Origen B2

NBS · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 24, 2007 Posts: 3

Just wondering why Origen B2 is no longer mentioned in reviews and why it's database seems to be updated with less frequency than in the past

Darren · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 7:30 am Post subject:

The Originb2 review is still available on this site here but its an old unit (the review was 2002!) and has been superseded by newer units.

As for the database, that is from origin themselves, we have never offered a database of the b2 and if they are releasing less regular updates you would have to ask them why that was.
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Darren Griffin

NBS · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 24, 2007 Posts: 3

Does this mean there are better products about now? And if origen have not produced anything new are they moving out of the market?

Is your clock right? I seem to be posting at times I not here!!

Darren · Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 8:35 am Post subject:

There is a vast range of devices available now, Origin recently released the Pogo Drive (a combined Safety Camera and Navigation device) and the Pogo Alert, a dedicated Safety Camera device with colour screen.

Your time zone should be set in your profile. Mine was wrong too Embarassed

It was still set for GMT, we're now GMT +1. I've now corrected mine!
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Darren Griffin

NBS · Occasional Visitor Joined: May 24, 2007 Posts: 3

Many thanks for getting me up to date!

CliffEdge · Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2007 9:48 pm Post subject:

I had an Origin b2 for a couple of years, until the mount to unit connection became iffy, & it kept cutting out. In that time they had lost sight of the market & were charging silly prices for limited function (& boring looking) units. To my mind they are still chaging too much for some basic units, especially when you look at what Garmin etc are doing for the same or less money, with a better mapping pedigree.

Feek · Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:

I had an Origin Bluei when they first came out, I upgraded it to a B2 when they released those but I've just changed my old Garmin Streetpilot for a Nuvi 760 and the subscription to the B2 has run out. I still use it, but only as a nice large digital speedo! I've not checked if I can actually turn the cam alerts off but assuming I can then I'll continue to use it as a speedo. If I can't then I'll remove it in a few months when the database is well out of date.

alpine101 · Lifetime Member Joined: Feb 14, 2008 Posts: 1

I still run my B2 alongside sat nav. It has the useful additional modules that the Sat Nav doesn't and has saved me on one occasion since I fitted it 5 years ago. The weakest part is indeed the silly connector: it's just not up to the job. Mine was changed once by Origin while it was still under guarantee. But it again went dubious after a few months.
I've disassembled mine, taken the aerial cable out of the base and soldered it directly on to the board feeding through a hole drilled in the side. That at last gives me a reliable aerial connection, although even that seems to be much slower at picking up satellites than the sat nav. I think the power lead is the next thing to take directly into the B2 rather than via the base...
Mine has developed the habit sometimes of flashing its display at me ad bleeping, nothing to do with the radar or laser stuff. I think it's again a symptom of bad connections, probably the power ones since they have to drive the radar device as well as the B2.

I think the annual sub here is better value than Origin's!

DennyL · Regular Visitor Joined: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 114

I use an Origin b2 alongside Tomtom v5 running on a Palm PDA. I did try a Pogo Drive combined unit but sent it back (I posted a review of it in these forums). I also have speed camera data installed in my Tomtom. There are several makes of speed camera protection devices that I've never tried, such as Talex, Drivesmart, Road Angel, etc, but I do think the Origin b2 is an excellent unit, as it does very well and with no issues what is written on the tin. It is permanently in place in my car, protecting me all the time. It is direction sensitive, and gives very good protection agains SPECS, and its database is very good, with temporary cameras being added very quickly (I update mine once per week on Fridays). It has prevented me from going accidentally into London's congestion Charge zone. I think it is much better than speed cameras installed into a navigator, although these are a lot better than nothing.

It is better because:-

** It is direction sensitive, reducing false alarms (I have heard stories that the Navman is direction sensitive, but can't confirm them)
** Is is more configurable
** It protects you better because it it makes a lot of noise and flashes red lights if you are speeding as you approach a camera, and just can't be ignored or overlooked. It even talks! Speed cameras in navigators just beep in the same way whether one is speeding or not, and it's easy to mentally filter those beeps out once one gets used to them
** It is discrete enough to be left permanently installed in the car, so doesn't depend on being set up at the beginning of a journey. This is a big plus.
** It has London's congestion charge zone

The only negative for me with the b2 is that I wish it had traffic light cameras. I don't regret the lack of mobile cameras except maybe on motorway bridges. from my Tomtom I get many warnings of mobile sites by the side of the road, I've never seen a camera in action on one of those sites. I have seen mobile cameras in action on sites not in the database, and I have added such a site to by Origin b2 (this is very easy to do).

One poster here commented that the b2 looks boring. I think that that is just how I want it to look so that it won't attract the attention of potential thieves. It is certainly not boring when there is a speed camera nearby!

Although I thought the mounting cradle was potentially unreliable when I bought it, it has been OK, and I haven't had problems with it.

JamesJamz · Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 4:16 pm Post subject:

Im currently having problems with my B2... ive had it for a while and it was working fine till the other day... Did an update, put it back in my car and now it cant find a GPS signal :S

I tried adding a new GPS arial, and this still does not work....

DennyL · Regular Visitor Joined: Jan 24, 2004 Posts: 114

JamesJamz · Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject:

Aye... updated it... wiped it and updated it again, still nothing

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