GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: p3eps on 07 June 2007, 07:47
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Has anyone got one? Which make and model? Is it any good?!
I'm tempted to buy one - but not sure what to get. Ideally I'd like something that is hard wired into the car - so that I dont have the hassle of forgetting to turn it on and off when I get in / out of the car!
I have TomTom on my phone with speed camera detector - but it means I have to pair my phone and put it in a cradle which is annoying! Its ok on a long journey - but most of my driving is less than 20 minute trips!
I'd like something that picks up the police vans... cause they're everywhere now - and that what catch most people I know!
Any opinions and pics of installs would be great!
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I use Road Angel hardwired so that it automatically starts up with the ignition. The unit itself is removable from its cradle. It's very good, will pick up some laser gunshots but only according to angle and it's always too late when it does. Some of the Road Angels are now loaded with scamera van known positions.
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Auto express have done a review in their product of the year tests.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/product_honours_2007/208725/speed_trap_locator.html
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I have a Road Angle Plus, which runs of it's own battery and comes with a power lead for hardwire, and ciggy socket, it's a nice bit of kit but was a present and something I don't use too much, as I have speed camera databases on my satnav.
I have it for sale on...
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=60585.0
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I have and would buy again an Origin B2. Not the most modern looking but it wins lots of awards. I have it hard wired into an ignition fed supply and hidden in the cubby in front of the gear stick.
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I have and would buy again an Origin B2. Not the most modern looking but it wins lots of awards. I have it hard wired into an ignition fed supply and hidden in the cubby in front of the gear stick.
Thats what I want to do... then I can put the lid down when I'm not using the car. I ordered a Snooper S6-R Neo today. Seemed like a good bit of kit for a decent price.
Did you wire this yourself - and how did you do it?!
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Sure did. I ran the GPS receiver from just under the dash top vent cover through the dash losing half a hand in the process to the gear stick where I had already removed the gear gaiter surround and cubby. Picked up power from the wires feeding the 12v socket in the cubby which is supplied by the ignition.
With the lid shut it is totally invisible from the outside (or the inside). Pop the lid up and your off.
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Had a Snooper S6 Neo and now use TomTom Sat nav unit. IMHO laser detectors are a waste of time cos they will warn you only once you have been targetted and that is too late. I am not sure if any forces use radar anymore..?
Some people have laser operated garage door opening devices on their cars, these have been known to jam laser signals from vans etc. Highly illegal over here.
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True, but GPS based systems which warn of fixed sites and very useful when you are travelling somewhere unknown (esp in the dark), or driving in auto pilot!
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IMHO laser detectors are a waste of time cos they will warn you only once you have been targetted and that is too late.
Very true!
I am not sure if any forces use radar anymore..?
France do, both fixed camera types, and hairdryer hand helds - though radar detectors are illegal there, and if caught, it will be confiscated, along with 1,500 euros - on the spot - no euros, and the car gets confiscated. Got that bloody T shirt, thank-you! :shocked:
Some people have laser operated garage door opening devices on their cars, these have been known to jam laser signals from vans etc. Highly illegal over here.
Not quite "highly illegal" - do some more research! :wink: :wink:
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True, but GPS based systems which warn of fixed sites and very useful when you are travelling somewhere unknown (esp in the dark), or driving in auto pilot!
....GPS based system gets my vote too. :smiley:
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What about Laser? Is it still used?
The reason I picked the S6-R Neo is because it seems to do everything and also has GPS. It looks a decent size - although its a bit chunkier in real life... and should be able to be hard wired into the cubby in front of the gear stick. I'll get the GPS antenna tucked away somewhere - and hopefully get the radar/laser detector in behind the grill as recommended.
Can anyone tell me where the grommits are in the golf to get cables from the bonnet into the car?
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I too considered kit with Laser warning but decided that if its to be illegal I could create as much trouble as I might save.
Went with Road Angel 6000? (or 7000) - settled for mounting it near A Pillar - not the prettiest - but has the advantage of being in same field of vision as road (not got to look down to console if you want to read anything off). Leave it permanently on - handy for scamera van wake up calls if nothing else.
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Mine is GPS through the satnav. Not really tested it though yet. :embarassed:
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Trouble with a alser detector is, apart from due to become illegal (TT to comment on this...), by the time it goes off you've been stung. The lasers, which are still used by the plods who stand on the road side, are very accurate and the beams diffuse very little, hence it is hard/impossible to detect without taking a direct hit.
Plus if the plod sees you hit the anchors as he points his gun at you he may not be overly impressed.
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Plus if the plod sees you hit the anchors as he points his gun at you he may not be overly impressed.
....But it's natural to slow down if you find yourself looking at a gun whether pointing at you or not. I think it's natural to slow down even if you aren't exceeding a speed limit.
I remember many years ago when I used to race bicycles and during the week I trained around Richmond Park. One day coming down one of the hills at well over 45 mph (I had a heart monitor & speedo) a plod stepped out from trees and pointed a speed gun at me. Such guns were new and I really thought I was about to get shot at! The park has a 20 mph speed limit IIRC and I was very angry and stopped and went back and asked what the heck he was doing - They were testing the technology.
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Hmmm... my Snooper has a duff modem! It wont download updates. I have to send it back and get a refund.
I'm now looking at a Micro Roadpilot. It seems to do everything the same, but looks neater. Anyone had any experience of these?
