Road Angel Professional Connected

[allroadman]

Well , to give them credit they called back, and emailed me instructions on how to do an upgrade to it. Did take me a while to go through it all, but i have to say i used the Road Angel this morning and for the first time it seems to be working ! Will see how i fair with it over the next few weeks.

[kiforrest]

Keep us all posted. Was about to order one until I came across this thread.... now in 2 minds but will watch this space for a while longer until I buy anything

[shark_90]

Welcome to Tyresmoke.. and I'm sorry the first post you read had to be of us all moaning!

[craigyb]

My advice would be to avoid the RA connected and go with the Pogo ALert, the Database for the pogo is far more accurate than RA's despite their protests to the opposite.

Edited September 3, 2008 by craigyb

[kiforrest]

Thanks for the welcome and advice chaps. Gutted the RA Connected is so poor as it sounded like the ideal device.

I am a bit of noob on this sort of thing... Are the RA Connected and the Pogo Alert just GPS devices or are they detectors as well? Apologies in advance if the question is naive

Thanks

[burble]

The Pogo is a GPS device that comes with a laser detector. My laser detector has never worked though but I'm not bothered because by the time it would have told me about a laser I would have been caught.

One of the recent Pogo updates means that the unit now warns you of possible laser sites - nice touch.

[RedRobin]

The Pogo is a GPS device that comes with a laser detector. My laser detector has never worked though but I'm not bothered because by the time it would have told me about a laser I would have been caught.

One of the recent Pogo updates means that the unit now warns you of possible laser sites - nice touch.

....Exactly, it's pointless having a laser detector - They only alert you at the moment of the hit and their physical presence can get you off on the wrong footing if you've been pulled - Especially in parts of Europe.

The PogoAlert new alerts of possible laser sites is very unobtrusive if you are travelling at under the particular limit and with a useful voice warning if you are over. Such a device is a very real driving aid to enjoying faster driving but staying within the law.

[PetrolDave]

....Exactly, it's pointless having a laser detector - They only alert you at the moment of the hit and their physical presence can get you off on the wrong footing if you've been pulled - Especially in parts of Europe.

If you take a laser detector with you when you go to France they can confiscate it and fine you on the spot (I've even heard one report of a car being impounded).

I take my PogoAlert with me when we go to France and switch it to km/h display so I get an accurate "local" speedo.

[wyliss]

Slighty off topic for a mo. After reading this thread I am now slightly steering clear of the RA, which other units would you guys recommend which do a good job, are not much hastle in way of connecting up/using and also one which fits in well re positioning in the car out of a possible thieves sight?

TIA

[PetrolDave]

which other units would you guys recommend which do a good job, are not much hastle in way of connecting up/using and also one which fits in well re positioning in the car out of a possible thieves sight?

TIA

I use a PogoAlert. The base is permanently wired and I just unplug the unit and take it with me when I park (don't leave it in the glovebox, that's the first place the "light fingered mob" will look).

[rovermorris999]

I've recently bought a RA Pro Connected and it seems a good piece of kit. I've had no problems picking up satellites, perhaps those who do need an external antenna due to their windscreen design?

Regarding the 'false' alerts for camera van sites, all any device can do is warn you of locations where vans are sometimes sited, to slate the RA for not having a crystal ball is a bit harsh. At least with the Connected it is possible to let any other user know of an active site by pressing one button, hardly a difficult task.

I've not used it enough yet to comment on the battery charging probelms some people have had, but if the unit will charge when the temperature is under 40 degrees C, who has a car that hot? No aircon? Yes it could get that hot on a dash when parked in the sun, so the answer is to not leave it on the dash when you're not driving! It's inviting thieves anyway.

The cost? My unit cost me £250 delivered, then £4.99 per month, under £60 per year, or one SP30 to put it in context. A drop in a bucket when running a fun car.

I'm sure there are other units which do much the same but it's nice not to have to muck about with pc leads regularly. If I have any problems with the unit I'll post on here, but up to now I'm happy with it.

[craigyb]

Well I used my RA pro on a 480 mile journey today, its database is woefully out of date. sections of the M1 around Hemel Hempstead, I was 1 mile in before I got any warnings.

The unit may be behaving itself as far as charging and picking up satelites goes ,but I find the data provided inaccurate compared with other manufacturers.

[grahammackie]

Craig,

I also drove down the M1 today and my device accurately reflected the average speed zones as they are currently set up i.e. the zone started at the first gantry southbound and continued until I left the zone onto the M25.

As I have always said if you send us details of the stretch of road in question we will come back to you with answer as to why your device is doing what it is doing.

regards

Graham Mackie

MD

Road Angel Group

[craigyb]

Graham

I drove up the M1 today, not down.

You can carry on saying how accurate your database is, but I assure you I was in the zone, I think I passed two gantrys and then I got the warnings.

