Whistler RLC-100 Red-Light Camera Detector - First Use

[jhamil1]

I finally got down to New York City today and was able to use the detector. Here's how it went. Heading down the Henry Hudson Parkway, also known as Rt.9A, I began to get speed camera alerts. The readout started at around 400 feet and when it got down to about 100 feet, the chime activated indicating I was at the camera. But, there was no camera! This happened about 3 times as I headed south through the Bronx on this highway. I also got 1 red light warning and at about 100 feet the chime came on indicating I was at the light. Only problem... there are NO lights on this highway. I wonder if the GPS is not very tight on the coordinates and is reading something on side streets near the parkway. It did correctly read 3 red light camera locations once we got into Manhattan.

As we entered Manhattan, the skyscrapers were too much for this unit. It said red light camera ahead and then began the countdown in feet to the location. Only problem was that it was counting UP, not down. It was up to almost 800 feet from 400 when I finally shut it off. I suspect the skyscrapers were preventing a good GPS signal.

So there you have it... several falses on red light and speed camera locations and a few that were dead on. I guess either the database is wrong or it is not very tight on GPS coordination.

[TRun]

Did you update the unit before taking it on the road?

[jhamil1]

Did you update the unit before taking it on the road?

I went to the website, but there are no updates, so I am running with the current version.

[Michael B]

Tall buildings around you on all sides in close proximity can cause it to lose a GPS or two causing the accuracy to less than ideal.

If you had a navagation GPS it could show you on some other street given the same conditions.

[jhamil1]

Tall buildings around you on all sides in close proximity can cause it to lose a GPS or two causing the accuracy to less than ideal.

If you had a navagation GPS it could show you on some other street given the same conditions.

I agree with you and thats why I figured it was not giving correct info in Manhattan. But, when driving on the highway through the Bronx, there are no tall buildings. Yet, I received several speed camera alerts and redlight alerts. And as I mentioned, there are no red lights on the highway and there were no speed cameras to be found where it said they were. It may possibly be just a need to update the database. Or, possibly it is not super accurate on the GPS. I am no expert by any means, so I am not sure exactly why I was getting the false locations.

[happya$$]

I finally got down to New York City today and was able to use the detector. Here's how it went. Heading down the Henry Hudson Parkway, also known as Rt.9A, I began to get speed camera alerts. The readout started at around 400 feet and when it got down to about 100 feet, the chime activated indicating I was at the camera. But, there was no camera! This happened about 3 times as I headed south through the Bronx on this highway. I also got 1 red light warning and at about 100 feet the chime came on indicating I was at the light. Only problem... there are NO lights on this highway. I wonder if the GPS is not very tight on the coordinates and is reading something on side streets near the parkway. It did correctly read 3 red light camera locations once we got into Manhattan.

As we entered Manhattan, the skyscrapers were too much for this unit. It said red light camera ahead and then began the countdown in feet to the location. Only problem was that it was counting UP, not down. It was up to almost 800 feet from 400 when I finally shut it off. I suspect the skyscrapers were preventing a good GPS signal.

So there you have it... several falses on red light and speed camera locations and a few that were dead on. I guess either the database is wrong or it is not very tight on GPS coordination.

do not waste your time with toys buy yourself the real deal the Cheetah C100

[Michael B]

An updated database will be put on the website shortly with the addition of several camera locations as well as the deletion of others.

[jhamil1]

As always.... thanks Mike for the info.

[jeffcarp]

Do you have any specifics on the exact locations where you experienced this?

Tall buildings around you on all sides in close proximity can cause it to lose a GPS or two causing the accuracy to less than ideal.

If you had a navagation GPS it could show you on some other street given the same conditions.

I agree with you and thats why I figured it was not giving correct info in Manhattan. But, when driving on the highway through the Bronx, there are no tall buildings. Yet, I received several speed camera alerts and redlight alerts. And as I mentioned, there are no red lights on the highway and there were no speed cameras to be found where it said they were. It may possibly be just a need to update the database. Or, possibly it is not super accurate on the GPS. I am no expert by any means, so I am not sure exactly why I was getting the false locations.

[jhamil1]

I got off the West Side Drive at 57th Street and thats when the GPS began counting up instead of down, so I assume I lost the satellites at that location. The buildings arent overly tall there, but I suspect they were just tall enough to block the signal. As far as getting falses, I got them at several locations as we went through the Bronx on the Henry Hudson Parkway. I noticed that it was always near an overpass, so possibly it was getting wider GPS info on location, or it was reading something on a side street. But, I don't think they have red light cameras in the Bronx, however I'm not sure about that. So I cant say for certain what it was tracking. But, Mike indicated an update will be coming soon, so we will see how it goes.