Camera Detector

bazola

bazola

bazola

Associate
Joined
31 Dec 2003
Posts
207
Location
Midlands
Hi Guys

With the major increase in work mileage, I am looking at purchasing a camera detector but I am not really sure what to go for.

I want one that is capable of detecting all types of camera's but I am more interesting in mobile camera's such as Camera vans, handhelds, and Police cars as the others are easier to see.

I have been looking at the Snooper 3ZERO, but cant seem to find many reviews. Does anyone have any personal experience of this device. I understand it does camera vans etc, but I would be interested to know the accuracy of the alerting. Constant false alerts can cause lack of confidence in the product, so I would appreciate your advice whether its any good or if there are any better products out there. Happy to look at just a laser unit if that would be more suitable to detect police, camera vans and handheld's.

Thanks
Bazola
 
I imagine it just has the database of where the mobile sites are going to be over the next week or whatever so it'll warn you when passing the site at a time when it is scheduled to have a camera there regardless of whether the camera is physically there or not.
 
Yes they work. Some detect from lazer signal and some even block!

Mate had one in his Mondeo St220 years ago, Prob 5 years ago, cost him £1200 fitted and it could even pick up police cars just driving around! Insane! But £1200????

yes the jammers are illegal, however they work the same as parking sensors or garage door openers which are allowed to block for a certain time 10s or so but then have to stop for this reason! Its a loop whole in the law, I wouldn't like to use it. 1 person has been prosecuted for using a jammer (Tho he basically admitted it). im not brave enough to have one, Id rather invest in training and not driving like a plonker on motorways!
 
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LupoLover said:
Yes they work. Some detect from lazer signal and some even block!

Mate had one in his Mondeo St220 years ago, Prob 5 years ago, cost him £1200 fitted and it could even pick up police cars just driving around! Insane! But £1200????

yes the jammers are illegal, however they work the same as parking sensors or garage door openers which are allowed to block for a certain time 10s or so but then have to stop for this reason! Its a loop whole in the law, I wouldn't like to use it. 1 person has been prosecuted for using a jammer (Tho he basically admitted it). im not brave enough to have one, Id rather invest in training and not driving like a plonker on motorways!
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thanks for the information :)
 
Joshy said:
I always thought that by the time that the laser signal had been picked up by the detector it was too late?
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Well the one my mate had worked around corners as it picked up signals given out by their radios and such hence it was soo good! So that wouldn't be too late.

They need line of sight on your and so does your equipment (cheaper stuff that works on laser), so your equal. However they might not get a reading 1st time or even 2nd. They have to have on a flat part of car to get a good signal back. Hence it tests they dont work on most bikes as they too pointy, point on at a Fireblade and will come back as bike doing 100mph + even tho was on side stand! Im sure there are some good videos online that I have seen.
 
You want something that has a GPS database of camera sites *and* is able to detect the emissions of laser/radar guns (if you can't spot a fixed camera you're a numpty, but the camera vans or coppers in a horsebox are rather harder to spot!)

Sometimes even the more expensive detectors aren't able to detect emissions from speed measuring equipment - this is a must in my view if you're going to spend the cash.

One thing though, laser detectors built into most units are generally a bit useless, the whole point of a laser is there is limited scatter to be detected therefore by the time your detector picks it up its quite possibly too late and your speed will already have been measured!

Radar detection is another matter...easily picked up due to the scatter, and is a distinct and separate technology from laser, but the wavebands utilised by police detectors make town driving a chore with a camera detector switched on as it will often be triggered by automatic door sensors in shopping centres and so on! :)
 
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I have a 3Zero. It's the best on the market Price/Functionality. I've researched it a fair bit.

This has GPS camera detection and Radar/Laser

GPS

Detects all cameras around and allows you to alter the notification distance. You can choose to ignore cameras on the opposite side of the road. In order for this to work, you pay a monthly subscription to get the GPS database. It allows you to download the updates. I'm not fussed about the database being a little out of date as most of the cameras won't be moving for many years and are fixed on motorways etc. I'll update every couple of years or so. So don't worry about paying each month.

