I appreciate that I can't see around corners or through bridges, but what i mean is that if the detectors don't pick up the scatter, its not going to make any difference whether i have one or not because as soon as it goes off, i've already been caught.
I guess i need to do more reseach but it sounds to me as though, you buy one of these things and hopefully it will pick something up early enough for you to brake, but chances are it won't. So prob best to pick up something with camera location database, and if it has the benefit of a detecor of some sort it's a bonus.
The 'scatter' you mention is a bit a red herring - the best laser detectors come with sensors you fit close as possible to your number plate as by their very nature the beam is targeted at the plates and also so that the car can be identified from pic taken. As others have said on previous threads the only proven way to beat the laser is using a jammer which is illegal. Reading the blurb on the latest lasers being used they can tell if a jammer or 'parking assist' is being used and are likely to stop you and if caught that means a ban and a very hefty fine.