If I had the money I’d go Feniex or Whelen, but I’m on a Speedtech budget. Also there is a hidden feature in the Speedtech light bars. There are two steady burn modes, one is the obvious cruise mode with the four corners on steady burn, the other is the full light bar on cruise mode. The way you activate that is to turn the light bar on and then press and hold down on the pattern button for three to five seconds and then the whole light bar goes into full steady burn mode. Also if you select front only or rear only lights on the light bar and hold the pattern button, those lights will go steady burn all across. Now to deactivate full steady burn, just hit the pattern button once or a few times till you find the pattern you like best. I know all this because I own a Speedtech K Force 47, I own Community Patrol State Security. I’m switching to another brand and also switching to all interior lights. Visors, window lights, and rear windshield lights. I’m doing that because the Speedtech light bar tends to freeze up during the winter time, causing the bar to have some diodes to not light up or causing the whole light bar to not light up at all. Also what I’ve found with Speedtech, as the light bar ages, it tends to flicker on and off by itself if the control box is bumped, or if the vehicle goes over bad bumps. Eventually my light bar completely gave out. I’ve only had it since 2021. So if you’re wanting something to last long, go with Feniex, Whelen, Soundoff, Code 3, or any other high end light system, because not only do you get a light setup that lasts longer, you’ll also get a system that you can sync up easily, and hook up to a computer to make necessary changes. Now if you don’t have the budget for that, I suggest you look into a company on Amazon called Lumenix, they make interior lights such as visor lights, side interior window lights, and rear windshield interior lights. They last longer than Speedtech, and you can purchase a couple cigarette lighter converters to plug them all into and operate all your lights via a master power switch. The Lumenix lights work best for private security, but as far as law enforcement goes, don’t get anything from Speedtech. Sorry for the long book I texted, but I’ve went through a lot with Speedtech, as well as having experience with Amazon lights from when I worked for another security agency. It’s kind of sad when cheaper Amazon lights have better quality than Speedtech lights.
Is the Speedtech bar all TIR? I'd be interested in seeing a legit comparison between their TIR and Linear versions. I've heard their Linear's are brighter all around, but TIR is better from long distances. I'm leaning towards wishing I had ordered Linear a few years ago, but I'd love to see legit comparison between the two side by side in different lighting conditions.
I don't mind lights running independently. But to suggest a cheaper alternative that's just as good as SpeedTech I'd suggest LED Equipped. Their siren line is kinda different.....in a bad way.... They simply sound terrible. But their lights are really bright, only issue one would have is they would have to hardwire it to non-LEDE controllers. All in all, Whelen and Carson/SVP are the top dogs in the emergency equipment game. Next to that is Code 3 and SoundOff Signal and my absolute least favorite is Federal Signal. Ultra Bright Lightz and LED Equipped are really good budget brands.
For those saying speed tech isn't bad... DON"T lie. They are not even close. I understand the cost might be a issue, if that is the case, just down size your amount of lights you buy or go used. The amber is a joke and I would never advise anyone to use it as a primary light in the day time. I have a reserve unit (budget build) that runs both TIR and LIN speed tech, TIR are better but still lacking when compared. For less money then the lightbar get a Sound-off Nroads mini bar which will far out perform the speedtech with similar features.
speedtech lights' amber is really dim. the red, green, blue, and white are all bright but the amber never holds up to direct sunlight. a whelen product, in any color, laughs at direct sun light. lol
I mean...for literally 8x the price, I would hope Whelen would outperform STL. Both have their place. STL seems to beat most other conservative options while Whelen is great for those with an unlimited budget.
If I had the money I’d go Feniex or Whelen, but I’m on a Speedtech budget. Also there is a hidden feature in the Speedtech light bars. There are two steady burn modes, one is the obvious cruise mode with the four corners on steady burn, the other is the full light bar on cruise mode. The way you activate that is to turn the light bar on and then press and hold down on the pattern button for three to five seconds and then the whole light bar goes into full steady burn mode. Also if you select front only or rear only lights on the light bar and hold the pattern button, those lights will go steady burn all across. Now to deactivate full steady burn, just hit the pattern button once or a few times till you find the pattern you like best. I know all this because I own a Speedtech K Force 47, I own Community Patrol State Security. I’m switching to another brand and also switching to all interior lights. Visors, window lights, and rear windshield lights. I’m doing that because the Speedtech light bar tends to freeze up during the winter time, causing the bar to have some diodes to not light up or causing the whole light bar to not light up at all. Also what I’ve found with Speedtech, as the light bar ages, it tends to flicker on and off by itself if the control box is bumped, or if the vehicle goes over bad bumps. Eventually my light bar completely gave out. I’ve only had it since 2021. So if you’re wanting something to last long, go with Feniex, Whelen, Soundoff, Code 3, or any other high end light system, because not only do you get a light setup that lasts longer, you’ll also get a system that you can sync up easily, and hook up to a computer to make necessary changes. Now if you don’t have the budget for that, I suggest you look into a company on Amazon called Lumenix, they make interior lights such as visor lights, side interior window lights, and rear windshield interior lights. They last longer than Speedtech, and you can purchase a couple cigarette lighter converters to plug them all into and operate all your lights via a master power switch. The Lumenix lights work best for private security, but as far as law enforcement goes, don’t get anything from Speedtech. Sorry for the long book I texted, but I’ve went through a lot with Speedtech, as well as having experience with Amazon lights from when I worked for another security agency. It’s kind of sad when cheaper Amazon lights have better quality than Speedtech lights.
Try Star Signal or Brookings industries if you haven't decided on anything yet.
Strobe's N More is the best bang for your buck, just a bit higher price than STL but brighter than Whelen (I have a side by side comparison)
Is the Speedtech bar all TIR? I'd be interested in seeing a legit comparison between their TIR and Linear versions. I've heard their Linear's are brighter all around, but TIR is better from long distances. I'm leaning towards wishing I had ordered Linear a few years ago, but I'd love to see legit comparison between the two side by side in different lighting conditions.
Yes, their lightbar is TIR.
I don't mind lights running independently. But to suggest a cheaper alternative that's just as good as SpeedTech I'd suggest LED Equipped. Their siren line is kinda different.....in a bad way.... They simply sound terrible. But their lights are really bright, only issue one would have is they would have to hardwire it to non-LEDE controllers.
All in all, Whelen and Carson/SVP are the top dogs in the emergency equipment game. Next to that is Code 3 and SoundOff Signal and my absolute least favorite is Federal Signal. Ultra Bright Lightz and LED Equipped are really good budget brands.
For those saying speed tech isn't bad... DON"T lie. They are not even close. I understand the cost might be a issue, if that is the case, just down size your amount of lights you buy or go used. The amber is a joke and I would never advise anyone to use it as a primary light in the day time. I have a reserve unit (budget build) that runs both TIR and LIN speed tech, TIR are better but still lacking when compared. For less money then the lightbar get a Sound-off Nroads mini bar which will far out perform the speedtech with similar features.
Whelen, but for security all u need is speed tech,it will get the job done
speedtech lights' amber is really dim. the red, green, blue, and white are all bright but the amber never holds up to direct sunlight. a whelen product, in any color, laughs at direct sun light. lol
I mean...for literally 8x the price, I would hope Whelen would outperform STL. Both have their place. STL seems to beat most other conservative options while Whelen is great for those with an unlimited budget.
Wheelen and STL comparison is silly. Should compare Fenix and Wheelen for budget vs. high end.
Who wins is people without an extravagant budget and can't pay an arm and a leg for Whelen lights.