Valentine One Radar Detector Connects to iPhone Via New Bluetooth LE Adapter

[kingtj]

More speed cameras? I think not!

The speed cameras are unconstitutional, for starters, at least in America.

Why? Because you have the right to face your accuser in a court of law. You can't put a speed camera on the witness stand.

The incredibly lame work-around for this has been expecting some officer to sit at a desk and look over all the photos, signing off to verify he witnessed the law being broken in each one.

Well, guess what? This officer was never an actual witness to the event when it happened. It's doubtful he or she can even speak to the accuracy of the speed camera in question. Can he or she even be sure who was operating the vehicle at the time of the accusation? The tickets just get mailed out to the registered vehicle owners, but that may not be the guilty party.

More speed cameras, I say.

 

[hfg]

The speed cameras are unconstitutional, for starters, at least in America.

Why? Because you have the right to face your accuser in a court of law. You can't put a speed camera on the witness stand.

The incredibly lame work-around for this has been expecting some officer to sit at a desk and look over all the photos, signing off to verify he witnessed the law being broken in each one.

Well, guess what? This officer was never an actual witness to the event when it happened. It's doubtful he or she can even speak to the accuracy of the speed camera in question. Can he or she even be sure who was operating the vehicle at the time of the accusation? The tickets just get mailed out to the registered vehicle owners, but that may not be the guilty party.

This is absolutely correct. Since the photo is of the back of the car to get the license plate number, the driver isn't visible in the photo, so the owner of the car will get and pay the ticket no matter who was driving.

Plus, thousands of vehicles aren't able to be ticketed no matter how bad the infraction. Trucks, for instance, pulling trailers (semis or any trailered vehicle) can't be identified because the license plate is on the tow vehicle, not the back of the trailer which is visible to the camera. Also, thousands of State Govt. cars have plates which are not in the vehicle database, even though they all aren't used in high security or stealth applications ... they can go as fast as they want with no fear of getting caught.

 

[Pirate515]

Since you may not receive your ticket for weeks, many visitors who are unaware of the cameras happily pass through that zone over and over while visiting the city, only to arrive home to later receive a stack of citations for each and every time they were clocked going too fast. Had they been immediately stopped by the patrol and ticketed/warned, they would certainly be more careful in that area during the rest of their stay. Instead, they become very bitter towards ever coming back to visit, shop, dine, stay, etc. in this city. Some locals will of course say "well we don't want your law-breaking kind anyway", but all they did was not respond to the immediate speed reduction quick enough.

That's exactly the sort of thing that recently happened to my parents. They went on vacation to CT, and my father got pulled over for not moving over one extra lane in the construction zone. In most other states, it's just common sense: avoid the coned off areas. There, they have that asinine law that IMO is there for sole purpose of collecting money. So guess what, from now on my parents will never go to CT unless they absolutely have to. They even enclosed a letter along with the ticket telling CT government that this is the last money they will ever see from them.

Another thing is that it is a common practice for many cops to pick on drivers from out of state. Very easy conviction given that the farther away they come from, the less likely they are to come back and fight it in court. For that reason, the further away they are from, the more likely is that they will just plead guilty and pay a fine. Whereas a local will probably make an effort to show up in court and defend themselves.

Now...red-light cameras...I am OK with those! Too many drivers try to "beat the light" and end up T-boning some innocent driver who had a green light.

Well, that can be easily solved by the light timing methods that are used here in NYC (and likely in other big cities as well). Here, after the light goes red, the light on intersecting street will not go green immediately; rather there's a one or two second pause. In most cases, this takes care of those who were not sure if they were going to make it on green or yellow. But of course, there's no money to be made using this method. And NYC has red light cameras on top of this being used.

 

[furi0usbee]

Mostly because the less people that do know about it the less I have to have it be an issue in my life. As far as me making a comment about being smart enough to know how to use it, that's exactly what it takes. The LEO's that get that extra detail in training for how to operate their radar units will therefore be smarter than the rest of the bunch but it's a very small few and I like it that way. Like I said, if you were really that intrigued, and I pressure you to think for yourself and question authority and not just sit here and bicker which is making you the prick, you would be able to most likely find information on methods far more stealth than Instant-On radar. It's really not that hard. I personally won't disclose because yes there is a club that exists and we don't publicly disclose certain high-risks (to us RD users). It's very much all over radardetector.net because they have been able to ruin a lot of good things for us already and that's why I am not much a fan. You started the argument sir. I simply said what you were describing exists and actually as a matter of fact did tell you what it was already, it's called Instant-On. The other method I mention is something you can go ask a cop about, if he knows, or research it yourself. I, personally, am choosing not to disclose what it is. It's my choice so you can get off my case about it.

Oh, I get it now. The first rule of Radar Club... you don't talk about Radar Club. Well I hope all that advanced knowledge serves you well. Never knew about the underground radar movement.