As I dont have my car yet, can someone give me the rough dimensions of the cubby infront of the gearstick? I'm wondering if the Roadpilot would fit in on its bracket?!
Also - can anyone tell me how to get the cables from the cockpit into the engine compartment? (cockpit - sounds like a fighter jet lol)
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Also - can anyone tell me how to get the cables from the c*ckpit into the engine compartment? (c*ckpit - sounds like a fighter jet lol)
Why would you do this??
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I've just part exchanged my New Road angel for an Origin PogoAlert (dedicated GPS speed system) and been out for a test drive before it's hardwired later this week.
Having used a Road Angel for a couple of years i know exactly what I want and the Pogo delivers it all. Not only is it extremely compact but the large speed display (mph or kmh and large or small display) is awesome. You can even select different colours for the numerals. Waaaaay more legible than even the latest Road Angel.
http://www.pogostore.co.uk/pogo-alert.php (http://www.pogostore.co.uk/pogo-alert.php)
:smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: - Five stars from me!
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Also - can anyone tell me how to get the cables from the c*ckpit into the engine compartment? (c*ckpit - sounds like a fighter jet lol)
Why would you do this??
The Mircro Roadpilot comes with the 'laserpilot' detector which can either be attached to your windscreen, or behind your grill. As I'm hard wiring the device, I'd much rather put it behind the grill as it wont be visable.
I just need to figure out how to get the cable through! I'm sure there must be a gromit somewhere for this?
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TBH, I would not bother if it is just a detector. A Laser gun takes less than a second to get a reading, all it will do is tell you that you have just been caught.
If you mount it on the dash you might get lucky and it picks up some scatter from the car in front, but unlikely I think.
Anyhoo, I think the way though the bulkhead is to lift the plastic scuttle panel on the battery side and there is a gommet to the right of the silver ECU box. I believe that if the glovebox is removed, it should be possible to get access in the cabin. But there is the issue of disconnecting the airbag switch in the glovebox which will trigger an airbag fault light. So I suspect disconnecting the battery during this operation may be a good idea.
I hope to confirm this route in the next few days, as I need to get a cable though as well.
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Just read a post where someone said that you can pop the cables through the hole which would take your wipers if the car was LHD (If that makes sense?!)
It should pop out behind the glove compartment... but whether it needs removed or not?!
Let me know how you get on with your cable routing!
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I've just part exchanged my New Road angel for an Origin PogoAlert (dedicated GPS speed system) and been out for a test drive before it's hardwired later this week.
Having used a Road Angel for a couple of years i know exactly what I want and the Pogo delivers it all. Not only is it extremely compact but the large speed display (mph or kmh and large or small display) is awesome. You can even select different colours for the numerals. Waaaaay more legible than even the latest Road Angel.
http://www.pogostore.co.uk/pogo-alert.php (http://www.pogostore.co.uk/pogo-alert.php)
:smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: - Five stars from me!
Thats the newer version of mine. Want it!!
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I've got the Road pilot Microgo.
I think it's one of the cheaper display based ones @ £100 from Halfords.
I've had it about 6 weeks but it's been a rocky ride. It worked well out of the box but obviously the database was out of date. It took me 4 or 5 attempts including several emails to the support line to update the system. First 4 updates wiped all the cameras from the unit leaving me with just a speed display. TBH, support were quick on the replies and said they could see the problem at their end but it only updated correctly on the 5th attempt.
Even now, I must have seen more than a dozen cameras not showing plus they still have the specs cameras around Ashton on the M60 that have been gone for months. The new specs cameras on J25 M60 have been there since March are not showing.
Unfortunately I can't recommend this device and may even try to return it if the next update messes up.
When it does work though, it does a good job and you only get a warning if you are over the speed limit for the camera. That's a nice feature meaning you don't have it beeping all the time.
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I'm also in the market for one of these things...
One of my mates uses the Microfuzion detector for £99. How do you guys rate this little chappy?
http://www.microfuzion.co.uk (http://www.microfuzion.co.uk)
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That looks a good bit of kit, what does your mate say about it FatManc??
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He said it's good and quite easy to update. You do need a serial connector on the back of your PC though. A USB upgrade is available for some more £Â£Ã‚£
I don't think the updates are that frequent though, may be monthly at best.
I've seen it in action and it certainly does the job. It even warns you to take a break every two hours!
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Think I will have to invest, think I may have got 'pinged' this morning on the way to work
.............whats that white van, thats not normally parked there......oh b******ks!!! :angry:
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i would seriously recommend the origin B2. Origin have just released a new product so B2 prices should be rock bottom and it is very highly rated by all that have tested it.
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Think I will have to invest, think I may have got 'pinged' this morning on the way to work
.............whats that white van, thats not normally parked there......oh b******ks!!! :angry:
A GPS camera locator or even a laser detector wont help you with that particular sort of problem
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He said it's good and quite easy to update. You do need a serial connector on the back of your PC though. A USB upgrade is available for some more £Â£Ã‚£
I don't think the updates are that frequent though, may be monthly at best.
I've seen it in action and it certainly does the job. It even warns you to take a break every two hours!
Serial connector - sounds like old technology :sad:
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We shouldn't need speed camera detectors because we shouldn't have speed cameras. Theyr'e nothing but revenue tools for national/local authorities and do very little for road safety. Interseting new article here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=16368
Also anti speed camera petition here:
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/scrapcam/
Get signing :wink:
Cass
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...Signed! :cool:
"You can't measure safe driving in miles per hour"