Speed Camera detectors

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:09 pm

After a recent trip into the City through South London where there now seem to be an alarming number of 20mph zones on the main arterial roads, I'm seriously considering getting a speed camera warning device

I've been having a look at the Cheetah C550 which seems to get good reviews and has a lifetime update subscription available for £35 extra

Has anyone got experience of these devices that they can share?

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:19 pm

Watching with interest as I am a nervous wreck when venturing inside the M25 due to the cameras littered everywhere.

I tried Waze, but could not get on with it as it does not warn you if you are not exceeding the limit - which makes it useless when you are just about to overtake a bike and increasing your speed just before an unknown camera somwhere.

85genius · Post by **85genius** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:25 pm

I've got a custom nav disc that warns me when I'm approaching a speed camera, its brilliant now but I guess it could get expensive trying to ensure its always up to date

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:30 pm

85genius wrote:I've got a custom nav disc that warns me when I'm approaching a speed camera, its brilliant now but I guess it could get expensive trying to ensure its always up to date

That's the main issue with the SatNav POI cams, I think that a dedicated device will be likely perform better plus it can be moved from vehicle to vehicle - I'm thinking of hardwiring it next to the rear-view mirror in the Alpina and buying an additional mount for use in the X3 (with the possibility of a hardwired power supply if I can find a convenient switched live)

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:33 pm

X3 live in centre console behind the cigarette lighter - you have to remove the side panel for it to access it.

Alternatively, I used a switched live for the dash cam in my dad's X3 by using the fusebox piggy back fuse on an unused circuit.

Having left the only detector I had in my M which Bing is using now, I am without which is not a good feeling.

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:36 pm

pvr wrote:Watching with interest as I am a nervous wreck when venturing inside the M25 due to the cameras littered everywhere.

I tried Waze, but could not get on with it as it does not warn you if you are not exceeding the limit - which makes it useless when you are just about to overtake a bike and increasing your speed just before an unknown camera somwhere.

Yeah, one of the things I like about the Cheetah unit is that you can switch its 'Whisper mode' on/off at will so you can suppress alerts if you're under the speed limit on, say, a motorway but enable them if you're in town.

It also has an adjustable tolerance level so you can set it to only alert you if you're, say, more than 10% over the speed limit - which I think could be very useful

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:39 pm

pvr wrote:X3 live in centre console behind the cigarette lighter - you have to remove the side panel for it to access it.

Alternatively, I used a switched live for the dash cam in my dad's X3 by using the fusebox piggy back fuse on an unused circuit.

I'll need to workout where it's best to site it in the X3 - if it's up by the rear-view mirror, there should be a switched live there for the rain sensor

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:44 pm

That manual override is great, as I would want to be warned everywhere there is a camera - whether under the limit or not. Rather warned to often than have a dangerous situation that halfway an overtake you have to hit the anchors for a camera.

I had a look at the rain sensor for my dad's X3 - but in the end I found it quicker to route it around the window surround to the fuse box. I could not get the plastic off the rain sensor as it seems a little more challenging than the flimsy cover from the Z.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 1:47 pm

Perry - would you need / want to see the unit as such? I think I would be tempted to mount it under the dash as I just want to hear it.

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:10 pm

pvr wrote:Perry - would you need / want to see the unit as such? I think I would be tempted to mount it under the dash as I just want to hear it.

That may work in the X3 as long as it's not drowned out by the stereo but, in a convertible, I think it needs to be visible due to the ambient noise at speed with the roof down.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:16 pm

What sort of exhaust do you have that you have that much noise at 20 mph

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:17 pm

Oh, and ask Bing how clear the sound is with the roof down, approx 100 mph on the French motorways ....

PerryGunn · Post by **PerryGunn** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 2:50 pm

pvr wrote:Oh, and ask Bing how clear the sound is with the roof down, approx 100 mph on the French motorways ....

Thought his detector was broken and he couldn't get a replacement part 'coz you sold him outdated tech...

Anyway, when/if I get one, I'll try it in various places to find where it works best for me

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 3:01 pm

Waze does now show the speed limit for where you are, an reduced limits In motorway roadworks, although it doesn't yet cover every road

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Aug 01, 2016 3:28 pm

markplant wrote:Waze does now show the speed limit for where you are, an reduced limits In motorway roadworks, although it doesn't yet cover every road

But I can not see my phone - so just want to hear the warning when there is a camera which it still does not do though unless I exceed the limit?

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