How to Hard Wire Your Radar Detector
Do you want the look of a professional install of your radar detector by clearing your dash and cigarette lighter?
In this eight minute video Radar Roy shows you how you can hard wire your radar detector to your fuse panel in just under ten minutes.
Cobra Radar Detectors – I’ve Been Snapped
This year Cobra Electronics went WAY OUT with a very informative and engaging presentation about their 2009 line up of their GPS enabled radar detectors.
As I approached their booth I noticed that they had a faux speed camera with flash mounted on a pole and standing in close proximity were three gorgeous gals all dressed in short black skirts wearing silver police badges.
As I entered the booth one of these beautiful ladies approached with a ticket in hand saying that I’ve been “snapped” and wanted my name so I could be entered into a contest to win a free radar detector. I declined the free detector (as I have plenty already) but she then invited me to watch a video presentation about their new 2009 line up.
Of course I couldn’t refuse as she sat me down and I watched their three minute video explaining photo speed camera and red light camera enforcement and their new “Aura” automated camera alert database.
I have to hand it to Cobra this was the best speed counter measure presentation that I’ve ever attended in all my years at SEMA and CES! Great job guys and gals…..
I’m a Av8tor!!
Looking back on my twenty year law enforcement career my most exciting times was when I was assigned as an undercover narcotics officer during the mid 80’s. During this period a large percentage of the drugs smuggled into the southwest from Mexico came in by small private aircraft.
Therefore I spent allot of time working with other federal and state law enforcement agencies working air interdiction. I would fly with DEA or DPS in fixed wing or helicopters searching out clandestine airstrips that would have extra full barrels hidden in the weeds, then stake out the location(s) for days if not months.
Even though I have a fear of heights during this assignment I developed a very strong passion for general aviation, however it took an additional twenty eight years to fulfill this dream.
Last November I signed for private pilot training at Buckeye Flight School and in April purchased Cessna 182T that had over 2500 hours that was rebuilt from a previous encounter with a taxiway sign. As this was a much more complex aircraft with a glass cockpit and a high performance engine additional training and certification was required so I set back my solo back till July until I felt completely comfortable with my own bird.
After completing my solo I decided that I wanted to add my own “personal touch” to my bird and registered the N-Number of 918RR. 918 is the police code for “mentally ill” and RR is my initials.
A few days before Christmas and eighty flight hours and 245 landings since starting my training in my Instructor felt I was FINALLY ready for my FAA check.
One of my biggest obstacles during my flight training was trying to get over the fear of doing power on nose high stalls. For some reason putting the aircraft in an unusual attitude and waiting for the plane (and your stomach) to start plunging from the sky just didn’t feel right. But knowing that I would be tested in this procedure during my check ride my instructor and I practiced these the entire afternoon prior to the test.
That evening I laid awake thinking of all the questions and my answers to the oral questions the examiner would ask such as airspace, airspeeds, stalls/spins and then the final one hour flight with the FAA examiner. I knew I was ready but would I choke?
The following morning without much of any sleep, I reviewed my notes, headed out to the hanger to do my preflight, taxied out in front of my home waving to my wife and flew out to Buckeye to meet with the examiner.
The oral exam was a little tougher than I expected but I was pleased when the examiner ended the test saying that I did somewhat better than average so then I knew that I knocked out part one. Then we walked out to my bird, did another preflight and climbed aboard 918RR (Crazy Radar Roy).
Arizona is home to numerous flight schools that cater to international students and because Buckeye Airport is a rural non towered airport, many of the schools send their students to practice their take offs and landings there.
While taxiing to the runway I heard one of these students announcing his placement and intentions in the pattern in broken English. I realized then that my checkout ride just got a little harder because I had to take the time and watch for him in the pattern because I had no clue in hell he was saying..
The evening before I had prepared a flight plan to Flagstaff airport 200 miles to the north and the examiner wanted me to set my departure up for this airport knowing that the entire town was under two feet of snow.
After my run-up at the end of the runway, I announced my intentions on the Buckeye Unicom and took off from the airport setting up my departure north to Flagstaff. After getting all setup and ten minutes into the flight the examiner says “Hey, we can’t go there, it’s snowed in. Let’s go to Blythe (California).
