Snooper S6 R-Neo
Discussion
Thanks to another kindly Pistonheader I am now in possesion of a Snooper S6 R-Neo GPS detector with remote radar/laser detector. I have not played with the radar/laser bit yet as I will eventually mount that behind the car's front grill. The GPS unit is quite something in itself though.
Thoughts so far:
It missed the first 2 GATSOs I came across. Not ideal I know but I can be somewhat forgiving given that the GATSOs only appeared very recently and that I can put them into memory to upload them immediately. The next time the unit alarmed, I was thinking where on earth is the GATSO? It was 400m ahead of me tucked behind a road sign. 400m was plenty of warning - but the user can select advanced notification upto 1 km away.
Next camera system detected was the SPECS in use on the M62 roadworks north of Manchester. System was very impressive with these - counting the 7 cameras as I went through and then alerting me that I had reached the end of the sequence. If going over the speed limit here it beeps to warn. Soon as speed comes down under the limit it just gives the occasional warning flash to remind to keep going slow.
The kit comes with all manner of fittings and fixings allowing numerous ways of mounting the head unit and the RLD. There is also a comprehensive list of accessoried that can be purchased so mounting in more than one car need not be a problem.
Also, I noted that the car speedo runs at around 4-5mph over the speed indicated by GPS. Interesting to know that when passing through roadworks at 50mph, I was actually only doing 45mph according to the Snooper. So some built in safety there.
Overall, this is a promising piece of kit. I found it best to mount it on the dashboard as close as me as possible to get a good view of its screen without any reflection. Further 'trials' with it to explore its numerous capabilities will hopefully lead to a permanent installation in the Tuscan.
Thoughts so far:
It missed the first 2 GATSOs I came across. Not ideal I know but I can be somewhat forgiving given that the GATSOs only appeared very recently and that I can put them into memory to upload them immediately. The next time the unit alarmed, I was thinking where on earth is the GATSO? It was 400m ahead of me tucked behind a road sign. 400m was plenty of warning - but the user can select advanced notification upto 1 km away.
Next camera system detected was the SPECS in use on the M62 roadworks north of Manchester. System was very impressive with these - counting the 7 cameras as I went through and then alerting me that I had reached the end of the sequence. If going over the speed limit here it beeps to warn. Soon as speed comes down under the limit it just gives the occasional warning flash to remind to keep going slow.
The kit comes with all manner of fittings and fixings allowing numerous ways of mounting the head unit and the RLD. There is also a comprehensive list of accessoried that can be purchased so mounting in more than one car need not be a problem.
Also, I noted that the car speedo runs at around 4-5mph over the speed indicated by GPS. Interesting to know that when passing through roadworks at 50mph, I was actually only doing 45mph according to the Snooper. So some built in safety there.
Overall, this is a promising piece of kit. I found it best to mount it on the dashboard as close as me as possible to get a good view of its screen without any reflection. Further 'trials' with it to explore its numerous capabilities will hopefully lead to a permanent installation in the Tuscan.
I hope you have more success with it than I did - see www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=10&h=&t=25495
Yes, saw that before Nick - and then took a chance! I think everyone has to face fact that the only way to not be done for speeding - is not to speed. Everything else increases driver awareness and reduces the chances. I am quite pleased with my Snooper - but have to say that every GPS device and every radar detector I have ever seen makes the inside of a car look untidy - and there are no exceptions. I look forward to warmer weather when I can make a more permanent under bonnet installation of the LRD unit - for those 'just in case' moments. That will hide most of the wires where I don't have to see them.
What was the problem with your Snooper? Did you persist with it?
What was the problem with your Snooper? Did you persist with it?
No I didn't - the GPS unit didn't alert me to a couple of cameras but I could have lived with that as the system was still in its infancy.
However, the thing that really bothered me was the false alarms from the laser/radar detector which were constant. I'm not sure if this is due to where I live (central London) or whether it was broken but I couldn't live with it on.
Also, like you, I was concerned that once installed it would make the dash look a mess so to keep it it had to work 100% - which it didn't.
I'd be interested to know how you get on - hopefully I just got a faulty unit. Also, I'd be interested in seeing any pictures you can take of the install, in particular whether you manage to install the detector under the bonnet - I wasn't sure that the holes on the grille would be big enough for the detector to work.
Good luck.
However, the thing that really bothered me was the false alarms from the laser/radar detector which were constant. I'm not sure if this is due to where I live (central London) or whether it was broken but I couldn't live with it on.
Also, like you, I was concerned that once installed it would make the dash look a mess so to keep it it had to work 100% - which it didn't.
I'd be interested to know how you get on - hopefully I just got a faulty unit. Also, I'd be interested in seeing any pictures you can take of the install, in particular whether you manage to install the detector under the bonnet - I wasn't sure that the holes on the grille would be big enough for the detector to work.
Good luck.
I take your point Nick. False alarms are a real annoyance with radar/laser detectors. I've had a couple now, the latest being a Bel STi Europe on which the frequencies are programmable to get over this problem. There are loads of devices using X band including pelican crossings, automatic doors outside B&Q etc. K band can be set off by mobile phone masts. I'll have to study the logic settings of the Snooper, but failing that I will revert to switching the radar off but leaving the laser on. I have not seen Police use radar 'hairdryers' for a while now - and laser is more discrete.
Not checked the place for the installation on the Tuscan. But given that I drive around 25,000 miles a year in my company Lexus, I may well get my money's worth more by fitting it to that instead. If that works OK, I could always buy the add on radar/laser for additional £150.00. Problem is that TVRs are very unsubtle cars - loud, raucous and obvioulsy quick. The BiB would easily single one out in traffic for special attention. If stopped via VASCAR, I would like to whip out the head unit and hide it quickly!
As I get more experience with the Snooper, I'll post an update. I'll probably have to do a temporary rig up with the RLD and see how it gets on. The S5 on which it is based gets rated nearly as highly as a Valentine One on one of the speeding websites so it will be very interesting to see how it compares.
Not checked the place for the installation on the Tuscan. But given that I drive around 25,000 miles a year in my company Lexus, I may well get my money's worth more by fitting it to that instead. If that works OK, I could always buy the add on radar/laser for additional £150.00. Problem is that TVRs are very unsubtle cars - loud, raucous and obvioulsy quick. The BiB would easily single one out in traffic for special attention. If stopped via VASCAR, I would like to whip out the head unit and hide it quickly!
As I get more experience with the Snooper, I'll post an update. I'll probably have to do a temporary rig up with the RLD and see how it gets on. The S5 on which it is based gets rated nearly as highly as a Valentine One on one of the speeding websites so it will be very interesting to see how it compares.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff