Micro RoadPilot.
GPS Warning System.

Above:
The micro RoadPilot on its mount
This is a brilliant little gadget that is great if you
are looking for something slightly more discreet to sit on your
windscreen. It is less than 5 centimetres in height and
width and sits on it’s own cradle on the windscreen or dashboard
and I can honestly say that I would not be without it.

Above.
Slightly more discreet than your average GPS system.
It is very well packaged and comes with a free
six-month database subscription.
There is what seems to be some quite complicated
wiring which can be daunting but providing you give yourself a
good half an hour and make sure that you read through the instructions
it is relatively straightforward to install. Alternatively you
may choose to have your Micro professionally installed. A list
of qualified installers is available from the RoadPilot website
or by calling RoadPilot direct where they will be able to advise
you of your closest outlet.
The unit has a single button operation, which you
press quickly to move through the menu and then hold to select
the option that you want. The settings are easy to adjust to your
own preference and there are a number of features, which allow
you to set the Micro exactly to your own specifications.
I would not say that the unit was completely portable
in that transferring it between vehicles would mean that you would
need to purchase additional cradles as these are permanently mounted
by sticky pads to the windscreen or dashboard. However, extra
cradles are available either from RoadPilot direct or via their
website.
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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.
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| 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.
All new camera’s entered onto your Micro will be uploaded
to the RoadPilot database the next time you synchronise
your unit. RoadPilot offer a unique feature by offering
a £20 discount off your next 6-month subscription
if you are the first subscriber to inform them of a new
camera when synchronising.
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)
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Date & Time |
GPS Info |
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Range
(Distance to next Camera
as the crow flies)
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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