UPDATED: 05 Aug 08A friend of mine from down under (who apparently was the catalyst behind the recent story about the Spectre IV RDD not being able to detect certain radar detectors) has informed me that the US Distributor (Stalker) for the Spectre IV and Spectre IV+ radar detector detectors (RDDs) has decided (likely under "external" pressure) to revise their product information page about the new Spectre IV series of RDDs and remove an acknowledgement that their latest and greatest RDD, the Spectre IV can detect 'all but two' radar detectors (actually it's three/four), the Beltronics STi Driver, its sibling abroad,: the Beltronics STi XR, the Beltronics STi-R, and the Escort Passport 9500ci. Futhermore, the Whistler XTR-695 and Escort Passport 9500i/Escort Passport 9500ix, as well as a number of other radar detectors, also appear to do very well against the Spectre in one particular test: Spectre IV vs. Radar Detectors.
(Note: Craig's test results were apparently based-upon a early Spectre IV model that was directly received from Stealth Micro Systems and may not be representative of other retail purchased Spectre IV RDDs currently available to traffic enforcement.
According to Speed Measurement Labs most recent Spectre vs Radar Detectors tests, conducted June, 2008, it appears that most (with the exception of Cobra) of the major "conventional" radar detector manufacturers: Beltronics, Escort, Valentine, and Whistler have made further strides against the Spectre IV as well, with certain tested radar detector models not exceeding an initial approaching detection range of fewer than 400 feet!—results of which to be posted soon at Speed Measurement Labs' official test website. It appears that both Beltronics and Escort are applying some of what they have learned/achieved with their fully immune-radar detectors to their other product lines, which is a very good thing, indeed! And Whistler and Valentine have apparently been busy, as well.)
What possible benefit can come from intentionally misleading law-enforcement about the [lack of] effectiveness of the Spectre III/Spectre IV radar detector detectors (other than, of course, short-term profiteering for its investors)?
The only "benefits" that I can see is that its likely an indication that Beltronics and Escort have actually won the radar detector detector versus radar detector battle once and for all and that this is a sign of weakness (and ultimate vanquishing) of a long-time nemesis to our industry.
The other "benefit" is, if the US distributor for Spectre wishes to now perpetuate a falsehood about their products' effectiveness to law-enforcement, then we drivers who operate these undetectable radar detectors should be further immune (from undue attention from traffic enforcement—since they can't and don't even exist!).
Either way, it certainly appears that the blokes from down-under have been vanquished by the ingenuity of U.S. engineering!
It's likely only a matter of time before the legendary Valentine One goes stealth, itself, as I have actually used one (a specially modified RDD-immune V1) several years ago while I was tooling around the West at very high speeds in a black Dodge Viper (see pics on right-column) with my same friend from down-under!
UPDATE: 05 Aug 08
It appears that Stealth Micro Systems is now aware of this situation and may attempt corrective action...
References:
Related:
Beltronics STi-R, Escort Passport 9500ci, and Beltronics STi XR Score Big Against Spectre IV RDDs Down Under
Veil Guy
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