THANKFULLY my bird is GPS equipped so after entering a few coordinates into the panel we were flying west.
After reaching 4500 feet the examiner says ok now the fun stuff, get it set up for a power on stall.
I slow my bird down to 50 knots, added full throttle and begin my nose high climb. What seemed like an eternity looking directly up into the sky with the yoke pulled into my chest the plane finally began to buffet and entered a stall. As soon as I did I lowered the nose, adjusted the throttle and fell into straight and level flight!
The rest seemed easy a short field take off (the airstrip at my home is VERY short field), a landing with no flaps and a go around. Finally an hour into the ride the examiner said “Take us back Captain”.
Now came what ended up being the hardest part of the test, trying to keep my excitement level down to grease this final landing as a student pilot, taxi to the FBO and get my BIRD shut down in one piece!
Then that moment arrived, while coming in on my 45 degree entry into the downwind leg, the Chinese student announces that he is turning crosswind placing him directly into my path! Glancing over to the examiner I announced that I was doing a 360 to re-enter the pattern. After putting the plane into a forty five degree bank I realized that I didn’t mark a location on the horizon nor did I set my bug. At this point I assume that the examiner sensed my disorientation and pointed to the GPS with the airport displayed six o’clock off my nose.
I leveled off, announced that I was re-entering the pattern, landed and taxied back to the FBO. After shutting down the engine the examiner reviewed the good points and the not so good points (momentary disorientation due to stress) and ended by congratulating me saying that I passed!
I feel very fortunate that after being bitten by the “aviation bug” that I was finally able to live out my dream and followed through what seemed to be one of the biggest challenges in my life in controlling my fear of heights. No longer do I look up at all the aircraft circling my neighborhood and wonder what it’s like to be way up there, because I’ve been there and I can return whenever I want!
Radar Detector Review – Need for Speed
Back in July I headed up to Seattle to Take part in a new television series airing on the Mojo HD network, “Test Drive – The Need For Speed” The episode that I’m involved with is now airing, where I outfit a Saab with an Escort 9500ix and a Blinder M-27 laser jammer (now updated to the Blinder HP-905) and go head to head with the Washington State Patrol. This episode also explains the differences between radar and laser enforcement and demonstrate various speed counter measure devices.
Radar Detector Review – Need for Speed
I’m Flying!!!
Being a retired police officer who chased after bad guys in high speed pursuits, being involved in countless drag out fights and yes even being shot at once, it takes allot to get my “fear factor” going but today I found myself at full tilt!
During my six year stint as a narcotics officer, I was assigned six months to the “Air Smuggling Interdiction Squad.” It was here that my interests in general aviation started when I had the opportunity to fly around the southwest with officers from US Customs and the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Here I learned from other squad members who were pilots the basics of avionics and the fun of flying. It was then that I made a promise to myself that someday I would learn to fly. Today that someday arrived!
A few months ago I started doing some research on the Internet on Arizona flying schools and spoke to other private pilots, all recommending the “Buckeye Flight Experience” training school in Buckeye Arizona as the “best of breed”.
On Monday, I drove down to the school and met with owner/instructor Greg Porter. Greg gave me the basic information about his school and assured me that even an “old geyser” like me could learn new skills. He provided a DVD ground school program that I was to use at home and scheduled my first flying class for today.
Last night I stayed up and reviewed the first DVD several times, trying to learn and understand the basic parts of an aircraft and basic flying skills. After acing the exam, I felt ready to take on today’s challenge.
However when I met with Greg at the airport, I never expected him to say that I was ready to take off and land the plane myself. But he assured me that he would be at the controls alongside and that I would see that the plane would fly itself (ya right I said to myself).
After Greg walked me though my first pre-inspection on his Cessna 172 he suggested methods for me to get my six foot six, 300 pound body behind the control wheel. After squeezing in and getting buckled in, Greg joined me along side explaining all the buttons, switches and gauges. Another pre-flight checklist was completed and Greg told me to get ready start the aircraft. I pulled the throttle forward, yelled “clear” and then turned the key while adjusting the mixture control and a few seconds later the engine was at full throttle while both my feet were pressing on the brakes at full force. Greg assured me that everything was ok, to check my gauges and to get ready to taxi.
