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The Original Road Angel (Now Road Angel Classic) was launched in 2002. Although it was not the first GPS detector for speed cameras it was the first to gain mass market sales due to endorsement by motor racing expert Tiff Needell of BBC's Top Gear and now Fifth Gear. This has a GPS based speedo and being a Road Safety Device would give one of four alerts for Fixed, Mobile, Average or Blackspot locations. This was updated in 2003 with the edition of a "Golf Ball" laser detector to help provide alerts of mobile camera vans, or police safety camera vans, as the safety camera partnerships were launched which use these speed camera vans with laser guns mounted in the back and hooked up to video cameras for photographic evidence. |
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Next was launched the New Road Angel in 2004, now referred to as the Road Angel 2. This has an improved larger display better visual alerts and now voice alerts too - provided by Tiff Needell. The laser sensor is inbuilt into the detector with both forward and rear facing laser detection for a more portable plug and play unit. Along with Blackspot locations the New Road Angel will also alert to school locations and has an overspeed alert to warn if your speed creeps over a preset level, useful on motorways etc. It also gives more specific alerts distinguishing between Gatso, Truvelo and SPECS cameras for example. Between this and its predecessor Road Angel was now winning a whole host of awards from Auto Express, Auto Car, Evo Magazine and Redline to name a few. |
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In the Autumn of 2005 the Road Angel Navigator was launched combining speed camera detection and safetly alert systems with Satellite Navigation, Sat Nav for short. Based on the same GPS principles this was the first combined system in the market using NAVTEQ maps and CoPilot interface. The Navigator can be used in dedicated Camera Detection mode or when navigating somewhere it will also alert you to speed cameras as you approach them. The Road Angel Navigator is essentially a mini pocket PC running on Windows CE and could power off 12v or 24v vehicles like lorries and HGVs. |
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Christmas 2005 was the platform for the launch of the Road Angel Compact.
This came in two versions. The standard Compact which is completely database
driven and was designed for manufacturer and sale across Europe. UK versions
can be upgraded to include European Speed Camera data via a database
download for a small additional fee. The second version is an upgraded model
with an attachable laser sensor for the UK market. The laser sensor is
available separately should you want to upgrade a Compact unit to a Compact
with laser at a later date. The Compact was a replacement for the Classic
Road Angel with updated features now including such details as an advisory speed limit warning at the fixed camera locations. |
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Easter 2006 saw the launch of the Road Angel Plus. Based on the award winning New Road Angel 2 the Plus has two major improvements. Firstly it's battery powered for a wireless setup requiring no installation or power cables trailing down the dashboard. This also makes the Road Angel Plus ideal for specialist sports cars without 12v sockets and for motorbike use. Secondly being database driven in addition to the fixed camera alerts it will also indicate the road speed limit, useful on unfamiliar roads. |
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In Summer 2006 the Road Angel developed the Navigator 6000 to take on the likes of TomTom with a cheaper sat nav using TeleAtlas maps but still with the quality Road Angel database. With touch screen navigation full 7 digit postcode search and 2D or 3D map options this is the ideal entry level system for people wanting a camera detector for everyday use and satellite navigation for occasional or weekend use. |
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Following quickly in the Autumn of 2006 came the Navigator 7000, an upgrade of the Navigator 6000 with the major roads of Europe and Bluetooth capability. |
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In association with Memory Maps the 7000 has evolved into a crossover
product with the ability to load on Ordnance Survey maps to the weather
proof Navigator 7000 so you can use your sat nav unit it for hill walking,
orienteering, mountaining biking and any other outdoor off-road pursuit that
would benefit for satellite based guidence and planning. The 7000 Adventurer comes boxed and pre-loaded with the OS National Parkings 1:50,000 scale maps
and other maps are available to buy. A standard Navigator 7000 can be
upgraded to a 7000 adventurer unit to so everyone can get further value for
money from their purchase.
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The Road Angel Navigator 9000 is launched. This heralds a new generation of
satellite navigation systems with a Connected status. Using the GPRS
networx, or mobile phone sim card in laymans terms, the Navigator 9000 will
update itself every 2 minutes with traffic information and both fixed and
mobile speed camera locations. Weather updates are also sent and the user
can receive text messages too. Additional features of the GPRS connected
status means routes can be remotely sent to the unit via a web portal and
you can subscribe to track the unit and user which can be viewed on map so
you can see where your staff or family members are.
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