Camera alerts?
Discussion
My current car (2015 Touareg) has built in sat nav, which doesn't do camera alerts.
I thought about using my TomTom 610 in the car, but there isn't really anywhere sensible to mount it without blocking the windscreen, unless I use Brodit mount and dash clip. Not sure how physically stable this would be holding a 6" sat nav.
Dedicated "detectors" aren't cheap. I don't go out of my local area enough to justify spending the best part of £200.
Is there a reliable phone app for camera alerts? I'd like to leave an old Android phone, with no sim, permanently in the car, rather than having to remove my normal phone from it's case to pop it into a cradle each time I go out.
I don't need maps or traffic, just camera alerts, so it should work without a data connection.
I thought about using my TomTom 610 in the car, but there isn't really anywhere sensible to mount it without blocking the windscreen, unless I use Brodit mount and dash clip. Not sure how physically stable this would be holding a 6" sat nav.
Dedicated "detectors" aren't cheap. I don't go out of my local area enough to justify spending the best part of £200.
Is there a reliable phone app for camera alerts? I'd like to leave an old Android phone, with no sim, permanently in the car, rather than having to remove my normal phone from it's case to pop it into a cradle each time I go out.
I don't need maps or traffic, just camera alerts, so it should work without a data connection.
If you want the most up to date info including traffic and mobile cameras, you need data and hence a sim.
I bought a new car last year and ticked the sat nav box for an additional 900 quid.
I never use it as I need the most up to date info.
So a cheap plastic bendy spider like thing in the nearest air vent and my phone with Waze on it.
I didn't have it on the other day and got nabbed by a mobile camera, first time in years.
There are also speed camera apps but I'm sure you know that.
Can't think of any other device that can keep your wallet safe bar dedicated devices that need constant updating and have subscriptions.
If anyone knows a better way, I'm interested.
I bought a new car last year and ticked the sat nav box for an additional 900 quid.
I never use it as I need the most up to date info.
So a cheap plastic bendy spider like thing in the nearest air vent and my phone with Waze on it.
I didn't have it on the other day and got nabbed by a mobile camera, first time in years.
There are also speed camera apps but I'm sure you know that.
Can't think of any other device that can keep your wallet safe bar dedicated devices that need constant updating and have subscriptions.
If anyone knows a better way, I'm interested.
Ballpark figure for Waze data usage? I live in Cornwall, drive about 700 miles a month, so about 25 hours of use a month.
I could get a SIM only contract for the spare phone, £7 a month with BT, but only 500mb of data. Wondering if this would be sufficient?
Alternatively, could I use my main phone to create a wireless hotspot for the spare phone to use (NFC tag to switch it on automatically)? I have 2gb data allowance on my main phone contract, and only use a few hundred mb now that we have wifi at work.
Another alternative would be to use my main phone for Waze, if I could find a cradle/dock that worked without removing the phone from it's case each time. It's a Samsung S7 Edge in a leather book style case.
I could get a SIM only contract for the spare phone, £7 a month with BT, but only 500mb of data. Wondering if this would be sufficient?
Alternatively, could I use my main phone to create a wireless hotspot for the spare phone to use (NFC tag to switch it on automatically)? I have 2gb data allowance on my main phone contract, and only use a few hundred mb now that we have wifi at work.
Another alternative would be to use my main phone for Waze, if I could find a cradle/dock that worked without removing the phone from it's case each time. It's a Samsung S7 Edge in a leather book style case.
Only just spotted this thread, but dependant on which VW Infotainment you have in your car, it's highly likely you can add Speed Camera POI's
I have a brand new Golf R Estate & it was a doddle to add them onto the standard Navigation system. Two sources i'm aware of, the first is pocketworldgps with whom you'd take out a subscription, then download the relevant file/s & import them into your car. Another & to be honest cheaper & better method is off eBay. I bought the files from a fella on there for £4.99 (search for DISCOVER PRO, SKODA MIB COLUMBUS etc.) & you'll find the listing.
Advantage with these files are you get audible alerts which you won't get from the pocketwprldgps files.
