Well my decision was the
Whelen Dominator Plus Traffic Advisor 8 head in amber. I bought the light from Southwest Public Safety (SWPS) and before purchasing I inquired on specific flash patterns that I needed and also a pair of "L" brackets. The sales person, who I will not name, stated the brackets come with it and there are several dozen flash patterns as well. The invoice went through with no problems and it took a week in a half or so to go in from Whelen. I received the light today, opened the box and first thing I noticed was the missing pair of "L" brackets that I requested. The SWPS rep assured me a pair of brackets ships with the Dominator from Whelen, it didn't. This was the first problem. Although not a big issue I called and his story is now that it does NOT come with "L" brackets and all the brackets they use they make in house. He reffered me to Lowes to buy some sheet metal and bend and make my own brackets, a little irritating but I instead went to my closest Whelen dealer and bought a pair of Whelen "L" brackets. Solved that problem nice and square. Get back home and turn on the light. First thing I do is look at the light while I turn it on, woah it's KILLER BRIGHT! The pattern seemed to be scrolling through several patterns. Already knowing the pattern I want it on (CHP traffic advisor pattern, slow in-out), I scroll through the patterns and notice it's not in there, in fact there is NO pattern that stays the same flash. All the warning patterns scroll between flash patterns. There are some slow, medium and fast patterns but still they change patterns. I called Whelen and spoke to a tech about my dilemma. To start off the tech sounded like he was in a pissed off mood and told me that the my model traffic advisor only has 7 warning patterns and only one of them is supposed to "scroll" between patterns. I asked what my options were to change the pattern and get the pattern I requested he stated there is nothing he can do and he will not take back the light. By the time we hung up the phone we were both pissed off. An email was sent to SWPS advising my issue and asking for what options are available... no response has been received from them yet.
For starters this lightbar is not cheap and to pay that kind of money for a specific flash pattern and not get the flash pattern really pisses me off. The slow in & out pattern that California Highway Patrol uses is very catching to the eye and noticeable at longer distances rather than the faster flash patterns and making all the colors mix on the vehicle and look terrible. The slow in & out pattern is what I requested and that's what the rep said was in several of the patterns.
Regardless, I should have listened to all of you Feniex guys in the first place. Most of my vehicle is Feniex and that's what I should have stuck with in the first. Whelen's customer service appears to be going down the drain and Feniex is ultimately rising higher and higher every day. The Dominator
TA is still a great, bright lightbar but to pay $800 for something and it not meet your expectations is ridiculous.
Not sure what the outcome is going to be as far as mounting a traffic advisor to my vehicle. For now I am holding off on mounting the Dominator
TA until I received a response from SWPS.
Thoughts or comments guys on what I should do?
Sorry to disappoint you guys! I'm disappointed just as bad!
