Radar Detectors!

[Speed_Chaser]

Are there people on this forum who would like to get or someone who allready has some kind of radar detector? I've been considering to maybe get one, the only possibility is to buy STi Driver from Beltronics (does anyone know which is the best place to buy one?) as the radar detectors are prohibited in my country. This one doesn't provide any "signal leakage" so police can't detect that you're using a radar detector (it sounds funny but they have detectors for detectors ). Would be nice to hear if anyone has experiences or thoughts about this particular or some other radar detectors... All the other general discussion about radar detectors is also very welcome! :)

Best regards, Alex

[hertsnminds]

If you have a speedometer in the car why would you need a radar detector, unless you plan to break the speed limit?

[Speed_Chaser]

If you have a speedometer in the car why would you need a radar detector, unless you plan to break the speed limit?

Everyone does mistakes, so it's not necessarily have to be like that so you plan to break the speed limit. It just can happen... But this is not my main point why I want the radar detector.

I want it because in my country the speed limits on the big main roads and freeways are being lowered for winter time.

Speed limits inside the city limits are all the year same ones. On smaller roads and near to the city, speed limit is usually 80KM/H, these aren't lowered neither. Further from the city on the outgoing freeways where the traffic isn't as intense as near to the city, speed limits are 100KM/H, also on very good smaller roads (smaller roads are one lane to both directions -roads, not multi-lane freeways) speed limit is 100KM/H. On good quality freeways the speed limit is 120KM/H, this is only on freeways.

On the winter time all 100KM/H limits are being lowered to 80, and 120KM/H limits to 100, this is done in all country at the same time, and the changes last for the same period. As we know there is a climate change going on, so the weather is going to change to warmer direction. And also as the most southern spot in Finland is more than 1000 kilometers away from the most northern spot the weather is pretty different. In south it's usually around 0 degrees, in north it's around -10 - -20 degrees. There can be some days in south when it's -12 etc, and there's plenty of snow this winter. But for example 3 previous years went like this: Snow came about 5-10 times during whole winter time, and usually it melt allready next day. Few times it lasted for about a week. And even if the real winter (with snow) comes here in southern part (where I live), it comes much later than in Lapland (Northers parts of Finland). This was a story, kinda intro just to give you guys some info about our climate here. Now the answer tou your question hertsnminds: To me it's odd and stupid and useless to drive using winter speeds when the road is dry and there's no ice/snow on the road surface, or if it's raining... All this happens because of money saving or lazyness as those people who decide about these things can't change the speed limit signs to the digital ones, which you can control from the distance and change the speed limit only if needed.

Yes, I don't brake speed limits on summer time (of course it can happen to anyone sometimes, but I'm not doing it systematicly). And on winter time when it's real winter, I drive as the limits tell me to, or even slower if it's snowing etc. The roads are very slippery and it's dangerous to drive using high speeds. But when it's winter but visibility is great and the road is like in summertime... Why to do so anymore?

It's same as if you think driving during some foggy day, you may drive 30KM/H instead of 50KM/H inside the city limits, but it would be stupid to drive every day at the speed of 30KM/H just because the day might have been foggy... Of course you'll want to drive more carefully only if it's needed!

Sorry for the long text, just got the inspiration and was a bit bored because of sitting at work

Best regards, Alex

[hertsnminds]

That kind of makes sense. But it would make more sense with variable speed limits to either have electronic signs as you suggest or a device in the car which tells you the speed limit of the road you are on.

Maybe a feature like the new Vauxhall (Opel) Insignia has that displays the last road sign you passed on the dashboard?

[Beretta]

Have alook at www.camerashyplates.co.uk, there you will find anti-flash plates that actually do work (trust me on that one), also you will see radar jammers, these are really automatic garage door openers, they work on jamming the radar signal, so that it cannot lock onto you, it will also give a warning signal, but if you do get stopped, just make sure you turn it off before the police run the radar gun over your car whilst stopped, or you could get asked questions you will not really want to answer.

Again trust me they do work, also bear in mind that a radar gun can detect you from up to two miles away, before you even see it.

Whilst I do not, and will never condone speeding for the sake of it, we have all at some time been driving some where that is new to us, and to just stray over the limit, how ever careful you are, can, and does happen to all of us.

So a little help can be of assistance.

[Pat2u]

I own a snooper speed camera detector and have done for over 10/15 years, depending what you want from one but i find mine does what it says on the tin.

