Gone are the bad days of snoopers traffic light detectors, the early models of radar detector from the company were set for the states and used to detect all the traffic light sensors as well as GATSO and radar traps. The new Snooper S4 is a 2 mode device, first up there is a comprehensive database of the UK's fixed speed trap devices and then it is complimented by a fully specified laser alter system.

The beauty of the Snooper S4 system is that it's main weapon against the speed camera is a GPS database of the UK fixed traps, even under the forthcoming legislation this system will still be legal to use and operate, the laser module can be deactivated as it would fall foul of the new law.

So what exactly do you get with the S4, the unit itself is quite an attractive bit of kit in its metallic look and its not too big either measuring 75 x 105 x 75mm which is essential when not trying to provoke the attention of the police. Mounting options range from our preferred window sucker to a dashboard Velcro pad set-up, both work equally well and almost every vehicle should be able to find a good fit. Power is supplied from the 12 volt cord which sits snugly into a cigarette lighter or you could opt for a more permanent wiring job.

We set off with the S4 Velcored to our dash in search of the local Gatso community and it didn't take long for the S4 to leap into action, the display shows the alert visibly and is very bright and the audible alert is a voice which both tells you the type of trap and the speed you should be observing. From our first Gatso encounter it was clear that there is no way you could miss the loud warning of the S4, we then went on to try a Truvelo unit and also a Specs sits both with 100% accuracy and a warning in good time to adjust our speed. Should the spoken voice not be to your taste there is a option to switch to a buzzer sound instead.

However our return trip passed a relatively new Gatso and the Snooper stayed very quiet and in fact would have let us sail right through the trap, it seems this one isn't in the database yet, which was strange as it's been there around 2 months. It seems that Snoopers "data collection" team hasn't visited that part of East London to verify the unit just yet. We added this site to the database on the unit using the new location button and were unable to tell if this location was uploaded to Snooper when we next synchronised with their server. It wasn't that our database was out of date either as we had downloaded the latest version only the night before a process which took 25 minutes! using the serial cable supplied and a USB adaptor that we had to borrow as our PC's didn't have serial ports.

The download service isn't free either it costs £4.99 a month to be given access to the latest updates, the unit ship's with the first 6 months for free and then you'll need to sign up for the updates as without them the unit will quickly become out of date.

On the plus side the S4 is one of the few speed trap or GPS units that manages to work through heat reflective screens, we managed to get it tested by a chap with a Mondeo heated front screen and while its GPS lock was diminished it did managed to continue to function. Sadly we did note hat the Snooper S4 doesn't know which way you are travelling or if it does than the cameras haven't been stored with direction information, so you'll get an alert for a camera on the other side of the road as well.

there are a number of extras, the main one is laser detection, Snooper claim 360 degree protection which is strange as even in a soft top you can't see laser in a 360 degree ark let alone a car with a roof! we'd advise not to worry about laser anyway as by the time it sounds you have been booked! Perhaps a more useful extra is the ability to set a speed warning where the unit will sound when you exceed an upper speed limit of your choice. Finally motorbike users can purchase a cheapo headset to relay those audio warning to the helmet.

Overall the Snooper S4 has all the qualities to make it a great speed trap system, the laser protection is a little pointless but the GPS database seems worth the money and at £379.99 its not the cheapest system available, you should also remember the subscription could cost you around £100 for 30 months of the database update. Against the likes of the road angel and the origin B2 it stacks up well but we do wonder if the much much cheaper inforad system wouldn't make a sensible if perhaps less gadgety system.

Published - 25/06/2005

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