RedRobin Posted June 15, 2007 Report Share Posted June 15, 2007 (edited) Superbly compact and with many options on how you personalise your settings. This is a dedicated GPS sourced speed camera/blackspot/school/etc device - I already have an excellent Alpine SatNav/Audio 6" touch screen system, so didn't need a combined SatNav/SpeedCamAlert. I'm finding it much easier to know my speed and drive accordingly. I previously had a New Road Angel and so have come to know exactly what I seek in such bits of kit. Road Angel themselves (they're not allowed to call themselves "Blackspot" anymore!) recommended that the PogoAlert would suit my needs and that my model of RA no longer would. Road Angels are very good but my VW speedo is both unacceptably inaccurate (13%) and has very poor graphics - The Audis are far superior. Consequently I want the biggest and best mph/kmh display I can get and the PogoAlert's is so good it's like having a windscreen heads-up system. You even have a choice of five different speed numeral colours, and whether to display small or large (as in my pic). As expected, the unit has all the brightness and contrast controls. The pic below shows how perfectly a driver (me!) can clearly see the road, the GLF signage, and mph, all at once. If I start writing about all the settings it'll end up the same as the 25 page manual except without its excellent illustrations. It's got just about everything you would expect, except perhaps data on 'possible mobile camera locations', but I've heard that that is probably coming and will be downloadable on existing units. It's faaaar more customisable than any Road Angel. If I have any criticism it's that when you are in a camera zone there's a lot of info to read on a small screen, but it doesn't stop you from driving within the designated speed limit. It comes in the box with a windscreen sucker bracket as well as a dashboard mount - Which is what I switched to once mine was hardwired. The windscreen mount is excellent with a pressure bar and vibration free. Whichever mount is used, the unit itself is infinitably adjustable in both plains, so you can angle it perfectly. I find that tilting it down slightly helps reduce light interference across its screen from outside. The unit is extremely well finished. A laser 'eye' is supplied which is easy to clip on or off by being attached to the windscreen bracket. You would need a small extra accessory ot fit it to the windscreen when the Pogo is dashmounted like mine. It's a bit naughty though, because on the box it says "Includes Laser Detection" - Yes, but what use is that when it's too late when the Pogo detects the laser hit? If travelling to a country where any kind of GPS-based camera device is illegal, then it's very easy to remove everything except the plastic dashboard mount as my pic below. The other lump is the aerial for my Alpine SatNav. TSNer Helfinger sells the PogoAlert and his web site is: HERE There are a lot of good illustrations and images on his web page. I bought mine from: HERE Where I was able to part exchange my Road Angel. Origin's techsupport is immediate and high quality. Edited July 22, 2008 by RedRobin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 Went up to GTI International yesterday - A round trip of 409 miles on all sorts of roads. I've got used to the small screen now and it communicates clearly. TSNer LeeR has one and is also enthusiastic about it. I'm able to watch my speed much more easily with the PogoAlert . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 What I don't get with these devices is why they don't make the power attacthment connect to the base/bracket, so it is just a case of sliding it in/out. Having to hook up the power cable too is a pain. I wish they would also do one with a small display, so the sreen and the brain is seperate, you could mount this very neatly in a position where you could leave it in the car all the time. I am thinking of mounting my Roadpilot MicroGo inside my rear view mirror, I would need to acid etch out the mirror backing but it would fit and look very, very neat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 18, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 [ QUOTE ] What I don't get with these devices is why they don't make the power attacthment connect to the base/bracket, so it is just a case of sliding it in/out. Having to hook up the power cable too is a pain. [/ QUOTE ] ....The PogoAlert does exactly that. I need to take and add another pic. The power base slides and locks into the mounted plastic base, and the unit slides in and out of the power base. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbucket Posted June 18, 2007 Report Share Posted June 18, 2007 You can separate the Pogo from the 'power base' as well but this leaves behind the tilting stand. Robins picture is with that bit removed as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nordberg Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] What I don't get with these devices is why they don't make the power attacthment connect to the base/bracket, so it is just a case of sliding it in/out. Having to hook up the power cable too is a pain. I wish they would also do one with a small display, so the sreen and the brain is seperate, you could mount this very neatly in a position where you could leave it in the car all the time. [/ QUOTE ] I had the Origin B2 years ago and that had such a connector. Problem is it was rubbish and I had to send it back 3 times. Maybe they learned their lesson..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helfinger Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 If any one is interested i do offer TSN discounts on these units so let me know if your interested> Pogo Alert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Here's the pic I didn't shoot earlier and which now shows the powered base. The knurled bar is for adjusting the angles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] If any one is interested i do offer TSN discounts on these units so let me know if your interested> Pogo Alert [/ QUOTE ] ....The only reason I didn't buy from you was because I got a fair price on part exchanging my Road Angel [which reminds me I need to send it to them!]