Mobile Electronic News

Using co-ordinates to keep drivers safe and free from tickets

When it comes to speed cameras there are three main devices that can keep you away from points and costly fines; jammers, radar detectors and GPS speed camera warning units. Jammers essentially block laser signals from the likes of roadside speed check vans so can save any kind of prosecution. Although, on the flip side, while they are not illegal, using one to block a signal and avoid a fine could result in further prosecution. Radar detectors on the other hand alert drivers to any kind of radar signal meaning early warning for speed cameras.

However, once again some people claimed these are flawed, not only because they can alert you to things like electric doors at the petrol station and similar, but also because of the speed at which some speed traps can actually log a motorists speed compared to that motorist’s reaction time in slowing down. The third kind is increasingly becoming the product of choice though, using GPS to alert drivers well in advance of where speed traps are (often both the fixed kind and the known locations of mobile speed traps), via plotted co-ordinates. While there haven’t been lots of new products in this area recently, M.E.N has taken a look at some of the most popular and up-to-date offerings.

NOVUS

One of the most revolutionary products from the Novus camp is the tiny Piccolo. This miniscule unit (not much bigger in diameter than a £2 coin) comes with a free lifetime speed camera database subscription and even comes with voice alerts of UK speed camera locations…not bad considering its diminutive size. There’s also a chiming sound and row of LED lights that provide early warnings of fixed speed cameras, possible mobile sites, red light camera locations, accident black spots and congestion charging zones, with clear spoken voice announcements nearer the point.

Naturally it’s easy to install in the car, its small size meaning a discreet position for it on the dashboard isn’t difficult to find, while it can be powered via the cigarette lighter. If desired it can also be hard-wired into the car’s power for more permanent use. Aside from it’s convenient size and excellent functionality though is another bonus…the price. With a retail of around £60 it’s possibly the best value GPS speed camera detector on the market as well as being one of the most discreet… Novus even claim some people are buying them as incentives for staff etc thanks to the low cost. Also in the Novus range are the Novus Rider and Novus Alpha, which expand on the Piccolo’s offerings. The Rider is one of their fastest selling products, using a high sensitivity Sirf Star III GPS Engine to give you maximum signal which is obviously quite crucial. It’s not much more expensive than the Piccolo but also includes a screen showing your speed and can be powered by the internal rechargeable battery that lasts for 4-5 hours in normal operating (making it ideal for motorbikes).

Once again, there’s no subscription, plus Novus offer free updates for life. The Novus Alpha is the top of the range model, coming with an organic LED screen making it totally visible at both day and night. With a range of warnings too, including things like sharp bends, the options for which can be changed via a remote control (which is actually quite useful), one of the real benefits of this unit is the road profiling. The unit can be switched to be relevant for particular vehicles such as HGVs (lower speed limits) or cars with caravans which is an important extra for those planning on using the speed camera detector in different vehicles. At £149 it’s at the top end of Novus’ offerings yet offers incredible value for money against many of its competitors and comes with free lifetime updates, so really holds a lot of trumps.

Contact: Novus Systems Ltd, 0845 6590959 or novusgps.com

TRAFFICMASTER

The Safe Speed option has been designed as an additional subscription offer available to Trafficmaster Smartnav customers.  It alerts you when you approach zones monitored by fixed safety cameras, variable safety cameras and multi-camera detectors.  Two levels of audible warning are provided, one of three beeps as you approach the monitored zone, giving you sufficient time to correct your speed and a second (five beeps) immediately before the monitored zone.

The system is designed to encourage safer driving by giving drivers sufficient time to adjust their speed and alert you to concentrate on the road ahead.  If you continue to drive above the speed limit through the monitored zone, you will hear continuous beeps until your speed has fallen below the specified speed limit. The database of safety camera zones is automatically updated by Trafficmaster on a regular basis and downloaded to the Smartnav unit in your car.  Safe Speed subscriptions, when added to a Smartnav system are £9.99 per month or £109 per year; bundled options are also available.

Contact: Trafficmaster PLC, 01243 759000 or trackstar.co.uk

ROAD ANGEL

Two of the most popular GPS speed camera detectors from Road Angel are the Road Angel Professional Connected and the Road Angel Professional. The Road Angel Professional is one of the most popular safety camera and blackspot alert device and comes with a remote control to make programming it even safer. The device has numerous alerts factored in including fixed camera locations, mobile safety camera locations, average speed camera zones, black spot areas and school zones. Not only does it have the GPS information but there’s also an in-built laser detection too meaning that all angles of camera detection are taken care of. With automatic switch on or off too, users won’t get caught out by their forgetfulness.

