Which Radar Detector / GPS Detector ?

Model Comparisons

Below are two comparison tables. The first is for Radar detectors and the second (lower down) on GPS devices. These tables are based on information provided by the respective manufacturers and are correct to the best of our knowledge but we can make no guarantee against the accuracy of the information supplied. Please note detection ranges are at optimum performance conditions and should not be consistently expected.

Click Here for a in-depth, independent jammer/ diffuser guide notes from Steve Warren at UK Speedtrap Guide. (Opens in new window).

RADAR DETECTORS Legend to abbreviations: Mounting W = Windscreen, D = Dashboard, V = Visor. Radar Bands - X frequency is not used in the UK. Ku band is used by MiniGatso cameras in the UK but these are not common. City Mode - Reduces radar bands or sensitivity depending on the model to reduce false alerts from burglar alarms and other motion sensors common in town centres. Dark Mode - Reduces the brightness/glare of the visual alert for night driving. To convert metres to yards/miles, click here (opens in new window)
Click on the links on the right to view model.	Bel 550	Bel 330	Bel 966R	Interceptor Mk3 NEW	Snooper SD715is	Snooper SD815is	Snooper S5-R	Snooper S6-R	Valentine One 2001
Bands	x,k,ka,ku	k,ka	k, ka, ku	k	x,k,ka,ku	x,k,ka,ku	x,k,ka,ku	x,k,ka,ku	x,k,ka,ku
Selectable	Yes?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Laser Detection	Yes?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Laser Range	2 miles	2 miles	Optional	2 miles	1 mile?	2 miles	2 miles	2 miles	3 miles
Gatso Range	400m	250m	400m	300m	69m	91m	300m	300m	457m
Mini-gatso Range	400m	N/A	400m	700m	366m	549m	300m+	300m+	732m
Visual Alert	Text	Text	LEDs	Text	LEDs	LEDs	Text	LCD	LEDs
Audio Alert?	Voice	Beeps	Beeps	Voice/Beeps	Beeps	Beeps	Beeps	Beeps	Beeps
City Mode	Yes?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Dark Mode	Yes?	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes/Auto
Warranty	1 Year	1 Year	1 Year	2 Years	2 Years	2 Years	2 Years	2 Years	1 Year
Power Source	Cig. Lighter	Cig. Lighter	Hard Wired	Cig. Lighter x 2	Cig. Lighter	Cig. Lighter	Cig. Lighter	Cig. Lighter	Cig. Lighter
Mounting	w,d,v	w,d,v	Under Bonnet	w,d,v	w,d	w,d	w,d	w,d	w,d (hard wired)
Our Price	?309.00	?273.00	?433.95	?227.00	?144.00	?182.99	?199.99	?394.95	?523.00
RRP	?449.00	?398.99	?499.00	?269.00	?199.95	?299.95	?349.95	?499.95	?599.96

GPS DETECTORS To convert metres to yards/miles, click here (opens in new window)
Click the links on the right to view model.	Morpheous Geodesy Plus	Classic Road Angel With Laser Module	New Road Angel With inbuilt Laser Alert	Origin b2 (Laser/GPS)	Snooper S6-R (Radar/GPS)	Morpheous RoadPilot (Optional Radar detector will be available in the future)
Annual Subscription	12 months free then?	12 months free then	6 months free then?	6 months free then?	6 months free then?	12 months free then?
	?50 per annum	?49 for year 2 ?79 for year 2/3 ?99 Life Subscription	?49 for 1 year ?79 for 2 years ?99 for 3 years	?50 per annum	?49.50 per annum	?50 per annum
Updated via	built-in modem	PC via internet	PC via internet	PC/optional modem	built-in modem	PC via internet
Finders fee?	?50	?0	?0	?0	?0	?50
Alert Range	0.3-1.7 miles	250m-1000m	250m-1500m	200m-2000m	100m-1000m	Auto Ranging at 1000 yards. Increases if no camera found in that range.
False Alarms	No	No	No	No	Few (due to radar)	No
Audio Alerts / Voice Alerts	Yes / No	Yes / No	Yes / Yes	Yes / Yes	Yes / No	Yes / Yes
Accident Blackspots	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No - coming soon
Alert for static cameras	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Alert for mobile cameras	No	Self Programmable	Yes (laser)	Yes	Yes	No
Speed, speed limit, direction & road info	Processes info but? does not display it.	Processes info but? only displays your speed	Speed, direction & Hazard Type Warning	Yes, inc. road no. School warning & congestion charge. (User definable)	Yes	Yes, inc. speed limit
Below speed limit, Auto mute, Speed Sensitivity	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (smart mute)	Yes
Camera zone visual speed limit warning	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Radar Detector head interface	Yes (cost option)	No	No	Optional unit	Built-in	No. Optional Radar detector will be available in the future
Laser Diffuser head interface	No	No	No	Yes LRC100	No	No
GPS Data Screen	No	Yes, part, no. of satellites	Yes, part, no. of satellites	Yes - full	Yes - full	Yes
Remote GPS Antenna	Yes (cost option)	Yes (cost option)	Yes (£20)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Directional Feature	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Speed camera type - Display	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No. Future software update soon
GPS Database coverage	UK (Benelux option)	UK	UK	UK	UK	UK (Benelux option)
Mounting	Car: Dash-antenna extra	Car: Dash or window	Car: Dash or window	1.5" Cradle	Car: Dash or window	Car: Built-in moveable cable.
	Bike: Fairing	Bike: Anywhere suitable	Bike: Anywhere suitable	1.5m Cable	Bike: Possible	Bike: No
Power Source	Car: cig. lighter,?	Car: cig. Lighter	Car: cig. Lighter	Car: Cig. Lighter	Car: Cig. Lighter	Car: cig. lighter. Optional hard wire kit.?No M/Bike.
	Bike: direct wire	Bike: direct wire	info n/a		Bike: Direct Wire
Price	? 248.99	? 310.00	? 393.99	? 423.95	? 394.95	? 0.00
RRP	? 320.00	? 399.99	? 399.99	? 429.99	? 499.95	? 0.00

