Some Radar / Laser detectors produce so many false alarms that genuine alerts may be ignored. Cheaper radar detectors (and even some expensive ones) generate false alerts due to transmissions from mobile phones, phone cell antennas and other microwave radio sources. The most sophisticated detector designs can eliminate many false alarms.

The more sophisticated Radar / Laser Detectors can be programmed to eliminate detection on unwanted frequencies.  In areas where "X" band police radar is not used (Australia & NZ) the deletion of this band will lower the false alarm rate generated by microwave door openers and security systems. However some new shopping centres and service stations have such devices operating in the "K" Band (24.050 GHz - 24.250 GHz). Because most police radar transmits at 24.125 GHz or 24.150 GHz, false alarms can not be completely removed without losing sensitivity (range) to radar Speed Cameras and Mobile Radar.

Laser Detectors hardly ever generate false alarms.

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Built-in detectors make good sense in most parts of Australia due to the unique conditions (anti-detector laws) experienced in most states. However, the system has to be properly concealed. That means no control box under the dash or laser sensors hanging off the windscreen. Unfortunately, most "remote" Radar / Laser Detectors are not designed for complete physical stealth. Significant modifications have to be made to permit all components to be concealed. If not,"standard" remote detectors are only suitable for Western Australia where there are no restrictions against detectors. The ESP "Pro" series are designed to be effective in "dangerous" areas where enforcement is most aggressive. If there is a better "detection system", I haven't seen it.

Portable Radar / Laser Detectors may be the only option for those who have several vehicles. Portable detectors should not be placed below windscreen level as there will be no chance of Laser detection. Radar detection range of Speed Cameras will also be reduced significantly. There are ways to minimise the chance of visual detection of detectors. These techniques can only be revealed to existing customers or after you buy a detector.

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The VG2 Interceptor has been used in some states of Australia since 1991. It comes from Canada where it is manufactured by a company called Techsonic Industries. Most detectors sold since the mid-nineties cannot be detected by this RDD.

A newer device named Stalcar (Spectre in the USA) has given the enforcers the upper hand against almost all detector users. It comes from a Queensland company — Stealth Micro Systems Pty Ltd. The Stalcar is now used in parts of North America where it is called the Spectre.

One major manufacturer of Radar Detectors has defeated the "SMS" RDD's. Beltronics "TotalShield" Technology has rendered all RDD's impotent. Game over!!!!!

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It possible for some Radar Jammers (active) to work but not on all radar traps. New "digital" radar guns are too smart to be fooled. Earlier "analog" radars could be tricked by an active device called the Stealth VRCD. This model is no longer made in the USA. A later version called the Phantom VRCD is unlikely to survive due to FCC (USA) regulations.

The "passive " scramblers do absolutely nothing to prevent radar from reading your vehicles speed. Some actually "increase" the distance at which your vehicle is clocked by radar. The antenna used in the scrambler is an efficient reflector of radar signals. The "noise" (so called jammimg signal) added to the reflection is too weak to have any effect against the radar. All "real-world" tests have shown the "passive" scramblers advertised in US magazines and on the Internet to be useless.

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Despite tests showing some small reduction in radar "profile" using a product advertised on the Internet, would you really trust it? I don't and here's why.

Ordinary car waxes start to wear off in the first rain shower or when you park the car outside on a hot day. Can this stuff be any different? The big worry? How do you know when to reapply the stuff to stay protected?

The front of most cars features sufficient exposed metallic surfaces to allow radar to easily get a speed reading. Radiators and headlights are superb reflectors of radar signals. If you trust a wax to protect you, the enforcers will win every time.

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Laser Detectors are not able to provide the same sort of advance warning as Radar Detectors. Laser Speed Guns transmit pulses of invisible light. The beam is very narrow (about 1 meter diameter at 300 metes from the gun) and does not reflect and disperse enough to allow detection over hills and around corners as with radar.

However, Laser detection can be useful if the sensors are mounted in the area where the laser beam is pointed at a vehicle. Subtle modifications to the front of a car can make it a "difficult" target for the laser gun operator. It may be possible to adjust speed if necessary before a clear reading is obtained.

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Some "active" Laser Jammers do work. The Bel 905 LaserPro, Blinder and Laser Echo have been proven to defeat Laser Guns in tests in the USA and around the world. These are devices that are built-in to the front of the car with a remote (interior) warning system.

The Laser Scramblers (passive) that sit on your dash are ineffective.

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Speed Cameras (photo slant radars) can produce incorrect speed readings. They must be set up absolutely parallel to the traffic flow to avoid "cosine" errors. If the radar beam angle across the road is "greater" than than the manufacturers specification, the reading will be lower than true speed. If the beam angle is "lesser" it will produce readings higher than true speed.

In Queensland (Australia), a Speed Camera operator was caught by the device during private driving. Incredibly, he challenged the ticket in court on the basis that the Speed Cameras were not used in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations and the Australian Standards for the use of Speed Radar. He lost! A promotion does not seem likely in the near future!

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