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sydoveton Occasional Visitor
Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 33
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:34 pm Post subject: SatNav with Laser Detector |
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Hi,
I am after a new sat nav unit. I am used to TomTom units but due to a new job doing a lot of driving I have decided to buy a Speed camera with laser detector. I then wondered if there is an all in one unit offering sat nav with gps speed camera warnings and also a laser detector built in or as a tidy option.
I would like something offering the best up to date maps, excellent UI and if possible traffic info but not important.
Can anyone suggest some models.
Cheers
Sy _________________ Regards,
Sy |
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mikealder Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 14, 2005 Posts: 19638 Location: Blackpool , Lancs
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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Just a word of caution about such a product, with new laws about to come out the use of laser/ radar receivers could be banned so you might end up with a costly unit that will be illegal to operate. - Mike |
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sydoveton Occasional Visitor
Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 33
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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is this likely to happen? I'm not up to date with the laws? I was looking at the Snooper Indago (2007 Model) and it says there in a laser detector option for £49 and wasn't sure how it worked or integrated with the unit. Would I be better off with a new Tom Tom Unit or one of the Snooper / Road Angel satnav units? _________________ Regards,
Sy |
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alix776 Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: 03/05/2003 14:45:49 Posts: 3999 Location: leyland lancs ENGLAND
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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i havent used a laser detector but from what i understand on the way they work it would only let you know youd have been targeted and if speeding caught _________________ currently using aponia truck navigation on windows phone. Good bye IOS don't let the door hit you on the way out .
Oh the joys of being a courier.
device Lumia 950 xl |
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sydoveton Occasional Visitor
Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 33
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:59 pm Post subject: |
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having never used one myself i was under the impression that it warned you if you where near ones being used. Completely wrong i'm sure. So all set aside should i just stick with tomtom or are the snooper / road angel sat navs worth looking at? _________________ Regards,
Sy |
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GJF Frequent Visitor
Joined: Feb 08, 2007 Posts: 894
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:47 am Post subject: |
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At the present time a radar detector is legal, there has been talk for some years about making it illegal but that day isn’t here yet.
The problem with a laser detector is, that from when the police laser gun identifies you, it takes a “nano” second to get a speed reading and by the time the detector warns you the dirty deed has been done and you are “nicked”, the gun is quicker than you can react.
There are radar jammers on the market e.g. Laser Pro park, which can stop the police laser for up to 6 sec’s giving you time to brake, but these are highly illegal and you can be done for perverting the course of justice – big trouble.
However the detector can have some benefits, when a police laser gun is used, they are pointed at either a shiny part of the car (headlights) or number plate, this can sometimes cause “bounce” which can scatter, enabling you to pick up a warning that a laser gun is being used without being personally hit, but this is only a possibility.
Some old cameras using laser can be picked up before you see them, but this can depend heavily on weather conditions so can’t be relied on, all the new cameras cannot be detected.
Also on some of the older Gatso’s you can tell whether the camera works, but I wouldn’t recommend testing it.
I have used laser detectors since the early days but I would much rather trust a GPS based device, they have there uses and have given me warnings of mobiles, but are not always guaranteed to give you a 100% result.
The answer is not to speed enough to have to worry about laser guns, the pgpsw database is far more accurate than taking a chance, and if you do speed, looking ahead for vehicles on bridges etc is far more reliable than waiting for a detector to (maybe) giving you a warning. _________________ TomTom Go 60
Garmin Nüvi 660, Firmware v4.90
Drive-Smart GPS with Loader v1.4.16
HTC Advantage X7500 MS 6.1 Tchart Speed Sentry
Satmap Active 10, Software v1.16
Fuzion 32 HUD Bluetooth GPS receiver |
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Darren Frequent Visitor
Joined: 11/07/2002 14:36:40 Posts: 23848 Location: Hampshire, UK
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 9:39 am Post subject: |
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The day isn't here 'yet' no but it's on the books to become law in October of this year. You will already note that new devices no longer come with laser detectors. To be honest they are a waste of time anyway. _________________ Darren Griffin |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 10:36 am Post subject: |
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Quote: | To be honest they are a waste of time anyway. |
Yup. By the time the unit has detected the laser (and it's not a false alert), it's generated a tone and visual signal, you've heard and seen it, lifted off the gas and hit the brakes (but not too hard).... they've got you anyway.... |
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GJF Frequent Visitor
Joined: Feb 08, 2007 Posts: 894
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Although i have "played" with these detectors for some time, as i stated above i feel that they are a waste of time compared with a GPS device.