We began to taxi and I do admit found it very awkward in steering the aircraft with my feet and found myself grabbing the steering wheel several times, finding it useless. Greg directed me to the entrance of the main runway, where we stopped and performed final flight checklist.
Greg explained that once on the main runway that I would push the throttle in all the way and once up to speed, pull back on the control wheel to take off, that’s all there was to it.
With my heart in my throat, he said “lets go” and I steered the plane onto the runway, pushed throttle in and found ourselves speeding down the main runway. The plane first went to the left, I steered with my feet to the right, then to the left and back, all while pulling with all my might on the control wheel.
Seconds later Greg said “relax we’re off the ground” and I looked through the left door window seeing the runway was hundreds of feet below. Greg said to continue my climb and a few moments later said to bank right. I started banking right by overturning slightly and Greg related to level off after entering the bank to allow the plane to follow.
Greg then related that I was to continue my climb till we reached 4000 feet. Here I would level off and pull back on my throttle to 2200 RPM.
At 4000 feet I leveled off, adjusted throttle and we were cruising at 100 knots. Greg then had me do several 90 degree turns and two 180 degree turns, while leveling off the aircraft after each turn. Greg must had noticed that on several turns, that my eyes were about to bug out of my head and assured me that I was doing just fine.
Greg then explained that we would then practice a decent and that I would notice that the plane’s engine would sound louder as it would be over speeding. Once it did I should slow the engine’s speed down by pulling out the throttle.
We began our decent to 3500 feet while I was adjusting the throttle while attempting to keep the plane fling straight with one hand in a crosswind.
At 3500 feet Greg said to climb back to 4000 feet by increasing the throttle and increasing back pressure.
Greg then said those words that I was dreading to hear, “Ok, you’re ready to land” and pointed in the direction of the airport.
Ten minutes later the runway was in view and Greg told me to start my decent, aiming for the “17” at the beginning of the runway. A few miles before the runway I saw I-10 intersecting my path and prayed that I wouldn’t come down early into the side of a semi.
Greg assured me and said that he would also have his hands on the control (Whew!!)
Reducing power we came above the runway and Greg said “watch, this plane will land itself” and in seconds we were on the ground with my feet pressing on the brakes and attempting to steer.
Again I found myself clutching the wheel to steer while Greg jokingly said “next time I’ll bring rope to tie your hands up.”
We taxied to the tie down area, shut down the aircraft and squeezed my large frame through the door.
I did it, and began fulfillment of a dream that I started years ago, learning how to fly a plane!
Thanks to Greg and the Buckeye Flight Experience, I’ll be back next week for flight #2!
Fireball Run Recap – It’s not the Destination, it’s the Journey.
It’s been over a week since I’ve completed the Fireball Run so I have had time to decompress and get back to the normal grind. After replaying the adventure of a life time in my head and catching up on all the rest I missed, I now feel it’s time to review my coast to coast journey.
First off my co-driver Bob and I both felt that it was quite an honor to be one of the select few that were invited to participate in the Fireball Run’s “Race to Recover America’s Missing Children.”
Event organizers J. Sanchez and Martin Blake did an unbelievable job in putting such an event together; starting with getting national sponsorship from such companies as FedEx, GM, Clear Channel, RadarBusters and the Insurance Office of America, getting communities along the rally together as participants, planning out the rally from coast to coast, and putting together business professionals as participants in this event. My hats off to both!
The overall mission for the Fireball Rally was to bring national exposure in locating missing children with the Child Rescue Network and the assignment for each team was to place as many recovery posters out for each team’s sponsored child along the 3500 journey. Our child was four year old Francisco Rios – Carriere who was abducted on March 3, 2004 by his non custodial father.
At each stop Bob and I made along the trip, we took the time to speak with people passing out Francisco’s poster. In Beaumont Texas, my co-driver “The Veil Guy” even went that extra mile. While I was inside the local Walmart shopping for supplies, Bob stood outside and handed out over 300 posters to shoppers!
From day one at our starting point in Orlando, to the finish line seven days later in Hollywood Bob and I logged in over 3700 miles.
During our journey we logged 28 Ka band, 7 K band and 1 X band radar hits and one laser hit.