Fits on the window with suckers just like a sat nav does and gives an audible bleeping when near or approaching a gatzby static camera only fault i have found is that mine when it sensors a hand held one in the area, the detection is very keen due to the signal from the handheld being bounced about off trees ect,and bleeps from it can annoy but at least it lets you know one is in your area and within four miles of every direction, passing supermarkets can be a pain as well as the electronic doors in the uk sets it bleeping

They are no longer illegal in the uk, its a shame your country has not made them legal as i find having one in my vehicle makes my wife and i more aware of our surroundings when on uncommon roads, its not a matter of speeding its a case of awareness when the concentration tends to leave the drivers for a few moments, which can happen to us all when deep into a conversation, and we don't all drive with our eyes looking at the speedo.

Do a google for speed camera detectors for more information than i can offer you.

[Speed_Chaser]

Maybe a feature like the new Vauxhall (Opel) Insignia has that displays the last road sign you passed on the dashboard?

That one is a cool option, but there's no such option in Auris, luckily I have a navigation device which tells me the speeds...

But it's showing summer limits around the year, so not always right :(

Have alook at www.camerashyplates.co.uk, there you will find anti-flash plates that actually do work (trust me on that one), also you will see radar jammers, these are really automatic garage door openers, they work on jamming the radar signal, so that it cannot lock onto you, it will also give a warning signal, but if you do get stopped, just make sure you turn it off before the police run the radar gun over your car whilst stopped, or you could get asked questions you will not really want to answer.

Again trust me they do work, also bear in mind that a radar gun can detect you from up to two miles away, before you even see it.

Whilst I do not, and will never condone speeding for the sake of it, we have all at some time been driving some where that is new to us, and to just stray over the limit, how ever careful you are, can, and does happen to all of us.

So a little help can be of assistance.

I think that if I'll buy some jammer, police will notice that there's something wrong as they can't measure the speed and will definitely search the car. Turning off won't necessarily help, as jammers and detectors are sending low signals even when they're turned off and can be detected with detecting devices which police has...

I own a snooper speed camera detector and have done for over 10/15 years, depending what you want from one but i find mine does what it says on the tin.

Fits on the window with suckers just like a sat nav does and gives an audible bleeping when near or approaching a gatzby static camera only fault i have found is that mine when it sensors a hand held one in the area, the detection is very keen due to the signal from the handheld being bounced about off trees ect,and bleeps from it can annoy but at least it lets you know one is in your area and within four miles of every direction, passing supermarkets can be a pain as well as the electronic doors in the uk sets it bleeping

They are no longer illegal in the uk, its a shame your country has not made them legal as i find having one in my vehicle makes my wife and i more aware of our surroundings when on uncommon roads, its not a matter of speeding its a case of awareness when the concentration tends to leave the drivers for a few moments, which can happen to us all when deep into a conversation, and we don't all drive with our eyes looking at the speedo.

Do a google for speed camera detectors for more information than i can offer you.

I think that what you're talking about is a whole different thing compared to what I mean... Speed camera detectors are devices which can be updated via Internet to remeber the positions of the static speed cameras, it's the same option as in sat nav. The thing which I'm talking about is whole different, it detects the signal coming from the radar (laser or Stalker Dual. Stalker dual is a radar which is always on, police has it on their windshield and they measure everyone's speed when driving towards). For static cameras there's a possibility to use satnav, but I don't do that because the database isn't up to date and doesn't consist all the cameras. Also static cameras aren't very dangerous or risky as the camera boxes are usually empty in Finland, yes, THERE'S ONLY A BOX, NO CAMERA INSIDE It's saving money, they make people think that there's a camera and everyone's driving carefully. Also all those static cameras have sensors built in the road about 10 meters before the camera box. When you drive over the sensor, it measures your speed and if you drive over the limit the camera (if there is one inside) takes a photo and you get letter with your ticket later. There's only very small possibility that some box does have a camera, and even if it has it's easy to push the brakes before the box, as you can see it from far away and the sensor is only few meters before it... That's why I'm only interested to get protected from polices driving around or standing on overgoing bridges or on the side of the road and measuring everyone's speed manually with their own radars...

Best regards, Alex

[boozehound]

just bought a snooper sapphire, 75 quid brand new off Amazon market place, does everything, cant complain, i seriously think you all should look into it

[Speed_Chaser]

Will look into it, thanks mate!

Best regards, Alex

[Speed_Chaser]

It's the same as previous one on this thread, just for the static cameras... :(

Best regards, Alex

[boozehound]

yes mate but the radar detectors have been made illegal since november 2008, check it out, if you get caught with one of them u will get a fine and it taken off u

only option is for the type tht i just bought. The radar detectors arnt illegal to sell or buy but if u use one, bang, the pigs get you

[Pat2u]

http://www.snooper-gps.com/the_law.asp

Details of the law found here.