I have a brand new Golf R Estate & it was a doddle to add them onto the standard Navigation system. Two sources i'm aware of, the first is pocketworldgps with whom you'd take out a subscription, then download the relevant file/s & import them into your car. Another & to be honest cheaper & better method is off eBay. I bought the files from a fella on there for £4.99 (search for DISCOVER PRO, SKODA MIB COLUMBUS etc.) & you'll find the listing.
Advantage with these files are you get audible alerts which you won't get from the pocketwprldgps files.
That's odd. I get a voice telling me red light cameras ahead, speed camera reported ahead, you are entering average speed zone etc
And the display shows the speed limit and your speed.
Mobile camera units have to be reported by the users so if you saw one not registered I hope you hit the police button
And the display shows the speed limit and your speed.
Mobile camera units have to be reported by the users so if you saw one not registered I hope you hit the police button
I just loaded the free version (is there a subscription upgrade?) and didn't have mobile data turned on as I was using an old PAYG phone. Not sure if that makes a difference, but I did get a spoken alert for the gatso.
I turned on all the options that I could find.
Looks like POI updates aren't possible for the nav fitted to my car (RNS850). The earlier and current infotainment systems will accept POI updates.
I turned on all the options that I could find.
Looks like POI updates aren't possible for the nav fitted to my car (RNS850). The earlier and current infotainment systems will accept POI updates.
Edited by clockworks on Wednesday 8th November 08:51
R0G said:
Why spend all that money when it is easy enough to stick to the limits - Unless I am missing something !?
Because clearly he's concerned about safety. As we know, cameras are only used to improve safety, so the presence of a camera in a given location indicates that this section of road is somehow hazardous, and he wants to be alerted when approaching it.croyde said:
Also I like to watch were I am going rather than keep gawping at my speedo.
We all proved we can keep to the limits in our basic training and test by glancing at the speedo so with experience that should become easier not harder ! - unless we are saying that we become crap drivers after passing ?I've managed to avoid getting a speeding ticket for 44 years, so it can be done by staying alert.
Back in the day, there were only really 3 speed limits to worry about - 30, 60 and 70. It was pretty obvious what the limit was, even without signs. Not the case now, where an empty dual carriageway could be a 30 limit, or a quiet rural road can be 40, 50 or 60. Miss one sign, and it's easy to get it wrong and be doing double the legal speed.
Modern cars with 8 speed autoboxes remove much of the sensation of speed, requiring constant checking of the speedo.
Accurate camera and speed warnings just mean less stressful driving, rather than the ability to break the limit without getting caught.
I've just seen that Garmin sat navs can be used in portrait mode, which means I could mount one to the left of the built in nav unit using a Brodit Proclip. My TomTom is too big to fit neatly without obstructing the windscreen. Garmin can use 3rd party camera files, TomTom can't.
Selling my TomTom 610 should raise enough cash to buy a Garmin 51, so that's probably what I'll do
Back in the day, there were only really 3 speed limits to worry about - 30, 60 and 70. It was pretty obvious what the limit was, even without signs. Not the case now, where an empty dual carriageway could be a 30 limit, or a quiet rural road can be 40, 50 or 60. Miss one sign, and it's easy to get it wrong and be doing double the legal speed.
Modern cars with 8 speed autoboxes remove much of the sensation of speed, requiring constant checking of the speedo.
Accurate camera and speed warnings just mean less stressful driving, rather than the ability to break the limit without getting caught.
I've just seen that Garmin sat navs can be used in portrait mode, which means I could mount one to the left of the built in nav unit using a Brodit Proclip. My TomTom is too big to fit neatly without obstructing the windscreen. Garmin can use 3rd party camera files, TomTom can't.
Selling my TomTom 610 should raise enough cash to buy a Garmin 51, so that's probably what I'll do
Davidonly said:
R0G said:
We all proved we can keep to the limits in our basic training and test by glancing at the speedo so with experience that should become easier not harder ! - unless we are saying that we become crap drivers after passing ?
OMG - please refer yourself for brain removal ROGI have said nothing that would not be expected of a reasonably safe competent driver
Edited by R0G on Thursday 9th November 20:49
Edited by R0G on Thursday 9th November 20:49
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