Beltronics Bel 550 Euro Radar Detector

NOW BEFORE I START THIS REVIEW.

I AM NOT CONDONING DANGEROUS DRIVING OR UNNECESSARY SPEEDING.

The Bel Euro 550 is an updated and enhanced verison of the Bel 980 I reviewd earlier-some of the review will be duplicated but not everybody is going to want to read two reviews to get info about one product so here goes..

I owned a Bel 980 for almost two years back between 2000-2002 and was very happy with it's ...
...enhanced.

Now, I purchased a Valentine One and my boss recognised the need for a good Radar detector but didn't want to spend £400-600 on it. So after a discussion, I recommended the Euro 550.

The Euro 550 is the current top of the range detector available from Bel and available through a number of suppliers. RRP is currently £399.95 through Networx Automotive but prices do vary on the net. The best way to buy in my ... more

NOW BEFORE I START THIS REVIEW.

I AM NOT CONDONING DANGEROUS DRIVING OR UNNECESSARY SPEEDING.

The Bel Euro 550 is an updated and enhanced verison of the Bel 980 I reviewd earlier-some of the review will be duplicated but not everybody is going to want to read two reviews to get info about one product so here goes..

I owned a Bel 980 for almost two years back between 2000-2002 and was very happy with it's performance.Progress never stops and eventually it has been updated and enhanced.

Now, I purchased a Valentine One and my boss recognised the need for a good Radar detector but didn't want to spend £400-600 on it. So after a discussion, I recommended the Euro 550.

The Euro 550 is the current top of the range detector available from Bel and available through a number of suppliers. RRP is currently £399.95 through Networx Automotive but prices do vary on the net. The best way to buy in my experience is face to face with Mr David Baxter the MD of Networx and also to buy more than one. My friend and I ended up with a very welcome 33 1/3 % discount- but please be nice and don't tell him I told you.

It is a sturdy compact unit powered by the cigarette lighter socker via an adaptor. It has a full LED Alphanumeric display and also alerts users via buzzing/flashing LED's and a Voice prompt. You would have to be both blind and deaf to miss it

The Euro 550 has two main modes for use in the UK ie Motorway mode and City mode. Motorway mode has the maximum range and sensitivity whilst City mode is set to reduce false alarms to a minimum.

It also has twelve different presets for twelve european countries which changes both the frequencies it works on and the language ( WARNING-IN SOME EUROPEAN COUNTRIES SUCH AS FRANCE RADAR DETECTORS ARE ALREADY ILLEGAL. GET CAUGHT AND YOU RISK A NICE HEFTY ON THE SPOT FINE-YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!). This is a very good feature say for example if you were driving from the UK to Denmark via France, Belgium, Holland and Germany-the Euro 550 could be optimised for active radar etc threats the whole way and not be compromised. Handy if you do as lot of Continental driving.

The Euro 550 is effective against the following radar frequencies and corresponding traps

K-BAND-very effective against our friendly (ACTIVE) GASTO camera up to about 400m range. Enough warning for you to check your speed and take apprpriate action.

Ka BAND-used on some older Gatso cameras around Reading and the Thames Valley area. Occasionally used on the continent Again effective up to about 400m range.

Ku BAND-Effective against Mini Gatso cameras, very useful as this is a prime weapon the "Road Safety Partnerships" etc have against unfortunate motorists. About 400m warning again.

X-BAND-almost extinct in Europe and not used in the UK, this shows the North American roots of the Euro 550 BUT it is switched off at the UK suppliers (takes a complicated keying in sequence to reactivate-dont bother!).

LASER ALERT-gives an effective warning against the presence of Laser light, which if present is almost certainly indicating the presence of a Police speed trap etc. The only thing here is that if the Policeman has spotted you and has aimed his laser gun towards you and fired, the detector will go off but if you are speeding it's too late. It's usefulness is to alert you to diffused laser light which comes after another car has been zapped. So you still have a sporting chance...

Well there the spec but what about it in action.

Even better than the 980 I reviewed earlier and almost as good as the Valentine One i reviewd as well. When I borrowed
it frm my boss, I was getting almost as much warning as with my Valentine One on GATSO cameras. I've been informed that my boss has been saved via the Laser alert on a couple of occasions.

So even better than the 980 with Ku band detection to boot.

Any drawbacks?

Well it won't spot SPECS, TRUVELO and any other passive device and it may become illegal to use in 2006-subject to who the British people elect shortly.

It isn't quite as good as the Valentine One, it won't pick up multiple threats for example but then gain it doesn't cost up to £600 (phew...!) either

But in my opinion,it should be a near compulsory purchase for anybody who wants a 'sporting chance' on the roads

 

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