 

[jona2125]

Oh, I get it now. The first rule of Radar Club... you don't talk about Radar Club. Well I hope all that advanced knowledge serves you well. Never knew about the underground radar movement.

It's understandable. I really wasn't trying to cause any drama by withholding it but yes you're right on the whole radar club thing.

 

[SurferPup]

Radar Detector Detectors

Can Australian Police radar detectors detect a driver has one of these devices?

 

[Pirate515]

Can Australian Police radar detectors detect a driver has one of these devices?

Well, there are devices called Radar Detector Detectors (RDD's) that cops can use to catch those who are driving around with radar detectors.
Here in the US, there are a few places where radar detectors are illegal as well, mainly, Virginia, Washington, DC as well as military bases. It is also illegal to use
one in trucks, nationwide. I have heard of VA cops using RDD's quite extensively.

There are; however, several "stealth" radar detectors that allegedly cannot be caught by RDD's. However, they are far more expensive compared to their non-stealth counterparts. Secondly, most if not all of them are installed units, meaning that you need to manually install their various parts into specific section of your car and hard-wire them into your fuse box. As an alternative, you can pay a professional to do the work, which is obviously will cost you extra. In contrast, the dash-mountable units simply get mounted into windshield, plugged into cigarette lighter and are ready to go.

 

[thederby]

Now ... red-light cameras ... I am OK with those! Too many drivers try to "beat the light" and end up T-boning some innocent driver who had a green light.

Accident rate rises at intersections with red-light cameras, N.J. study shows

 

[robertcoogan]

Ahhh......no.

What they need to do is have the iPhone app send radar data to a central database then all users of this detector could share data, you could know way in advance there is a radar operating in your area. Some sort of interface to Google Maps would work too.

Once you have the data in the phone there is a LOT you can do with it other than simply display it.

I don't know why the police don't convert over to a pulsed radar. That means the radar is on for only a millisecond or two then shuts off. Then they have your speed recorded but you'd have zero advance warning.

Doubtful there will be an interface to Google Maps. I think Apple would balk at that. I think their API only allows linking to Apple Maps. Not such a bad deal - the faults reported aren't that different from Google Maps when it first roiled out. Most are minor and easily fixed (although Apple does seem to take it's time fixing many of those errors). Besides, more people prefer Apple Maps:

http://www.gazelle.com/thehorn/2013...oogle-maps-why-users-are-sticking-with-apple/

Just one article - but remember how Apple builds it's walled garden. They don't like it when you play with the other kids' stuff.

And I do believe that most laser speed detectors do flash (or "blink") when they operate. Although it looks like a steady shot, the laser is pulsing. It is how most detectors are able to distinguish between each successive firing or the laser. If it shut off after a few firings however it wouldn't be very useful. It probobly is the rule to take the best quality reading for the record.

 

[hfg]

Accident rate rises at intersections with red-light cameras, N.J. study shows

Yeah ... the first car stops for the yellow to be sure ... and the guy behind him was intending to run the light too, assuming the car in front would as well.

There are also reports (see Car and Driver magazine among others) who suggest that the manufactures of the cameras, who donate them to the city, install them, maintain them, and take about 1/2 of the revenue may have actually shortened the yellow light time to increase citations and revenue.

And while rear-end accidents may be more costly with car damage, I think they are less deadly than a T-bone collision due to airbags, head restraints, seat belts, crumple zones, and better bumpers. The side of your car offers almost no protection, especially for ingress through the window right by your head, from the front end of the car that hits you.

 

[mrxak]

I have personally been rear ended at a red light before, due to carelessness of the driver behind me who was driving too fast to begin with and not watching the road. I was fully stopped for several seconds, and actually watched, confused, in my rear-view mirror as the driver didn't seem to be slowing down. Thankfully I saw her coming, took my foot off the brake to pull out a bit over a full car's length into the intersection, making every effort to warn other cars what I was doing. She slammed on her brakes at the last possible second and still gave my car a tap. Thanks to my quick thinking, the damage was limited and no one was hurt.

Had there been a red-light camera, I would have been ticketed. Technically I ran the red light. I suppose I should've just sat there and took the full impact of the rear-ending from a driver who wasn't paying attention enough to even fully stop before the line, much less before my vehicle.

Look, I'm all for ticketing people who run red lights. I'm also a smart enough driver to look both ways before I pull out into an intersection, so that I don't get T-boned. I have, on occasion, waited at the green because somebody was running the light. It takes two people to crash two cars (unless one is parked). Maybe not legally, but in reality, everybody is responsible for their own safety at all times, in or out of a vehicle.

