Re: Quattro Digest V2 #160

[drobbins@wellfleet.com (David Robbins)]

LToy@aol.com wrote:

> I'm in the market for a new detector--my old Passport doesn't do much
around
> here (King County, WA) since the WSP started using laser.  What is anyone's
> experiences with the new detectors--Bel, Uniden, Escort, Valentine, etc.  
> Any rag reviews I might look at?

I have seen three reviews in roughtly the last year (Car and Driver, Auto
Electronics, one other).  They basically showed the same results.  In the C&D
test, the Valentine far outperformed everything else (but you pay for it). 
In the other two tests, Valentine would not provide a detector, so it wasn't
tested.  In both of these the Bet 645STi Plus came out on top.

One warning about laser detectors:  They are of questionable value other than
telling you that you have just been nailed by laser.  To police, the value in
buying laser guns is that they use a very thin beam that is tightly targeted
and doesn't give a lot of stray signal.  The best defense was written up in
C&D a couple of years ago:  Basically you should add to Hella Rallye 2000
lamps on and overwhelm the laser gun with light emissions.  A filter to block
the visible light is available from Edmunds Scientific to make them appear to
be off all the time.

One word of warning about the BEL:  The company acknowledges that these
detectors are suceptible to falsing caused by cellular phones.  Also be aware
of the sensitivity of the "rear laser sensor"; unless the laser beam comes
through the rear window and happens to strike the sensor, it is of limited
use.

then glen.powell wrote:

>  Can anyone confirm LASER use in MA or in NH?

I believe that if you call Escort, they keep a list of all known police
agencies using laser and will tell you if they are in your area.

-DMR.