Snooper S5 Radar/Laser Detector

Above: Snooper S5

Please Note. The S5 is not the same as the S5r.
The S5 is the older unit that was replaced by the S5r after problems with the S5.
The S5 however has better detection ranges than the new S5r according to
some emails I have received.

Snooper has brought out two new models, the S1 and the S5. I have been sent the S5 to review and I must say I was very skeptical with all the hype it came with.....

"The all NEW Snooper S5 is the result of many years of research and offers comprehensive, class leading detection of all radar and laser based speed traps. The Snooper S5 is set to be one of the biggest selling detectors around as it combines excellent detection range together with "Digital Logic", a new and unique filtration system that produces maximum sensitivity where you most need it, whilst ignoring the type of "False Alerts" often associated with cheaper radar detectors."

Yer! Yer! Yer! I thought, I have seen this with the older models from Snooper... but I had to give it a go.

The box consists of 1 x S5, 1 x Carry Case, Power leads, window suckers, Velcro pads and a very well laid out manual. The S5 does not look to bad either.

But the big question....... is it any good?

On powering up the units you get three options of "Logic Mode" they say put it on "Logic 3" (X band is off, Ka Band is off, Ku Band is off but K band and laser is on.)

The volume is not bad. The display is easy to read even in bright light and the controls are simple to use.

Driving around for the week with the S5, 1000 miles in my case, I found it to pick up very well, only a second or so behind the Valentine One, it is far better than I ever expected and Snooper have cracked it with this one. False alarms are very low on the S5 almost to the standard of the Bel 550 and the Valentine One.

So the Digital Logic Mode works well. The S5 is suitable for all of Europe because of its logic modes. It has the full 5 band coverage required.

So what tests did we do?

The most important one is the Gatso Test. We have a section of road that we use for all Gatso tests, it has one of the lowest radar scatter fields making it more of a challenge to Radar Detectors it also allows us to do the national speed limit if we want to. All the Radar detectors are tested in the same vehicles and in the same position on the windscreen.

The Snooper S5 was subjected to three passes using a stopwatch to time the unit from the first beep to the point of passing the Gatso to establish an average warning time . Speed was 60mph. Please note warning times can vary subject to conditions.