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| RadarActive v1.7 for iPhone |
Updated: 23 Apr 14, By Veil Guy
GPS technology certainly has permanently changed the radar detector landscape. I knew this when I was the first to pronounce that GPS-detector integration was a game changer years ago—not just a trendy gimmick—and we have Escort (really Uniden) to thank for this.
Since I reviewed an early model of the Passport 9500i, the first high-end radar detector to offer incorporated GPS capability, in just a couple short years, Escort further improved the power of GPS/radar detection integration with subsequent products including the Passport 9500ix, Passport 9500ci, and most recently their Passport iQ.
Other manufacturers have also followed in Escort's trailblazing**, though nothing as yet has compared to the overall performance and sophistication of Escort's (and Beltronics') designs.
I remember my first drive with the Passport 9500i and that I fathomed the possibilities of marrying GPS geo-coding to radar/laser detection alerts.
Fast forward a mere two years and along has come the proliferation of an even more significant technology—Internet connected SmartPhones like the class-leading Apple iPhone. Again the wheels turned in my mind as I pondered the potential provided by the future integration of radar/laser detection, GPS, and SmartPhone technologies. I am anxiously waiting for Escort to publicly embrace/announce such an approach using their new Passport iQ (platform) as they may be considering this internally.
Well, now there's NO need for me to ponder (or wait) any longer. The future has finally arrived and it has all been made possible by a new upstart company named SignalActive and their radically new software/hardware application called RadarActive.
Does RadarActive have the potential of making conventional radar detectors obsolete? Well, before I answer that question, let me describe what RadarActive actually is.
According to the developer (who happens to be an avid reader of my blog!), RadarActive is a speed trap information network where live police speed traps are crowdsourced directly from other drivers (primarily those who use radar detectors).
RadarActive is a software application designed to run on Apple's iOS and the hardware devices which run it, namely the iPhone and iPad 3G. Using the GPS capabilities of these devices to collaboratively share, in real-time, speed trap encounters with other uses of RadarActive.
The Valentine 1 Gets a New Lease on Life
The program itself is free for download from iTunes and can be used with an optional hardware interface ($89) to one the best radar detectors of all time, the Valentine 1. By interfacing with the V1, the iPhone acts as a remote display replacement for the Valentine while providing real-time GPS mapping and positioning.
As one drives, geo-coded data such as known red light cameras, speed cameras, and police speed traps of varying type (radar, laser, VASCAR) appear on the map and alert you to their presence. These marked locations are provided by other users and public data-sources, in real-time, and are date and time-stamped as to the freshness (or staleness) of the last reported encounter. During the alert, one can vote for the authenticity of the marked location to aid other drivers in qualifying the reported threat.RadarActive can be used for free as a stand-alone product (no radar detector is needed) or with any radar detector, but when mated to the Valentine 1 specifically, when a speed-trap encounter is reported, the type of alert (such as Ka-band) is automatically associated with the report so when another driver comes upon the location, he or she will not only be alerted to the threat, but will also be informed as to its specific nature—be it X, K, Ka, or lidar—as the V1's alert detail is recorded along with the reported/marked location!
When in unfamiliar territory, other drivers will be alerted to the preferred hide-outs LEO's like to use, even if they are not actively operating radar/laser/VASCAR at the time. This is the kind of critical knowledge that only the seasoned local drivers would ordinarily know. By displaying these reported locations real-time on the map, drivers who are unfamiliar with their surroundings will be immediately alerted to patrolled regions of the highway which can help them determine a safe and prudent speed with which to drive for a given duration.
Android users will be pleased to learn that there will be a version of RadarActive for their phones in the near future.
Furthermore, the developers are inviting owners of other radar detector brands to request an interface for their particular model.
As I made a 100 mile loop around the greater Philadelphia area, I was correctly notified of all redlight camera locations (on Roosevelt Blvd/Route 1) and common state trooper ambush locations on I-476 (Blue Route) and Route 422.
Depending on your approach speed, you will receive the audio alert (with the correct band identification alert-tone) at varying distances along with a distance countdown to the actual marked location.
Collaborative knowledge sharing technology is the ultimate game-changer.
In areas where radar detectors are forbidden, drivers armed with their iPhone can now be alerted to radar/laser threats without the direct need for a radar detector. The same is true for commercial truckers who can now benefit from other drivers who are legally permitted to operate them, without having to worry about getting sideways with the law or having the absolute need to own and operate a spectre-immune radar detector like the Escort Redline and Beltronics STi Driver.
