UK Speedtrap Guide. Radar, GPS and Laser radar detector guide.

Well my first ever review and I am given the Road Angel 2 for a literal road test.

I have to admit to be a little bit daunted at first when this box of wires arrived with the Road Angel unit but the instructions are very easy to follow even for a complete novice like myself.

Installation is very simple taking no more than 15 minutes and the mounting unit attaches very securely to the windscreen. I have now been using the Road Angel for almost 2 months and unlike the usual suction cup mountings that I have used before for mobile phones. The Road Angels mounting has as yet never come away from the windscreen. Take heed of the note in the instructions regarding heated windscreens. I drive a Ford Focus with one of these windscreens and whilst the Road Angel will still work in the centre of the screen it is well advised to position it to the side if possible as the signal will be less impaired. There is a remote antenna option for UV or heated screens if needed.

Choose either the short coiled power cable or the longer cable depending on your preference and the Road Angel fires up very quickly. One criticism I would have is that while the longer cable is considerably longer it doesn’t quite give you enough to run the cable from a power socket at the back of the car. This would leave the power socket in the front of the car for your Palm device or laptop to use your Road Angel in conjunction with any mapping software that you may have utilizing the excellent GPS facility included on the unit.

The Road Angel is then ready to use, plug and play so to speak. However, there are a number of different settings for you to play around with and change to make the Road Angel more suited to your requirements. I would particularly recommend the single beep feature, speed volume and low speed mute options to prevent you jumping out of your skin whenever the unit is activated.

I use the Road Angel now for every journey and have been amazed at the amount of information contained in this tiny device. In fact the only Speed Cameras that it has not warned me about have been either newly installed or the ones that are regularly moved within the many roadwork’s taking place up and down the country. You can even set the Range that the Road Angel alerts you of an impending yellow box from 250 metres up to 1000 metres.

The Average Speed Camera alert is I have to say particularly annoying with continual beeps while you are in the zone. However, this does make you pay attention to your speed so it is only doing the job for which it is intended.

If, like me you also need to travel into London the Congestion Charge alert is most useful. I am always getting lost or trying new routes to avoid the charge and have on occasion thought that I have strayed into the zone. I end up paying the £5 charge just in case and now I don’t have to. If I stray into the zone while on my travels the Road Angel lets me know and only then do I pay the charge.

You will be amazed at the number of Accident Black Spots that there are as well and when the Road Angel alerts you that you are getting close, you do automatically check your speed and braking distance.

Overall I am very impressed with the Road Angel 2 and will have to buy another one when my wife steals it for her car. She has only driven my car with the Road Angel guarding her a few times and has already commented that she not only misses it, but doesn’t feel as safe without it in the car.

My advise to you is don’t look at this as a gadget or a toy, look at the Road Angel as an investment. Most people get caught at some point by one of the growing number of cameras out there and whether you believe that they are a necessity or a money making tool for local government or police forces the Road Angel will give you that extra bit of protection for very little outlay. Remember, Points on your licence doesn’t only mean a fine it could also increase your insurance premiums.

Features list

Voice Alert - Switch voice Alerts on or off
Camera Alert volume – Changes the volume setting for safety camera related warnings. 0%-100% in 20% increments.
Camera alert single beep – Switch alert on or off, as each proximity bar counts up it will emit a single beep.
Safety Alert Volume – changes the volume setting for Blackspot, School and congestion related warnings. 0%-100% in 20% increments.
Safety Alert single beep – Switch alert on or off, as each proximity bar counts up it will emit a single beep.
Blackspot alert – Switch Blackspot alerts on or off.
School zone alert – Switch School alerts on or off.
Congestion zone alert – switch congestion zone entry warnings on or off.
Overspeed alert – Set a speed at which the unit will warn if you exceed the speed.
Laser alert volume – changes the volume for laser detection warnings. 0%-100% in 20% increments.
Laser Alert – turns on or off the internal laser detection. Sensors plugged into auxiliary socket will still warn.
Slow speed mute – When travelling less than 15MPH the unit will not give an audible warning. If you enter a zone below 15MPH you will hear a single beep, followed by the proximity count up.
Speed sensitive volume – Adjust the warning volumes dependent on how fast the vehicle is travelling.
Alert distance – adjusts the warning range as you approach warnings. 250M, 500M and 1KM.
Speed distance sensitivity – Doubles the advanced warning at 50MPH and above. Switch on or off.
Mapping Output – Switches NMEA data for interfacing into Mapping Software on or off. (Requires extra cable available from Blackspot Interactive Ltd).
Mapping Baud Rate – Switch between 4800, 9600, 19200 baud rate.
GPS/RescueLoc – This function allows the user to read off their exact position in Latitude and Longitude, in degrees, minutes and seconds. This can be quoted to rescue services.
Unit Serial Number – displays the serial number of the unit.
Firmware Version – displays the firmware version of the unit.
Contrast – Adjusts the contrast of the display,1-20.
Speed Units – Alters the display readout between MPH and km/h
High Intense LED – Turn the high intensity LED on or off for warnings.
Clock Adjust – Enables the user to adjust the time offset.
Mute – To mute ROAD ANGEL when entering a danger zone, simply press MENU.

There are several connection ports on the back of the Road Angel. The Road Angel has a remote antenna connection, this allows you to hide the unit or deal with problem windscreens. Auxiliary port, for adding modular accessories such as the remote laser alert heads. USB port for up-dating. Serial port for mapping and other stuff, Power socket and ear piece socket.

In Use

The ROAD ANGEL will give you a warning of 6 different zone types. Zones are shown on the display as a picture. When a stored location is approached the display will turn from blue to red with the type of warning shown on the display. The unit will give both voice and beep alerts and the first bar of the proximity will count up. As the location is neared, the bar chart will count up and the beeping frequency is increased. The high intensity LED never fails to grab you attention and is a smart idea for those that can't resist having the stereo up high. Its as simple as that.

When a congestion zone is approached, the "congestion zone" symbol will appear on the display with a single beep to warn you. The back light will stay blue.

When your vehicle is targeted by a mobile laser gun, ROAD ANGEL will instantly flash 5 bars and give voice alerts and beep quickly.

Where the authorities have designated a long section of road for average speed detection (SPECS) the ROAD ANGEL counts down as normal but remains red throughout the detection zone and beeps as a reminder every 10 seconds.

We found the laser to work just fine and the range of detection was greater than the range of our gun.

Can we recommend it, Yes.

My advise to you is don’t look at this as a gadget or a toy, look at the Road Angel as an investment.

Most people get caught at some point by one of the growing number of cameras out there and whether you believe that they are a necessity or a money making tool for local government or police forces the Road Angel will give you that extra bit of protection for very little outlay.

Remember, Points on your licence doesn’t only mean a fine it could also increase your insurance premiums.

Blackspot Interactive Ltd. Road Angel GPS Warning System.

Features list

In Use

Can we recommend it, Yes.

My advise to you is don’t look at this as a gadget or a toy, look at the Road Angel as an investment.

Get a Road Angel today, can you afford not to?