I think it's nice to have rules that encourage people to behave safely. But I insist on a human making the decision about whether or not to enforce those rules, because humans are capable of understanding circumstances the law cannot. Frankly, our lawmakers aren't smart enough or creative enough to account for everything, and automated devices are certainly not coded with full human intelligence and compassion. I also insist on jury trials so that humans are always involved in every aspect of justice and not subject to mindless bureaucracy. I also insist on a scientific standard when it comes to examining if a law is necessary and effective. I also insist on using efficient and effective means to achieve a stated goal, instead of measures that simply make us feel better but actually make things no better or worse.

If lawmakers were honest that speeding tickets and red light cameras were simply a new tax, and allowed voters to support or reject it on those grounds, I would have no problem if they were created and upheld on those grounds. State and local governments have to pay the bills somehow, if they are going to provide services. Just don't tell me it's for safety when it does nothing for safety, whatever it is.

 

[jona2125]

Well, there are devices called Radar Detector Detectors (RDD's) that cops can use to catch those who are driving around with radar detectors.
Here in the US, there are a few places where radar detectors are illegal as well, mainly, Virginia, Washington, DC as well as military bases. It is also illegal to use
one in trucks, nationwide. I have heard of VA cops using RDD's quite extensively.

There are; however, several "stealth" radar detectors that allegedly cannot be caught by RDD's. However, they are far more expensive compared to their non-stealth counterparts. Secondly, most if not all of them are installed units, meaning that you need to manually install their various parts into specific section of your car and hard-wire them into your fuse box. As an alternative, you can pay a professional to do the work, which is obviously will cost you extra. In contrast, the dash-mountable units simply get mounted into windshield, plugged into cigarette lighter and are ready to go.

I wouldn't call the few stealth units far more expensive. The installed ones like you say are in fact very expensive but the dash units (Beltronics STI Magnum and Escort Redline) are only $100 more than a Valentine 1.

Doubtful there will be an interface to Google Maps. I think Apple would balk at that. I think their API only allows linking to Apple Maps. Not such a bad deal - the faults reported aren't that different from Google Maps when it first roiled out. Most are minor and easily fixed (although Apple does seem to take it's time fixing many of those errors). Besides, more people prefer Apple Maps:

http://www.gazelle.com/thehorn/2013...oogle-maps-why-users-are-sticking-with-apple/

Just one article - but remember how Apple builds it's walled garden. They don't like it when you play with the other kids' stuff.

And I do believe that most laser speed detectors do flash (or "blink") when they operate. Although it looks like a steady shot, the laser is pulsing. It is how most detectors are able to distinguish between each successive firing or the laser. If it shut off after a few firings however it wouldn't be very useful. It probobly is the rule to take the best quality reading for the record.

Laser and Radar both consist of pulses. What he was referring to is that he only understood radar as being a solid transmission when the cop wants to catch speeders. LEO's can use a feature that is called instant on which is only on for a short moment and can better hide himself against someone with a detector. POP also exists and is similar to instant on in that it transmit a very short duration of radar that can be very hard to detect by lower end detectors. POP can not be used to issue a ticket though.

 

[hfg]

I believe the "radar-detector detectors" rely on leakage of the internal local oscillator which can be picked up by a sensitive receiver. This is prevalent in cheap radar detectors, some of them leak so much they will actually set off your radar detector when you are in close proximity. High quality units are probably pretty well shielded from self radiation.

 

[cschmelz]

Amazing how a simple discussion of a radar detector app can go SO far off topic so quickly and so thoroughly that there is almost no trace of the original topic left...

Sigh.

 

[mingoglia]

Obviously bad laws should be struck down. Maybe it should be legal to drive safely.

But if speed laws ARE helpful, and they exist, it boggles my mind that it's legal to sell devices for the specific purpose of breaking those laws.

I wish I could say it surprises me that people WANT to drive faster than legal, drive through red lights/stop signs, drive drunk etc.

But having almost been killed by such a person, and my father as well (in a separate incident, neither one involving impairment or alcohol), this no longer surprises me.

I use one because it warns me if a motorcycle officer is about to drive out from behind the bushes and cut me off. I use it only for my personal safety, not to break any laws. I also know that guns kill people all by themselves, and since police carry guns, it warns me of a gun in the area so I can take evasive action to not get randomly shot by said gun.

 

[Sdashiki]

It's understandable. I really wasn't trying to cause any drama by withholding it but yes you're right on the whole radar club thing.

The fact you brought it up and never clarified except to go "yup, I know things" is still pointless and useless in this thread. And you broke BOTH the first rules of your club so I hope you lost your membership.

I came to learn about the iOS app for the V1 and whether Id want it, and I read random comments that are jabs at others trying to learn, which, if ye forgets is what the forum exists for in the first place.

You should have said nothing, which in the end you have.

