SCamera detection - RoadPilot MicroGo

[sayerbloke]

Can anyone name a good reason why not to buy one of THESE?

[techieboy]

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Can anyone name a good reason why not to buy one of THESE?

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Yeah, the mount for it is not the neatest thing I've ever seen. I prefer the older Micro RoadPilot, it has a slightly more subtle mount and the GPS antenna was separate and could be hidden away.

Functionally, it's pretty good, although I found the voice alert quite quiet but that’s probably because I've always got my window open. The alarm alert sound itself was fine though. Also seems to pick up the satellites quickly. The camera database is pretty good certainly more reliable than the database with my Snooper Sapphire which seems to think the entire country is covered by a SPECS speedtrap. Not yet at least! I wish I hadn't bothered swapping it out for the Sapphire.

[pascalbrown]

because you could buy one of these;

http://www.valentine1.com/home.asp

[mb]

Not really apart from I think it has to be windscreen mounted (I have a micro road pilot which has a remote antenna).

I would caution you re the title of your post as the Scamera vans are mobile & use laser, which is not what GPS detectors are really best at - you would need the laser detection add on & the laser warning tends to be too late, more a confirmation you have been hit - great for fixed sites though !

Try speaking to Helfinger on here as he sells these & could give you better advice.

[timps]

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I wish I hadn't bothered swapping it out for the Sapphire.

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I was tempted to get a Snooper Sapphire (I could get a good price on one) so I take it from your post not to bother and get something else?

[techieboy]

It's okay. But nothing more than okay.

Great idea having a rechargeable detector but the battery only lasts for 3 hours, tops. The cigarette lighter charger (my one anyway) doesn't even power it, let alone recharge it (at least not in the three hours I had it connected), the mains and usb charger are fine though.

The database itself doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling of security. It seems to identify a lot of cameras as SPECS cameras, even when they're GATSO or TRUVELO cameras. There's a retail park just down the road from me and the Sapphire goes nuts whenever you go near it, reporting SPECS cameras (there is not and has never been any kind of camera there, not even CCTV). Maybe just some kind of diet aid warning you about the drive-thru KFC and BK As with the MicroGo, the voice alerts aren't particularly loud even on max volume, although the alert tones are plenty loud enough, but for some reason you don't seem to be able to mute them using the mute button.

The windscreen mount is very sturdy though and quick and easy to remove and hide. The front of the Sapphire itself is very glossy and can be be quite reflective, making the screen a little hard to read at times. Although this might be improved if you select a different colour scheme.

The PC only synching software is a bit flakey (or the USB drivers it relies on) and you sometimes to have mess about getting the unit recognised.

Sorry if that all sounds very negative but in hindsight I wish I hadn't bothered swapping my MicroGo for it. I haven't used it extensively over thousands of miles, so don't want to put you off it but I'd certainly try one out for a while, if you can.

The other thing that really winds me up with it (Snoopers in general) is, if it comes with 6 months worth of free updates why am I forced to give them my credit card number when I first try to register it and download the initial database.

Hope that helps!

[timps]

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Hope that helps!

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Yes it does thanks

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Sorry if that all sounds very negative

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Don’t apologise about your experiences they are very helpful.

I had some negative views about my Navman so I convinced my mum to go for tom tom & she is very glad I did.

Looks like I am after something else then.