Even with all our high tech speed counter measure equipment that we had installed, we were not immune. On I-10 in Florida we were traveling well above the posted speed limit, when we spotted a trooper traveling on the opposite side of the highway after clearing a row of trees in the median. Bob reacted immediately in breaking as the officer simultaneously activated his instant on Ka radar gun. We were pulled over and given a good “butt chewing”, but it could have been worse if we were not paying attention to the road ahead.
Other drivers in the event were not as fortunate, even though it was stressed by event organizers not to be “stupid”.
One driver was arrested after being clocked at 145 in his Vett, and one team received three separate citations for speed all above 90!
Bob and I took the advice of a long time Cannonballer who placed third in the event after he related “I like 70, love 85 but never go above 90, that speed is jail territory!”
Our success in safely navigating the rally ticket free came down to a number of factors
First and foremost we applied a formula that I began using when I started teaching defensive driving over 20 years ago, my “Radar Roy’s Rules of the Road”
1: Know the exact location and speed of surrounding vehicles
2: Constantly scan the road ahead, as far as your eyes can see
3: Pay attention to the road surface
4: Watch oncoming traffic from as far away as possible
5: And lastly “watch out for stupid” who is stupid? Every driver on the road INCLUDING YOURSELF!
Secondly we applied all the techniques that I’ve developed in “How to Maximize Your Radar Detector” from proper mounting of the detector(s), properly interpreting the alerts of our detectors, paying attention to “clues” to other methods of speed enforcement devices such as the painted lines indicating Vascar or aircraft speed enforcement, keeping the detector in Highway mode for best sensitivity, and lastly reacting immediately and properly when an alert is given.
Third, Bob and I worked together as a TEAM! I’m not going to deny that The Veil Guy and I had our moments after being in the same car for seven days and driving over 3500 miles, but for the most part we worked together as a team. The number one responsibility for the navigator was watching out for the driver. These meant watching ahead for hidden troopers and tell tale signs of speed enforcement, figuring out solutions to our clues for the rally and navigation.
The bottom line, you have to have trust in each other’s abilities, mainly their driving abilities. This was echoed by other Cannonballers who related if you’re with a driver that you cannot trust, you’ll be stressed and never rest between navigating and driving.
Speed Counter Measure Review
During our journey we tested the top radar detectors made today that included; The Beltronics STi, the Escort 8500 X50, the Valentine One and the RX65. I had also planned on testing the new Escort 9500i, however this unit was lent to another team that I sponsored and they had mechanical problems that left them at the starting line.
All the top radar detector’s performed well as expected, but early on I took I took favor to the STi’s ability to sniff out Ka band faster than the other detectors that were in our arsenal and used it as the main unit throughout the rally.
The Whistler Pro 78 also did a superb job during day four and when compared to the STi was just a little slower in reacting to alerts and only falsed one time.
The only radar detector that I felt was a disappointment was the Cobra XRS R7 as I found its falsing annoying and it totally missed a Ka alert of one trooper in La.
In New Mexico the STi and the Blinder M-27 both alerted to a laser hit, however we never could figure out where the officer was hiding. When both units alerted, we were 25 miles over the posted speed limit, which would had easily justified a very expensive citation. However after slowing down we were never given chase, so I can safely assume that our Blinder Laser Jamming system and the Veil stealth coating saved us in this encounter.
After being on both sides of this industry for over 30 years, I did find it surprising that the Mississippi State Police still used X band. I have often recommend to clients to turn off X band on their detectors unless they were driving in NJ or the southern parts of Indiana. I’m glad that I didn’t follow my own advice in this encounter, even though the patrol car was unoccupied.
Next Year’s Plans
Bob and I have been invited back to participate in next year’s rally therefore I have been thinking of devices that we would include with our radar detector arsenal along with plans to improve our scoring.
CB Radio: Just like the original “Smoky and the Bandit” several of the Fireballers used CB radios to communicate with truckers of impeding speed traps.
Beartracker Scanner: Several of the Cannonballers were also using the Beartracker Scanners that would alert of trunk mounted transmissions in the police radio spectrum.
iPhone: I had brought my iPhone and laptop computer that was equipped with a cell card to access the Internet to help solve clues while on the road. For all instances I found it much easier and more dependable (at least on this trip) to use my iPhone. Therefore next year, I’m leaving the laptop behind.
