Advocacy & Safety - Gizmo to set off radar detectors

Some of the other threads where cyclists are wearing cameras got me thinking -- does anyone know where I could buy (or how to build) a gadget to set off radar detectors?

Most of my miles are on highways where many people travel well above the speed limit. Traffic is heavy enough that I think that if I could set off a few detectors, it might get all people driving closer to the limit and reduce the speed differential between the slowest and fastest vehicles. At the very least, I think such a gizmo would help make some of the nuttier drivers more alert.

Anyone have any ideas or experience with such a gizmo or know of a common device that just happens to set off radar detectors (hopefully without interfering with the cops' radar guns)?

I've seen such a device advertised. Gotta try a Google.

[edit] No luck.

How about a radar gun? ;)

Not that I think getting people to slow down is a bad idea, but from a cost effective point of view I think you'd be wasting you're money. The percentage of people who speed and have radar detectors, I imagine is relatively low which means you may be only cause a very small proportion to slow down. More importantly, you'd have people paying more attention to where the radar trap may be than to the road.

Besides, its not so much the speeders that I'd worry about, its the tailgaiters (because they don't see you till the last second) and the drunks.

Not that I think getting people to slow down is a bad idea, but from a cost effective point of view I think you'd be wasting you're money. The percentage of people who speed and have radar detectors, I imagine is relatively low which means you may be only cause a very small proportion to slow down.
True, but on a crowded 4 lane highway, slowing down one person in the fast lane can change the pace of the entire line for a surprisingly long time because of the "slinky" effect in dense traffic. The slinky effect often forces drivers to slow to a crawl or even stop hours after an accident has been cleared even though the level of traffic is only moderately high.



More importantly, you'd have people paying more attention to where the radar trap may be than to the road.
My guess is that they'll look along the sides of the road first since that's where the cops often are. That's where I'll be, so I'm hoping that the benefit from them noticing me is greater than the detriment caused by them paying less attention to the other vehicles for a few seconds.

I'm not saying I think I found a silver bullet. However, it's one of those ideas that might be worth a shot. Plus, I'm happy to do what I can to screw up any device that has no legitimate use and encourages people to be irresponsible on the roads.

Low percentage? Looking around our parking lot, probably half the cars have detectors.
It's not hard to do, all you need is a gun diode in a directional housing. Keep in mind that it's emitting microwaves, so make sure the housing is good if you don't want to expose yourself to microwaves.

Radar detectors are a pet peeve of mine. It would be possible to build a detector that picked up a radio tuned to police frequencies, especially if it were transmitting. Basically, a cop detector. The BBC in the UK uses detectors like this to tell which houses are watching TV.

You could then sell these cop detectors to vandals or burglars so they could avoid being caught breaking the law. I don't believe that this is qualitatively different than what radar detectors do. In fact, I have argued that radar detectors are MORE heinous; because they assist people to break laws in ways that endanger other people's lives in measurable ways.

I see a future where this (http://www.americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_radar_detectors_warn/) will be standard bicycle safety option. Eventually, they will develop a transmitter small enough to be mounted to the bike and send a constant "cyclist alert" signal.


The new generation of "smart," radar detectors includes a built-in liquid crystal display capable of displaying up to 64 characters. When such a detector receives a safety message, it first sounds a special tone to alert the driver before displaying the message.


Enhanced transmitters, when they are coupled with `smart' radar detectors, will let the driver differentiate between various types of road hazards.

Radar detectors are a pet peeve of mine. It would be possible to build a detector that picked up a radio tuned to police frequencies, especially if it were transmitting. Basically, a cop detector. The BBC in the UK uses detectors like this to tell which houses are watching TV.


Wonderful ideal, maybe we could call them.................................

Scanners?

Can't you buy an old radar gun for around $100 or $150 ? That ought to make those receivers buzz !

jw

I see a future where this (http://www.americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_radar_detectors_warn/) will be standard bicycle safety option. Eventually, they will develop a transmitter small enough to be mounted to the bike and send a constant "cyclist alert" signal.

Interesting... basically a transponder much like what airplanes now use for IFF systems to "squawk" their location and height for air traffic control.

