OT: V1's laser alert goes off behind Chevy TrailBlazer every time... - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

kenneth · 12th April 2002, 20:08

My V1's laser alert goes off every time when I'm behind a new Chevy TrailBlazer. Has anyone experienced the same thing? Do the Blazer has LED brake lights? Can the light have a similar frequency as a laser beam?

My V1 is several years old. According to the V1 web site, my unit has the V1.7 radar circuitry with the Generation 2 laser warning. The latest is Generation 3.

Kenneth

Diamond Dave · 12th April 2002, 20:41

Kenneth,

Could be the brake lights or the film on the rear window, but I'm not sure. My V1 goes off like crazy in Lazar mode whenever I go pick up pizza at a nearby Pizza Hut. Guess since you have an older unit you don't know what band is going off. It might help to know that.

I had an older (and bigger) V1 that I sent back using their upgrade program. Think I paid $235 for the latest and greatest smaller unit. It's a wise investment and worth the price.

Regards,

DWP

atomic80 · 12th April 2002, 22:15

I also sent in my V1 to get upgraded as well for $299 a few months ago. I'm not sure which version it has now. They're always coming out with new versions.

As for the V1 going off...yes, I do get that sometimes especially behind a trailblazer and some other cars. I think that it's being set off by the LED brake lights. I notice the same thing sometimes when I'm directly facing the newer S class. It's probably a good thing that it is going off..shows it's working.

VanCooper · 12th April 2002, 22:25

So that was you Kenneth that was tailgating my girlfriend's mother in her trailblazer last week...j/k

(she's in Houston)

If the LED tailights set the V1 off, they will probably upgrade their software pretty soon since alot of cars coming out now have the LED's.

rvacha · 13th April 2002, 01:00

I've had this problem too, behind a Trailblazer and some other large GM SUV. I suspect the problem is that the V1 is looking for a fast change in amplitude of some wavelengths around those used by laser guns. It would appear that the taillights generate some wavelengths that the V1 is sensitive to and the turn on time of these LEDs is way fast , resembling the turn on speed of the laser gun light pulse. Most LED taillight designs are specifically designed to slow down the LED turn on speed as consumers find that unencumbered LED taillights are subconsciously agitating. In my experience with GM, they've always slanted towards faster speed lighting, the thought being that the extra 100mS of warning that the following driver receives equates to a couple more feet (or maybe several dozen feet at high speed) of reaction distance, which in turn can lead to a measurable decrease in accidents.

I have a laser jammer that will false every time if you shoot it with a camera flash and many times when vehicles with xenon strobe lights pass by

Just my guess...

kenneth · 13th April 2002, 02:33

DWP,
All V1, no matter how old, will show you which radar band is going off.

BTW, according to V1's web site, it'll cost me $189 plus shipping to upgrade my unit.

Kenneth

Quote:

Originally posted by Diamond Dave
...Guess since you have an older unit you don't know what band is going off. It might help to know that.