These are the old road angel, Called the classic can still get it from the makers. Its the not the best of the types around but does the job fairly well. Not good at handling sets of specs cameras tho.
The new road angel has been around for 6 months or more and is much better.
The classic road angel costs 349 quid new with a years subscription.
My fav is the Origin B2. Friend of mine got one after collecting 9 points in three months. Works very well.
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Thanks for that
Would you say that the ones on ebay are a good buy, as the B2 and New road angel are quite a bit more than I was looking to spend??
I was told that the old and new road angels run from the same data base. Do you know if this is true.
Cheers
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Yup single database, so "up to dateness" is not a problem providing you continue to pay the subscription. Not sure how easy it is to transfer subscription from one unit/owner to another tho, I would check with Road Angel or the vendor. Using one without a subscription is a waste of time or money.
Its a matter of looks and features. The new one has better features, better looks, better ergonomics. But both basically do the same job using the same data. If you can get it around the 200 mark or under I would say its pretty good value.
Bear in mind however, you can get a PDA based Sat Nav and load a camera database on that so you get both for not much much money. It has to be said however that the camera databases used for PDA based sat navs are nowhere near as comprehensive, accurate, or up to date as those employed by Road Angel or Origin. (The origin one is very very good and very very quickly updated. I know of lots of examples of less than 24 hours. At one time the origin database changed every night for 14 consecutive nights - all of them road works cameras.)
So yes if you have a need for one, and money is tight, then probably a good buy - the units are all fairly rugged so I wouldnt worry about buying a used one.
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That's pretty inefficient - having different camera databases. You'd have thought that there would be a single supplier who licensed the same database to different companies. Surely that is the way mapping and directional stuff is done is SatNav? Or does each company write it's own maps and direction-finding software?
But then...maybe they *do* use the same database but the frequency of their server updates from the supplier are different.
Most of these are updated by phone call aren't they (the Snooper I had was)? Or do PDAs get it over the mobile network? If not, it's also incumbent on the user to remember to dial up regularly to maintain up-to-dateness.
I remember seeing an article about a lady who was *the voice of UK satnav*. That is, she'd done the prompts for more than one system. Morning TV presenter, IIRC.
When I was showing off my SmartNav to a female friend, she said (only slightly TIC) she wouldn't put up with a female telling her where to go! She asked if you could have a male voice instead.
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All companies start off with the same database. It is avaiable in the public domain. However its a moving target. It changes. So the companies use various systems to update them. Usually you press a button on your device for a camera that wasnt notified by your device, this then gets uploaded to the central database next time you update. They then check it out, ignore it, wait till they get multiple hits, whatever.
Origin is very good at updating. If they get an uploaded hit from a user, they have mobile teams around the country and they go and check it asap. Check that a: its true, b: the location is right c: the camera type.
So your intial "same as everyone elses database" rapidly becomes "different from everyone elses database at any one time" and as such becomes intelectual capitol, and a great marketing tool. "Look - Eagle eye missed all these cameras - Owl Eye inc had them all"
Re mapping - Basically one of two different companies are used by most of the major sat nav makers.
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This is great advice, the origin sounds like the best but I think I'll buy a Road Angel, due to the price.
I have heard that PDAs can slow down quite a bit when you try and use them as sat nav, and that you are much better buying a dedicated unit.
They should combine a detector with sat nav, THAT WOULD BE GREAT..!
I'll let you know how I get on if I buy from the ebayer
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Dove
SmartNav (a bit more pricey - £625 to buy & fit IIRC, plus a monthly sub) is traffic-aware sat nav. It's based on the TrafficMaster network of congestion monitoring and will re-route (if it can) around major delays ahead. A screen is an optional extra (not much use IMO). For your money you don't see much - a fully fitted dedicated phone, small antennae, mobile phone mike and a speaker, the clever stuff is tucked away behind the dash someplace (i.e. secure).
You call a call centre from the at the start of your journey - they say "hello mr dove, where would you like to go today" so you tell them. The route is downloaded there and then. You can also call for nearest open fuel, flowers, cash machine, fast food etc. And I've used it twice now to locate myself when stopped on a motorway (for emergency purposes (blowouts) - so I can tell my recovery service where to find me)
There are two optional service - speed alert (warning of speedcams) and vehicle tracker. I have the former, which is good, but not the latter as my ins co wouldn't give me a discount. When I got this system (18 months ago) there was nothing else like it. I'm sure there is now...
www.smartnav.co.uk
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Smart navs main advantages also appears to be a dis-advantage..!
Although it is really neatly installed into the car if you sell the car you have to sell the sat nav with it and I'm not sure it will add that much value to the price of the car.
