|
|
|
|
|
Coming Next Issue
|
| • |
Geneva Auto Show |
| • |
Porsche 911 S |
| • |
Spring Cleaning |
| • |
Hot Lap |
|
|
|
|
Lidatek Laser Jammers:
Protect Yourself Against Speed Traps (continued) |
|
|
|
The LE-10 was a license-plate mounted unit, and it worked so well that the scientist decided to file for patents, complete the proper business papers and transform his project into a legitimate company. Early on, the business floundered due to various reasons: Their unit was expensive, semi-over engineered, and the production process hadn't been streamlined. Further complicating matters was the fact that the product was truly ahead of its time - no one had ever heard of traffic laser, and as such, demand for a laser jammer was virtually nonexistent.
Sadly, the founder would pass away a few years later, and the industrial portion of his laser technology company was sold off. Lidatek, meanwhile, was left to manage itself, and eventually, Jared Phillips and Andy Cole (both of whom were existing employees) put their heads and pocketbooks together and bought Lidatek from the scientist's widow. All of the aforementioned problems with the business were about to change - Cole and Phillips are smart cookies with a penchant for laser technology and a keen business sense.
They realized they had a great performer in the LE-10, but also acknowledged that the unit was a bit brutish and beyond the price point of the average consumer. They set about redesigning the unit in a manner that would maintain the effectiveness (Andy Cole says the LE-10 is still one of the most effective jammers on the planet and can "jam anything out there, including stuff that hasn't been invented yet"), while shrinking the package and price point.
A few years later, Lidatek unveiled the LaserECHO 20 (LE-20). It boasted improved performance, a small, integrated form factor, and a reduced price. Sales began to pick-up as laser (technically it's called LIDAR - - LIght Detection And Ranging) use by law enforcement became more prominent. And luckily for Lidatek, the FDA regulates LIDAR devices, and as such active laser jammers are perfectly legal (laser jammers don't broadcast a radio frequency). Active radar jammers, on the other hand, are illegal as they broadcast on a radio frequency and would require licensing from the FCC. The first LE-20's went on sale sometime during the summer of 2002.
As sales increased, Lidatek gained a lot of customer feedback, and in the summer of 2004 released its third version of the LaserECHO unit, the LE-30. The LE-30 features an even smaller, more flexible form factor than the LE-20, and it delivers enhanced jamming protocols that deliver the same effective jamming capability, but makes it less obvious to the laser gun operator that a jamming device is in place.
"That's a common problem with laser jammers," said Andy Cole during a recent phone interview. "Guys will install a laser jammer, then find a cop and ask him to try and get a speed reading. They're usually shocked to discover the cop can get a reading - he just has to try very hard to do so. Knowing that you've got a jammer, the officer can find unusual places on your car to target, and eventually get a reading."
Browse: <-- Prev 1 2 3 4 Next -->
|
|
© 1997 -
2009
Jump Internet Inc. All rights reserved.