Over the last 15 years, I had received extensive training in defensive driving techniques along with high performance driving techniques from Bob Bondurant’s driving school and executive protection driving by the US Secret Service. However I admit that when I got on the track this year, I was very rusty. Therefore prior to next year’s rally, I’m going back to Bondurant to freshen my track skills and hopefully pull down some better times.
I’m also a diehard Harley Davidson enthusiast. No, I’m not thinking of running my Screamin Eagle coast to coast in next year’s rally, but would like to figure out a way to include it for some of the events. So I’m considering using my Harley Davidson Edition F-250 with my Screamin Eagle in the bed, and then perhaps run the bike on the track!
See you Fireballers Next Year!!!
Dog Days of summer in the Radar Detector Industry?
Historically the end of summer is slow go for fresh information in the radar detector industry. This is when the manufactures are being very hush while working on final tweaks for new products they plan on launching after the first of the year which they make announcements on at the SEMA and CES shows in Las Vegas. We have already made our travel plans on attending SEMA and look forward to networking with everyone in the industry.
Some tid bits here and there that I was able to scrounge up from some contacts:
Whistler has new firmware for their XTR-690 and Pro 78 that addresses increased sensitivity and signal locking for you early bird buyers.
There are still rumblings about Bel’s new STI remote system. Jimbonzz, one of our admis from RadarDetector.net found the application up on the FCC’s website QL4G8M3R. I expect a public announcement at SEMA, as Bel holds the spotlight as Escort does promote their products at this show. Also as I’m expecting some new stuff from Escort at the January CES show. Bel wouldn’t want to get drowned out at any Escort announcements.
Next week the Veil Guy and I join forces in our Fireball Run across the USA. We start out at Universal Studios in Orlando with the goal of safely arriving at Universal Studios in Los Angles. Joining us in this years rally we will also have the Blinder Dude and his team and Brock Yates ambulance from the original Cannonball Race that I’m sponsoring.
I’m hoping to blog our adventures here on Radar Roy as we make progress, so tune in.
Test Drive – Need For Speed
This past Friday, I had the pleasure to work with Screaming Flea productions in Seattle Washington, who are taping a new series called “Test Drive” that will air this fall on the MOJO HD Cable Television Network and other automotive related cable TV channels such as the Speed Channel.
One of the episodes on this new series is called “Need For Speed” where I outfit two high performance cars with the latest in speed counter measure technology in an attempt to outwit an officer from the Washington State Patrol.
First up, we each explain the different types of technology police departments use, and give hands on demonstration of laser and radar guns.
I then discuss the various types of speed countermeasure equipment that is available to the driver, discussing the various types of radar detectors and laser jammers, Veil stealth coating, and provide tips in selecting the right radar detector for your car and driving habits.
Next up, we perform some testing of various radar detectors and laser jammers and make several runs with and without the equipment. In one segment, the driver (really) forgot to plug in his Escort 9500i and found himself pulled over by a trooper on the busy highway.
During the taping of the episode, the Escort 9500i (when plugged in) detected the officers K and Ka band radar guns two miles away on this busy highway, giving our test driver ample time to slow down to avoid the speed trap.
We were also successful in jamming the new Laser Pro-Lite with a new Blinder M-27 that was installed on a black Audi. In five runs we had two jam to guns with Veil and three “punch through strikes” under 275 feet without Veil.
This episode is scheduled to air first on Mojo HD in mid October. When I’m advised of date and time I’ll pass on to our readers….
Taking Aim at Speeders
This article appeared today in the Press Enterprise Newpaper in Southern Califorina, in which I was interviewed.
Technology allows CHP to pinpoint infractions
10:00 PM PST on Sunday, December 3, 2006
By JULIA GLICK – The Press-Enterprise
The California Highway Patrol has a new weapon against speeders in the Inland region: lasers. Officers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties started using laser speed measurement, called lidar, last month to clock drivers barreling down the area’s freeways, authorities said.
California Highway Patrol officers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties started using the lidar device last month.
Lidar makes it easier to zero in on individual vehicles and nearly impossible for drivers to contest tickets in court, officials said. And speeders beware: radar detectors won’t help you.
“The lidar is so quick that by the time your radar detector goes off, your speed has already been determined,” said Officer Mario Lopez with the Inland Division of the highway patrol.
