see also Information on Radar Detectors - how they work (or dont....!)

18th April, 2003 - I bought a Road Angel from a PCGB Member recently and it is excellent. GPS based, very few false alarms, directional, update by modem, put your own "blackspots" in if you wish. Shows fixed, mobile sites, averaging cameras, and police / local authority blackspots. Rob F. talk to Stuart Cookson-Smith www.radar-detector-shop.co.uk

I have one in my 964 and generally I would say that it works well. It's a Cheetah which I purchased on the 24.8.95. may be out of date now. Cost £184.95 - Ken C

I've fitted the BEL 990 which, at £320 from Networx Tel: 01555-666444 networxltd@pipex.com seems a lot but not compared with fines/bans/taxis etc! It's great because the X-bands (not used in the UK) are "switchable-off" and therefore it will only warn on K, Ku & the dreaded Laser bands used over here. There are some false readings (from Supermarket/Filling Station electric doors etc) but you get used to reading the strength of the signal before jamming the anchors on! The Laser warning is instantaneous but in theory you can still avoid being nicked if you act quickly enough as I believe the old bill must track you for a minimum of 3 seconds (is that true?) - Dave B

GPS Radar Detector Sites. I saw an article in the Mail recently saying it was around £320 & needed to be updated regularly by new downloads or discs or something at £25 a throw so you kept up with the latest sites. Sounds like a good idea to me and I am waiting to find out where/when I can get one. (Anyone know any more yet?). The great thing about that is there would be no false readings & you can set it to notify you anything from 200 mts to 2 miles before encountering the things. (Obviously no good for Lasers but good for fixed Gatso sites and does also show the new time/distance cameras they're installing on motorways) - Dave B

UK police lasers work on the 'instant on' principle. i.e. there is no tell tail radar signal until plod presses the button -it takes 0.3sec to record your speed and give a readout. Now that is some reaction time to scrub speed off.......... Regards Melvin S

Laser: I'm sure when I was recently given a caution I was told he had not had time to lock-on to my car although he had a reading and I read in the Leading Edge Concepts mag that "...This time-of-flight measurement reveals your distance from the laser gun. Consecutive measurements of you distance over a period of time, typically 3 seconds, gives the information on how your distance is changing, i.e., your speed." BUT, in the same mag it says "...& record the speed within a second" ??? What's the truth???
Don't forget guys; if you ever receive a fixed penalty notice or notification of a pending summons relating specifically to a Gatso speeding offence; it must issued WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THE OFFENCE. If it ain't, you can (politely) tell the Ticket Office to withdraw it on this technicality - Dave B

The only comprehensive test I have seen for speed detectors was in EVO January 2000. Their recommended buy was the Bel 990 which was the only detector that gave warning of 'Mini Gatso's' and laser giving enough time to react. Laser jammers worked but the plod weren't amused so check their legality. Don't forget there is still VASCAR and worse still, Speedmaster which uses three rubber strips in the road and a roadside box. If it has two strips then it is a traffic flow monitor. The edition of evo is a good read for any Porsche-nut and can be purchased through the publishers. As a warning, if anyone uses the M1 between J15 - J18 and the lower part of the M6 beware of Un marked S70 T5 Volvo Saloons in burgundy and dark blue. I went whipping passed one after joining the M1 from the M45. He was sitting behind a lorry. Luckily his body language (nose high in the air, accelerating hard) gave him away and I managed to loose 50 mph before he got close enough to get a time. I did get a wagging finger as he went passed. Even close up you just don't see these cars. Beware. Winston B - 21st June, 2000
Ken, sorry old friend but the 14 day notice period only applies to gatsos. You would have to check with a lawyer but I think the plod have got 6 months to serve notice of a speeding offence.

Whoever recommended this site to me & others interested in "staying within the law" THANKS A LOT!! All you ever wanted to know about speeding. What a great site. http://www.brakehorsepower.com/speedtrap/speedtrap_bible.html - Dave B - 26th June, 2000

Dear Gary
Thanks for your interest in the GEODESY. Our first production run followed by testing should bring launch to July/August 2000. We have had an overwhelming response to publicity we have received from prototype testing by Motorcycle News, The SpeedTrap Bible and The SpeedTrap Guide. So much so that the majority of stock not yet manufactured has already been sold.
Customers are securing their GEODESY from the first batch by placing a refundable £50 cheque/credit card/debit card order by either posting their cheque to 1 Admiral Walk, Greenhithe, KENT, DA9 9QP or calling the Morpheous sales line on 0870 2401701. At the moment we are unable to offer a discount for large sales. Be sure to keep updated on Morpheous developments on our website: www.morpheous.co.uk
Independent testing has been done on the unit prototype and here are comments from the experts:
"Unlike radar and laser speed-trap detectors, GEODESY is a dash-top system that relies on Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology to alert a driver to an approaching, electronically mapped speed-trap...Assuming the traps have been set up in a known accident black spots, it will encourage users to take extra care when approaching them and thus make a valuable contribution to road safety. Obviously if the speed trap is simply there to earn revenue then the GEODESY helps to prevent it from doing so." Jargon Buster, The Daily Telegraph, June 10th 2000
"There is something about a couple of circuit boards stuck together which says high-tech. As the makers are attaching the device to my fairing, it almost seems a shame that they intend to hid all those micro electronics away in a plastic box...the prototype performed well in this limited test..." Steve Farrell, MCN
"On the 12th May I was privileged to be asked to join the Geodesy's development team for a sneak preview of this little wonder..The beauty of the Geodesy is that it's entirely legal. Because it's not using any form of radar detection system, there's not even a loophole that could be used to outlaw it. It is first and foremost a road safety aid based squarely on proven GPS navigation principles, and Morpheous have received excellent support from police forces all over the country in building up their database of known camera locations." Chris Longhurst's site, The SpeedTrap Bible www.speed-trap.co.uk
"The Geodesy is a UK SpeedTrap Guide Recommended Product for Build Quality and Outstanding Performance...Without doubt if you keep this unit up to date it will offer a great service...we gave it top marks for performance...Can we recommend it, YES, we can, THIS IS ANOTHER REAL TICKET SAVER." Steve Warren, The SpeedTrap Guide www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk
Any further information is available by e-mail: info@morpheous.co.uk or telephoning 0780 2401702. We look forward to launch. Yours sincerely Zarra Cooley Morpheous Ltd Tel: 0870 2401702 - 27th June, 2000