I can see something like this becoming very important in the future when actual driving is handed over to a computer.

Can't you buy an old radar gun for around $100 or $150 ? That ought to make those receivers buzz !
I could. I was just wondering if there's some slick nonobvious device out there that's designed specifically for this purpose. I would think that parents of small children and elderly drivers might want to buy a unit for their car.

I think that you can make a supper small lightweight device that only transmitted. Might be a challange to tune.

I think that you can make a supper small lightweight device that only transmitted. Might be a challange to tune.

What you want is a device called a gunnplexer. If you search around, you might find one from a surplus electronics dealer pretty cheap. I had a couple about 10 years ago that I got for about $20 each from Nebraska Surplus. It was a small unit, about 1 inch square. You attach a tiny horn antenna and hook it up to about 6 VDC. You want to find a K-Band gunnplexer which will transmit on 24.15 GHz to set off radar detectors.

A person with a bit of electronics skill could put one together without too much difficulty.

I regret being a spoil-sport to such a lively thread but have you considered the penalties for an unliciensed (sp?) transmitter operating on police frequencies? Shudder! On a par with the company that was selling kits that allowed you to build a transmitter that could turn all streetlights red. Legally used by emergency vehicles on high speed runs. Box had a warning; For Technical Interest Only. Do Not Use.

...Anyone have any ideas or experience with such a gizmo or know of a common device that just happens to set off radar detectors... ? --- There used to be a product called the "Highway Zapper" made by Electronic Rainbow. I saw one in action on a busy road. When the owner pushed the button, lots of brake lights came on.

I regret being a spoil-sport to such a lively thread but have you considered the penalties for an unliciensed (sp?) transmitter operating on police frequencies? Shudder! On a par with the company that was selling kits that allowed you to build a transmitter that could turn all streetlights red. Legally used by emergency vehicles on high speed runs. Box had a warning; For Technical Interest Only. Do Not Use.

If you're power is low enough, there is no problem. 24.15 GHz is not a "police frequency". It's used for many applications. Hence the availability of surplus low power (~1mW) gunnplexers. Now, if you plan to jam a police radar, that's a different story.

You can buy a K Band speed radar off the shelf without any license (http://www.stalkerradar.com/sports_sport.shtml for one of many examples). Low power microwave transmitters are used for motion detectors in burglar alarms and automatic door openers. Did you know that farm tractors have radar? It's for measuring ground speed to optimize the amount of wheel slip.

This could be a good start on the project:

http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=SG7

True, but on a crowded 4 lane highway, slowing down one person in the fast lane can change the pace of the entire line for a surprisingly long time because of the "slinky" effect in dense traffic. The slinky effect often forces drivers to slow to a crawl or even stop hours after an accident has been cleared even though the level of traffic is only moderately high.

Absolutely true and exploited by law enforcement in Alberta. The RCMP regularly parks empty cruisers along stretches of highway that are deemed dangerous because of conditions or heavy traffic (used frequently on the road between Banff and Lake Louise). They turn on the radar and leave it on. On a two lane highway it slows traffic down for miles in both directions.

Thanks for the nice response. Well said.

There was an aircraft beacon along I-10 in New Mexico that was triggering radar detectors. Once some drivers knew they were getting a false signal they would just keep speeding. Smart drivers would slow down there knowing that the local police had started waiting there for speeders. This was somewhere near Grants, NM.

When using a transmitter to slow traffic one might be somewhat random in using it to make it harder to be caught. Also, don't always do it on a bike: same reason.

Try your local sports shop that's big on baseball. They are selling radar guns that measure the speed of a baseball from a pitcher (honest they really are!)
Ya gotta love technology. It's not enough to buy your kid a bat, ball and mit. Now ya gotta buy spikes, uniform, glove treatment, pitching machine, ball stand and, the latest, a radar gun to see how fast the little tike can through the ball.

Ya gotta love technology. It's not enough to buy your kid a bat, ball and mit. Now ya gotta buy spikes, uniform, glove treatment, pitching machine, ball stand and, the latest, a radar gun to see how fast the little tike can through the ball.
"Ya" don't HAVE to buy anything unless "Ya" want to buy it around here.

