TOMTOM Cameras or Road Angel

[Neil.D]

Hi Guys,

Which do people consider to be the best camera/blackspot warning system?

I currently have a Tom Tom 720 which is great but Im thinking of getting a Road Angel for additional help.

If I just buy the TT speed camera Points of interest is there any point in me having a Road Angel at all? Or is the RA more superior at this type of thing?

Input appreciated.

Neil

...and remember, stay within the limits

[Ranger 6]

Use your tomtom and subscribe to the scamera database on pocketgpsworld - it's updated regularly and IMHO the database is excellent.

[Sticks2]

I've just started using a Road Angel and have an old TT 510.

The RA is good for blackspots etc, though there were less settings you could personalise the warnings with e.g TT can have a different sound for different safety camera speeds.

I've only tested the RA sat nav a couple of times and I'd have to say it seemed very good, but only if you knew where you were going.

I found the additional info on screen (such as time left etc) easier to read on the TT and I don't think what's displayed can be personalised so well on the RA.

[eljeffo64]

I just tried a mini coyote (I'm in France at present but they are available in blighty too) I forund it to be superb as it gives real time live updates; i.e as you are driving; for all the mobile cameras (the most dangerous for the licence) via the on board GSM data capability.

The effectiveness of the coyote is really dependant on lots of others using the same bit of kit - the more people updating live then the more current/safe you are. It has a great facility which tells you (if you are using it on a motorway for example) how many other coyote's are ahead of you and the distance they are in front of your position; it's most worrying when it shows no others in front as you are then the "pathfinder" on that stretch of road for the cameras. It works in the expected fashion for all the fixed cameras too. It's V popular here in France - wonder oif it shares the same popularity in Uk???

[Neil.D]

Havent heard of a coyote...!

I have paid and downloaded the Tom Tom camera database. Just need to work out how I set it up now.

Thanks guys.

[eljeffo64]

More popular here than where you are I guess - found it for sale in Blighty though:
http://shop.d2leisuregroup.co.uk/product323790265c...

[bigdods]

Ranger 6 said:

Use your tomtom and subscribe to the scamera database on pocketgpsworld - it's updated regularly and IMHO the database is excellent.

+1. I tried the tom tom camera database recently with my new 530 and it was useless. Lots of cameras that it didnt know about, lots more that it pinged for and didnt exist. Oh and it seemed to have every ANPR and CCTV camera recorded as speed cameras too. Pocketgpsworld database is ace.

If you've paid for the tomtom one just put it down to experience and pay again for the pocketgps one.

[Neil.D]

bigdods said:

Ranger 6 said:

Use your tomtom and subscribe to the scamera database on pocketgpsworld - it's updated regularly and IMHO the database is excellent.

+1. I tried the tom tom camera database recently with my new 530 and it was useless. Lots of cameras that it didnt know about, lots more that it pinged for and didnt exist. Oh and it seemed to have every ANPR and CCTV camera recorded as speed cameras too. Pocketgpsworld database is ace.

If you've paid for the tomtom one just put it down to experience and pay again for the pocketgps one.

Ill put that one down to experience then.

Noted and gpsworld one paid for and downloaded. Seems a lot better than the TT one I paid for. Oops...

Thanks for the advice.

[bigdods]

Dont forget, there are different flavours of database on pocketgpsworld. Go for the fully comprehensive one, then download one of the voice files to go with it.

[Neil.D]

bigdods said:

Dont forget, there are different flavours of database on pocketgpsworld. Go for the fully comprehensive one, then download one of the voice files to go with it.

Yes I got the comprehensive/complete one and have just finished setting it up.
What do you mean voices? What do they do? Im interested.

Neil

[Neil.D]

Ahhh cancel my last, I think I have got it, excellent stuff.

What was I thinking getting Tomtom OEM stuff....

[eljeffo64]

I have a tom tom 730 also, I agree it's superb for fixed cameras but not for the more dangerous mobile cameras - hence my interest in the mini coyote (earlier post here). I wonder if the Road Angel connected works as well as the coyote in this respect??

[ukspeedtraps]

Mini Coyote will be launched in November, £199.

I seen and played with one, a bit more basic than the Road Anagel, but then its less than the RA.

Very fast updates though, store a camera location and every one else has it in only a few seconds, including speedlimt info.

Steve

[997addict]

I'm even more confused now. I was trying to decide between the Pogo Alert (but has no battery to run off) or the RA Angel Connected which looks v good that can let you know if others have spotted camera (but gets mixed reviews).

Now this Coyotte has cropped up on this posting, is it worth waiting for this now?

[eljeffo64]

I'd say so but with one caveat: they work great when there are lots of others using them (like over here in France) - if you are an early adopter in Blighty then you are only able to use the already listed mobiles in the database on day one(until everyone is pressing the buttons like mad and adding the hot spots) that said it's only a matter of time - I rate them highly.

By the way the Tom Tom 730 that I use is way better than the OEM satnav in my 997S! - shame it can't be integrated in the same way........

[ukspeedtraps]

See http://www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk/CoyoteDATASHEETEmail...

Launch 11th Nov £199.99 subs aprox £99 pa or £170 per 2 years so I understand

[997addict]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Think I will wait a few weeks til the Coyotte is released and see what sort of reception it gets. Thanks for the link speedtraps looks like a neat unit. The best bit if it works is that you can see if there are other people on the road in front of you.

Yeah I know the sat nav in 997 is not the best and a bit slow, but a lot less hastle that a windscreen mounted unit. But off to France next week as will take my old Tom Tom with me.

[waremark]

997addict said:

Yeah I know the sat nav in 997 is not the best and a bit slow

Facelift car has 7" touchscreen model. I look forward to seeing it. (I use a Tomtom when on a journey alongside BMW iDrive and Merc systems - the OEM systems are just so far behind TT).

I am one of the 'suckers' using the TT database - I find it useful if not perfect, and easy to update. Will someone give more description of using the GPS World one on a TT? eg, how difficult is it to set up, can I choose not to have warnings for mobile sites, does it become either speed sensitive or direction sensitive (not warning if not at risk) etc? Thanks for any info.

[Neil.D]

So now I have bought the TT camera updates, 12months subscription, plus pocketgps worlds camera updates for a year...and I have got a road angel. If for nothing else other than the radar detection thing that it apparently has. Not know how effective it is, presumably once it detects the radar, they've got you.

Neil

[eljeffo64]

I think you have hit the nail on the head - no jammer = no protection, the detector will give just a warm feeling knowing your detector works when they pull you over (hope you don't have that misfortune though). I never bothered using mine with the RA (old model).