Snooper S3
Specification
Dimensions:
- Length: 75mm
- Width: 105mm
- Height: 30mm
Database Update Method:
Operating System Support:
- Windows 98
- Windows 2000
- Windows ME
- Windows XP
Manufacturer's Warranty
- Two years as standard.
- Five years if database subscription is maintained.
Database Update Subscription Options (updated 12/02/05)
- 6 months free (subject to registration) then £4.95 per month by monthly direct debit.
- £99.95 for 30 months subscription.
Product Overview
The Snooper S3 is basically a cut down verion of the Snooper S4, with reduced features to cut cost. The first and most obvious difference is that the unit has a basic display, with a countdown bar showing the distance to the location of a speed camera, school or blackspot, rather than a full text and countdown display. Where the S4 has a full description of the road azard ahead, the S3 has inital letter indication of what's causing any alert - "S" for school, "A" for accident, etc.
In addition to this, there are a number of detail variations between the S3 and S4. These include:-
- No support for an external modem, unit can only be updated using a PC connection.
- No signal strength meter or compass.
- Reduced maximum warning range of 500m (S4 = 1000m)
- No speed limit alert.
- Non switchable automute.
- No voice alerts.
- No ability to switch off school alerts (but these can be excluded when updating unit).
- No speed reading.
Unlike the S4, the S3 will also alert the driver to all hazards within it's detection range, regardless of whether they're on the driver's route. The unit will, for example warn of a camera on an adjacent road, regardless of whether the driver is proceeding towards that road.
Pros and Cons
Like it's bigger brother the S4, the S3 crams a lot of features into a very small unit, which can easily be moved from vehicle to vehicle. This makes it great for anyone who regularly switches vehicles. The unit is also now one of the most competitively priced on the market, and it is undoubtedly great value for money.
On the down side, the lack of adjustability could lead to user annoyance, which tends to be one of the biggest hazards with any detector. If the user is driven to switch the unit off, it's of no benefit whatsover. If the S3 is being used over relatively low distances, or on an irregular basis, the user will probably find it perfectly adequate for their needs. For regular long distance drivers though, lack of features such as those allowing exlusion of non relevant alerts, etc, may point towards the S4 or another similar detector being a better investment.
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