"Ya" don't HAVE to buy anything unless "Ya" want to buy it around here.
Where's here?

Where's here?
Everywhere.

Thanks for the nice response. Well said.

There was an aircraft beacon along I-10 in New Mexico that was triggering radar detectors. Once some drivers knew they were getting a false signal they would just keep speeding. Smart drivers would slow down there knowing that the local police had started waiting there for speeders. This was somewhere near Grants, NM.

When using a transmitter to slow traffic one might be somewhat random in using it to make it harder to be caught. Also, don't always do it on a bike: same reason.

Yes. The RCMP moved the units around. They occasionally hid manned units in these areas too, to pick off the people who figured out the ruse. They'd even sit in these areas with no radar active and set up with Lidar. Most people didn't have laser detection capability. Even with laser detection capabilities if you're getting targeted by laser, it's probably too late to drop speed.

Reminds me of the only time I got ticketed for speeding while using a detector. I was travelling 85 in a 75 on the interstate in Montana. There was no eastbound traffic ahead of me for as far as I could see. Two cars approaching westbound. When the westbound trooper was within range he hit me with the instant on radar. Of course the radar detector went nuts. Too late of course. Remember, if you use a radar detector, you're relying on other driver's speed being sampled in order for you to get an alert. Fortunately, I only had to post a $20 bond, the equivalent of the fine for speeding. Fortunately, I had $20 cash or Trooper Troy and I would have become acquainted on the ride to the local state police post lock-up.

It appears that there are a max of 128 preprogrammed messages that can be triggered on smart radar detectors (7 bit codes):
http://www.americancityandcounty.com/mag/government_radar_detectors_warn/
I couldn't find a list of phrases, I saw some reference to there being about 60 but I don't know how old that list is. Slow moving vehicle is one of the options for sure.

It appears that this system is licensed by Safety Warning Systems of Florida. That means specs are probably not available publicly.

In fact, I have argued that radar detectors are MORE heinous; because they assist people to break laws in ways that endanger other people's lives in measurable ways.

oh sheesh.... Give me a break...

A) it can be argued that speed, by itself, is quite benign. In fact, when a non-state sponsored agency does studies on accidents they find that the primary causes of accidents are 1. Alcohol, 2. fatigue, 3, inattention, 4 and 5 tied with poor driving ability and/or poor decision making skills - speed tends to rate near the bottom of the list for "causes" of accidents. However speed is a multiplier - add speed to any of the top three, and thats where the trouble comes from. (When state agencies do similar studies they claim that speed is the leading cause - which simply justifies their giving speeding tickets, which is a huge source of revenue - despite what "they" tell you.)

Many studies have found that drivers tend to pay more attention when speeds are higher, than when speeds are lower. One particular case in England, they lowerd the speed limit on a particular rural road and found that the accident rate increased three fold! They determined that because drivers were going slower, they were paying less attention, while other drivers were more willing to make aggressive passes because of the feeling of crawling along.

B) It could, and has been, argued, that a radar detector is a reminder on ones speed. I openly admit that I like to go fast - I enjoy the sensation, and will, on empty roads, find myself going well in excess of the speed limit when I start paying attention to the road and the conditions and start enjoying the drive. A radar detector is a very gentle reminder to slow down. In fact, I tend to drive slower with my radar detector because I am getting constant reminders to slow down. And this is not an uncommon statement.

C) I have, in my life, been ticketed for speeding three times, where in fact I was NOT speeding. The cop made a mistake and clocked the wrong vehicle with his radar gun. Without getting into a huge argument about how the system is supposed to work, the fact remains that this does happen. The radar detector makes this less of an issue because I know when and where the officer tagged me and gives me more of a chance to talk my way out of the false ticket because I have more information about the event other than "It wasn't me!" (which is a really bad argument and doesn't work by the way).

And while I'm certain that some people may use radar detectors to try to get away with speeding, I argue that they are not the average driver. And to be honest, most radar detectors are crap and don't work worth a spit anyway. You need to plan to speed a minimum of $300 for a good radar detector before it will do you any good. Most of the radar detectors you see in cars are $50 Whistlers which are about worthless. They can't detect Ka band radar (which is what most HP use) until the officer is right on top of you, which by then it's too late anyway. And they pick up so many signals from grocery store doors, cell towers, and even other detectors, that they are mostly false signals.