A couple of caveats when using ActiveRadar with the hardware interface kit. Since the iPhone acts as the concealed display, the V1 goes totally dark. Also, if using the auxiliary output of the iPhone, when making or receiving phone calls, one must use the speaker-mode or a Bluetooth link to talk as the V1 effectively uses the MIC-input disabling the built-in microphone of the iPhone. That was a problem for my older BMW which doesn't have bluetooth. Also you can hear a very slight bleed over of the input signal into the audio output section.
Also, while the program integrates nicely with the iPod and Pandora applications, it does not do so well with Rhapsody (my preferred music streaming service). Rhapsody, of course, can run in the background using iOS 4, but improved integration would be welcomed.
A feature I would like to see in a future version of ActiveRadar is the manual ability to mark false locations (along with the complete alert profile—band IDs and bogey count) to inform other drivers of probable false locations. The ability to alert to such reports could be selectively enabled by the driver with the application's settings menu.
The Best False Alert Handling in the Business
As it stands, RadarActive does automatically log and report certain (false) detection alerts, when and where they happened and it even harvests directional information, bands detected, and bogey counts, provided by the V1's radar locator to properly place them on the map. It also allows other users to tag the alert as a false positive, moving police encounter, or real alert when they come upon the same area. This feature is really incredible because this prepares you for the false detections before you actually come upon them! So no more having to nail the brakes every time your radar detector alerts! And at this point, I have the volume of my V1 way down so when it does alert it is not at all annoying. In fact, the volume can be completely down, because when you approach a previously reported false, the program slightly mutes the audio output of the phone's aux line-out so if you happen to be streaming/playing music loudly and you are presented a quick staccato of very pleasant tones while displaying distance countdowns to the alerts' maximum detected levels.
The ability to auto-mute, in advance, harvested false locations with the Valentine 1 and other detectors will soon be possible. One simple way to do this is for the application itself to directly alert with the detector's native tones through the iPhone's aux. output. As stated earlier, the V1 can have its volume turned completely down since the concealed interface is providing the information. Imagine saying goodbye, once and for all, to all of the false alerts from this uber-sensitive radar detector (or any other sensitive detector for that matter).
Such a capability will eclipse Escort's own TrueLock auto-lockout feature because other drivers could provide the advanced knowledge of the false locations with repeated encounters and share them immediately to everyone else. This should also eliminate the possibility of false lockouts of real traffic radar (as some have complained about with TruLock)—this is a revolutionary feature here, folks.
Furthermore, users—appreciating the lightening-fast reactivity (to briefly reflected longer-duration radar and quick-trigger) and the benefit of directional arrows that only the V1 provides—can finally have their cake and eat it too (an ultra-quick radar detector that doesn't excessively false as a consequence). Now that would be about the hottest ticket going—a super-empowered GPS-enabled Valentine 1.
Additionally, having the ability to manually specify other types of speed traps, like stationery VASCAR (or ENRADD) setups, could also be especially helpful. These time-distance measurement techniques are commonly used throughout PA by the locals as only state troopers are permitted to operate traffic radar.
While the provided documentation is scant, the application itself has a FAQ section and their website radaractive.com provides more information.
The beauty of RadarActive is that as the most sophisticated drivers use the program, the better and more useful the knowledge-database becomes. Since the GPS function of the iPhone does not directly require an active data or cellular connection, any data collected during a network outage will automatically be relayed back to RadarActive's database servers upon subsequent re-connection.
So, going back to my initial question. Are conventional radar detectors now obsolete?
In a word, NO, they are not, at least not yet...
...BUT, the writing is most certainly on the wall—knowing the swiftness of new technology—conventional non-connected radar/laser detectors are likely going the way of the dodo—unless, of course, they're paired with smartphone and/or crowdsourced technologies like that of RadarActive.
Furthermore, other drivers who don't currently or ever don't desire to own one, may have less of an incentive to do so with such an application, in a stand-alone setup, as they too can stand to benefit from others who choose/continue to use 'em.
These drivers don't have to be perceived as "leechers," though, as they can still report speed trap locations simply upon visual identification of either an active speed trap or an existing traffic stop.
Those drivers who appreciate the greatness of the Valentine 1, now have a 21st century GPS capability that Valentine, itself, has not offered.
