ahead is a good thing for your detector to see; it can scatter reflections in your direction. Sometimes it develops a glow, or a bloom, when the beam strikes, giving yet another chance for advanced warning.

Mounting high on the windshield reduces the effect of sunlight reflected from the hood, which increases the detector's ability to find weak beam fragments. Daytime warning sensitivity is completely dominated by how one manages the sunlight issues.

Mounting high behind the tint band may reduce the laser signal somewhat, but it reduces the sunlight contamination by the same amount. The result is an unchanged laser-to-sunlight ratio from the scene beyond your vehicle, but with reduced hood reflections owing to a higher vantage point—a net gain. Only in the dead of night would a just-below-the-tint-band mounting position be beneficial.

[Donut Patrol]

Sorry if this seems pretty basic and n00bish but I was wondering how a laser detector can actually "see" scatter when other vehicles are being targeted by lidar.

I thought that the detector wouldn't alert unless the light particles actually came into contact with the laser sensors. If an LEO is shooting the car ahead of you, what exactly is the laser detector picking up on or coming into contact with that could raise the alarm?

You are correct, there is no laser scatter, and you need a direct hit for the laser sensors to pick it up.

Anything else is just random luck if your alerted.

I have 1 scatter save, but 5+ scatter encounters after the initial hit, it's definately not luck. I picked it up Tuesday by just driving under his line of sight. I got hit then as a I drove by my V1 picked up the shots (3) over my roof at the cars behind me.

[AirMoore]

Lets re-phrase it this way: There is 'scatter' its just worthless to use an RD as a countermeasure against laser.


saying "Oh the V1 has done it 2/3/4 etc times" (without the disclaimer saying its useless) are the ones giving the WORSE impression to new users. It might very well give them the impression that as long as they are using a rabbit, they can expect the V1 to pick up laser scatter. Its better to tell them to NOT count on it, rather then to say it is there... if anything putting them on the side more towards caution is the best thing to do.

There is no problem with saying the V1 picks up scatter on rare occasions (it does), but saying it has picked it up without a disclaimer about not counting on it is laying the grounds for new users getting in trouble!


Bottom line here: Is there laser scatter? Yes! Is that a moot point because using scatter as any sort of protection against lidar is asking for trouble? Yes!