And more and more law enforcement agengies are going to Laser (or it is lazer?) which there is no way to effectively detect and evade lazer signals.

If we really want to make the roads safer, we need to make talking on the freaking cell phone illegal. In a recent study by the University of Utah, it was found that drivers talking on a cell phone while driving react 30% SLOWER than drivers who are legally intoxicated. We need to refocus our efforts for traffic enforcement on the inattentive.


And so I'm not totally hijacking the thread. I would be leary of using any device that trips radar detectors on public roads. Radar is a radio wave and therefore requires an FCC license to operate within the frequencies likely to trip a radar detector. Which is why radar jammers are very very illegal. (but lazer jammers are legal, but I have no idea how effective, because they are just broadcasting light).

dp

Low percentage? Looking around our parking lot, probably half the cars have detectors.

Funny. I've never seen a single detector on any of the thousands of cars parked at my college's lot.

This, of course, excludes the hundred-or-so rice rockets and the cars that the rich kids own.

Instead of something to set off radar detectors, how about some sort of an electromagnetic pulse generator to shut down cars at will. I know it would be violate several laws, but think of the possibilities. One of my coworkers came up with this idea a couple of weeks ago when I was complaining about being passed too closely on the way into work. I'm sure someone electronically minded could come up with this fairly easily. Go ahead and pass me with inches to spare buddy, I'm shutting you down. And it would have the added benefit of shutting off the cell phone at the same time.

It depends on which band you want to set off. Most drivers (including me) will ignore the X & K bands (which can be set off easily by automatic door openers such as garage doors & doors from your local Walmart).

So, if I were you, I would try to set off the Ka band. Ka is used by cops with "Instant-On" radar guns. This means, that they hit you and they'll stop. This is the deadiest form of radar.

With X & K bands, most lazy cops leave it the gun on CONSTANTLY, which means, radar detectors pick them up miles before even seeing the cops.

So, if I were you, I would try to set off the Ka band with pulses (maybe 30 seconds in between each pulse). This way, drivers think that a cop is out there somewhere.....shooting.

Or if you really want to, try to set of Laser. Most radar detectors will burst out when it detects laser.

But don't be in the wrong place at the wrong time & let some psycho catch you doing this. They can easily identify that you're doing this if they have the Valentine One (which I have). The V1 uses arrows to show where the radar is coming from.

Here's a situation with a psycho. He's behind you and his detector is blasting with the arrows pointing forward. As he passes you, the arrows point to the side and after he passes you, his arrow points back. He slows down and waits for you, and as you pass him, the arrows point to the side, and after you pass him, the arrows point up front.

Mr. Psycho may decide to run you off the road into a ditch or something.

To me, it's not worth it.

oh sheesh.... Give me a break...

...
B) It could, and has been, argued, that a radar detector is a reminder on ones speed....

C) I have, in my life, been ticketed for speeding three times, where in fact I was NOT speeding....

... I would be leary of using any device that trips radar detectors on public roads. Radar is a radio wave and therefore requires an FCC license to operate within the frequencies likely to trip a radar detector. Which is why radar jammers are very very illegal. (but lazer jammers are legal, but I have no idea how effective, because they are just broadcasting light).
Light is also a radio wave. When radar detectors first appeared on the market, it took the cops no time at all to start installing solar powered devices that tripped off the detectors. They got sued, and the court decided that the cops' solution somehow interfered with the rights of radar detector owners and manufacturers. Interestingly enough, consumer radar guns, burglar alarms, etc that emit signals on the same frequencies as the radar bands don't require licensing.

Anyone who needs a radar detector as a speed "reminder" isn't paying enough attention to what s/he is doing. Most roads don't have any patrol on them at a given time, and many roads are completely unpatrolled. Therefore, a legitimate reminder should fire off every few minutes. Sounds like a pain? Check your guages once in awhile. The speedometer is the most prominent one. Also, don't ever take up flying -- you'll kill yourself or someone else for certain.