Don't waste your money on a detector.
If you are worried about being "zapped" with a mobile gun the jammers are best but if you get caught you are in big trouble. _________________ TomTom Go 60
Garmin Nüvi 660, Firmware v4.90
Drive-Smart GPS with Loader v1.4.16
HTC Advantage X7500 MS 6.1 Tchart Speed Sentry
Satmap Active 10, Software v1.16
Fuzion 32 HUD Bluetooth GPS receiver |
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PaulB2005 Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: Jan 04, 2006 Posts: 9323 Location: Durham, UK
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: | the jammers are best but if you get caught you are in big trouble. |
They ironically can increase your chances of arrest. Many police forces now photograph any car that produces an error when speed checked with laser. The number plate can be added to a register which can be cross checked by all Police Forces and if a car keeps producing an error it'll be impounded and the owner arrested. Even if you are not speeding on any of the occasions you were checked with a laser system you'll have given the Police a reason to take a closer look at your vehicle. |
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GJF Frequent Visitor
Joined: Feb 08, 2007 Posts: 894
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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PaulB2005 wrote: | Quote: | the jammers are best but if you get caught you are in big trouble. |
They ironically can increase your chances of arrest. Many police forces now photograph any car that produces an error when speed checked with laser. The number plate can be added to a register which can be cross checked by all Police Forces and if a car keeps producing an error it'll be impounded and the owner arrested. Even if you are not speeding on any of the occasions you were checked with a laser system you'll have given the Police a reason to take a closer look at your vehicle. |
I agree entirely, this isn't a good route, but there seems to be a large amount of drivers buying these jammers despite the extremely heavy risks involved.
I just pointed it out when explaining the positive & negatives of laser detectors to which this is one type. _________________ TomTom Go 60
Garmin Nüvi 660, Firmware v4.90
Drive-Smart GPS with Loader v1.4.16
HTC Advantage X7500 MS 6.1 Tchart Speed Sentry
Satmap Active 10, Software v1.16
Fuzion 32 HUD Bluetooth GPS receiver |
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sydoveton Occasional Visitor
Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 33
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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i would not be interested in one of those anyway. Are the radar detectors worth it? _________________ Regards,
Sy |
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GJF Frequent Visitor
Joined: Feb 08, 2007 Posts: 894
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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sydoveton wrote: | i would not be interested in one of those anyway. Are the radar detectors worth it? |
I would say no.
By the time you are aware of a "hit" by a mobile camera, it is too late and you just wait for the letter in the post.
It is better to be aware of a possible camera ahead by using the pgpsw database on your Sat Nav, this way at least you know that you might have a camera ahead, rather than lots of surprising bleeps when you least expect it - by then it is too late. _________________ TomTom Go 60
Garmin Nüvi 660, Firmware v4.90
Drive-Smart GPS with Loader v1.4.16
HTC Advantage X7500 MS 6.1 Tchart Speed Sentry
Satmap Active 10, Software v1.16
Fuzion 32 HUD Bluetooth GPS receiver |
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sydoveton Occasional Visitor
Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 33
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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i totally appreciate what your saying and i'll probably be holding off for a Tomtom 720 but can I ask why did people use the standalone speed camera detectors that didn't have gps if they didn't provide any warning? _________________ Regards,
Sy |
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JockTamsonsBairn Lifetime Member
Joined: Jan 10, 2004 Posts: 2777 Location: Bonnie Scotland (West Central)
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Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2007 7:18 pm Post subject: |
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sydoveton wrote: | i totally appreciate what your saying and i'll probably be holding off for a Tomtom 720 but can I ask why did people use the standalone speed camera detectors that didn't have gps if they didn't provide any warning? | You get a warning from Gatsos!
As well as Petrol Stations, Pedestrian Crossings, Automatic Doors, ... _________________ Jock
TomTom Go 940 LIVE (9.510, Europe v915.5074 on SD & 8.371, WCE v875.3613 on board) |
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