Trafcam £79 - ?? Is this like checkpoint>?

Nick412

Hi,
Just noticed one of your sponsors selling this for £79, but it does sound very much like checkpoint with your "Free" Postal code database included etc.

It might not be, but ive also seen on ebay people selling the postal codes and POI`s for £6.

Just wanted to ask what the differences are between your free version and their £79 version>?

Posted details for the trafcam are:
TrafCam is a software package that turns your PocketPC PDA device (with compatible GPS receiver) into a fully functioning speed camera warning system. Because it's a software solution, it is much less costly than other GPS camera warning products. And, when you're not in the car, your handheld can be used for thousands of other tasks, making it much better value for money than a dedicated camera warning system.
Despite it's very modest price tag, TrafCam is equipped with features only normally found on models costing much more.

By taking into account the specific road that you are on, the warning display and audible alert will only attract your attention to speed traps that are relevant to you.

Updates to the speed camera location database are freely available for download from the Internet for 12 months from the date of online product registration (full details contained within the user guide).

Thereafter, a subsequent 12 months subscription is required.
Requires 200k memory.

Cheers
Nick

Nick412 · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 10:36 am Post subject:

Postal code database

should be "speed camera database"

Cheers

Privateer · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 11:53 am Post subject:

Nick,

TrafCam is a commercial software based speed camera warning system. It runs on the Palm and PocketPC computing platforms. If you already have one of these PDAs and a GPS receiver that you can connect together, then TrafCam is a viable option instead of the standalone GPS detectors like Morpheous, Road Angel, etc..

I think that for the price that you mention, you get the software and a year’s subscription. TrafCam have a developed a free plug-in for TomTom Navigator so you can use TTNav normally, and TrafCam operates behind the scenes and warns you as you approach a “hazard”.

I understand that TrafCam has a database that is comparable to the other commercial GPS Detectors on the market. I’m afraid that I don’t use TrafCam myself (I use a Morpheous Geodesy) but I’d love to try it. I know that TrafCam visits this forum so if you’re out there how about a free year’s trial? ;-)

Seriously, independent reviewers like it. Here’s a review from Steve Warren’s very good UK SpeedTrap website.

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

Nick412 · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 12:08 pm Post subject:

Hi Privateer,
thanks for the info,

I may be missing the point, but isnt that what checkpoint does>? re speed cameras / warning / detection etc working with the gps receiver etc>?

and checkpoint is free, and so is the camera database (from the nice people here at pocketgps Thumbs Up

)

so im not too sure what the difference between the two is.?

sorry if im being thick.!, but both seem to do that same job etc re pocket pc/warnings/database/gps etc

Privateer · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 12:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Nick,

The Pocket GPS database is very good, especially as it’s free. However it does depend on volunteers informing Darren of new camera locations as well as moved and removed locations.

Commercial databases should in theory be more up-to-date and accurate than Pocket GPS database as they should be able to send people around the country to verify locations or indeed have alternate methods of checking locations.

CheckPOInt is a good tool to warn of approaching POIs. It’s also free tool, so when used in conjunction with the Pocket GPS camera database you get an awful lot for nothing! I like the two, and I continue to send information to Darren. I urge everybody in the forum to do the same! ;-)

I’m paranoid, I run a Bel 550 radar detector and a Morpheous Geodesy. If I didn’t have the Geodesy then I would probably opt for the TrafCam system.

So to answer your question, no, you’re not missing the point as TrafCam does the same job as CheckPOInt with the Pocket GPS camera database.

I think that TrafCam can also warn of SPECS systems, but I’ve just tried the TrafCam website ( http://www.trafcam.com ) and it’s unavailable so I can’t confirm. I know that a month or so ago, TrafCam suffered from an extensive fire and have moved to new premises but their experiencing problems with their internet links staying up whilst at their temporary premises.

Regards,
_________________
Robert.
iPhone 6s Plus, iOS 14.0.1: iOS CamerAlert v2.0.7
TomTom GO Mobile iOS 2.3.1; TomTom (UK & ROI and Europe) iOS apps v1.29
Garmin Camper 770 LMT-D

moggycattermole · Occasional Visitor Joined: Feb 18, 2004 Posts: 20

Maybe its silly of me to attempt to answer this question, as I don't know what Checkpoint does.

However if as I am assuming it is using a points of interest database to hold tax scamera locations then TrafCam (Which I have) may have a couple of advantages.

1) It is not part of the Navigator programme. There appear to be some issues with overlarge POI files (when used to hold postcodes etc) I would imagine the scamera database will be quite big

2) TrafCam pops up in front of your Navigator window when 1 mile or 1 minute from a camera and points with an arrow in its general direction as well as giving an audible warning.

Now I don't think you can have an audible warning of a POI without another add-on programme (But I could be wrong).

I don't really want to have to look at my Navigator all the time, so for me TrafCam seemed a good option.

Rob P

Not at all influenced by the £60 and three points I picked up a month or two back Sad

Darren · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:37 pm Post subject:

Our database coupled with CheckPOInt can do all that Trafcam does, audible alerts (no .wav files are provided but it is a simple matter to configure your own sound files), and in the latest version an arrow on screen indicating the direction of the camera.

What you are paying for with Trafcam is a commercial qualty database that has verified locations and increased accuracy. I do not know where or how Trafcam acquire their information but I would expect it to attain a higher degree of accuracy than our community effort. Some of the other hardware safety camera systems collate data and verify installations using mobile survey teams which verify each and every site, record direction, type and speed etc.

Whilst ours will never be 100% accurate I usually have a commercial detector in review and find it a close second to most of the commercial versions. At the end of the day, if you need your licence for your job then you can never be too cautious and it is easy to justify the expense of a commercial system.
_________________
Darren Griffin

Carll · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Commefcial Database

Forgive me for being a sceptic, but the commercial database; is there a list of speed camera sites available from somewhere (eg the Police, council), cus if not, then they must be relying on user input, just like the database freely available here?!

Darren · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 6:11 pm Post subject:

The commercial outfits may well have 'sources' but there is no official master list fo camera sites. Whilst many of them do rely on user input they do verify the data using field survey teams before it gets entered into their database and some offer financial rewards to the first person to report a new camera site etc.
_________________
Darren Griffin

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