5 Band units are essential to pick up all UK radar frequencies. 4 Band units DO NOT pick up all the UK GATSO camera devices - don't risk it !

If money is no object and for absolutely full protection and the very best equipment you would go for the Bel Target LRC 100 Laser Diffuser, a Bel 966 and a Morpheous Geodesy. For slightly less you could go for the above but have a Bel 550 instead of Bel 966.

(Manuals are in PDF format and require Acrobat® reader )

Special Offer on Two Package Detector and Diffuser Combinations :
Bel 550 and LRC 100 Laser Diffuser - £ 0.00   inc. Vat - Save £ 0.00
Road Angel GPS and LRC 100 Laser Diffuser - £ 0.00  inc Vat - Save £ 0.00
Morpheous Geodesy Plus and LRC 100 Laser Diffuser - £ 0.00  inc Vat - Save £ 0.00

See the UK Speedtraps Review on The Bel Target Euro 550

"The Bel Euro 330 and 550 are developments of the Bel 980 and 990 models which cleaned up in our previous test (issue 015). We've seen nothing to change our recommendations this time around" - Evo Magazine - May 2001.- See the Evo Magazine Article.

Click Here For Independent Speed Trap Detector Links

Older Reviews:

See the amazing reviews on Bel Detectors by Auto Express

Which Detector:

(Beating the speed traps) Words by Roger Green - Evo Magazine - Jan 2000.

More motorists than ever are being criminalized by the new wave of Gatsos,
Mini-Gatsos, Lasers and a host of other speed traps.

There are a number of radar detectors and laser diffusers on the market now which claim to be the answer for the beleaguered motorist, but do they work and are they legal?

With the help of the Thames Valley Police we found out.

THE TESTS

With the five most commonly used speed traps in place, we drove past at both 40mph and 60mph, to enable us to determine the amount of warning given by each of the radar and laser detectors on test. We then did the same with the laser diffusers (also known as diffusers) to see if they prevented the laser guns from taking a reading. As a further test we tried different sized cars - Caterham Seven, Subura Impreza and Forester.

The Tests were performed in controlled conditions on a mile straight with no other cars or potential sources of interference in the vicinity. The test was run twice to see if the weather had any effect on the results, firstly at the MIRA proving ground in the rain and then at Upper Heyford ex-air base in the dry. In the wet the distance at which both the laser and radar guns were able to lock onto the car was reduced by around 10 per cent. However, those distances were still considerably beyond what would be used in real road situations, so their effectiveness was unchanged. We also made a run with each car on main beam to see if this confused the laser guns but this had no effect within their normal operating range. And now for the results...

Bel 990 (NB The 990 has been replaced by the improved Bel Target Euro 550 )
Bel 980 (NB The 980 has been replaced by the improved Bel Target Euro 330 )
Valentine One
Bel Vector LR
Bel 945i (M)
Escort Solo
Uniden 6100SW
THE DETECTORS (Prices given are the original in the article)

Is there anything you can buy that will spot a Gatso at 50 yards or a laser gun on a Motorway bridge and possibly save your licence, as the makers of various devices claim?