Valentine's philosophy has always been that they will continuously tweak the V1 (whenever dictated by circumstances and not by sales and marketing goals) while providing the most advanced hardware interface of any detector—leaving it to others, skilled in the art, to take things to the another level.
The vast majority of people still fail to understand this and instead accuse Valentine Research as not being innovative. These naysayers (ie; retailers of other manufacturers) couldn't be more wrong.
Valentine has given all of the advanced interfacing tools , leaving it to others to enhance the V1's capability, this is something no other detector company has had the foresight to do. The sheer combined capability of RadarActive+V1 is evidence of this fact. Keep the faith in VR.
These guys are pushing the outside of the envelope.
In just a short number of months, SignalActive has already updated/improved their application eight times and this upstart appears very receptive to suggestions for product improvements—which generally isn't the case with the more established companies. We expect the pace of improvement of both their system to continue to be fast and furious. In fact, SignalActive has indicated to me that their system is constantly being improved, so just hold on to your smartphones, there is even more exciting stuff coming.
Truth be told, ever since Escort developed the Passport 9500ix/9500ci, my Valentines have been since relegated to the closet. But, thanks to RadarActive, my four Valentines now have a new lease on life on my dash. So don't count the Valentine 1 out, just yet as GPS-empowerment serves to keep the Valentine 1 relevant, to be sure.
I once tried Trapster, but quickly determined the ubiquitous alerts ("police often hide here"), became painfully annoying and essentially useless. Since RadarActive automatically and quickly ages-out older reports and uses bonafide radar detector alerts to validate most of the reports, the quality of the overall experience should be far superior to others. Furthermore, Valentine 1 owners tend to be much more sophisticated and technically inclined as a group of enthusiast drivers, so the quality of the data coming from such owner/operators has the real potential to be quite good.
Bottom line: every enthusiast driver who owns a smart phone should be driving with RadarActive, starting NOW!
The sooner more enthusiast drivers use this invaluable tool, the quicker the system will improve. I am a huge fan of open-source-type—as opposed to proprietary (often for a fee)—shared information that the Internet community generally encourages. Help make this collaborative effort go viral, by spreading the word at social networking sites and automotive and cycle forums (linking to this article, can't hurt, either).
Don't yet own a smartphone?
Well then it's high time to trade in your older cell phone and get one—as you can offset, to some extent, the cost of your cell provider's data-plan with the cost savings of the elimination of a radar detector manufacturer's proprietary subscription plan with the free open-sourced nature of RadarActive's shared information network. Considering the costs of tickets these days when you factor in everything, if RadarActive saves you from just one speeding ticket, it essentially pays for the cost the data plan to operate it.
Furthermore, since Valentine 1's are far less expensive ($250-$350 less) than some of the newest hardware-based GPS detectors currently being offered, the immediate savings you realize from your purchase can also offset your cost of entry, to a good extent, to this 21st century solution.
SPECTRE Immunity (with the Escort Redline/Passport 9500ci/Beltronics STi-Driver/STi-R and STi-R Plus) and RadarActive
When I blogged my feelings about Escort's new Passport iQ, I mentioned the potential of the platform, but opined about the initial release not possessing Spectre III/IV immunity, considering its cost premium. For the price of $650-$750, its unfortunate the it ain't there (at least for now) and I still hold to that opinion. In fairness to Escort, I've been told by them that such a package is not practical on a number of levels.
BUT, we fans of either high-end model (of which I am one) can still have our cake and eat it too, with a hardware interface for both models (which I am told is very doable). As is the case with the V1, the cost of entry to such a configuration would come under the cost of the other (higher) price models and provide the same capabilities.
In fact, if you consider that AT&T Wireless currently offers or has offered new and refurbished iPhone 3G and 3GS (my preferred even over the iPhone 4) for $99 and less (and other Android-based phones), some even for free with appropriate data plans, some of which are pretty inexpensive, your cost of entry could be had just on the mere initial savings with the selection of this currently superior alternative.
I have been informed by the folks at SignalActive that the amount of actual bandwidth used by their application is extremely small as compared to other Internet-related activities. So fears of excessive usage-charges for metered wireless data plans should be allayed.
Other more established players that are already in the hardware integrated GPS/radar detection manufacturing business may eventually attempt to enter this space and may even try to charge their users for the privilege of using the shared knowledge collected with their products (perhaps even striving to keep the data they collect proprietary), but utilizing the open-source nature of a well-designed shared-data networking system consisting of users of a software product that is radar detector manufacturer agnostic (as RadarActive promises to be) would be my personal preference and likely prove to be very very tough to be beat (just think of the success of Wikipedia).
