Saved by my Laser Shifter

[KaiPL]

I'm not interested in starting another sectarian Valentine vs ****** war, as I own them both and like them both. I don't need to be "saved" by the Valentine gospel, as I've already been saved by my Valentine many times, and I DO appreciate the directional feature. (But that isn't what this post is about.)

This post is about a first person experience with ******'s laser shifting technology, as seen on their ZR3 laser shifter and SRX radar detector/laser shifter.

I've got an ****** SRX installed in my SRT-10. Cost me 750 for the shifter and 1000 for the install. The radar component has saved me a number of times, but up until today, I'd never had any "opportunity" to test its laser shifting abilities. I had heard good things about the laser shifter from a friend who is a police officer, and also a local sherrif who happened to be at the dealer when it was being installed. (Both said that the shifters worked. The sherrif said that they worked so well, he hoped that they were outlawed.)

Anyway, I'm cruisin down the highway this afternoon, not going really fast but not really paying attention either. Suddenly, the laser alarm goes off. Well, I'd never heard the laser alarm before, so I didn't recognize it at first; sounded like a cell phone ringing. I'm looking around, wondering if someone left their phone in my car. Then the voice from the SRX speaker began saying "laser" and I looked at my display and it was reading "shifting shifting."

Finally, I got a clue as to what was happening, just in time to see a police officer hiding behind a concrete piling shooting me with his laser gun. I passed right by him, close enough to see his expression. He was looking at me, then looking at his gun, with a somewhat confused and grumpy look on his face.

I was doing about 75 in a 55, so the shifter definitely saved my butt.

Nice to know that the thing actually works.

Kai

 

[Viper Specialty]

I need to call in some favors this summer by some local cops that are friends of the family... I am going to see if one of these shifters REALLY works.

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

The ****** works. Reviewed recently by one of the major magazines.

 

[1TONY1]

The problem I have with those is the price. One vehicle yes, but to get one in every vehicle....ouch. It's bad enough having three V1's....and I still have to move them around some.

 

[KaiPL]

The problem I have with those is the price. One vehicle yes, but to get one in every vehicle....ouch. It's bad enough having three V1's....and I still have to move them around some.

The shifters alone are not all that much. If you already have a V1, then you can pick up the ZR3 shifters without the radar detector piece for $280 on ebay. Getting them installed will likely cost you more than the price of the shifters, however. You could likely do it yourself if you are handy with tools.

Kai

 

[1TONY1]

I'm handy I will check into that. Thanks !!

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

The shifters alone are not all that much. If you already have a V1, then you can pick up the ZR3 shifters without the radar detector piece for $280 on ebay. Getting them installed will likely cost you more than the price of the shifters, however. You could likely do it yourself if you are handy with tools.

Oooh, I did not know that either! thank you very much for that info!

 

[1TONY1]

Here you go Lee

http://www.escortradar.com/zr3.htm

But it says nothing about linking to a V1. Any info on that ?

 

[1TONY1]

Other options and test results:

http://www.radartest.com/article.asp?articleid=8502

 

[KaiPL]

Here you go Lee

http://www.escortradar.com/zr3.htm

But it says nothing about linking to a V1. Any info on that ?

You can't link it to the V1. You just have both the V1 and the ******. Not a big deal, as the V1 mounts on windshield/visor, and the ZR3 display mounts on the dashboad or wherever else you want to put it. They operate independently.

For a while I used both the V1 and my SRX in my Viper, comparing the sensitivity of the two detectors. Not a problem using both.

Kai

 

[1TONY1]

Ok....seems like on the ****** web site that they have trouble saying it can be a stand alone unit. On the Radar test it is clear. thx

 

[VIPR GTS]

Tony, let me know what direction you go with this, obviously I need some protection up here also
Tony

 

[Go Fast For Life]

Good information guys!

 

[SMHOD]

Kai,
Did you find an acceptable area on the dash or elsewhere to place the display for the shifter? Did you have to drill any holes? Do you have any pictures of the mounting locations?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[KaiPL]

Kai,
Did you find an acceptable area on the dash or elsewhere to place the display for the shifter? Did you have to drill any holes? Do you have any pictures of the mounting locations?

Thanks,
Scott

I will take some pictures and post them.