NB: The controlled test was away from other influencing signals such as petrol stations and shops with automatic doors, but out on the road we found most devices gave plenty of false warnings, particularly those with American X band rating that could not be disabled. All cover X, K and Ka bands (i.e.. should detect Gatso and hand-held radar) and all have both visual and audible warnings.

UNIDEN 6100SW
Price: £100
Covers: X, K, Ka, Laser
Power source: cigarette lighter

Results: As with all these devices, held onto the windscreen with a pair of suckers. Looks cheap but actually it's £100 too expensive. Didn't detect any of the devices except the Muni Quip hair drier' and then only when right up close and ages after the gun had logged the car's speed.

ESCORT SOLO
Price: £200
Covers: X, K, Ka, Laser
Power source: battery

Result: Similar dismal performance to the Uniden. Only detected the hair-dryer' and then only when it was too late. You'd be better off saving your money for fines, which you'll get anyway if you're relying on this detector.

BEL 945i
Price: £260
Covers: X, K, Ka, Laser
Power source: cigarette lighter

Result: A little more money and little more success. It spotted the Muni Quip before it had registered a speed and noticed that the Pro Laser had locked-on (giving you a little more time to think up an excuse because the laser has already got your speed by then). It spotted the Gatso only when we passed it, which isn't much use.

BEL VECTOR LR
Price: £300 - Our price: £240
Covers: X, K, Ka, Laser
Power source: cigarette lighter

Results: The first to give us enough warning of the Gatso to react to it before we passed. Also picked up both laser guns. It has different warnings for each type of device and that tiresome X band can be disabled, reducing the number of false warnings. The first device that could be considered as useful, but as the mini Gatso appeared invisible, it's not fool-proof.

BEL 980
Price: £350 - Our price: £274
Covers: X, K, Ka, (all switchable), Laser
Power source: cigarette lighter

Results: The first of two new devices from Beltronics specifically developed for the UK, and it shows. Early Gatso warning allowed 20mph to be shed without braking. Muni Quip was detected at half a mile - plenty of time. Picked up the lasers too, but if fired at close range there's no time to react. Warnings are by voice synthesiser and the 980 is capable of 'learning' specific frequencies and scanning just for them.
Still couldn't see mini Gatso.

BEL 990
Price: £449.95 - Our price: £355
Covers: X, K, Ka, Ku, (all switchable), Laser
Power source: cigarette lighter

Results: The extra £50 over the 980 buys an even more sensitive device. It was the only one here that saw the Mini Gatso, thanks to that unique Ku setting. First time though it just gave enough warning to react and avoid triggering the flash; second time it had learned it and gave twice as long. All the laser and radar guns were spotted with time to react - its maximum range was longer than the runway.

VALENTINE ONE
Price: £599 - Our price: ?523.00
Covers: X (switchable), K, Ka, Laser
Power source: cigarette lighter or direct wiring

Results: Another sophisticated unit, able to pick up in-coming signals front and rear. Can track five different devices simultaneously and indicates the direction of the source with lights on the front of the panel. Gave ample warning of the Gatso (up to 500 yards). Picked up both lasers as they hit. Detected the Muni Quip before it had registered a speed, though not as early as the 980 or 990. Like them it's one of the simplest to remove for parking - important, because you wouldn't leave 500 quid stuck to the windscreen, would you?

Diffusers
Here things got very interesting. We tested two devices: the Lidatek Target LE850 and the K40 Defuser (both £300 plus fitting), and both worked astonishingly well. During the first test in the rain we hadn't told Sergeant Bulman that either device was switched on and at first he was totally flummoxed as to why the Pro Laser gun was unable to register a speed. Inside the car, both diffusers gave visual and audible warnings and we were able to slow subtly before we passed the officers. In the dry, the laser guns did get a speed, buy only after an on-board alarm sounded and we'd hit the brakes. The Pro Laser was fired at the normal distance for road traps while we were doing 80mph; by the time the gun clocked our speed we were doing 14mph. the diffuser is sited behind the grille and being small and black is hard to spot.

THE LEGALITY
As of January 1998 it became legal to use radar detectors. It was ruled that the signal from a radar or laser gun is not a police message and therefore that detectors are not contravening the Wireless Telegraphy Act. So you can happily buy one and acquire an extra pair of eyes that in some circumstances can identify speed traps further down the road than you can.

Thanks to Ken Antell, John Bulman, Glynn Holinshead from the Thames Valley Police for their patience and assistance with this test.

Read The Andrew English test on the Bel 990 - Motoring correspondent for the Daily Telegraph.