Radar Detectors

[hazelnut]

I'll start another thread for the edification of the uneducated regarding the pluses and minuses of Hull types.

The original thread here has been hijacked sorry for my part in that.

I concur with whomever wrote in an earlier post, if it passes the Marine Patrol should invest in the most state of the art Marine Grade laser/radar/GPS whatever technology to ensure accuracy. Lord knows the speedo on a boat is never even close. My GPS unit is super accurate nd that is what I rely on.

I'd be curious what kind of lengths the department will go to to acquire the most accurate equipment.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by hazelnut

...I'd be curious what kind of lengths the department will go to to acquire the most accurate equipment...

They'll use State bid procedures and procure off the State bid list.

Remember, the Governor along with the Legislature is in the process of slashing the State budget, as has been reported statewide. While they may purchase some new units, if tradition holds true thay will use units that are already in State inventories.

As has been reported, they will probably use a mix of units, i.e. RF or laser, depending on availability and conditions. One of the results of the testing was that each type (laser or RF) worked better under certain conditions.

Any unit that is on the State bid list may vary by feature, but accuracy remains the same. Paying more money gives you added features, but accuracy remains constant across brand and price range. It has to, or the evidence developed would not be submissable in Court.

Finally, the units operated by State agencies are certified by technicians and equipment already employed by the NHSP Radio Shop in Concord. Any uints purchased will have to be compatible with already existing test equipment at their shop.

The largest cost will not be in procuring equipment, it will be in manpower allocation. NHMP is already short staffed and the Governor's current budget proposal clearly indicates that their will be no new personnel or programs initiated. Therefore any radar deployment will have to co-exist with current personnel and patrol patterns, i.e. whenever they can squeeze it in.

[Airwaves]

Thanks Skip, a CARD system is just not practicle on a 22' bowrider!

I havn't had a radar detector in my car in years, do you know if they are directional and need to be pointed at the source or if they are omnidirectional and pick up the signal from all directions?

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Airwaves

Thanks Skip, a CARD system is just not practicle on a 22' bowrider!

I havn't had a radar detector in my car in years, do you know if they are directional and need to be pointed at the source or if they are omnidirectional and pick up the signal from all directions?

I just skimmed the CARD website. I get the impression that it picks up the marine radar transmitted by the boat/freighter. Some of these are X band, some low S band and I think (??) some may be C band. The point being that only the X band overlaps the frequencies that might be used for speed measurement. I'm not at all sure a CARD system would detect a "speed gun" though it might be useful to detect the Raymarine radar that I see on most of the NHMP boats.

As for the directivity of your typical radar detector antenna ... they are somewhat directional but will pick up stronger transmissions off the side and from behind. The only one I'm aware of that let's you know where the signal is coming from is the Valentine 1.

[Bear Islander]

When a speed limit passes most people will be surprised how little things have changed. The MP might be out using radar here and there, but it will go mostly unnoticed. Warnings will be given, tickets will be rare.

Boats will still go full speed through the Bear Island NWZ every day.

The radar units and officers they have now will suffice. As time goes by this will be just a little slower and less hectic.

It will be like same sex marriage was in Massachusetts. Top story for a short time, then most people hardly notice.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

...When a speed limit passes most people will be surprised how little things have changed...

I concur.

For the same reasons that most folks have figured out when and where its safe to speed on our hyways and byways.

For the same reasons that the 45 MPH blanket speed limit for snowmobilers is widely ignored and has had no effect on the proliferation of high speed sleds (including my own).

If the limit passes folks will quickly figure out when and where its utilized and mostly where its not enforced. Others will quickly figure out the court system loopholes.

The Lake crowding will continue to ebb & flow due to the economy, price of fuel and so on, with an occasionally enforced limit eventually having little or no effect.

The real dangers will remain....uneducated boaters, local bars & restaurant overserving boaters, boaters overserving themselves and folks that just no longer practice civility, common sense or courtesy.

And as always, except for the weekends and holidays you can count with your fingers and tows, Lake Winnipesaukee will actually remain the fairly quiet, beautiful and greatly enjoyed resource that draws all of us to this website daily to bask in all that it offers!

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by Bear Islander

When a speed limit passes most people will be surprised how little things have changed. The MP might be out using radar here and there, but it will go mostly unnoticed. Warnings will be given, tickets will be rare.
Boats will still go full speed through the Bear Island NWZ every day.
The radar units and officers they have now will suffice. As time goes by this will be just a little slower and less hectic.
It will be like same sex marriage was in Massachusetts. Top story for a short time, then most people hardly notice.

I suppose. I mean it really does not affect me personally. I don't own a boat that goes faster than 50MPH. Besides gas prices make it almost crazy to travel faster than 30-35 anyway.

The Bear Island NWZ is a sore spot for me, not as much as it is for you, but nonetheless, I hate when people ride right up on you and "race" through there.

I still wish there was a way to actually address the problem rather than a roundabout way that may actually have little or no impact on what really is the problem facing safe boating on Winni....... Rude, ignorant, clueless, lawless boaters putting all of us in jeopardy.

It'll be fun to debate the actual effects on boating this law has after it passes and we see the "results."