You have to drill holes in the front fascia to mount the laser sensors/shifting diodes. The rear laser sensor/shifting diode bolts to the license plate bracket. The radar sensor (part of the SRX package, but not part of the ZR3 package) also goes in the front fascia.

I mounted the display on the dash, right over the gauges. The mute button is above and to the left of the engine "start" button, and the speaker (which I think is unique to the SRX) is mounted on the passenger side. All of the wires are routed through and behind the console, so I don't have any visible wires.

Doesn't look to shabby, and it frees up my cigarette lighter and windshield space for my BCT12 Beartracker. (Sometimes, I feel like a F4-G Wild Weasel pilot, with all these ECM toys.)

I'll try to get my pictures up tonight.

Kai

 

[SMHOD]

Kai,
Thnaks for the quick reply. I am looking forward to seeing your pictures. Did you have to use any screws to affix the faceplate or just some velco and adhesive?

Thanks,
Scott

 

[KaiPL]

Took some pictures. Unfortunately, my FTP software is giving me trouble. I'm going to have to wait until Friday, when I can upload the pictures from work.

 

[KaiPL]

Kai,
Thnaks for the quick reply. I am looking forward to seeing your pictures. Did you have to use any screws to affix the faceplate or just some velco and adhesive?

Thanks,
Scott

Faceplate is velcro and adhesive.

 

[slaughterj]

for my BCT12 Beartracker.

How do you like that, does it work well, got any place to get a deal on one?

 

[Big Medicine]

You have to buy them used; do a search on this site. I posted the address one time on here. They will work in states where the highway patrol uses repeaters to hook up personal radio to their cars. It HAS saved me from over the hill instant on Ka.

 

[slaughterj]

You have to buy them used; do a search on this site. I posted the address one time on here. They will work in states where the highway patrol uses repeaters to hook up personal radio to their cars. It HAS saved me from over the hill instant on Ka.

Why do you have to buy them used?

 

[KaiPL]

Here are some links to pictures of the ****** system installed. This is the SRX. The ZR3 would be identical, except I don't think it has the extra speaker, and it does not have the radar detector.

This shows the position of the the display and the mute button.

www.larsonweb.com/dash.jpg

This shows the mounting of the two forward laser sensors/shifters,and the radar sensor. The shifters are the long skinny black things, the radar sensor is the square box mounted above the hood release.

www.larsonweb.com/front.jpg

Here is the front of the car, from above. You can see the laser sensor/shifters peeking out. You can mount them further back if you don't want them to show, but they work better if they are mounted farther forward.

www.larsonweb.com/top.jpg

Here is the back of the car, with the rear laser sensor/shifter on the license plate bracket:

www.larsonweb.com/back.jpg

Here is the extra speaker, which is required for the voice feature (where a voice actually tells you what the display is reading out.)

www.larsonweb.com/speaker.jpg


Regarding the Beartracker BCT12. They are no longer in production. You can find them on Ebay. Some of the models are called the BCT12 Stormtracker, presumably because that name was more politically correct. I'm pretty sure that the Stormtracker is identical to the Beartracker. If you buy one used, make sure that it comes with the visor and/or window mount. I doubt it would be easy to find a spare mount for a BCT12 today.

Kai

 

[Hisserman]

Thanks Kai, This is really helpful.

 

[Big Medicine]

You have to buy them used; do a search on this site. I posted the address one time on here. They will work in states where the highway patrol uses repeaters to hook up personal radio to their cars. It HAS saved me from over the hill instant on Ka.

Why do you have to buy them used?

I have one (BCT12)if you'd like to try it out. I'm not using it in my GTS; too little window space.



http://www.uniden.com/productsupport.cfm?product=BCT12

http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=genvipdis&Number=261638&Forum=All_Forums&Words=%20bear%20tracker&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=261107&Search=true#Post261638

 

[SMHOD]

Kia,
Thanks very much for the pictures.
Scott

 

[slaughterj]

You have to buy them used; do a search on this site. I posted the address one time on here. They will work in states where the highway patrol uses repeaters to hook up personal radio to their cars. It HAS saved me from over the hill instant on Ka.

Why do you have to buy them used?

I have one (BCT12)if you'd like to try it out. I'm not using it in my GTS; too little window space.

So what are we talking about here - feel free to PM me.