Welcome to the Testing Ground.
This section of the Speedtrap Bible was opened to the general public in February 2000 and last updated 16th June 2006. The idea is that I test as much "anti-speedtrap" equipment as I can get my hands on. Let's face it: there are a hundred and one companies out there all out to sucker you for money with massive claims of radar-invisibility, laser-invisibility, camera-proof plate covers and other suchlike. Some of them work, but most of them are just, to use the technical term, crap. You send off your cash for the Miracle Super Turbo Laser-Enhanced Photoderived Infrared Tempered Technology Plate that claims that it makes your entire car invisible to just about everything, and then a week later you get a piece of bent plastic back in the post with a slip in the envelope that reads "all sales are final." So in an effort to educate you, and give you somewhere to look before you part with your cash, step inside the Testing Ground.

We test all of the detectors/devices using the same method to ensure a consistent and accurate result. Each unit is used for a minimum of 500 miles to count the number of false alarms per hour and to measure its sensitivity. It is driven on Country, Urban and City roads and its results are recorded for each environment - as you may only drive in the city and want the best city detector. All tests are conducted using a Bel 990 or a Bel 966 as a control, so that we have the "new test unit" alongside a known device. We can then compare which device gives a warning first and which gives the most false alarms. Whilst the sensitivity and hence the early warning is very important, we also see that this should be set against the number of false alarms the device gives. If its constantly giving false alarms, then you are likely to ignore a real alarm and the device will have failed to do its job. To work out which is the overall best unit, we take the average false alarms per hour and minus this from the Total warning time to derive a weighted score. The higher the number the better the unit, as it must offset false alarms against its rapid response to real radar sources. As the devices improve in future, the false alarms should decrease to almost zero. As of 2006, any score over 11 indicates that its one of the best detectors on the market and we would recommend it.

Whilst radar detectors are one way of finding speed cameras and the accident blackspots that they are supposed to be helping with, another approach is to use one of the new breed of GPS (satelite) devices. These constantly know where you are, using the GPS satelites, and have a database of all know camera, speed trap, accident blackspot locations and warn you as you approach them. They dont pick up radar, so they dont give you false alarms. As more Gatso's etc are added every day (4,300 of them in March 2004) the manufacturers need to keep updating their database to keep your list upto date. Most of these GPS devices also record the common places for mobile speed traps. As they dont pick up radar they wont defend you against a policeman using a radar gun in a new location, but they will against the 4,300 cameras that are currently installed. All of the devices need to be connected to the manufacturers every few weeks to update their data with new sites. They all do this by using a modem to connect to the internet/direct and downloading the new data. Some of the units come with a modem and others assume you have one.

So which should you get a radar detector or a GPS based unit? To some extent it depends where you live and travel. If you are in an urban area then you are much more likely to encounter fixed site camera and the GPS is best. If you live/travel mostly in country areas then you are more likely to encounter a manually operated radar or laser gun and a radar detector may be better. If the false alarms from detectors annoy you then go with a GPS unit.

So which of the many GPS units is best. We have been testing all of them for the last couple of months and have received feedback from hundreds of people on the Speed Trap Bible Email group. So for the first time ever - a definative review. As with all our testing we have used each unit for a minimum of 500 miles in a variety of road conditions.

Geodesy.

These were the first people onto the market and started the whole GPS based unit industry going. In over 1,500 miles of testing it only falsed once and only failed to warn me of a camera once (a new one near Exeter). Its the smallest of the units and its also designed to fit on a motorcycle. It warns by simply beeping and flashing coloured LED's.

For the best deal on this unit visit;
http://www.speedtraps.co.uk

Road Angel.

Larger than a Geodesy and about the size of two packs of cigarettes. Road Angel were the first people to take the GPS units one stage further and add in the locations of the most common accident black spots - so you can be warned and be aware of the danger. It also has all of the camera/common speed trap sites stored in it and in addition to warning you with beeps and lights also displays your speed on a small screen. This speed is your real speed as calculated by the satelites and is more accurate than your vehicle speedo. No false alarms and no sites missed in almost 2,000 miles of testing - very impressive. This is the unit we use ourselves.

For the best deal on this unit visit;
http://www.speedtraps.co.uk

Origin Bluei.

A small box like unit about the size of two packs of cigarettes. In over 1,300 miles of testing we had no false alarms and it did not miss a camera. A nice feature is that you can set it to only warn you when you are travelling faster than the limit as you approach a hazard. In addition to giving your speed it also tells you your direction of travel to help a bit with not getting lost.

For the best deal on this unit visit;
http://www.speedtraps.co.uk

Which is the best GPS unit

GPS Units - Summary and which to we use

After testing all of them and using them for months, we are now using the Road Angel. We use the Road Angel as its the easiest to use and move from car to car and the Bluei with its included remote GPS antena in a car where we dont want a unit sliding all over the dashboard and have space elsewhere in the car to put the display unit. In 22,000 miles of usage (to June 2004) the Road Angel has given 4 false alarms and has failed to warn of 3 Gatso's. So whilst the Road Angel itself is excellent, they could do better to keep the database up to date.

Which is the Best Radar detector

Copyright © Paul Gander 1995 - 2007
This site and all contents unless otherwise noted are copyrighted. The author will respond expeditiously to any intellectual property infringement.Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Paul Gander is prohibited.
Click here for full legal and copyright details pertaining to the Speedtrap Bible.
All rights reserved. [http://www.speed-trap.net] [http://www.speed-trap.co.uk]