Road Angel offer 6 months free subscription followed by a monthly direct debit of £3.99 per month with a 12 month minimum contract required. The Road Angel Professional Connected is a little pricier than the previous model and doesn’t have the in-built laser detector. However, it uses a built-in SIM and the mobile phone network to download updates as the car is being driven. “No wires, no computers, no hassle!” as they say on their website. One other function it adds is the tracking, which is built in and allows the units location to be identified in an emergency by friends, family and the rescue services.

Road Angel offer this tracking service for free for the first month, but after that it is £5.99 per month on top of the £4.99 standard subscription. An expensive option, but the popularity of the Road Angel Professional and Road Angel Professional Connected suggest customers don’t mind paying for up-to-date information, and in the case of the Connected, the reduced hassle that the built-in SIM card offers.

Contact: CEL Trade, 01162 449846 or celtrade.com

TOM TOM

Bit of an unusual one and not likely to be very beneficial to most dealers is Tom Tom’s latest update for their iPhone application. Naturally it’s a navigation unit, and the update has not only added Text-To-Speech but it has also included speed camera locations in selected European countries.

With a download price of £59.99 and an average rating by users of three out of five, one of the main criticisms is the intermittent loss of GPS signal. However, those who have bought the Car Kit Cradle have found this essentially gets rid of that problem and is the way in for dealers to make at least some money out of the application. One reviewer also claimed the speed camera locations were out of date compared to their earlier TomTom navigation unit, but as we haven’t tested this we cannot really comment. Certainly future updates should iron out any issue like this though.

Contact: TomTom, tomtom.com

SNOOPER

The newest offerings from Snooper are the LYNX and the 3ZERO. The Lynx connected utilises a 2.7in screen and GPS and GPRS technology. Using the mobile phone network it updates every 2 minutes allowing users to share and receive information, giving real time alerts with automatic wireless downloads wherever you are, doing away with needing a PC connection, while keeping the driver safe from unintentional tickets and accident blackspots.

On top of this the LYNX can also operate as a portable tracking and reporting device, the LYNX air time contract providing customers with access to a secure, password-protected website. This allows users to track the position of LYNX at any time, view current as well as historical journey reports as well as other useful information including average speed and daily, weekly and monthly mileage. This air time contract costs users £9.99 per month, £27.99 per quarter or £99.99 per month.

The Snooper 3ZERO is quite a cool piece of kit too. It’s nicely compact and easy to quickly fit to a car, offering a bright LED display telling the driver of camera type, distance to speed trap and speed limit on the particular stretch of road. This is accompanied by a voice warning and a series of beeps, but only if the driver is over the speed limit. The real neat bit about the 3ZERO is not only does it use the comprehensive Aura database for GPS locations of speed traps, but there is also a laser/radar detector built in. The laser detector allows alerts for all types of mobile laser guns and Snooper claim it to be the most accurate laser detector yet. The radar detector can similarly detect ‘scatter’ from speed traps to provide advance warning as well as tell you whether the speed camera is live or not. With a retail price around the £144 mark and subscriptions from £29.99 per year the Snooper 3ZERO is a reasonably cost-effective way to ensure you’re safe on the roads and free from expensive tickets.

Contact: CEL Trade, 01162 449846 or celtrade.com

ROADPILOT

RoadPilot pioneered GPS speed camera location systems in the UK and has been creating dedicated speed camera detection products since the firm was established in 2000. RoadPilot’s latest product, the diminutive microGo, has been extremely popular across Europe, and offers excellent value for motorists keen to protect their licence.  The product has consistently been highly commended by top UK car magazine Auto Express in its annual product honours.

At just 5 by 6 centimetres, the microGo is the world’s smallest GPS speed camera locator, and currently retails for around £79.95. With the number and sophistication of roadside cameras increasing across the globe, speed camera location devices account for a significant proportion of the Personal Navigation Device (PND) market.  Further to this, speed camera location devices give aftermarket retail outlets a lower priced product (instead of a full ‘turn-by-turn’ sat-nav device) to offer their customers. In addition to manufacturing products, RoadPilot is also Europe’s leading provider of GPS speed camera location data to the satellite navigation industry.

The firm’s Omni database is widely regarded as the most comprehensive in the industry, and RoadPilot currently has data provision agreements with mapping firms TeleAtlas and The AA, plus leading mobile phone manufacturer Nokia.

Contact: Roadpilot, 0844 4487777 or roadpilot.com

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment