Test concludes Black dots do not affect range

[KASHER1979]

Hey guys I did a test today to see if putting your detector behind the black dots make a difference. As you can see my V1C actually did better behind the dots than not! I am really happy about this because I like it up high in the middle and this also shields the detectors from direct sunlight as well I think. I think if nothing else this test def. verifies for us that the dots can have absolutely no ill effects on the range at all. I am told these dots can be made of various materials and some vehicles may be different. This particular one is a Toyota Rav4. I would imagine any toyota is basically going to have the same material. I also figure that for the most part to dots do not hurt range at all. In my case range was BETTER behind them! Check out the videos to see the test. By the way I did several more tests to make sure and verify, and it always had better range when up behind the dots!

[video=youtube;Ogc8XwT7zg8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ogc8XwT7zg8&feature=youtu.be[/video]

[video=youtube;8abkVuNjVlE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8abkVuNjVlE&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[bdrec64]

Thank you very much for running this test!!!!!!!!!

 

[KASHER1979]

Thank you very much for running this test!!!!!!!!!

Hey you are welcome. I was glad to do it. I needed to know for myself anyway. I think this helps clear it up. I am really impressed that it actually gets better range up there. I guess it makes sense though because it is higher up.

 

[TerragonSix]

However you are less likely to pick up laser shots with your RD (pointless, especially the rare chance that you'll pick up scatter).

I always mount mine as high and as unobstructed as I possibly can.

 

[KASHER1979]

However you are less likely to pick up laser shots with your RD (pointless, especially the rare chance that you'll pick up scatter).

I always mount mine as high and as unobstructed as I possibly can.

True. I did get a laser save (I think) the other day and the detector was still up high. To be honest I am not sure it helps to have it down low since there isn't much chance of getting saved by laser anyway. There happened to be LOTS of traffic in front of me and I think that is how I may have picked up a little scatter from maybe the car right in front of me.

---------- Post added at 01:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 AM ----------

Also I tested on my car and the black dots didn't hurt the range on it either.

 

[protias]

However you are less likely to pick up laser shots with your RD (pointless, especially the rare chance that you'll pick up scatter).

I always mount mine as high and as unobstructed as I possibly can.

The black dots do not hinder LIDAR, but again, scatter is pretty rare.

 

[KASHER1979]

The black dots do not hinder LIDAR, but again, scatter is pretty rare.

Thank you for posting this. I know you run your detectors behind the dots and have seen several videos where they alert to laser just fine up there.

 

[Lary]

However you are less likely to pick up laser shots with your RD (pointless, especially the rare chance that you'll pick up scatter).

I always mount mine as high and as unobstructed as I possibly can.

I'm starting to think that having a radar detector is worthless in the bay area because of how polluted it with with false Ka and laser pick-ups from cars such as Lexus, Audi and BMWs.
I swear they drive me nuts!
I've picked up 10x more false lasers than actual lasers from a LIDAR gun.

 

[TerragonSix]

If your RD is band segmented, no worries. It will only scan areas of Ka band that police RADAR are specifically under.

My RX 65 has USA mode, which is a fancy word for band segmentation.

 

[Nazar]

I'm starting to think that having a radar detector is worthless in the bay area because of how polluted it with with false Ka and laser pick-ups from cars such as Lexus, Audi and BMWs.
I swear they drive me nuts!
I've picked up 10x more false lasers than actual lasers from a LIDAR gun.

also, the new max is meant to address this issue...... i would wait for testing though before i bought one

 

[KASHER1979]

Is there anything about those dots that could for some odd reason improve range! It seems like when my detectors are behind them they seems to do almost better. For example the test I did here it actually had better range. I have a hard time believe that moving it up just 3 inches or so is making that much difference in range, but maybe it is just the height on the windshield that's making the different. Also I have had several confirmations for folks that run their detectors up there that it actually doesn't do anything to hurt laser alerts either!

 

[Nazar]

Is there anything about those dots that could for some odd reason improve range! It seems like when my detectors are behind them they seems to do almost better. For example the test I did here it actually had better range. I have a hard time believe that moving it up just 3 inches or so is making that much difference in range, but maybe it is just the height on the windshield that's making the different. Also I have had several confirmations for folks that run their detectors up there that it actually doesn't do anything to hurt laser alerts either!

when testing for range, there is a lot of things that can make a difference

you put it higher - only 3 inches though

but when you stuck it on, it may have been on a slight angle (right/left up/down) from the previous location.
even the difference from atmospheric conditions can give different results.
there is other things as well but you get the idea.

personally, i have not heard of any material that will improve the signal of the RD.

 

[KASHER1979]

Yeah I have not either but it just seemed odd that when I put it behind there the range is better. I thought maybe it wad because it shades the detector somewhat possible. I think it might be maily because its higher. I have been getting more falses since putting it up there because its so sensitive. I also used super glue to glue suction cups up there on thr dots and it holds very solid.

 

[Nazar]

Yeah I have not either but it just seemed odd that when I put it behind there the range is better. I thought maybe it wad because it shades the detector somewhat possible. I think it might be maily because its higher. I have been getting more falses since putting it up there because its so sensitive. I also used super glue to glue suction cups up there on thr dots and it holds very solid.

i must admit, i am intrigued as well, this could be something to put to ecctg testing........ although i am not sure how the heck they would test it (seeing they can't take the dots off and on)
i know height wil make a difference, but i find it unusual given the sensitivity you are describing. and that it is only 3 inches....

i think we need someone more knowledgeable to me to put his brain to it.

 

[KASHER1979]

i must admit, i am intrigued as well, this could be something to put to ecctg testing........ although i am not sure how the heck they would test it (seeing they can't take the dots off and on)
i know height wil make a difference, but i find it unusual given the sensitivity you are describing. and that it is only 3 inches....

i think we need someone more knowledgeable to me to put his brain to it.

Yeah me too ... I am extremely intrigued as well and shocked about the whole matter. If you look at the test I did you can see there is quite a bit of range difference when I moved it to the dots and then took it off them. The range was significantly better behind the dots. I did several passes too that I didn't video and it was always better behind the dots.

 

[Nine_C1]

Who really knows.....but if you find something that works you go with it.

I've also seen reports from folks who swear their RedLine does better with a low mount on the windshield as well and I believe them.

I think the higher the better rule of thumb is generally accurate but maybe not in all circumstances, it could depend on the specific vehicle where the best location is to mount your detector. Reflections off the hood (both light and RF) being received by the detector would be a bad thing. In the case of light (and light colored cars) the added brightness makes it harder to see LIDAR and in the case of RF any reflections would be out of phase with the direct signal and effectively lower the gain of the receiver.

Factors are many. The contour and composition of the windshield glass itself changes depending on the location and some windshields use a metalized layer to block IR rays from the sun. The ones that do often leave windows where GPS devices can be mounted for better performance.

In this particular case the area covered by the ceramic dots may in fact be that window? Or it could just be that the detector runs cooler up there and cooler is better......as temps go up it becomes more of a task for the detector to calibrate properly and you could even lose coverage of some bandwidth (they call it clipping).

Another thing to consider is the position of the detector relative to the RVM or anything else you may have mounted on the windshield and the mount itself......are you using the same one? The closer to the windshield the better to minimize deflection/refraction and nothing directly beside the front edge of the detector seems to always do best.

But we end up back at the beginning......if you find something that works GO with it. Just do not assume that whatever works best for one specific vehicle / setup will prove true for all others.