What's My Problem With The Federal Signal Strobe Vista?

[@doranbaltus]

I really really appreciate the fact that you made an entire video about how and why this lightbar sucks, less than a week after I posted my in-depth functions video of my newly acquired strobe Vista. Now, when people ask me why I hate it so much, I can just send them this video, instead of typing it out every single time.

[@elightbars]

Your video was actually what made me remember I had this bar. I thought it was an Ohio State Patrol model when I bought it, sight unseen. I also got my halogen one in the deal so it was ok.

[@doranbaltus]

@@elightbars at least you got a halogen version, those are actually really solid lightbars. I wouldn't mind a halogen version myself, but it would also have to be cheap/free, and within pickup distance.

[@GCHG2014]

You are spot on, had a officer get hit by a vehicle. Driver stated, she could not see that the lights were on. Bright sunny day cost us to drop some major coin on Whelen Freedom bars.

[@tristang2112]

NCDOT used amber ones extensively for years. I thought they were acceptable, but it’s been years since I remember seeing the last one. Most had a center white rotator, which was of course the brightest part.

[@ml9867]

I LOVE the Vistas, but it was my first lightbar, so I'm a bit partial. Mine is a 2 center section, 6 rotator, with 4 front flashers, intersection sweeps, alley lights, and 8 light traffic advisor. Its only missing take downs because it was on a FD SUV. It was so easy to change the domes and inner lenses for my color needs. The only downside is that it won't melt snow accumulating in front of the light bulbs like I thought it would. I've got a bunch in my collection in all colors, including rotator, strobe, and even some with the Gen 3 LEDs. The only ones I like more are the Whelen Delta because of the inner angled parts of the dog bone shape. The Arjent is decent, but I like dual level bars more. I'm not a fan of the screw channel molded into the plastic infront of the alley lights though.

[@dnice123]

There were two versions of this bar. The ricochet version used the euro style heads and was more effective than the original.

[@mtvjackass74]

Nashville PD had these light bars from 98 to 2005, strobes with center rotator, not very bright bar especially during the day time. Tn Highway Patrol also used these bars all strobes. The sweeps though where pretty bright.

[@whuffer5103]

I think Ohio State Police used these. And when I observed it, it was maybe 2007 or so. And I recall thinking to myself the lightbar was defective. Then I observed a second one in operation, and then though, wow what a shitty light. I have always believed strobes should have been a supplement to halogen and/or rotator lighting. Such as hide-away strobes in the factory headlight and tail light assemblies

[@markdanielczyk944]

I agree, strobes are secondary warning.

[@elightbars]

Yeah they did. The lower Cuda LEDs were all you could see.

[@Patrol3-8]

I knew troopers that didn't even bother with the strobes, just the LEDs

[@Legend813a]

What would it be like if the strobe heads were modified to mount upside down and a thin aluminum panel was used to cover the sweeps?

[@elightbars]

It would be better, but they don't fit in any other orientation (I previously played with that). I had some luck years ago removing the internal lenses and covering the reflective material on the protruding upward facing bottom surface on the reflectors. Still bad, but not so terrible.

[@82_engine96]

My vista strobe is a hog, it’s really weird but kinda nice. I have you normal strobes on the domes, alley, takedowns, corner strobes which are individually powered, a front facing tcl, and a rear tcl which is different

[@Lightbarrescue]

I agree with @Doranbaltus 😂❤

[@nealgold8442]

Yep, that bar sucks!! Thanks for making this video and breaking it down.

[@MarkS-qp6pz]

Yep. These were terrible. Nobody could see it in the daytime, and it wasn't great at night either. I used to roll code with just the steady red/blue lower lights on and the clear opticom on in the upper center section. That worked really well. My department got the Argent bars after the Vistas. The Argents were amazing compared to the Vistas.

[@EmergencyReporterSRB]

European models were much more effective, since there’s no double lenses.

[@elightbars]

I would bet that would make them better. The internal lenses/filters are a good portion of the issue. I removed the internal lens and blacked out the reflective material on the protruding bottom of the reflectors on a bar years ago and that helped.

[@doranbaltus]

The only European model I know of that's strobe is the Ricochet version, which did have both internal optic and external clear lenses.

[@markdanielczyk944]

Good thing I only paid $30 for mine. Sealed beams and halogen rotators forever!

[@sand_ford_n_sun]

Engineering aside, you cant mix strobe and halogen in close quarters without serious compartmentalization (like the edge has)... the halogen signal will just wipe out any strobe, every time. You should have highlighted the fact that the center of these bars has the real estate to put a front AND rear rotator/oscillator module.. I always thought that was its best feature, by far!

[@elightbars]

I disagree about halogen always wiping out strobe. It often does, I agree you need to be careful, but it has a lot to do with the colors of both and the actual strobe style. I did the dual center section in my halogen version video, which has a rear rotator and front TCL.

[@SkittleKicksPlays]

How this ever made it out of QC is beyond me. FS was to me the cream of the crop when it came to emergency lighting. Innovation was king, and deployment was seen everywhere. For whatever reason the late 90s and early 2000s, FS got away from what made them kings. Kinda like in the 70s when AMF bought Harley-Davidson. The Code 360 and the Vista's were to me over thought and over engineered lightbars. They didn't change the game, but cost taxpayers more to fund the departments actually buying these lame lightbars.

[@romanbennett8578]

I hate the vista for all of these reasons but the biggest reason is the fact that is a mx7000 clone

[@elightbars]

Fair. It was a pretty unapologetic MX clone.