Snooper S4 / S4-R Neo GPS Speed Camera Detector Our Review

Following a year after the S6, the new S4 is another innovative and very different offering from Snooper, which has great features, is easy to use and very compact.

A GPS detector with a unique built-in laser sensor (based on technology used successfully in the S5R) and integral GPS antenna, the Snooper S4 is very much a plug-and-play unit. Smaller than expected, at around the size of a pack of cards, it is ultra-light, making it the best to go for if you want to move it between cars on a regular basis.

The display is great. The scrolling LED matrix display is clear in all light conditions, although the voice alert and loud beeps mean that you really don't need to take your eyes off the road. You have the option of the displaying showing your speed, your compass direction, the time or the satellite strength while driving along. When it locates a camera the female voice announces the type of camera and the posted speed limit, then the display counts down your distance to the camera in metres.

GPS lock has proved good with the internal antenna, and if you have a reflective windscreen a re-radiating antenna is available. Database downloads are done via a PC serial port connection through the internet, with the software included in the pack when you buy. Instructions are given on-screen and a regular download will take only a matter of moments, although the huge school database takes longer.

It has all the usual features and more, and includes a database of school locations as a switchable safety feature, pre-empting 20mph speed restrictions outside schools.

If you're worried about being caught out by mobile radar you'll be pleased to hear you can plug in the S100 RLD radar detection unit to the S4. This will then give GPS combined with radar and laser detection, while still keeping unsightly trailing wires to the bare minimum. This unit can be windscreen mounted or if you want to mount the RLD out of sight it can be put under the bonnet to receive signals through the front of the car instead.

In the first month of production customer feedback has been excellent with faults being extremely rare, which is a great result for a brand new design from the market leaders.

A real winner from all points of view.

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