Frequently Asked Questions

The device knows where you are and your exact speed at all times, thanks to the information received from the GPS satellite network. Drawing on the database saved in its memory, your GPS device calculates the distance to the nearest risk area. This enables the alert system to issue a warning before reaching the exact location of the risk.

Your GPS unit will have an internal GPS receiver that needs to have a view of the sky in order to obtain the satellite signals required to calculate it’s position. Your unit needs to be positioned on the dashboard of the vehicle in order to do this.

Some vehicles, for example Renault, Citroen, Peugeot some BMWs and Mercedes have what is known as an Athermic, comfort or UV windscreen. This interferes with the satellite signal being received by your unit which results in either no speed being displayed, intermittent or erratic speeds. A re-radiating antenna or external antenna can be purchased in most cases.

Most GPS units have an internal battery that holds the almanac data. The almanac data tells the GPS receiver where each GPS satellite should be at any time throughout the day. Each satellite transmits almanac data showing the orbital information for that satellite and for every other satellite in the system. Basically a GPS unit 'learns' where the satellites should be and this helps the speed of the acquisition. If the battery runs down it will lose the almanac data and the acquisition time will be increased.

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a worldwide radio navigation system that uses 24 satellites that orbit the earth. GPS receivers, like Road Angel, use these satellite signals to calculate it's position to a couple of metres.

There are a number of reasons why this can occur.

The camera has been logged and added to the central database since you last update was completed. So, please update your unit if applicable.

The camera was on the opposite side of the road. Some Safety Camera Partnerships and Councils paint white lines on the opposite side of the road to the camera to give an impression that it can enforce in either direction, when in fact this is not the case.


It was not a speed camera. There are lots of street furniture that can be mistaken for a speed camera. For example; Red Light enforcement cameras, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems and traffic flow measurement systems.

A lot of people believe that the police are checking every vehicle as they go by, this is not the case. Guidelines state that an officer can only measure the speed of a vehicle that they believe to be exceeding the posted limit.This is often why a driver with a Laser detector fitted may see a gun or van nearby, but will not get a warning alarm as they drive by.

Yes. If you can wire in a car stereo then you could manage our parking sensor range. If not, it would take no more than 1hrs labour at a maximum.

Yes, it comes with instructions, drill bit, sensors, control box and all the flush fit sensors.

GPS devices work via satellite. The satellite knows where you are and where the FIXED speed camera is - and thus gives you advanced warning regardless of whether the camera is switched on or not. GPS devices will pick up all FIXED speed camera devices, inc. Gatso's, and known mobile sites.

Radar detectors only pick up radar based cameras that are 'ON' as they 'detect' radar up to 500 metres in advance. Radar detectors will pick up Gatso's and mini-gatso's only.

100% - as they operate on GPS technology. The only debatable issue is with Radar / Laser detectors which MAY be affected by the Road Safety Bill. Although not confirmed we believe this may come into effect in 2007 / 2008.

Please note, this will not be an issue as most GPS devices that offer radar/laser detection have the ability to 'switch off' or 'remove' the laser / radar element.

Most GPS speed camera devices do not have radar detection integrated. Snooper do offer an add-on called the S100 RLD, compatible with the S3, S4 and S6 range. Please be assured, mini-gatso's are not widely used but some customers do like the added protection just incase.

1 - The New Road Angel has laser detetcion integrated into the unit, where the Compact offers this as a seperate device.
2 - The Compact displays the speed limit of the area you are in (where the New Road Angel doesn't).
3 - The Compact can not be used as a GPS Antenna for a seperate GPS based device, such as a PDA etc.

Mobile Safety Vans have in the rear or side, laser operated equipment. It works by targetting a flat surface on your vehicle, sending a laser signal and measuring the time it takes to return. It can quickly calculate the speed of the vehicle. All of this information is captured on video which can be used as evidence to prosecute.

We'd recommend the Snooper S6. The S6 comes complete with a highly innovative built-in modem so that you can simply plug the device into any compatible telephone socket and download the database in a matter of minutes.

SNOOPER S6 at a glance :

• Detection of all fixed speed monitoring systems and accident hotspots via Snooper's comprehensive database
• Speed limit and road number or name at location of accident hotspot or speed monitoring system
• Memory retention of preferred features
• 'Easy fit' dash board or under-bonnet mounting systems.
• Full Logic menu and LCD display
• Speed Limit Alert
• 2 Years manufacturers warranty