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"The UK SpeedTrap Guide"2008 - All you want to know..... |
| Defensive Equipment Tests. This Page covers equipment that I have been sent and with the help of a few friends (inc. Police) we put under test, and we will give you our views on the products, not the salesman's views. Not all manufactures of equipment want us to test their equipment, wonder why...? So all not all the equipment on the market may be tested. If you have any equipment you have bought and you want to send us your views on how well it works or doesn't for that, let us know. Send your review or comments  All Contents are ©Copyright 2005 Steve Warren. Tests may not be republished without permission. All rights reserved |
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Micro RoadPilot.
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There is a 300mm length of the wire from
the main unit to the easy to use system of plugs, which connects
all of the separate components together. You may find that you require additional extension cables in order to hide the bulk of wiring from view. These are also available as an accessory again either by calling RoadPilot direct or via their website. |
| The new LaserPilot now comes free with the Micro. This new version is much better and I have this installed discreetly in front of my rear view mirror. |
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 Camera Warning Screen. Your speed, Speed limit and proximity to camera. |
The camera alert is fantastic and I cannot fault it. The alarm only goes off when you are approaching a speed camera and as you can see will also give you the speed limit of the road. You know exactly what you need to reduce your speed to in order to ensure that the police do not get a Polaroid of your vehicle. Your vehicle speed is indicated on the left and the speed limit on the right. The bar at the top of the display indicates your distance from the camera. Apart from the temporary cameras on motorway roadwork's (which are moved almost daily it seems) and one or two very new cameras it has not missed one yet. However, I don’t synchronise my unit as often as I should for the amount of miles I do so maybe it wouldn't miss any. |
| If you
should pass a camera that is not on your database you just
press and hold the button on the cradle and this will be
stored for future trips. Certain roads have variable speed limits set like the stretch of M25 around Heathrow. Due to the variable speed limit in place here the unit has been stored with a speed limit of 30mph to ensure that the frequent changes don’t catch you out. Combined with the roadwork's currently being carried out on the M25 you are alerted pretty much all the way around this stretch of road. However, by just a quick press on the single button at the bottom of the cradle you can mute the unit until you have passed each camera. It will remember to switch itself back on again for the next one just in case you are likely to forget. There are 43 gantries along this stretch of the M25 alerting you to speed cameras by markings in the road but only 9 of these actually have cameras installed. The Micro is programmed to only alert you when there is actually a speed camera present so you no longer have to stamp on the brakes every time you reach another gantry |
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Compass (Fantastic when following directions from AutoRoute) |
Date & Time |
GPS Info |
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Range (Distance to next Camera as the crow flies) |
Satellites |
Trip Computer |
I like all of the additional features of the Micro but the
one I use the most is the trip computer. If like me you have
one of those fuel tanks that is sporadic when indicating your
remaining petrol you may do the same as me and judge it by the
miles you have completed since your last re-fuel. I now use
the trip computer when on a business trip to enable me to record
the exact mileage completed. Leaving the cars trip computer
to show me when I need to make a re-fuelling stop.
Software
The Micro comes with software to use on your PC enabling
synchronisation and database updates through the Internet.
I did have some problems with this due to the fact that my antiquated
PC still runs on Windows 98 but after speaking with a very good
and patient member of the technical support team this was corrected
following receipt of an email with new registry settings. Once
installed, you connect your Micro to your PC using a separate
cradle received in the box. Your PC will recognise your Micro
automatically and begin to update your system. Simple!
Overall
As I said before, I really like this device, in fact
I would probably go as far as to say I love it. It is small,
compact, discreet, easy to remove if you are parking in a dodgy
area, has bags of features and I honestly would not be without
it. I drive many miles each day for work and for business users
particularly I would say that the Micro RoadPilot is a must.
But I suppose the simple answer to the question of “would
I buy one?” is:
“Absolutely!”
Grant Jones, Wilmington, Kent
March 2005