Product Evaluation – Install, VizAlert

When on a motorcycle at full throttle or navigating the twisties, hearing or seeing a radar detector/laser jammer alert is very difficult without an external warning system.

Over the past several years there have been several manufactures that have developed wireless “Heads Up Display” units for motorcycles, but each have had their short comings.

The H.A.R.D. System was prone to water damage if you road in the rain. The SportVue was very difficult to install and was prone to product failure. And then the Whistler Cruisader’s performance and range was lackluster.

Last year I met with Don Norton, the Cheetah USA rep who showed me a prototype of a new HUD that they were working on, the VizAlert.

Their goal was to develop a HUD from the ground up, while getting input from both motorcycle and radar detector enthusiasts to see what features were important. Some features I felt were needed were making the unit water resistant and allowing the unit to interface with different radar detectors and laser jammers that were on the market.

Today I received one of the first prototypes of the VizAlert and I immediately went to the shop and installed the unit on my Harley.

As I test numerous radar detector and laser jammer products, I wanted to find a location on my motorcycle that was immediately accessible for the different interfaces that I would be installing, so I chose the lower fairing storage box on my bike.

First I installed the radar detector interface for the VizAlert. The Interface is approximately 5”x3’x2’ and has a 12 volt power input plug, a 12 volt power output plug, an interface wire for their laser node, and  a small memory card slot.

The radar detector interface comes with a device called a “power node” that you can connect directly to your battery, then connect to interface box. The Power Node senses the moment you power up your motorcycle to provide power to you devices and turns them off when you shut your bike off. However, I choose to install the interface directly to an accessory circuit, thus bypassing the need for the Power Node.

Plugging into the 12 volt output power plug is a three foot cable that at the end has a power cord for the radar detector and an earphone jack that plugs into the detector.

Using the chrome handle bar mount, I mounted the Escort 8500 X50, and then plugged in the two cables. As I was also installing the Blinder Laser Node interface, I plugged the interface cable from the radar detector interface into the laser node.

On the side of the radar detector interface is an interchangeable memory card. This allows the user to use different radar detectors or upgrade to a newer model, by just swapping out the card, without having to replace the entire VizAlert system.

Next up, installing the Blinder Laser Jammer.

Using a rear license plate mount, I installed the rear laser jammer.

I then installed the front laser jammer head under my front headlamp, using a mount that I had fabricated in the shop.

I then ran both cables to the Blinder interface and plugged them in.

Then I connected the Blinder interface into the Laser Node interface.

The Laser Node also comes supplied with the Power Node, however for my install I obtained power from my bikes accessory plug that allows me to turn the Blinder on and off while riding.

I then bundled up the three interface modules and secured them in the lower faring.

Total Motorcycle install time, two hours.

Next, installing the VizAlert receiver on my helmet.

The Vizalert is designed to be mounted on the outside of your helmet with the LED display just outside your peripheral vision. Using the supplied double sided tape, I secured the receiver. I then unscrewed the cover and installed the two supplied micro batteries.

Total helmet install time, 5 minutes

The VizAlert display has six different colored LED lights that light depending upon the frequency of the alert.

Yellow: X-band
White: K band
Green: Ka band
Red: Laser
Orange: Ku band
Blue: Future Use

The VizAlert display has an motion sensor that will disable power when the unit is not in use, thus conserving battery life.

The helmet receiver is also water resistant, so no need to remove the unit when it is raining. 

We first tested the system, using several of our radar and laser guns and each time the VizAlert reported the correct alert from the radar detector and/or the laser jammer.

VizAlert is expecting to have their final versions ready for shipment in mid May of 2007.

There will be 10 different radar detector specific chips/models:

Beltronics STi Driver
Beltronics RX65
Beltronics Vecor LR
Beltronics 975R
Escort 9500i
Escort 8500 X50
Escort Solo
Escort SR7
Valentine 1

Look for the VizAlert soon on our main website, Radarbusters.com