Snoopers.... Do they really work ?

Snoopers.... Do they really work ?

Author
Discussion

abarber

1,686 posts

242 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Also, knowing which GATSO's are live is excellent and good fun. It's plenty good enough to just hack through and watch other people brake, just have a quick look to make sure the unit is on.

As for 20% live, well it depends where you are. Certainly around East / North London about 50% are emitting radar. In Bucks, Oxforshire can be hard to find a live one, probably close to the quoted 20%.

They also move the live ones around *very* regularly...

The V1 has picked up scatter from other cars twice now for laser, can't say for certain it saved me but certainly helped. Need another car to be targetted though, else only a jammer is going to help.

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Remember that even some with live radar don't have film in...

There are basically three types of standard Gatso (rear facing):

1) Dummy units, just an empty box

2) Dummy unit, live radar - this uses a cheaper radar unit, but still creates a 'live' reading. It doesn't have film in. More expensive than an empty box. Often spotted because they flash at oncoming cars as the cheapo radar can't tell the difference between approaching and retreating vehicles.

3a) Live unit, radar but no film - i.e. it's run out of film. It'll still flash but you won't get done.

3b) Live unit, radar and film. Errr, you're done if you go over the set limit (10%+2mph according to ACPO guidelines IIRC, ie 57mph in a 50 limit). Many units are set higher to avoid running out of film quickly and only getting the serious offenders.

So you can see that although Gatsos are prevalent, many are not 'dangerous'. They work on an 80-20 rule. Only 20 per cent being live will have 80 per cent the same effect as if they all are!

HTH
Domster

tiggy

Original Poster:

8 posts

241 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Interested to see the view that only Valentine or high end Bel units are any good.

On the Bel units which are the model numbers you would recommend and how much should you be paying ?

Matthew

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
People rate the Bel Euro model. Can't remember model number - 9sommat.

Let ukspeedtraps.co.uk be your guide.

rubystone

11,254 posts

260 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
Dom - I've been considering buying an LRC100 - cheapest I could get one was £250 - did you pay less?

I thought the LRC was the best one since it switched off as soon as it jammed the radar thus making it impossible for the BiB to get proof positive that you are using one.

I'd also heard that in others the diodes faded within quite a short period of time

domster

8,431 posts

271 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
I paid just over 200 for mine on fleabay.

It is not set up correctly; getting a lot of false alarms as it shares power with the stereo - the power to the LRC needs to be noise filtered I think.

I may be getting the uprated one at some point soon, and you could have the old LRC to play with for a few beers. Not sure I can be bothered to try and filter the thing and can't sell it on fleabay unless I get it working 100% for moral reasons.

ATB
D

flamingeye

24 posts

236 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
The question is: Would/do you have the balls to drive at speed past a camera even if you trust your detector? when you think it is a dummy/not live camera.
Bit risky! I haven't

turbobloke

104,025 posts

261 months

Wednesday 13th October 2004
quotequote all
flamingeye said:
The question is: Would/do you have the balls to drive at speed past a camera even if you trust your detector? when you think it is a dummy/not live camera. Bit risky! I haven't
Well not purely for that reason but yes, conditions etc permitting. Comments already made talk about the V1 and Bel detectors, got one of each in action and they are superb. If either one, from 50 - 100 yards back, doesn't emit anything as much as a squeak or fart, the camera is shooting blanks for sure.

rubystone

11,254 posts

260 months

Thursday 14th October 2004
quotequote all
OK Dom - deal done for a few beers and a ride in the pimpmobile (mine, not yours)