The displays on radar detectors encourage irresponsible driving -- staring at lights to figure out the strength/location of a radar source will inevitably distract drivers from much more important things.

If you get ticketed frequently when you are not speeding, my guess is that you are are either exceptionally unlucky or that there's something you're not saying. I'll go out on a limb and guess that the cops know you've pulled a fast one on them a few times and probably hassle you a bit. I'll go on another limb and guess that the vast, vast majority of the times you speed, you don't get caught.

Light is also a radio wave.

What? This makes no sense, Radio is sound - Radio waves also travel at a much different speed than light waves. I need more proof of this.


Anyone who needs a radar detector as a speed "reminder" isn't paying enough attention to what s/he is doing.
I disagree, but whatever...


Check your guages once in awhile. The speedometer is the most prominent one. Also, don't ever take up flying -- you'll kill yourself or someone else for certain.

Okay, the obove statement contradicts the below statement. You say it's irresponsible to look at a radar detector but that you should look at your speedometer? Which is it? Look at displayed information or don't...


The displays on radar detectors encourage irresponsible driving -- staring at lights to figure out the strength/location of a radar source will inevitably distract drivers from much more important things.

Secondly, most radar detectors have audible sounds - each sound different from the other depending on band. And the pitch changes with proximity. So I can tell exactly whats going on without ever having to look at the detector.

Lastly, I don't fly airplanes. But I do ride motorcycles - and I promise you, when I'm heeled over in a corner- similiar to the bicycle - acclerating through the corner to provide vehicle stability, while scanning for road debris, slope, radius, and degree of corner - not to mention oncoming traffic etc... I do not want to be looking down at the speedometer - that's really increasing the exposure to the potential for a crash. Do you read your bicycle computer while zinging through a corner? So yeah, a little beeping sound in my helmet is a lot less distracting than looking down at guages.

And rating airplanes next to street riding/driving is not a fair comparison. When your 10,000 feet in the air, i'm sorry, but things happen a lot slower (under most circumstances that is). You have plenty of time to sit and look at the array of guages you have before you and also why its so important to be guage rated in an airplane. You can fly an airplane by looking at nothing but guages (mostly) but not so on the ground.


If you get ticketed frequently when you are not speeding, my guess is that you are are either exceptionally unlucky or that there's something you're not saying. I'll go out on a limb and guess that the cops know you've pulled a fast one on them a few times and probably hassle you a bit. I'll go on another limb and guess that the vast, vast majority of the times you speed, you don't get caught.

And Lastly, every false ticket was more than hundreds of miles from eachother, in hilly terrain, very remote areas and by local cops who were most likely poorly trained on the equipment they were using. Twice I was on a motorcycle and once in a car. The motorcycles are smaller, so they may appear to be going faster to the poorly trained officer than the F350 that had just passed me a few miles ago... But I digress.

My overall point is that a radar detector is a viable tool to actually keep many drivers, such as myself, more aware of their speed. I also spend a lot of time on race-tracks where I'll ride all day long at 100+ miles per hour. Ones sense of speed gets a little tweaked after that and 50 miles per hour starts to feel like 20... I admit, I don't drive around stairing down at my speedometer - there are too many other things that require more attention than my current rate of forward progress - such as traffic etc...

If you don't want to use one, fine - but calling a radar detector heinous or saying that it is an excuse to speed is simply misinformed. If you speed all the time, a radar detector is not going to keep you out of trouble. Particularly if the driver/rider speeds in school zones and urbanized areas. By law, cops are supposed to visually estimate a "targets" speed then confirm with a speed measuring device, such as a radar gun or lazer, timing marks etc... Radar detectors are worthless against lazer, timing marks and a cops speed estimation. And a cop does not need a radar or lazer signal speed measuring device in order to hand out speeding tickets.

Cheers,
dp

What? This makes no sense, Radio is sound - Radio waves also travel at a much different speed than light waves. I need more proof of this.

In the words of the late great sydney, bullroar! :) Light is EM energy just the same as radio emissions. The frequency is higher, is all. Light and other forms of EM emissions travel at the same speed. It is 300,000 km/sec.

