Ask Ponch

[plonky]

Dear Ponch...

Is it true that slant radar doesn't work in moderate rain?

Or is this urban myth no. 398?

Slant radar was used last century!!

In fact we still have one in the garage at work.

Heavy rain only makes a difference if the beam that is sent is reflected or bounced off the road surface thus giving an imprecise reading. However, it is the operators responsibility to make sure that the Patrol speed correlates with the checked speedometer.

If the radar is stationary then heavy rain slows down the beam by making a 'curtain'. It is pretty dumb and a waste of time to use the instrument when it is raining heavily or you can;t get a patrol speed to correlate.

[curious]

Dear Ponch...

Is it true that slant radar doesn't work in moderate rain?

Or is this urban myth no. 398?

Slant radar was used last century!!

In fact we still have one in the garage at work.

Heavy rain only makes a difference if the beam that is sent is reflected or bounced off the road surface thus giving an imprecise reading. However, it is the operators responsibility to make sure that the Patrol speed correlates with the checked speedometer.

If the radar is stationary then heavy rain slows down the beam by making a 'curtain'. It is pretty dumb and a waste of time to use the instrument when it is raining heavily or you can;t get a patrol speed to correlate.

that's how far QLD is behind. Qld cameras are slant radar teamed up to the GATSO camera system. Stationary slant detection however has been booted for the more up to date and super effective LIDAR.(laser)

[AMoffat]

OK, I know nothing about radar (which is becoming obvious real quick), but, none-the-less...

In NSW is it true that you can only be 'caught' or photographed from the rear?

And, why are stationary radar (the poles and the cameras) at 45 degrees to the traffic while the hand held units are straight front on?

[curious]

Plonk can answer that one from a NSW perspective as I am unaware what they use. In QLD it can be both front on and rear on but "flash policy" states that in the hours of darkness you must take from the rear. Front on is a more effective way as it calculates the speed differently as it does in away mode. In away mode you get more "illegals" This is where two vehicles enter the beam at the same time, the CPU will map a graph of vehicle one (if I can remember some 450 times in a splt second) and if a second vehicle enters as the CPU is doing this it tells itself two or more vehicles are present and ignores them all reagrdless of what speed it is doing.

The reason for the angle could be a number of things depending on what system they use. Once reason is deffinately flash. If you take a photo of yourself in the mirror it is stuffed cause all you see is light. This is the same if you took a photo of a plate due to its reflectorised characterisitcs. The lights must hit it at an angle so it lights it up and bounces off instead of coming back on the camera.

[plonky]

True

What Curious said is correct

[sixfan]

Once reason is deffinately flash. If you take a photo of yourself in the mirror it is stuffed cause all you see is light. This is the same if you took a photo of a plate due to its reflectorised characterisitcs.

Hey! good Idea Curious, so what if you mount a "slave flash" that photographers use near your plates? As the camera flash fires the slave fires also and stars out the shot. Wouldn't go encouraging people to do things like that Curious, It's probably illegal! :lol:

[Velvet Glove]

Plonk can answer that one from a NSW perspective as I am unaware what they use. In QLD it can be both front on and rear on but "flash policy" states that in the hours of darkness you must take from the rear. Front on is a more effective way as it calculates the speed differently as it does in away mode. In away mode you get more "illegals" This is where two vehicles enter the beam at the same time, the CPU will map a graph of vehicle one (if I can remember some 450 times in a splt second) and if a second vehicle enters as the CPU is doing this it tells itself two or more vehicles are present and ignores them all reagrdless of what speed it is doing.

The reason for the angle could be a number of things depending on what system they use. Once reason is deffinately flash. If you take a photo of yourself in the mirror it is stuffed cause all you see is light. This is the same if you took a photo of a plate due to its reflectorised characterisitcs. The lights must hit it at an angle so it lights it up and bounces off instead of coming back on the camera.

Look out ! Someone will raise that bullsh*t 'prism' paint argument again

[Velvet Glove]

Dear Ponch,

Do you wear the attractive tight blue jodphurs ? Do you find than these 'trousers' present a more manly front than the baggy blues. Would you prefer lycra shorts for summer duties.

luv

Fashion Police

[aniken]

Old Chinese proverb:

...in the hours of darkness you must take from the rear.

Each to their own I suppose :hiwelcome:

[sixfan]

aniken Posted on Nov 15 2003, 02:21 PM

  Old Chinese proverb:

QUOTE (curious @ Nov 14 2003, 11:47 PM)

...in the hours of darkness you must take from the rear. 

Each to their own I suppose 

:hiwelcome:

Classic!