Any detector that doesn't possess these enhanced crowdsourcing capabilities feels instantly dated.
Remember you've read it here first, mark my words: crowdsourcing technology, like that of RadarActive, will change the face of radar detection forever...and become the ultimate game changer...the ultimate detection enhancement.
Talk about situational awareness...how 'bout situational awareness on steroids!
Start driving the safest and the smartest and once you have, you'll never look-back.
Yeah, as if you couldn't tell, I am really hot for this technology. ;)
Veil Guy
Additional reading: RadarActive Review online discussion
**It was actually Uniden, who first attempted (a more limited form of) GPS/radar detection integration, but their products were ultimately not successful in the marketplace.
15 comments:
Given that you require a radar detector - and a specific on - for any of that to work, I don't understand the title. How are you saying "radar detectors" obsolete? The databases are something which already exist, but I don't need to know if any of the dozen speed traps nearby exist, I need to know if they are active now.
If you don't have a detector (where they are illegal or where you have to use one of the stealth devices NOT supported yet by the device), how do you report speed traps - when you don't see them or after you are pulled over or something else?
I've had the technology for over a year and few were interested back then (in radarbusters forums you can find the poll and post). You can literally see my V1's output on the internet if I enable it and you know where to look. I've done that for 3+ years
I think it is a great idea, but as a COMPLIMENT to a radar (and LIDAR!) detector, not a replacement, and in no way does it make them obsolete. I don't have an iPhone (I have an iPod Touch and android phone and other devices though), so I haven't bought one of these devices.
tz, if you read the article in its entirety, you'll see how I answered the question.
While integrating with a V1 is a very nice thing, to be sure, it is NOT required...nor is the use of any other radar detector.
Crowdsourcing data can happen simply by visual identification (even those that don't speed).
For many drivers (realize that only a relatively small percentage of drivers actually own and use a radar detector) a radar detector won't be needed to benefit from the knowledge shared. Even if one happens to get pulled over, one still report it to others. And if enough people use the application, active speed traps will effectively be reported to others in real-time.
Truckers have been using this technique using a decidedly lower-tech solution (the CB) for years to avoid speed detection. And you know what? It works (for them).
Would I personally give up the use of a radar detector? Absolutely not, for obvious reasons.
But certainly for those who do not own one, I believe they would tend to have even less incentive to purchase one.
This is all well and good, but you still need a radar detector, and in case you don't know it, you run up a fortune in data charges on these so called smart phones. Nothing on these phones is free, and while you are sending or getting the data, the phone company is charging you a small fortune. It is the same with the GPS on the phone, yes they work, but using it runs up data charges, and in a couple of months you can buy a good Garmin GPS used, and save money. Just because the technology is available does not mean we have to use it, or that it is better.
Thanks for the education. but I have been using smartphones for a good number of years now. so I know a thing or two about 'em.
My data plan from AT&T (like for so many other iPhone users) is unlimited, for a fixed fee, and so I am free to stream as much music from Rhapsody, browse the Internet to my heart's content, or use a program like ActiveRadar without concern of excessive data charges. Besides, I can't imagine that for data-metered plans, the data bandwidth consumption are that large for such a program.
But, by all means, if you don't like the technology, don't use it.
It's a free world and by the way, I already have a Garmin (purchased new), but given the NAV capabilities of the iPhone, I haven't found much need for it.
Veil Guy, Thanks for keeping us in the know. Good to know you are in position to help those even thinking about such topics.
Re: ENRADD, you may find these of interest;
http://alerts.motorists.org/nma-state-alert-for-pennsylvania-enradd-speed
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/22910814/detail.html
Interesting stuff.
Couple of points:
1) On many occasions I have been attentive enough to get my speed down to the point that my average speed during the clock was within acceptable limits.
With radar and laser you generally don't have that luxury.
2) I successfully argued a case in court (a 6 point offense) for a speed of 72 in a 45 zone. Using the calculations, my speed should have been reported as 76!
I actually made that argument and won the case (much to the chagrin of the judge!) True story.
These calcs are supposed to be precise (to the 10th of a mph).
