From: bill@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu (William E. Johns)
Subject: Electronic countermeasures
Originator: bill@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu
Keywords: help
Organization: Washington State University
Date: Sun, 12 Apr 92 16:12:02 GMT

I like my Solo radar detector, I really do.  My Solo, which I have named        
_The Ear of God_, has given me good service and has picked up signals           
around corners and curves and over hills and such--I am delighted.              
I just really dislike the ear-plug to use it.  I like riding bikes              
because I can't use a safety belt--the freedom is important.  I feel            
like I am tied to the bike with the ear-plug.  Also, it restricts my            
head-motion when I am looking for patrolling aircraft. There has gotta          
be a better way.                                                                
                                                                                
I am electronic illiterate.  I cannot hook up a vcr-tv system to make it        
work, and have barely figured out a stereo/tape deck/cd player.  With           
this an an intro, I need help with a project to make life with a bike           
mounted radar detector more livable.                                            
                                                                                
My idea is that it should be possible to make a small black-box device          
that will take a signal from the ear jack on my Solo, or indeed any             
radar detector that uses a standard ear-phone device, and create a nice         
unambiguous signal for me to pick up while riding.  This signal will            
most likely be a sound.  My idea is to make a little black-box with a           
wire coming out of it that will permit me to plug my Solo into it.  I           
use my detector on two bikes and cars so I must have a                          
quick-connect/disconnect.  The sound making device can be anything I can        
bury under the fairing and be loud enough to hear while riding at               
translegal speeds.  Can the bike's horn be used???  This device should          
have a switch on it so that I can turn the sound off when riding through        
towns where signals from automatic doors will trip the detector.                
                                                                                
If we really got fancy, I'd like both a sound and light display.  I             
envision a series of small lights or a "strip" light (I don't know that         
such a device exists) that I can glue with gorilla snot to the top of my        
windscreen.  When the detector is triggered, a sound is made and the            
lights go on.  At that point I can determine if I wish to continue to           
listen to the sound by hitting a switch.  The lights will remain                
functional just to monitor the detector.  Actually, any simple light            
that can be attached anywhere to the instrument cluster on the FJ and PD        
would be useful.                                                                
                                                                                
Please note that the Solo detector will automatically lower the                 
intensity of the sound after it detects a signal and beeps for a few            
cycles.                                                                         
                                                                                
I just gotta believe that such a device should be a trivial matter for          
you EE types.  Hopefully this device made with parts from the local             
Radio Shack for a minor cash outlay.  Anyone interested in designing the        
official DoD hearing aid for the Ear of God?                                    
                                                                                
Either post or email.  If I get enough email on the subject, I will post        
a summary.  Thanks.                                                             
                                                                                
Ride Free, listen sharp,                                                        
                                                                                
Bill                                                                            
ps. I have no idea why this came out double-spaced--I am learning a
    new editor %-)

________________________________________________________________
bill@wsuaix.csc.wsu.edu  johnsw@wsuvm1.csc.wsu.edu
AMA #500924   DoD #00314   WMTC #0002   SR= 2.125
FJ1200 R100GS/PD 740GLE  KotV :-)
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True humor has beneath it the understanding that we are all
in this together.  Hugh Prather
Newsgroups: rec.motorcycles