Where as if you were to buy a portable unit you can just move it around with you.
have you seen the Navman ICN 510 found it this morning on a link from the ebayer above, just click on the company logo and it takes you into a web site, it looks really cool.
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You can pay someone to transfer it to your new car. My mate did, it wasn't cheap, so it isn't a good option if you regularly change your car.
And...like many extras...it may not add vlaue but it would probably increase saleability.
I know it's not for everyone though...
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Halfords have a good deal on the RA at present - cost £399.99 but thet have thrown in 6 months free updates and a £50 pack of car cleaning freebies.
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Halfords have a good deal on the RA at present - cost £399.99 but thet have thrown in 6 months free updates and a £50 pack of car cleaning freebies.
The free number plate laser sensor given away with the RA would be more useful than a sponge and car wash/wax kit, IMHO:-
www.speedsafe.co.uk/product.php?id=33
www.speed-detectors.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php...4
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Watch out if you take any of these abroad, in France they can take your car away and issues a very large fine. In Holland you can be locked up for simply owning one!
I think this just covers detectors, I dont know abot database/gps based ones. A bit of a worry as I have discovered after 2 years use (frequently abroad!) that my SatNav (ALK CoPilot ) contains Speed camera positions! TomTom SatNavs do as well.
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in France they can take your car away and issues a very large fine. In Holland you can be locked up for simply owning one!
So, I wonder what a UK motorist with Road Angel or equivalent needs to do to avoid trouble when taking a car to these countries?
Remove the display unit? And not have it anywhere in the car? Remove all trace of the installation?
Oz (as was)
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Laser detection at up to 200m? Bit late then isn't it?
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200 metres very much late.
The only use being to tell you have that you have actually received a speeding flash rather than warn you about avoiding it!
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Granted, by the time you get within 200m, you're more than likely to have been zapped....
but the blurb does say "With the New Road Angel if you are closer than 200m to a Police laser gun your Safety Camera Warning System may not warn you. This is a problem for all of the latest sped camera units systems with a built in laser sensor."
So some warning is better than none at all.
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I can't imagine what it must be like to use a warning system - surely there are so many cameras around now that it must be a constant distraction? I'd rather give the attention to speed limits. The basis on which they are sold, to warn of accident black spots, is laughable. Isn't the only possible use for these things to assist with flouting speed limits and *not* paying proper attention, or have I missed something?
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Manatee, I don't think you've missed anything.
If a driver was genuinely concerned about obeying speed limits, they'd be looking for gadgetry which would alert them to what the limit is, rather than these devices to warn them when they are being enforced. Hopefully they'll be banned here as they have been in many other European countries.
Blackspot-warning could easily be added to existing maps in the same sort of way that camera locations are added. But while you can easily obtain camera-position add-ons for satnav, I haven't heard of any system which offers warning of blackspot locations (though hopefully someone will tell me I'm wrong)
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"Isn't the only possible use for these things to assist with flouting speed limits and *not* paying proper attention, or have I missed something?"
No, you're right, that's it.
I intend to not exceed urban speed limits all the time but still like the additional reminder if I have strayed by a few mph. I'd sooner not chance the points and fine if I can avoid it. Which I can, so I do.
And yes, I am concentrating and paying proper attention. Cameras are usually placed at places where the road is obviously designed or suitable for a higher speed limit than is imposed. Where it is easy to be exceed without being dangerous. I don't think I am the only one to think this is somewhat cynical, and take a somewhat cynical attitude towards them.
Of course, if I were to always crawl around at 25mph then I suppose I may not be so concerned, but I will always endeavour to drive at the limit where it is safe to do so, which can sometimes mean drifting a little over (or under).
Wouldn't be surprised to find this in the Speed Camera thread later... :-) {Or sooner.}
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I can see where you're all coming from but NoWheels and Manatee epecially, you're forgetting one important point. You will never ever ever get every single person in this country to abide by the speed limit. Not going to happen. Just as you're not going to stop all murders, burglaries and fraud.
Of course, I'm not suggesting for one moment that you should stop the enforcement simply because the crime isn't going to stop. I'm arguing however that given what I've said, surely it would be safer for people to get that warning bleep, slow down and abide by the limit. Surely the Road Angel (and others) has done that for them?
In response to Manatee - given that cameras are so prevalent, and you argue what's the point of a Road Angel or similar, then surely if there are so many cameras, there are going to be many more (legitimate) warnings from the GPS device, and so, a hell of a lot more cars abiding by the limit.
