Cheap Laser / Radar detectors (car, mostly)-reccomendations?

[G]

I've been meaning to get a Laser/Radar detector for ages, but never quite justified the expense.

Following a link on another forum, I had a look on ebay and noticed that they can be got for reasonable money these days.
Seeing that 14days is just up (I hope) after a seeing a front facing van a bit too late a couple of weeks ok, I've been reminded it would be useful again.

Anybody got any experience with the cheap ones, any reccomendations etc?
If it could fit work with a bike as well, that would be a bonus, but not essential as I'm less bothered with a bike, sd it's harder for them to do you from the front, etc.

[flat spot]

Just before you spend your money. They are becoming illegal soon. 3 points and a fine if you get caught.

[tribal_tiger]

Get a shark with a Frickin lazzzzer instead then.

Better still, mutant sharks with Frickin Lazzzerrrrrrrrs

https://users.adelphia.net/~33h3q/shark.jpg
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How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could Chuck Norris?

All of it.

[m0l0t0v]

[G]

[beans]

I got the latest version of road angel for xmas and have found it very good. Warns me in plenty of time and the flashing lights and loud beeping always alerts me no matter how much i have the radio turned up. Its saved me countless times as I do alot of miles and dont always know where the cameras are.

I update it every month for free (6months free updates). I have been told the laser detetor can be disabled online incase they are made illegal.

It alerts of all cameras (average speed, gatso,truvelo, mobile, laser etc) currently used and tells you the speed your doing accuratly. Its suprising how far out my car speedo is (02 reg focus), seems to be 5mph untill about 100mph when it gets worse indecated 125 was only 110-115.

They do a bike kit for it which comes with headphones and all neccesary wiring and securing, i havnt bought this yet as i havnt realy done many miles on the bike this year. I will definetly look into this in the summer when im on the bike more often as if i loose my licience i loose my job.
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Yamaha FS1E- Suzuki RG 125 - Honda CB-1- Ducati Monster - Kawasaki ZX6-R F1- Kawasaki ZX6-R G1- 2003 Yamaha R6

[G]

I don't really want a GPS based one, cheers for the thoughts anyway.

[flat spot]

GPS ones will stay legal. after all, how could the government argue against something that tells you there's an accident blackspot?Throwing the safety argument right back at them

The jammers and detectors for mobile radar and laser will become illegal.

Here's a link.... https://www.pistonheads.com/speed/default.asp?storyId=9581

Although like everything else it takes ages to come in.

[G]

Note the date on the link - this has been bandied about for a bit, but I haven't seen any dates for any time soon.

I'm specifically looking for something that can get mobile camera vans etc.

[Zimbo]

I shouldn't bother, G. I've used the detectors for years and they're pretty variable.
The radar detectors don't work that well, they do pick up gatsos but as the radar output is fairly weak and points away from you (so it measures your speed once you're past it) you often get only a second or two of warning - more if you're following another car as the radar reflects off the rear of the car in front and you pick it up sooner. It also picks up automatic door opener sensors which operate on a similar waveband so is likely to go off as you pass every garage, supermarket etc and drive you mad with false alerts. You'll get no warning of Truvelos or Specs cameras at all. And, as above, they're soon to be made illegal.
Laser detectors are of limited use all round, laser devices lock on and measure your speed in 0.3 seconds so not much time to react. In addition, laser guns target their beam in a very narrow cone, which projects to about 3 feet diameter at 1000 yards, so at 300 yards the cone is just over a foot across and aimed at your numberplate, a device mounted in the windscreen won't even pick up that your speed has been measured a lot of the time. You need a device located in the front grill to work effectively. Again, windscreen mounted ones may pick up laser scatter from the car in front, but obviously this is not a reliable method of avoiding points! The only effective device against lasers is a diffuser, which bounces a light signal back and confuses the speed gun, but they aren't legal for use i the UK.
GPS systems are the only ones to reliably warn of all fixed camera sites, and many will also warn of laser sites too (most camera partnerships operate at only a handfull of specified sites in their region).
Final option - a GPS nav system with camera locations downloaded and set to warn you as you approach. This is the method I use these days and it works well.

[G]

Cheers for the thoughts.

Generally I'm ok with Gatsos etc (said touching some wood!) as I'm generally quite paranoid. It's the sneaky people with guns I'm worried about.

I know there's no warning of specs, but luckily it's generally well signposted at the moment.

I do have a GPS which I need to sort the mapping for - I know you can get POS files listing places.

Having been in a car with someone that had a detector a few years ago, I was quite impressed at how well it worked, may have been an expensive one, though.

[DucatiEVO]

As I recall the only 'radar' version I know of that actually worked properly, and didn't go off past every supermarket was one of the high-end Bell models, but it was £500+ I guess you get what you pay for in this case.
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aKa: Ducky

[Zimbo]

[Giffer2]

[flat spot]

Here you go........... https://www.computeractive.co.uk/computeractive/news/2184190/speed-detection-devices

[G]

Cheers, bad timing as I was just thinking about it again after talking to a boy-racerish person at work who reckons his works well for him.