Radar

Works along with GPS and detects your cameras on the K band, so traditional Gatso's and some others. Again you can alter the distance it goes off and for how long so it doesn't get too annoying.

I'm still testing the radar side of it out. 8/10 Gatos are not online and although GPS will beep at all of them because of location, the radar should hopefully tell you which ones are actually live. I've noticed that when approaching a Gatso, some will also produce an asterix * next to the distance. I think this means that radar is also detected at the camera the GPS has indentified. Some more testing before I "maintain" my speed through the Gatsos. I've done a couple and not been flashed.

Laser

Not had a laser alert yet. I've read it's pretty pointless because if you are lasered the police will already have your speed by the time you are alerted. Jammers are required for this. It may be helpful to detect scatter from another car. If your lucky, you may get a pre warning if they are not targetting your car first.

Overall, it's a great device and the GPS is spot on. I found it really useful driving on motorways, I'd hear a beep and always see road markings for the cameras. The GPS is very precise and reliable. I'm really happy with it.


I'll post a video if you like.

Hope this helps.
 
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L0rdMike said:
Save your money and stick to the limit? :p
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Quoted for truth

Why bother getting a detector when the BEST way to avoid getting caught by a camera is to drive at the speed limit, they are there for a reason.

Personally I think they should be banned and anyone who has one connected should have an automatic fine as it is obvious that they speed regularly, hence the need for one.
 
L0rdMike said:
Save your money and stick to the limit? :p
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I bet your Honda S2000 sees the wrong type of limit most days.


SilverTongue said:
Quoted for truth

Why bother getting a detector when the BEST way to avoid getting caught by a camera is to drive at the speed limit, they are there for a reason.

Personally I think they should be banned and anyone who has one connected should have an automatic fine as it is obvious that they speed regularly, hence the need for one.
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Do you also keep to 30mph limits in all conditions?

Try doing 70 on the outside lane of a motorway and watch a queue of traffic appear behind you.
 
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Thanks for your comments guys.

Johnnytoxic does it pick up camera vans using the radar detector? I know the GPS can technically say where they might be, but I would prefer to know if they are actually there.

Thanks
Bazola
 
Johnnytoxic said:
I bet your Honda S2000 sees the wrong type of limit most days.




Do you also keep to 30mph limits in all conditions?

Try doing 70 on the outside lane of a motorway and watch a queue of traffic appear behind you.
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I bet you it doesn't. I always stick to 30limits and if I am in the outside lane over taking the people behind can wait. I do 90% of my speeding at meets/convoys.
 
SilverTongue said:
they are there for a reason.
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Not the reason you think though. *cough* get off your soap box *cough*

30 and 40 limits i will stick to as there is no real need to break them in almost all circumstances, I see the national sign as an indication to go as fast as is safe to do so (within reason).
 
CS||nuTs said:
could have done with a camera detector last week! 85 in a temp 50....ouch!
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Well that's just dumb. Roadworks?

I stick to limits or below in built up areas or if it's busy or blah blah blah. For most of my driving, driving at the limit is frustatingly slow.
 
Johnnytoxic does it pick up camera vans using the radar detector? I know the GPS can technically say where they might be, but I would prefer to know if they are actually there.
 
I don't have anything (I just use the PocketGPSWorld App on my iPhone) but from what I've read the Snooper 3Zero is the best detector (GPS database, radar detector, laser detector).
However the one thing that everyone always says is that a laser detector is pointless as by the time its detected it it's actually telling you that you've already been done. As such the best thing for dealing with laser cameras is a jammer parking sensor kit/diffuser... and the best of them is the Snooper Laser Star/Snooper Laser Elite (I've seen it called both, I don't get what the difference is?!)
 
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