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Adam
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Just as a little aside, I'd take my chances with a beep "distracting" me rather than the eyes off the road....but that's a whole new ballpark!
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Adam
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surely it would be safer for people to get that warning bleep, slow down and abide by the limit. Surely the Road Angel (and others) has done that for them?
A warning beep which warnd about limits or exceeding limits is a thoroughly good idea. But that's not what a Road Angel does.
It warns only of enforcement, then a driver can reasonably assume that he is free to break speed limits as much as he likes, except when warned. Cameras still cover only a very small fraction of a percentage of the roads network*, so a device like a Road Angel enables a driver to speed for more than 99% of the time.
That's a device to help speedsters go undetected, which is the exact opposite of a device to improve safety.
* Hopefully that will change when more SPECS cameras are deployed.
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I stick by my original point NW in as much that at least they're going slow when the limit is being enforced. Best you're going to get. If you are right, and I hope to God you're not, when more Specs are deployed, the Road Angel will beep more, thus warning the driver they're going fast, thus slowing them down more!
Job Done!
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Adam
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wont be long before the fact they can triangualte the postion of your mobile phone, and its movements, speeds etc, will be used so that authorities know where you are and what speed you are doing, GPS in your cars is also wanted by the anti-car brigade for same purpose
now sir how did you say your mobile went up the M1 at 110 mph ?
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now sir how did you say your mobile went up the M1 at 110 mph ?
Well officer, my boyfriend had a wobbly and he threw it out the window really hard in a forward direction when I was doing 65 ... whereupon it lodged in the undercarriage of a low-flying helicopter.
PS It was a horrible day, your honour. I was driving to collect the remains of my granny, who had been eaten by a shark whilst stepping over a puddle on the edge of the A59 near Blubberhouses
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There are already some UK company offering a service to let you know the position of a mobile phone, for a fee. It's done by trianulation. IIRC all Japanese phones will have to have GPS in-built sometime in the future too. Also didn't the Hamiltons use data regarding their mobile phone location to assist their defence against the rape charge? So the data is not only known, but it is held. Already.
Black boxes on cars will become the norm rather than phone tracking...
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hamilton case was based on knowledge of the "cells" their phones had been in, not precise position, cells can be big or small areas depending on population
this is easy on current GSM systems
with GSM triangulation is only really possible if they are already after you, and have set systems up to pay close attention to your movements
with 3G which is being rolled out of course it will all become much easier
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well this falls into "only really possible if they are already after you", doubt there is the capacity in the systems to do this to everyone
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but I don't believe it depends on gsm, and there are lots of companies offering it...
"The system" *always* knows where you are, otherwise you'd keep getting cut off. This is just another reporting format...no more onerous than duration and destination of call I would imagine... I'm curious that it is a third party offering it rather than the network provider...
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smokie i can recommend if youre interested
3G Cellular and PCS Demystified (Telecommunications Demystified S.)
Lawrence J. Harte, Richard Levine, Roman Kikta
ISBN: 0071363017
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Unfortunately I'm not quite *that* interested...
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Can all the anti-speed device people say, hand on heart, that they never ever break a rule or regulation? How do they manage to travel at exactly 30mph without overstepping? Do they never park *just for a minute* on a yellow line, or partly on the pavement? Cross a solid white line? Jump a traffic light, just a little bit? And they are concentrating solidy and solely on driving, not talking to passengers/listening to the radio/looking at the scenery/telling the kids off?
What perfect automatons you must be. Oops, meant individuals. :-)
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Smokie, I don't try to drive exactly on the limit -- I try to stay below it.
But even so I do sometimes drift over 30mph. Particularly on my local main road where a smart exit from junction is required, but a steepish downhill slope makes it easy to find that I'm at 35 when I catch up on the speedo after taking in all the rest of the road. So technology sure could help.
But I already know there are spd cameras there, so a squeak to tell me that cameras are installed wouldn't help at all. The problem is maintaining the correct speed.
What would help is a you're-going-over-30 squeak, such as is available in the Citroen C2 ... or better still a speed limiter, such as is std in the C4 and optional on a Renault Modus. Set either of them to 30, and I have a device which will help or prevent me from accidentally drifting over the limit.
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"a you're-going-over-30 squeak"
Which really is all Road Angel does, except more selectively. I.E when it really counts (if you care for your licence).
I suppose I see your point, but many people drive in areas unfamiliar to them and don't know where the cameras are. So the accidental drifts over 30mph can be just in the wrong place (like at the bottom of the hill, or just round the bend) which is where many speed cameras are sited.
As for people who drive around at 25 in a 30 limit (where 30 would be safe)...grrrrr.... :-)
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