Navalert GPS Red-Light & Speed Camera Detector Review

By Mika | Permalink |

1 comment | August 12th, 2008 | Trackback

Navalert GPS Red Light Detector The Navalert GPS detector is an interesting bit of technology. For years we’ve stuck to the traditional method of trying to detect radar and speed camera signals based upon their output, which can lead to a couple problems. If you have instant-on radar, for example, the reaction needed to be able to slow to within the limits allowed in that area can be nearly impossible. Instead of detecting the signal, the Navalert is similar to devices used in the United Kingdom and other countries around the world, where your GPS location is compared to the documented locations of all red light, speed, and other traffic cameras.

Where to get it:
Navalert.com for $199 (20% off special now running)
Phantomalert.com for $219

Here’s a few videos from the manufacturer:

Operation of the devicet is easy, and it comes ready to go out of the box. Simply plug it in, mount to your dash (there is an included sticky mount if you prefer, we just set it on the dash) and the unit does all the work for you, even displaying your current speed. One gripe we did have with the unit while testing is that the displayed speed was consistently about 10mph off of the speedometer of the car. We weren’t able to locate a radar gun in time to test the accuracy of both the car’s displayed speed and the GPS unit’s speed, but we’re pretty sure that BMW isn’t that far off. Other than that however, the device worked great, giving a nice audible verbalized warning of the oncoming threat, and displaying the current distance to the target in feet on the display screen, which makes us wish all radar detectors could display the distance to the threat in a number of feet.

The device itself looks similar to a radar detector, but I noticed that leaving it on the seat also seemed to work, as it needs to find the sky instead of the line of sight in front of the car. This may be nice for more discreet mounting, as detectors are not legal in all 50 states. Currently this version of Navalert is only available with US and Canada programmed into it, and updates are downloadable via their website. Sure, it may not protect you against the temporary police speed trap, but the device seems to do exactly as we were informed it would do, so we rate it as a success.

The device was reviewed, and this article contributed by Aleksi Lepisto, an avid automotive enthusiast and gadget junkie.