Help! I Need a Radar detector

Ian Gilmour · Jun 21, 2003

My Mrs was caught speeding at 40 mph in a 30 zone this morning (in the Golf, not the Boxster) and it has prompted me to update my 5 or 6 year old radar detector, something I have been meaning to do for a few months now. (I also need to use it rather than leave it in a drawer in the garage!).

I want a state of the art one that detects as much as possible (except traffic lights, automatic doors etc). Does anyone have any recommendations on models, suppliers and prices. If the price is right I might get one for each car as Murphy' s law says that the time you get caught is the time you leave you detector in your other car.

Guest · Jun 23, 2003

Have you thought about getting GPS? This is probably going to be better than a radar detector if you don' t want the false alerts bleeping all the time.

What about the Road Pilot? Looks really nice, has a nice brushed chrome touch screen to look at, and you could transfer it into the other car easily. And there' s even a nice lady who warns you to slow down if you' re going over the limit near a camera.

Not much help against ' safety' vans, but then there' s not much you can do about those unless you have a jammer.

www.GPSdetectors.co.uk have a good selection.

Guest · Jun 23, 2003

Most of all you ever wanted to know about where the accident black spots are[:-]

http://www.speed-trap.co.uk/Avoid_Home/Avoid_Gadgets.htm

Guest · Jun 23, 2003

Ian

Having used both, I' d also suggest you consider a GPS detector. The majority of the new camera sites have " Truvelo" forward facing cameras - these don' t use any radar - it' s strips in the road. I' ve got an Origin Blue i, which works OK, but the display has now failed and it' s rather bulky. I was impressed by the " Road Angel" , but if you want the best of both worlds, I think the new Geodesy model has radar and GPS combined - although you pay handsomely for it!

Regards

Guest · Jun 24, 2003

Ian

In my experience it depends on where you live what' s best. I live ' oop north' and my BEL 550 is excellent as we mainly use GATSO and MINI Gatso. However my forays south have shown many Truevelo and Specs sites which don' t have an emission so can' t be picked up. A GPS system will show these and the Gatso type but can' t show which are actually live (I find the majority of GATSO' s to be off) and need an annual payment for updates.

You may be best with a combination of both and accept the fact that you will be slowing needlessly at the non emmission sites (assuming they are the normal revenue generation sites rather than road safety sites which I slow for anyway)

Roy

thboxster · Jun 24, 2003

I am in a similar posish. of waiting for the plop as the brown envelope drops through the letter box. If I was caught, then it was by our local " Camera Saftey Team" in a mobile unit. Road Angel reports to detect these, which in Northants seems to be the main revenue earner.

Does anyone have any experiance of devices that can detect these cameras?

Andy Tims · Jun 25, 2003

Road Angel can be bought with a laser detector add-on, so it should cover the mobile, as well as fixed cameras. Whether you get enough notice for lasers it doubtfull given that some have telescopic sights & a range of 2 miles!

Andy

Ian Gilmour · Jun 25, 2003

Thanks, for this guys. Having researched the various websites I think I will go for the Road Angel with the laser add-on as suggested by Andy.

evoke · Jun 28, 2003

Are there any radar detectors that don' t require any drilling and/or wiring?

Guest · Jun 28, 2003

ORIGINAL: rumba

Are there any radar detectors that don' t require any drilling and/or wiring?

YES I have a Bel Euro 550, it plugs into the cigar lighter socket, like many others.
Check them out here:
http://www.speed-trap.co.uk/Avoid_Home/Avoid_Gadgets.htm

Guest · Jun 28, 2003

Blebottle' s guide to protection from speed traps.

If you want to be sure of not being caught, you need:

1. A GPS system, because this is the only device which will tell you the location of all fixed speed traps, including those which do not rely on emissions (e.g. SPECS & TRUVELO). You will, however, have to download updates regualarly (every day, if you want to be sure).

2. A radar detector, to warn you of any portable speed traps, or fixed ones that have not yet got on to the GPS database of your choice. Although this will detect lasers, by the time it has " gone off" , you will have been nicked.

3. A laser jammer, to detect and jam laser signals. You will need two of these - one for the front, one for the back.

By this time, your wallet will be about £2K lighter and you will still need something to protect you from unmarked cars - so hire someone to sit on the back seat, with a pair of binoculars. Alternatively get the wife / kids to do it.

There are, however, three alternatives:

1. A copious supply of false identities, complete with driving licences etc.

2. An equally copious supply of chauffeurs, all prepared to sacrifice their licneces for you.

3. Dare I say it - stick to the limits?

Happy motoring!

Grant · Jun 30, 2003

Hi Folks,
if any of you are interested I have a BEL990 radar/lazer detector (voted one of the best in Evo test' s etc) for sale, in A1 condition cost around £390 new, open to offers around £200-ish ?