As mentioned in a previous post, I'll be adding a laser jammer to my car soon and I think I found the right one. However, the controls look like crap and I want to integrate them more cleanly into the car.

I found the link below which lists some of the Porsche buttons, but not all.
http://www.whiteson.org/boxster/mods/switches/

For example it does not have the Targa top switch that I used for the garage door opener project that many have done on this forum.
http://gallery.rennlist.com/gallery/albur29/IMG_0853

Does anyone have a complete list of switches, preferably with pictures, that they can post? Or at least point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance,

Alex

 

funny thats the part i just pulled out for my opener hoe did you mount the switch (g door switch) ??? is that a stock p car swirch?thanks,, did you see the beltronics radar and blocker unit ? have had one about two years mounted it in the bat wing...

 

Switch is stock, ordered it from Suncoast for about $23 plus shipping. Someone named Kirby has great instructions on how to do the install-it works great: http://gallery.rennlist.com/gallery/albur29

With regard to the jammer, it looks like I'm leaning toward the Laser Pro Park (LPP) unit, rather than the Beltronics/Escort or Blinder. More expensive but that one seems to be the best out there. The controls look like crap though, here's a pic:

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...k/DSC01990.jpg

I just can't see putting those controls into my dash anywhere.

 

man many thanks funished the g door switch puuuuuuurfect

 

All Porsche dash switches consist of two momentary switches with a shared common, some have an LED indicator which can be used but is tricky and requires some modification. If you want to add simple power control to a 12v device you'll need to use the dash switch to operate a relay which will operate the power. I have a circuit that was designed for a radar detector, it uses two relays such that when you start the car the device is always on, you can then turn it off (and on again) using a dash switch if you wish.

If this sounds like the kind of thing you want let me know and I'll dig the circuit out. For a radar detector I think the best switch is probably the footwell light switch, it has a sort of radar-link picture on it.

Chris.

 

Chris-it sounds as though you've got some experience with this same issue-thanks so much for responding.

I'm thinking of how the Seat Heater switch works: with that switch you turn the heating elements on by pressing the side of the button that has the seat drawn on it. The LED turns red indicating that the system is on. Once the system is active, pressing the LED side of the button changes the LED to yellow and I assume this lowers the temperature of the heat. Pressing the seat side of the button anytime after activation turns it all off.


My thought was to have a similar system for the laser jammer controls: one side of the button turns the system on/off and LED would be on when the system was activated. The other side of the button would mute the system. Hopefully, I could get the LED to either flash or change color to indicate that the system has detected/jamming a laser/radar gun. This would be in a perfect world as I do not know if this is even possible. Oh yes, in a perfect world I would also be able to customize the graphic on the button.

Another alternative would be to have two buttons, one for the power the other for the mute function-far less desirable.

I would definitely like to see your circuit board and get your advise if my thoughts above are possible with some modification.

Is this the Footwell Light Switch you were referring to?

 

Bear in mind that no matter how clever the results are you're just pressing one of two momentary switches... I believe. For example with the seat heater the car computer knows they are off, you press it once so it knows to turn them on full (red). If you press again it the switch mechanism is the same but as it knows they are already on it steps to half power (yellow). Similarly pressing the other switch at any point will turn it off.

So, unless you get fancy with some sensing circuits all you have are two momentary switches. I don't know anything much about laser jammers but I have ended up fiddling with Valentine1 radar detectors a lot. I've mounted the display in mirrors, extended the speakers, controls and mute switch etc. Depending on the jammer and how it is switched it may be as simple as soldering or jumping in to replace a switch (if it uses momentary switches). That would depend on the brand, model and if you want to start soldering bits on to it. Do you have any details or schematics for the jammer you plan to use?

I've attached the schematic, the relays are basic automotice relays and a simple diode is used to stop a problem with the common terminal. The "Radar Detector" label goes to the power for the accessory, the other side can be grounded to the other relay or elsewhere.

I have a 996 V1 mirror sat on my nench if anyone is interested

Chris.

