Speed detector/Sat nav beginners question

[jswarb001]

Hi I wonder if someone could help me. Having just received a speeding ticket from a mobile camera I am looking to purchase some form of protection for the future. Having sat nav would be nice with in built in speed detection however I am unsure whether the software is as good as buying say a dedicated speed detector system. The prices seem similar so if a pda say did the same job it would seem worthwhile going down that route so that I would have both sat nav and camera detection.Onthe other hand do they (sat nav systems) just offer basic service normally as part of a bundle package?

I also read that certain speed systems are becomming unlawful.How can I be sure I am buying the right one? Your help and any recommendations for systems would be appreciated

thanks

[Privateer]

Hi jswarb001,

to the forum!

My understanding of what will be banned and what will be allowed are as follows:

Laser jammers: These are definitely a no no. The authorities do not like them one little bit. I’ve heard that if they can’t get a reading from your vehicle then your number plate is flagged in a database. If you are flagged more than once, you will get a visit for officials who will search your car for any form of jammer.

Laser and radar detectors: Regardless of whether the detector are stand alone or part of a system, in which case you either remove the module or the whole system will become illegal. By the way, laser detectors are of limited use anyway – as soon as you receive a warning you have been targeted and if you’re over the limit you will have been bagged and tagged.

Passive GPS detectors: These are OK and should continue to be legal. This is because they cannot identify which site is active or inactive and the thinking is that they encourage everybody to slowdown (which they will). The GPS detectors can either be stand-alone boxes with a paid for subscription, or as an add-on to a SatNav system e.g. the free PocketGPSWorld camera database.

Not knowing where you are (please update your profile to indicate your country) I would suggest that you might want to get either a TomTom Go 300 or 500 and use the free PocketGPSWorld camera database.

I have, and subscribe to, one of the UK’s first Passive GPS detectors, which is a Morpheous Geodesy. Certainly in my area the PocketGPSWorld camera database is far more accurate. If you have thousands of people running the free camera database all over the country they will send in updates, which constantly improve the already excellent quality of the PocketGPSWorld camera database.

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

[jswarb001]

Ok thanks for that. So are we saying that a Tom Tom 500 say would give me both Sat Nav and also the same speed protection as a stand alone speed system would (provided the database was kept up to date). Im just not sure what the benefit would be in that case of just owning a speed system since they are similar prices? You might as well have both right? (Unless Im missing something of course)?

Just one final point, would the Tom tom help me in a situation where a speed gun was being used in the distance (ie would it pre warn me?

[Darren]

A TomTom system using our database would be 'passive' only. It has now way of 'detecting' a trap that is not in its location database.

To cloud the matter' active devices which used sensors i.e. radar or laser, to detect traps may not know be outlawed as parliament disolved before the legislation was to be set before them. It is unlikely that the bill will now resurface in the short term and so until then, hardware devices that use laser or radar detectors remain legal to won and use in the UK.

My experiences are that laser detectors don't offer any useful degree of protection and radar is far less frequently used these days. I have a range of hardware GPS based detectors available to used but find my TomTom system equipped with our database is just as effective.
_________________
Darren Griffin

[Privateer]

[Privateer]

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