With radio, audio signals are used to modulate the radio signal. The sound waves are not travelling in space on their own - they are carried on the radio signal. Hence "carrier waves." Modern single-sideband radios even suppress the carrier wave and reinsert it at the receiver. Sounds like magic? No way, just basic electronics.

Cheers

VE3HBB (licensed amateur radio operator)

You say it's irresponsible to look at a radar detector but that you should look at your speedometer? Which is it? Look at displayed information or don't...
This is a strange attitude -- I think you should avoid any vehicle that contains a graphic equalizer if you choose to view all displays.

As far as the distinction between the speedo and the radar detector, one tells you something about how your vehicle is operating, the other tells you how to avoid a ticket for doing something you shouldn't be doing in the first place. Vehicle guages should be scanned occasionally, but not fixated on.



And Lastly, every false ticket was more than hundreds of miles from eachother, in hilly terrain, very remote areas and by local cops who were most likely poorly trained on the equipment they were using. Twice I was on a motorcycle and once in a car. The motorcycles are smaller, so they may appear to be going faster to the poorly trained officer than the F350 that had just passed me a few miles ago... But I digress.
Perhaps. I know many longtime drivers with no tickets over several decades. Some guys just get all the bad luck I guess. Amazing how often it happens to speed aficionados.




I also spend a lot of time on race-tracks where I'll ride all day long at 100+ miles per hour. Ones sense of speed gets a little tweaked after that and 50 miles per hour starts to feel like 20... I admit, I don't drive around stairing down at my speedometer - there are too many other things that require more attention than my current rate of forward progress - such as traffic etc...
Getting back to my original post about tripping off radar detectors, if a "reminder" is necessary, knowing about the cyclist on the road immediately ahead should be a good thing. I've been hit twice and missed by inches on other occasions by drivers who didn't know I was there.

Guages should be occasionally scanned rather than stared at, but you should already know how fast you are going pretty much all the time. Any experienced driver can guess RPM's or speed pretty closely without consulting the tach or speedometer. You've got noise to estimate the rpm, the gear/rpm combo plus the visual indication to estimate speed. How much more do you need?

Sometimes, it is unsafe to go the speed limit because too many people are exceeding it by too much. If that is the case, slowing down when your radar detector lights up could cause an accident.



If you don't want to use one, fine - but calling a radar detector heinous or saying that it is an excuse to speed is simply misinformed. If you speed all the time, a radar detector is not going to keep you out of trouble.
I don't say it's an excuse to speed. I say it's a device with no legitimate purpose. If you need a reminder, get something that reminds you on all roads, not the tiny minority of roads with cops who are pointing radar guns. You'd think that a speed reminder wouldn't need to tell you about the band, distance, or direction of cop radar.

But hey, I'm just some uninformed boob. Before I started this thread, I thought that radio waves were in the electromagnetic spectrum. Now that I realize that they are sound, I feel much wiser. You'd think that the racket from the radio broadcast towers would drive people nuts.... :D

What? This makes no sense, Radio is sound - Radio waves also travel at a much different speed than light waves. I need more proof of this.

Here is a device like you were looking for, it says it sets off raday detectors to slow drivers down.
Just a FYI may be a useful small gadget to keep the roads safe.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=320397924337

:eek:

Kevin.

What? This makes no sense, Radio is sound - Radio waves also travel at a much different speed than light waves. I need more proof of this.



You need a basic class in physics.

"Radio," TV, light and radar are all part of an electromagnetic spectrum...

http://www.electrosensitivity.org/_graphics/other/EM_spectrum.jpg

You need a basic class in physics.

"Radio," TV, light and radar are all part of an electromagnetic spectrum...



You don’t understand *anything* about science! First off, there’s a difference between waves and particles! DUH! Second, the amount of power it would take to convert energy into matter would be like nine atomic bombs!

wow ancient but interesting thread

Cars should be electronically and mechanically limited to whatever ever speed their braking system can bring them to a stop from in a distance of 10 feet. That would fix the troubles.

Cars should be electronically and mechanically limited to whatever ever speed their braking system can bring them to a stop from in a distance of 10 feet. That would fix the troubles.

Wouldn't fix a mental problem recognizing that cyclists are not the only inhabitants of the planet.