 

Oh and yes, that's the footwell light switch I referred to that I felt looked most radar like. I have a spare one if you're interested that's brand new which I'll not be using.

I've seen an article somewhere on modifying it so the light works but can't find it right now, I'll see if I can dig it up.

Chris.

 

I'm leaning toward the Laser Park Pro. Judging by your screen name is it safe to assume you're in the UK-if so these units are produced there. I'll see if I can get the switching diagrams. Can't imagine that the power switch is momentary-but can't imagine that it would be any different than the radar detector. I'm most concerned about the operation of the unit while I'm driving around.

By-the-way, +1 for you, this is of great help.

Alex

 

I'm from the UK but live in Boston, MA now.

I'd think the unit has a way that it can come on automatically when power is applied, if so the relays would work pretty well if you wanted a way to turn it off too. If you want it on all the time you can just wire it to a switched power source and look in to options for the mute. From what little I've read about laser jammers the technique seems to be that when it goes off you brake hard down to the limit then turn it off so that the LEO gets his reading at the speed limit. If he doesn't get a reading at all he would get a little suspicious.

If you're near MA and don't have cruise and OBC on your 996 we can add those too... footwell lights as well if you're interested!

Chris.

 

Thanks,

I'm in Atlanta-but I'll be in touch.

Alex

 

From what I can see online the Laser Park Pro has a harness with a power switch, mute and speaker. The mure looks to be a momentary switch, the power a manual switch. Looks like a very cool device, I might need one of those

 

Yep, pretty cool...

Also has the LED which visually lets you know you're getting hit. Just emailed the distributor for a schematic of the controls-he seems to be pretty responsive as soon as I hear I'll let you know.

So do you think it will work with the footwell switch?

 

I think so but my schematic was intended to use each side of the switch so it was on/off rather than an on/off and a mute. Where are you getting the LaserPark from? I'd like to look in to it further. I've seen LIDAR LEDs in mirrors and would like to give that a go too.

 

Chris:

I've done a bit of research on the subject over the past couple of weeks. Here are my conclusions (and mine alone):

As far as I can tell, there are two technologies being employed for laser jamming: LED Arrays and Laser Diodes. The later uses a lot more power and seems to be more effective. The LED arrays are somewhat less effective and use less power. As a result they need more "emitters" in order to be as effective as the Laser Diodes. For example, using the LED Array technology its been recommended that the front of my TT be covered by up to three emitters in order to properly protect against LEOs. They sell a Blinder M40 which comes with four emitters. So I would put 3 in front and the 4th in the rear. It is likely that I wouldn't have adequate protection from the rear given the TT's profile. On the other hand, using the LPP unit, one emitter in front and one in the rear is likely to protect me as well if not better than the Blinder. Guess which one is more expensive? LPP.

I only know of three companies that use the Laser Diodes and they are Lidatek, AntiLaser and LPP. I believe all the others in the marketplace (Blinder, Escort, Beltronics, etc) use the LED Array technology. They all seem to work, but Blinder is consistently on top as respects LED Arrays and the AntiLaser is the best with respect to the Laser Diode technology. Many say LPP is as good or better than AntiLaser-but I haven't seen the tests to show this. Lidatek has weaker Laser Diodes than the other two. I'm leaning toward the LPP because there is a US distributor and getting AntiLaser is a pain in the butt-it's European.

All that said, to me the difference between the Blinder and the LPP is not that great when you consider the following:
1) money difference;
2) how the equipment is used in the real world; and
3) overall aesthetics of the head unit (or lack thereof for the LPP).

Number 3 is why I really want this button thing to work, if not I'll likely go with the Blinder.

By-the-way, this is only for laser detection and jamming. In my area that's all they seem to use. If you need/want radar detection (jamming is illegal) you'll need to get a separate unit for that-Valentine or the Escort 8500 X50 are the best units for that function.

Let me know if you come to a different conclusion. I'll PM you with the contact for the LPP distributor.

Alex