 

[SurferPup]

RDDs

Well, there are devices called Radar Detector Detectors (RDD's) that cops can use to catch those who are driving around with radar detectors.
Here in the US, there are a few places where radar detectors are illegal as well, mainly, Virginia, Washington, DC as well as military bases. It is also illegal to use
one in trucks, nationwide. I have heard of VA cops using RDD's quite extensively.

There are; however, several "stealth" radar detectors that allegedly cannot be caught by RDD's. However, they are far more expensive compared to their non-stealth counterparts. Secondly, most if not all of them are installed units, meaning that you need to manually install their various parts into specific section of your car and hard-wire them into your fuse box. As an alternative, you can pay a professional to do the work, which is obviously will cost you extra. In contrast, the dash-mountable units simply get mounted into windshield, plugged into cigarette lighter and are ready to go.

All our marked / unmarked Police cars have RDDs and I'm guessing there will be one for the Valentine in time as I have been to court for a RDD knowing I had a stealth radar detector. Cheers!

 

[cschmelz]

The fact you brought it up and never clarified except to go "yup, I know things" is still pointless and useless in this thread. And you broke BOTH the first rules of your club so I hope you lost your membership.

I came to learn about the iOS app for the V1 and whether Id want it, and I read random comments that are jabs at others trying to learn, which, if ye forgets is what the forum exists for in the first place.

You should have said nothing, which in the end you have.

The app works well. I was an early adopter of the V1LE. It is a bit annoying if you set it up with background/banner notifications as they go NUTS when you get a signal (and they go to my Pebble on my wrist which is even more annoying). Given this I tend to keep background notiifcations off, and that means you need to keep the app in the foreground which is kind of a pain.

I may be able to fix this by modifying the notification preferences for V1, I just haven't bothered yet.

The app makes it VERY easy to change configurations in the V1 (much easier than the old configure through the very primitive display and arrows) and it is almost worth the expense just for that.

 

[jona2125]

The fact you brought it up and never clarified except to go "yup, I know things" is still pointless and useless in this thread. And you broke BOTH the first rules of your club so I hope you lost your membership.

I came to learn about the iOS app for the V1 and whether Id want it, and I read random comments that are jabs at others trying to learn, which, if ye forgets is what the forum exists for in the first place.

You should have said nothing, which in the end you have.

I haven't broken any rules, I only disclosed what is openly discussable, which is Instant On and POP and I said that in my second post in this thread, in response to what I know being questioned. If you were actually that curious about how well this app works, you could have found out about it back in July, but I'm not telling you you're ignorant or stupid for only knowing about it now and needing info here. I'm sorry for being someone who actually researches something so I can fully understand it but I'm not someone to question peoples knowledge or try to put them down on a internet forum, and I haven't done that here.

As far as me saying nothing, I actually have cleared up a lot of the misinformation about radar and LIDAR.

This forum has this type of issue going on everyday whether it be a fanboy dispute between brands or what your favorite flavor of ice cream is, and that happened a while ago and was rather humorous.

 

[spicynujac]

As it should be. That said, I'd much rather live by US laws than Australian laws, but I'll gladly trade cops. I just wish enforcement was less about making money and more about safety in this country. ... They also don't keep the roads in terribly good shape, either.

Just curious, what is so bad about Australian laws? I didn't notice anything, although I suppose I didn't get caught running afoul of any laws, but if anything the American legal system is terrifying and things like the Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, NDAA, Citizens United etc. set some pretty horrible legal precedent. I don't feel that as an American I have any special legal protections that citizens of most other nations don't have (while I do have to pay American taxes on my worldwide income which no other modern country requires), but then again I have never lived abroad for more than a month.

The only troubling thing I noticed in Australia is that you must show a passport and go through a government bureaucratic system in order to *exit* the country, which made me a little paranoid--good thing we don't have that here because if the S ever does hit the fan, I'd hate to think I needed "permission" to leave!

----------

You do realize that if there were no speeding tickets, people would drive through your neighborhood at 60mph, and do 120 on the interstate?

Why not?

You do realize there are other ways of enforcing traffic rules than using the public police force which is charged with investigating and preventing crimes? Mexico is not a bastion of safety, and bribery is rampant, but one thing I like is that they have a separate traffic force and police force. So many people "hate the cops" but it would be a lot harder to hate a guy who just tracks down rapists, bank robbers, and murderers, and leaves smokers and drivers alone

 

[smileyborg]

For those of you who own a V1:

I'm an iOS developer, and I rely on my Valentine One every day. When the V1connection LE was first announced, I was excited to go and build a great app to interface with the V1. Here we are a few months later, and the app is live in the App Store: StealthAssist for V1.

StealthAssist delivers the biggest missing feature in the first party app: Auto Mute using the device's GPS. It's just like a wireless version of SAVVY. There are some other cool features as well, and I have a nice list of more that will be coming in future updates

Grab it here:

StealthAssist for V1