You don’t understand *anything* about science! First off, there’s a difference between waves and particles! DUH! Second, the amount of power it would take to convert energy into matter would be like nine atomic bombs!

What??? :rolleyes:

BTW I am an engineer... I think I do know "something" about science... and in particular, the EM spectrum.

Also on a very simple scale, plants regularly "turn energy into matter," through the process of photosynthesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis). No nukes involved.

I want to know when there is one available--will get one for the car and another for the handlebar bag. ANYTHING that slows speeders down is good.

....Anyone have any ideas or experience with such a gizmo or know of a common device that just happens to set off radar detectors (hopefully without interfering with the cops' radar guns)?

The device is known as a Magnetron, or a Klystron.
It is a type of Vacuum Tube.

I don't know exactly what frequency it would have to be tuned to.

The device is known as a Magnetron, or a Klystron.
It is a type of Vacuum Tube.

I don't know exactly what frequency it would have to be tuned to.

Actually you can do it with certain diodes... and some amplifiers and batteries to create a signal strong enough to set off a radar detector... Look up "microwave noise source."

You don't need the power of a Magnatron... which indeed is used to create watts and watts of RF power for things as common as a microwave oven or as specialized as a Radar, such as for a boat.

Earlier folks were throwing around Ka band or Ku band... very different in frequency... Ku Band is around 12 - 18 GHz, Ka Band is around 27 - 40 GHz. I have done work at Ku.

However the reality is I doubt there is any sort of market for this, and as a noise source, the FCC might be quite interested as you would have to actually "broadcast" this to have any effect. Sure, 1-2 milliwatts will probably set off a radar detector...

I used to ride shotgun with a friend that had hand-held K band and X band transmitters. Playing with the speeders was a lot of fun, especially if you could find one that thought as soon as the radar detector went silent, speeding was ok. Like a radio control. These things don't work on truckers during the day, but at night they work fine. We were listening to one trucker that said "it's like he's traveling along side of me" -- and we probably were. My friend had a stack of these transmitters, but I could never talk him out of one.

Thanks for the nice response. Well said.

There was an aircraft beacon along I-10 in New Mexico that was triggering radar detectors. Once some drivers knew they were getting a false signal they would just keep speeding. Smart drivers would slow down there knowing that the local police had started waiting there for speeders. This was somewhere near Grants, NM.

Grants is on I-40, not I-10; I-10 runs through the southern part of the state - Las Cruces - Deming - Lordsburg

tear this apart and make it smaller

http://www.amazon.com/Mattel-J2358-Hot-Wheels-Radar/dp/B000EHLB0M

FWIW, according to information found on the manufacturers website. The Zapper was discontinued by the manufacturer because the FCC "asked" them to stop making it. Probably something to do with using frequencies they weren't authorized to use.


No longer available. All suppliers have stopped carrying them per the FCC's request.

When I was in the Marines, I worked the night shift for a couple of years. The local police used to broadcast on one of our frequencies, so we picked up, and could respond to all of their radio transmissions. We tried to tell them nicely they needed to change their frequency, they refused, and told us we needed to change our frequency.

The FCC eventually sided with the Marines, since it was a registered military frequency, but in the interim we insured the cops never had a slow night.:) If they were busy with police business we didn't mess with them.

Wasn't a damn thing they could do about it, since they were broadcasting on an unauthorized frequency. They eventually complained to our commanding officer, who made us stop. No one was reprimanded us since the cops had annoyed everyone with their nonsense and most people found it funny that we had found a way to annoy them back.

I saw one that was made for (I'm guessing) measuring pitch speed like another poster said. It looked like it was a cheap, 'for kids' type thing so it probably wouldn't be too expensive. I bet it'd trigger them though. I've been meaning to do something like this for a while, mostly just for fun, not so much safety oriented but same idea. I found one of those garage door sensor things that I thought might work but I haven't tried it yet.

If most modern radar detectors also have laser detection capabilities would mounting a laser pointer to the bike facing towards the rear set the detectors off?

This is a video of the gadget that so many people have asked about, one is listed on Ebay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wK3z9qqyEc

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320397924337

:eek:

While you are at it, fit a cell phone jammer to your bike.