Speeding was the contributing factor in nearly thirty percent of all traffic fatalities in 2022, reports the National Safety Council. Speeding kills an average of more than thirty-three people every day.
RADAR Tools for Law Enforcement Provide a Solution
Christian Andreas Doppler first defined the concept in 1842 as what has become the foundation for our modern RADAR technology. Since then, stationary and moving RADAR have yielded undeniable benefits for law enforcement agencies.
According to a report from the Department of Justice, the major benefits include increased officer mobility and greater productivity in catching speeders. When officers have the ability to accurately locate and pull over vehicles breaking speed limits, our roadways become safer for everyone.
While RADAR is a highly effective tool for law enforcement, proper installation and use of this equipment is crucial. A question we often hear is whether or not RADAR antennas should be mounted on the outside of a vehicle. Ideally, agencies should choose a RADAR that allows for the flexibility to mount inside or outside.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Mounting RADAR Antennas Outside a Vehicle
The first thing to do is check with the manufacturer to see if your RADAR antenna is designed for external mounting. Beyond that, there are reasons to consider when deciding if a RADAR antenna should or should not be mounted outside the vehicle:
Benefits of Mounting Outside
Waterproof Antenna
Some RADAR antenna products are designed to be waterproof, so external mounting is permissible. For example, Kustom Signals’ antennas are designed to be waterproof, so they can be mounted outside of the vehicle and on motorcycles, and also because many agencies are actually required to mount antennas externally.
Better Performance
Depending on the antenna you choose, external mounting often has much better reception and performance as the signal path is not impeded by the transmit and receive signal refraction through the window glass.
Drawbacks of Mounting Outside
Environmental Exposure
Rain, snow, and extreme temperatures can affect the performance and longevity of antennas. Dust and debris can accumulate on the antenna, requiring cleaning and maintenance.
According to some departments, it’s not uncommon for manufacturers to not warranty antennas that have water damage. Be sure to know what your RADAR manufacturer’s warranty policy is when it comes to this.
Physical Damage
Externally mounted antennas are more susceptible to damage from impacts, such as collisions, flying debris, or even vandalism. A good practice is to check the antennas for any damage and debris during the daily fork tests.
Security Concerns
External antennas are vulnerable to theft and tampering, while installed within the vehicle’s structure are lower profile and less of a target.
It’s essential to understand that RADAR antennas must be used according to manufacturer instructions. Using them incorrectly, including improper mounting, has the potential to invalidate their warranty. Be wary of companies who tell their customers it’s okay to mount the RADAR antennas outside the vehicle and then won’t honor the warranty when there is an issue.
Kustom Signals Eagle 3 In-Car RADAR
When it comes to high-quality, innovative, and easy to use in-car RADAR, it’s the Eagle 3 from Kustom Signals that is the preferred choice among law enforcement.
The Eagle 3 not only offers front and rear scan modes, but it also has the smallest moving Doppler RADAR on the market. It’s the first RADAR to include a mode for independent verification of the Doppler patrol speed without requiring an electrical connection to the patrol vehicle. Innovation, functionality, and the ultimate in performance make this system an industry leader.
Eagle 3 In-Car RADAR Key Features
- Patented front and rear scan mode that switches to display the antenna with the fastest target. Scan mode allows both the front and rear antennas to be active at the same time.
- Patented DuraTrak™ tracking bars designed to improve target confidence.
- Patented QuikTrak™ one button target tracking with lock.
- Wireless Speed Sensing, which uses satellite signals as its independent source for Doppler ground speed verification.
- First RADAR to offer the eFork™ electronic tuning fork in the remote control. The eFork™ replaces traditional tuning forks. Its patented advanced fork test performs on two antennas in less than twenty seconds.
- Includes TruTrak™ with patent-pending Wireless Speed Sensing (WSS) that eliminates VSS and the use of the often controversial OBD II.
- For the most optimum performance, it has been designed with HVAC fan noise and interference learning algorithms.
- The ability to shoot accurate RADAR through even ballistic glass makes it easier to expand the target range.
- Offers a faster processing time to help improve and further expand target range and acquisition.
- Increased ambient light visibility via the bold, full-color touchscreen display. Choose from one, two, three, or five color options. Colors will change to help delineate the front and rear target display.
Eagle 3 Operation Through Ballistic Glass
Ballistic glass windshields used by law enforcement are made by adding layers to the automotive glass to make the glass bullet resistant. Each additional layer of material means that the energy from the RADAR or LASER has more signal loss due to refraction through each layer of the ballistic material for both the transmitted and reflected signals.
The Eagle 3 has been tested in stationary modes along with other RADAR through ballistic glass windshields. Law enforcement agencies can be confident that their Eagle 3 will acquire targets when operated through ballistic glass. Check out our whitepaper to learn more about this topic.
As technology continues to evolve, you can count on Kustom Signals to be there at the forefront, offering law enforcement agencies the equipment needed to help keep our roadways and communities safe.
For more information on the innovative Eagle 3 In-Car RADAR, contact us today.