Gatso / Radar / Laser detectors

[ghunter]

What's the best system on the market for Gatso warning, radar / laser detection? had a radar detector a number of years ago and did not think much of it, especially driving through city centres...what with traffic lights, auto doors in shops, etc always setting the thing off.

Anybody recommend a system in particular that they are using in their Tuscan?

Cheers

[andyvdg]

I use the Geodessey in my car (basic model). Beeps when you're near a camera using GPS and electronic maps. Invaluable. I don't reckon the laser / radar detectors are worth it as you will have been clocked by the time you've picked up the signal - and the Geo will have picked up any fixed cameras anyway.

[darty]

I have the Origin Blue i in mine. £293 from Costco versus £400 rrp. Invaluable and easy to upload the latest maps for the GPS. Unlike some GPS camaera locators it will only alert you to cameras pointing in the same direction you are travelling in and if you are over the speed limit for that area.

[jedi]

Give my mate Steve a bell at www.radardetectors.co.uk
Many from here have asked his advice in the past and he is totally impartial as he sells the lot.

[ghunter]

Thanks for the tips....

Cheers

[Graham66]

I have a Valentine 1 in my Tuscan, have had it for a few years and find it really useful - as it picks up the radar from the SCAMeras it only beeps on active ones, not all of them.

I don't think the Laser part is any good as, as was mentioned below, you are had before you can react (Laser radiates out a lot and so you pick up scatter, laser is more direct and has no scatter). The other advantage of the old style detectors is picking up new or mobile SCAMeras, the ones your GPS map has not been told about.

I think the GPS ones are a good idea as they can also add in speed and direction (using the GPS for your speed) and so only alert if you are speeding and going in the direction the camera is pointing, but these weren't available when I bought mine!

Does anyone do a combined GPS and old style detector unit so you get the best of both worlds?

Graham

[sportie]

I am using an Origin Blue for fixed camera positions and a snooper SD715is for everything else.

This set up works well, but as mentioned with lasers by the time you are warned it's often too late.

Thinking of a jammer? but they are illegal.......

[TUS 373]

I've got the Snooper S6 Neo - in a Lennie Henry brummie voice "it does everythang".

Its a GPS detector, similar to an Origin Blue, but has a plug in radar/laser unit. It therefore in theory should detect pretty much everything (VASCAR exluced of course). The GPS database seems good to me, often picking up cameras in very obscure places. The radar can tell you whether they are live or not too. Another thing I like about it is that the radar/laser detector head is waterproof, so if you so desire it it can be mounted under a car's bonnet behind the radiator grill (as close to number plate as possible). I've used the radar/laser on long journies on the dash in my other car. There is the occasional falsing (on K band IIRC) - but in fairness to it, it is usually fairly discerning without too many falses on that front. One day I'll get around to permanently installing it in the Tuscan - but it will have to be a grill off job for that and then will require careful placing behind the 'bullet holes' so the laser eye can see. All in all a good piece of kit, but not cheap at around £500.

[andyvdg]

Has anyone had any hypothetical experience (maybe they overheard someone in a pub) of laser jammers ?

[scotti]

There are quite a few comments on legal side of using jammers on this thread.
www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?t=39450&f=10&h=0

It seems that they probably are technically illegal but until a case comes to court and proves that they are breaking various regulations they may be OK to use.

Also, they are lots of threads about nearly all current GPS / Radar detectors etc. on the Speeding, Plod & the Law.

>> Edited by scotti on Thursday 5th June 11:59