I would not have one on show in my vehicle if they was illegal here in the uk.

[Speed_Chaser]

Yes I know the laws guys, but how can you get caught if you keep it in your car in some place where it can't be easily seen...? Also if you live in Finland and the radar detector helps you to prevent even one ticket, you will allready save money! The penalties are very high here...

Best regards, Alex

[boozehound]

yes but mate u have to have it so tht it is in view of the road so it can detect the laser and radar bounce. i have got one, got it 3 years ago, the basic snooper one and to be honest i thought it was awful, just wouldnt sttop beeping or flashing because so many things use radar to operate, eg traffic lights that measure volume of traffic b4 they change, automatic doors, motion sensing alarms, lights etc, not worth it in this day and age. Just get the snooper saphire, for 75 quid mate you cant go wrong and trust me, its saved me from the flange quite a few times ill tell u tht right now

[Speed_Chaser]

yes but mate u have to have it so tht it is in view of the road so it can detect the laser and radar bounce. i have got one, got it 3 years ago, the basic snooper one and to be honest i thought it was awful, just wouldnt sttop beeping or flashing because so many things use radar to operate, eg traffic lights that measure volume of traffic b4 they change, automatic doors, motion sensing alarms, lights etc, not worth it in this day and age. Just get the snooper saphire, for 75 quid mate you cant go wrong and trust me, its saved me from the flange quite a few times ill tell u tht right now

Yea don't know, I guess it's a device worth spending money... But i'm just not sure if it will detect ALL the cameras installed? I've seen many cameras that are visible as they stand near to the interstate roads. But inside the city there are cameras too, never have seen them but I know there are some for sure. Are they in the database too? + One more thing, isn't that "snooper" same thing as a gps navigator? You can install POIs in it and it will alert when you're approaching the point... (I tried to install it once, but it had only several cameras installed on it. There are many more in Finland, is the only difference that snooper has them all and the database is being updated much faster?

Best regards, Alex

[boozehound]

its much faster and the software is really easy to use. Also, the small screen works really well and doesnt take up half your windscreen like alot of stand alone gps systems/camera warning devices etc. It will detect every single device out there and give u up to 1000metres warning (which you can shorten if you wish). You can update the snooper day or night 7 days a week. Subscription is free for the 1st 6 months then 5 pounds a month after that. Well worth it

[Speed_Chaser]

Finally I bought radar detector few months ago. It is Beltronics STi Driver and is great piece for sure, but I never really got it installed so I decided to sell it... If someone's interested, just send me a PM. I'm selling it for good price and haven't used it at all (it's even in the box still), also the warranty is still valid!

Few sample pics (not my device):

Best regards, Alex

[Aurissimo]

I have been told of an interesting device which links to some degree with the above....

http://www.laserprotector.co.uk/propark.asp

or this website

http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/laserpropark.htm

this is a "parking aid" designed to operate within legal limits for laser device usages, and its primary use is a park distance sensor.

However you must remember to switch the system OFF when driving as the laser signal can accidentally interfere with Police radars, which also have to operate in the same frequency ranges...

I also heard that unfortunately, it does not give a "jam" error message on the police devices, they just get a blank screen..., so if by accident you forgot to switch it off whilst driving. and a police radar was locked on you, they would not be able to advise you that you left your parking sensors ON, or what speed you where doing.

;)

DISCLAIMER: This is purely informative and I accept no liability for mis-interpretation of the above information....

[DuncToGo]

I have been told of an interesting device which links to some degree with the above....

http://www.laserprotector.co.uk/propark.asp

or this website

http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/laserpropark.htm

this is a "parking aid" designed to operate within legal limits for laser device usages, and its primary use is a park distance sensor.

However you must remember to switch the system OFF when driving as the laser signal can accidentally interfere with Police radars, which also have to operate in the same frequency ranges...

I also heard that unfortunately, it does not give a "jam" error message on the police devices, they just get a blank screen..., so if by accident you forgot to switch it off whilst driving. and a police radar was locked on you, they would not be able to advise you that you left your parking sensors ON, or what speed you where doing.

;)

DISCLAIMER: This is purely informative and I accept no liability for mis-interpretation of the above information....

I have used a snooper S5-R for about a year and it picks up most things,no problems,but a problem getting the cable to it due to the depth of the Auris,s windscreen.

[Speed_Chaser]

It's not necessary to mount in on the windscreen. You can use the front dash and small side windows too!

Best regards, Alex

[DuncToGo]

tested this model on the centre dash and it reduced its effectiveness by about 50% because of its slim size,dont use it all the time so when required I just tape the cable under the steering wheel and up the side,not pretty but better than a fine. Dunc.