I went down the M40 into London

[zippier]

is no one concerned about the fact that the information regarding your whereabouts, potentially your speed and other data could be logged and there's a distinct lack of any comprehensive set of terms regarding the use of this data and questions asked about this being ignored?

[RedRobin]

is no one concerned about the fact that the information regarding your whereabouts, potentially your speed and other data could be logged and there's a distinct lack of any comprehensive set of terms regarding the use of this data and questions asked about this being ignored?

....Yes and No.

No - Because such data could be used to your advantage to prove something. The advantages of these devices outweigh the disadvantages because they provide a real aid to enjoying driving fast but within the law.

Yes - If the collection of such data automatically actioned a fine etc every time you exceeded any speed limit anywhere.

A person's general whereabouts is already trackable. I'm not saying that it's right but I personally don't find this a problem.

[grahammackie]

is no one concerned about the fact that the information regarding your whereabouts, potentially your speed and other data could be logged and there's a distinct lack of any comprehensive set of terms regarding the use of this data and questions asked about this being ignored?

Zippier - like all professional organisations any information we hold/receive is covered by the data protection act and is never released without your permission.

You may have noticed that the new TomTom Connected Sat Nav's being launched in the Autumn are pre-loaded with the Road Angel Safety camera database. These devices also bring HD traffic to the UK - that is traffic information that is collected by querying the location, heading and speed of milion's of Vodafone sim cards so there is no shortage of people who already know where you are and how fast you are travelling

CraigyB - mail me on graham dot mackie at roadangelgroup dot com as I have a deal for you

regards

[RedRobin]

These devices also bring HD traffic to the UK - that is traffic information that is collected by querying the location, heading and speed of milion's of Vodafone sim cards so there is no shortage of people who already know where you are and how fast you are travelling

....My curiosity is aroused! Does that mean that if you are travelling with your mobile phone on (in my pocket in my case), your movements and speed is trackable? - I'm not sure I've understood your posted info correctly.

Thanks,

Robin

[Golfer]

....My curiosity is aroused! Does that mean that if you are travelling with your mobile phone on (in my pocket in my case), your movements and speed is trackable? - I'm not sure I've understood your posted info correctly.

Thanks,

Robin

Your where abouts is tracked Yes , speed not sure; well possible though.:confused:

[Chav]

GSM phones communicate with masts at regular intervals. Position is determined by system delay between signal to/from phone/mast. Accuracy is 50m maybe better in built up area - worse in rural area/bad weather.

Just like GPS, your speed and current pos can then be determined by interpolating last X results for approx position. GPS much more accurate, but GSM good enough for tracking traffic densities

[grahammackie]

The estimate is around 500m road speed measurements per day

Ringing the changes | Auto Express News | News | Auto Express

[RedRobin]

GSM phones communicate with masts at regular intervals. Position is determined by system delay between signal to/from phone/mast. Accuracy is 50m maybe better in built up area - worse in rural area/bad weather.

Just like GPS, your speed and current pos can then be determined by interpolating last X results for approx position. GPS much more accurate, but GSM good enough for tracking traffic densities

....Cheers, Chav

Does that mean then, that in the case of a mobile phone, IF you wanted to be undetected, you need only travel with it switched off? I assume the only way you could be tracked is via your individual sim/# being recognised if your phone is on.

And to be undetectable via a car's GPS SatNav, wouldn't the tracking system need to indentify your vehicle individually? (as a mobile phone # might do).

[Calm Chris]

assume the only way you could be tracked is via your individual sim/# being recognised if your phone is on.

Correct' date=' but as soon as you turn it on they will have an approx. idea of your location, Hence how the child and asset 'boxes' work- they all use a Sim card id

And to be undetectable via a car's GPS SatNav, wouldn't the tracking system need to indentify your vehicle individually? (as a mobile phone # might do).

GPS is a blanket 'out' signal from the skies and you don't have a send signal function on the physical unit from the Sat nav to big bad brothers base.

So they can't track a Sat Nav unit unless it has 3rd party communication via, say a Sim and mobile connection.

[RedRobin]

....Thanks, Chri5

I was concerned if there was a way that 'authorities' could track your speed by either a mobile phone or by vehicle GPS SatNav. We all vary the 70 limit but hopefully with sensible consideration of road conditions etc and it would be horrific if we were fined etc robotically imo.

But I guess it's a bit like smoking - The govn'ment can't afford to ban it totally because of the loss in taxes. When it rains, most sensible drivers slow and the result is usually more traffic hold-ups - My logic being that rigidly keeping everyone below 70 by robotic force would create other problems with worse consequences in terms of commerce and transportation.

[rovermorris999]

It can be done. Somewhere in Asia, Singapore I think, they have a satnav type device fitted to all cars and you get an automatic fine if you exceed the speed limit. I read this somewhere so it must be true! Technically easy enough though.