The patrol is using about 10 lidar units in Riverside County and 17 in San Bernardino County to supplement officers’ traditional radar guns, authorities said.
After a successful pilot project in the Solano area of Northern California, the state purchased 240 laser units with federal grants in 2006 and distributed them among its eight highway patrol divisions, said spokesman Steve Kohler.
“When it comes to measuring distance and speed, lidar has really replaced radar,” said Dan Sise of Laser-Technology Inc., the Colorado-based manufacturer of the units. “It is the new technology.”
Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, enables an officer to aim at a particular vehicle, even a small motorcycle in heavy traffic, said Sise. The unit shoots out a laser beam and uses the time it takes for the light to bounce back to pinpoint the car’s distance. When the device measures the same distance a split-second later, it can determine how quickly the car has moved, he said.
Radar uses the reflection of radio waves to measure a car’s speed. Its main advantage over laser is that it can be mobile while a laser unit must be kept still in order to function, Sise said.
While laser beams are narrow and focused, traditional radar beams are wider and sometimes cover several vehicles, Sise said. Officers use their training and judgment to determine which car is giving off the fast-speed reading, he said.
“If you get a good lawyer, sometimes you can get out of a radar ticket,” Sise said. “But it is very hard to get out of a laser ticket, because it is so precise. It makes the judge’s job much easier.”
Lidar also foils radar detectors, the old-standby for avoiding a ticket. While a radar gun’s broad radio wave emissions can be picked up at a distance and give drivers a warning to slow down, the laser beams don’t trigger the radar detector until it is too late.
If a lidar unit sets off your detector, “Just pull over. You just got a ticket,” said Roy Reyer, owner of RadarBusters.com, which sells and reviews radar detectors.
But as quickly as new technology comes out, speeders find a way to beat it, said Reyer, a retired policeman from Arizona.
RadarBusters.com and other companies have begun selling laser jammers, also known as blinders, which sell for about $350. The jammers, mounted inside the car grill, flash a burst of invisible infrared light at the lidar gun and block a reading, Reyer said. That buys time to slow down and escape a ticket.
While radar detectors are not specifically illegal in California, laser jammers are outlawed, Reyer said.
Former Cop Offers $50,000 For Radar Jammer That Works
“Radar Roy” leads crusade to stop misleading claims
From Yahoo News!
Wickenburg, AZ — The ads say the radar jammer keeps police radar from detecting your automobile. For the price of the jammer, you can drive as fast as you want and never get a speeding ticket.
That’s what the ad claims, but Radar Roy disagrees. And the nationally known radar authority is offering $50,000 to anyone who can produce a passive jammer that really works. “Radar jammers are not effective against traffic radar. They’re also illegal, ” Roy says. It is a federal felony to jam, or attempt to jam, police radar guns.
Repeated tests conducted by police departments nationwide have shown radar jammers are ineffective. Yet jamming devices continue to proliferate. “We even saw the Radio Shack chain start selling the RMR jammer recently and some states are investigating other sellers,” Roy said.
Radar Roy is Arizona’s Roy Reyer, a retired cop and sheriff who has almost 30 years experience in the traffic industry. His site, http://www.RadarJammer.com is a top information source for traffic radar jammers.
For years Roy offered a $5,000 reward to anyone who could show a radar jammer that worked. After getting no takers, Roy recently increased the reward to $50,000. “I’m confident I’ll never get a taker. And that’s the point. These jammers are a fraud committed on the public and people continue to buy them,” Roy said.
Roy recently challenged the owner of the leading manufacture of jamming devices, Michael Churchman of Rocky Mountain Radar. Roy says he was turned down and told Churchman had nothing to prove, his products work. That was when Roy increased the reward.
Fraudulent radar jammers have been prominently reported by major TV news shows like 20/20, Extra, American Journal, and a host of major market TV news programs. Radar Roy has appeared as the featured expert on several of these news reports.
Radar Roy also has a site that reviews and sells effective and legal radar detectors. “These days radar detectors not only warn drivers of radar ahead, they tell the driver how fast they should be driving and how much they need to slow down. Unlike jammers, radar detectors are an effective way to promote safe driving,” Roy said.
Contact: Radar Roy
928-684-3974
Contact online at http://www.radarjammer.com/contact-us
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