Great theory, a high tech version of the cb radio but contrary to your idea that this will make detectors obsolete,(granted, it was just a question but here is the answer.) it will, in fact, make them mandatory for this plan to work. Without the ability to detect and upload, you have no verification of anything.Those places where detectors are illegal..where is the info coming from,and how will the upload for people without detectors be accomplished with no personal attention. You would then risk a ticket for texting on your cell phone. Also don't think the establishment won't monitor this send up false reports just like they do on cb radio. This sword has two edges.Nice idea but only if coupled with very accurate sensors and honorable people.
So who is going to be the one who buys the electronics to provide accuracy for the masses.Since I have one already I would have no problem sharing but this scheme depends on accuracy.So my answer is no, this will never be a substitute for the accuracy of a personal sensor only the good will of the people who can't stand oppression on the highway would make this work.(maybe that will be enough.)If Android comes out with software that adapts to my passport ix though, I'd be happy to contribute because I trust my source.
Yes, I believe this to be true.
The question was to serve to be a bit provocative more than anything else and if you carefully read the title you'll see that my question included the word 'conventional.'
Any conventional (ie; non-crowdspaced) seems to me to be instantly outmoded.
I suspect, if Belscort knows what they are doing, they'll ultimately embrace the technology, if they haven't already done so in product development.
It wouldn't surprise me in the least, though, that they would create their own "closed system," only available to other high-end Belscort products, and most likely for an ongoing fee.
That's been there MO historically and I see no reason for this to change going forward.
However, this software mates really well to the V1, since it can replace the remote display, so all the capability of its advanced reporting carries right through to the application.
I would very much like to see something new from Valentine Research along these lines (including blue tooth support to replace wire creep).
I do believe it has value for drivers not using a radar detector, because the program has been very good at indicating corridors/areas where troopers like to patrol and this capability is especially great when traveling to unfamiliar areas. It's easy to spot and mark a traffic spot, even without a detector. Who doesn't recognize one when they pass.
I hope you get around to actually using it, its waaaaay cool.
ON RD .net with you for awhile!! Love your BLOG!! I love what RadarActive has done, BUT wouldn't the "ultimate" Unit from V-1 be a fully integrated unit where the unit itself has the Radar/GPS capabilities/ location marking and sharing feature and the ability to mark locations (send info up and down to unit instantly as in RIGHT NOW). Passport Iq doesnt have this option and neither does Radar Active. I believe the unit that does all of these will be the "game changer" for us all.
Love the Veil by the way!!!
Great in-depth view on all. I have to say though, that radaractive is clearly V1 centric and not really agnostic. If I turn my phone sideways (which is my preferred view when in the car), the app becomes nearly useless with the bulk of the application's screen real estate dead from the lack of a V1 populating it with information.
I think radaractive is great, but their bread and butter to remain relevant will be to cater to the high end detectors that do NOT incorporate its own GPS. This means V1, Redline and STI.
You are right. The more professional drivers who use this, the better the information provided by it would be. But without automated data inclusion by more radar detectors, radar active will struggle to remain relevant among its competitors when the application itself loses substantial value if you don't have a V1.
I called Valentine to speak with them about thier pricing verse the Amazons of the world. The woman I spoke too was quite aggresive about the resellers. I guess she was upset that i would want to know why the product on her site was less expensive than the ones listed on Amazon. I was trying to understand if the product on thier site was the same one the resellers had listed. I'm happy to buy from the manufactorer but my expereince has been that the resllers may be less expensive. Anyhow, I also asked her about the products interface with RadarActive and she said had heard of it but that they didnt collect information. She said it may be something about emails being sent to other users. She in no way attempted to validate what your blog says about thier product. she didnt offer any advise on the I-phone interface and basically did nothing to help me understand the value of buying thier device verse another one. If you know those folks, they certainly aren't too interested in supporting your position.
Is Signal Active still in business? Their website is "out of stock" on the V1 adapter. They don't answer the phone(always a bad sign). Had to leave message @ noon on 3/16/12
Mike,
Yes they are. I spoke with them this morning.
I believe they are no longer offering the V1 module, but there service is up and running.
The Android version is in beta, at the moment...
Where oh where is SignalActive? Like another comment, they will not answer the phone. Hey veil guy, how about requesting SA to opensource the RA app so it can be modded. I don't care about the GPS function because not enough other users are using it. I just want to see the display updated for VR's ESP. WOuld love to see the frequency display on their app.
I own a module and an curious how much work would it require to make it ESP compliant as well.
Aug. 7, 2012
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