cheap GPS speed camera warnings
 

Need an alerter. Don't want navigation. Any comments on the following budget products?

Inforad - leds and buzzer only, no vol. control) £70
Updates £25 per year.

Microfuzion - visual and voice prompts, vol control, but serial connector for updates. £100
Updates free for life (some compromise there?)

Snooper S2 - led indicators, buzzer but includes laser detector.
Updates very pricey at £60pa.

Comments from users welcome

I had Inforad for three months (only got rid when my kind employer installed 'SmartNav' in my car).

Its OK - ish.

Plus points:
It's cheap.

Minus Points:
Around these parts, it had some of the speed zones set wrong in the database - for example, it would think that some 40MPH areas were in fact 30's = and would bleep its t*ts off until you slowed to 30.

Some speed cameras (new and not so new) were missed totally.

It's not directional - ie it will alert you to cameras on a southbound carriageway when you are going north.

Better than nothing, but more irritating than helpful in too many instances.

There is a catch which is implicit. If you are up to ten or eleven points, then maybe not so bad, but...

If you rely on something other than the Mk 1 eyeball, you could be stuffed if anyone moves the speed limit a few hundred yards. If you rely on such a device, you will possibly make it more likely that you will be nailed, rather than less. Ok as a second chance reminder, but don't get used to it.


Blunkett

Conan: I don't plan to rely on it, rather use it as an additional tool much as we pilots use bells and whistles to tell us about things we should be watching all the time anyway. Man-machine interface, overload human cpu etc.

Problem with cameras is that they getting so numerous, and the intervening limits are now changing so frequently 30,30,50 and 20mph coming soon?, that anything is better than nothing.

70 quid for an inforad is close to a 60 quids worth of fines so one or two saves and I'm at breakeven already.

That said, it isn't going to work out if the thing is more of a nuisance than a help as Timmcat cautions. (those cockpit bells and whistles being ignored again!)

I have and use a Road Angel 2. Its expensive (so maybe not what you are after) but a top noch bit of kit. Gets every speed cam and also the vans etc that sit at the road sides. As I say its a tad expensive but well wort it from my point of view. It IS directional so you should never get erronous warnings from it.

I've seen though that Blackspot, the makers, have brought out fairly recently a Road Angel Compact. Does what the Angel 2 does but with out the laser pickups, i.e. All fixed camera locations just not mobile vans etc. Think you can get one for about £199.

Hope this helps you, my RA2 has certainly helped me.