. I'm doing my data updating through a good friend of mine who has a Windows PC....Until Mac support is launched. Thanks for all your advice about the PogoAlert on the phone . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRR Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 I agree with Robin, the PogoAlert is a brilliant little device I previously brought a PogoDrive (reviewed elsewhere here) which caused my 'other half' nothing but trouble and was finally refunded (I replaced it with a snooper Syrius which works flawlessly). This device (for my car replacing my "Road Pilot") is on a whole new level Origin / Pogo have really got it right this time I can't sing it's praises enough. My only criticism is it doesn't have a carry case for when you remove it from the car.... I can see the screen getting scratched in my pocket, or if placed in 'other halfs' hand bag Brilliant job Origin Lee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] My only criticism is it doesn't have a carry case for when you remove it from the car.... I can see the screen getting scratched in my pocket, or if placed in 'other halfs' hand bag [/ QUOTE ] ....I got a protective carry case with mine. I'm not sure it's produced for Origin, but it does the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfer Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Went up to GTI International yesterday - A round trip of 409 miles on all sorts of roads. I've got used to the small screen now and it communicates clearly. TSNer LeeR has one and is also enthusiastic about it. I'm able to watch my speed much more easily with the PogoAlert . [/ QUOTE ] How much are the annual updates. and does it use the same power connector as the RA2?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Annual updates fee is £50 (I think). Different voltage than New Road Angel but don't know about RA2. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golfer Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 [ QUOTE ] Annual updates fee is £50 (I think). Different voltage than New Road Angel but don't know about RA2. HTH [/ QUOTE ] RA2 is 12/13.4V standard, I was wondering what sort of PX I would get on mine against this one?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Pogo is 5V. I px'd mine at Networx Automotive: 0870 350 1345. I got £100 px for my New Road Angel. And you've got 14 days to send your RA in after you recieve your goods from Networx. They are quite open about what they do - Regularly sell them on fleeBay at a small profit but they gain from the quantity sold. I might have got £20 more by selling privately on fleeBay but I've avoided the hassle and commission and postage etc, so I'm very happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 Still too much crap all over the dashboard though, don't you think? This install of the Valentine 1 in the mirror is an excellent idea imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 Rear view mirror device looks very cool but as I like to watch my speed (6pts and 3 stops in 9 months!) the best place for me is still as in my first posted pic in this thread. How do you get on with the Valentine at night? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gizze Posted June 22, 2007 Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 That's not mine Robin. I have a MicroPilot Go, and I have to say I do appreciate it to the right of my instrument cluster more now I have the 3 series for exactly the reason you say. When I had the 5 series with the heads up display it was just a camera alert. That is how it looks when you focus on it. However when you look at the road ahead it seems to shrink and not annoy at all. I give it 5 years before every car has this feature, makes long journeys so much easier, you really benefit when you are getting tired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2007 .... That's ideal. The nearest I can get to that for now is the PogoAlert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khutula Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 Are there no rechargeable units that do a job like the PogoAlert - so that you don't have to have the dashboard furniture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 ....Road Angel now offer a rechargeable unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khutula Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 [ QUOTE ] ....Road Angel now offer a rechargeable unit. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks Robin Is that the Road Angel Plus? Does anybody have any experience of these? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
techieboy Posted June 30, 2007 Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 Snooper Sapphire has a rechargeable battery - although I only 3 - 4 hours out of mine. http://www.snooper.co.uk/snooper-sapphire.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted June 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2007 I generally don't favour rechargeable batteries - The concept is great but they invariably get worse and worse at recharging. Personally I don't mind the very minor amount of 'dashboard furniture' for the sake of no-maintenance hardwired reliability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRobin Posted July 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2007 I've got an issue with connectivity....Certain kinds of bumps in the road cause my Pogo to lose connection temporarily. We're going to check the hardwiring as a first step but Origin have said they are happy to replace my unit. My suspension isn't that hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now