TRAFCAM

TrafCam on the Nokia N-70 smartphone.

A typical Bluetooth GPS receiver, this is the "Socket" device.

Initial camera warning shows an arrow to locate the camera, and also shows your speed, camera type, distance to camera, and (where known) the road name for the camera.

Closer to camera, the arrow is replaced with a logo to remove confusion caused by GPS anomalies.

Warning range options include distance-based and time-based warnings.

Motorway mode options set the speed at which TrafCam switches into a smaller search angle.

UIQ warning display has basically the same information as Series 60, but laid out differently because of the different screen shape and size. This screen display is version 1.12, which also shows a small green compass arrow denoting north.

TrafCam is a software package which turns your Nokia Series 60 or Sony-Ericsson P800/P900 mobile phone into a fully-functioning GPS speed camera warning system. Because it's a software solution, it is much less costly than other GPS camera warning products. And you can get hundreds of other software packages for your phone, making it much better value for money than a dedicated camera warning system.

How does it work?

Using a compatible mobile phone and a suitable Bluetooth-equipped GPS receiver, the TrafCam software package runs on the phone and gets your position information from the GPS, compares it to the camera database, and finds the closest camera. If it's within your chosen warning range, it will show you the direction to the camera, and how far away it is. The phone will make a sound to attract your attention.

You can configure the software to work how you want it to. The warning range can be selected from a number of options based on distance or time to reach the camera, and the search range can be reduced at certain speeds to help reduce stray warnings.

What are the running costs?

Other than your TrafCam annual subscription, none at all. TrafCam doesn't make any telephone calls or GPRS connections, so it isn't running up a phone bill for you. There is no charge for using the GPS satellite network. Once you have the phone, the GPS receiver and the TrafCam subscription, you're ready to go. In fact, you don't even need to have a valid phone SIM card - as long as your phone handset doesn't lock out during startup, you can use an old expired or cancelled SIM. TrafCam won't care because it doesn't use the phone features, and it's a good way to get value out of an old phone you wouldn't otherwise use.

What phones are supported?

TrafCam is available for Nokia Series 60 first and second edition phones, and Sony-Ericsson "UIQ2" phones. These include Nokia 3650, 6260, 6600, 7610, 7650, N-Gage, Siemens SX-1, and Sony-Ericsson P800, P900 and P910i models. Nokia and other manufacturers are releasing more Symbian phones regularly.

We've tested the following phones personally:

• Nokia 3650
• Nokia 6600
• Nokia 6630
• Nokia 6680
• Nokia N-Gage
• Nokia 7610
• Nokia N70
• Sony-Ericsson P800

Other phones that should be compatible, but we haven't tested here, include:

• Series 60:
• Nokia 3230 *
• Nokia 7650
• Nokia 6670
• Nokia 6260 *
• Nokia N-Gage QD
• Nokia 6620
• Nokia 3660
• Siemens SX-1 *
• UIQ:
• Sony-Ericsson P900 *
• Sony-Ericsson P910 *
• Motorola A920 (not using internal GPS receiver)
• Motorola A925 (not using internal GPS receiver)
• Motorola A1000 (not using internal GPS receiver)
• BenQ P30

* - reported compatible by a subscriber

Please note that phones based on Nokia Series 60 third edition will not currently run TrafCam. We are awaiting the release of developer tools to allow us to port TrafCam to these new devices. Unfortunately the newer phones are not binary-compatible with the older ones so it is not possible to use the current TrafCam software on them.

What GPS receivers can I use?

TrafCam supports most commercial Bluetooth GPS receivers that output position information in NMEA format. We've tested these models here in the office:

• Socket Bluetooth GPS receiver
• TomTom Bluetooth GPS receiver, Mk I and Mk II.
• GlobalSat Bluetooth GPS receiver
• BT77 Bluetooth GPS receiver (requires v1.14 or newer for Series 60)

At least one subscriber is also using the Holux GR-230 GPS Receiver.

In the current releases of the software, the GPS receiver is found by searching for devices that include "GPS" in the Bluetooth device name. Some additional devices, such as the Holux GR-230, are specifically searched for. If you have a device that doesn't conform to this, contact us and we can quickly modify the program to search for other devices.

What do I need?

You need the following equipment to run TrafCam:

• A compatible phone - see the list above and our "Tested" page for devices that we have tested, and others that should be compatible.
• Bluetooth GPS Receiver
• TrafCam subscription
• PC with Internet connection and Bluetooth adapter

The PC is used to download the program and database file from our web site, which you then transfer via Bluetooth to the phone. Some newer phones have good web browsers which can be used to download the software directly.

Please also see the note below regarding the use of mobile phones in cars.

How do I get the program on to the phone?

It depends on the quality of browser on your phone. If you have a good enough web browser (and a phone contract which allows you to use the Internet on your phone) you can download the files directly from our web site using your phone.

If your browser isn't up to it, the easiest way is to download the files to your PC from our web site, then transfer them to the phone using a Bluetooth adapter. In the office we use a D-Link DBT-120 USB Bluetooth adapter which makes it very easy to copy files over to the phone. These devices are quite inexpensive now.

Some phones are supplied with a cradle or cable which allows you to connect them directly to a PC and transfer files that way.

Can it run alongside Navigation Software?

Not at the moment. Most phones that support TrafCam can only run one Bluetooth connection at a time, which means that if your navigation software connects to the GPS receiver over Bluetooth, TrafCam cannot, and vice versa.

We are talking to a number of navigation software companies in the hope that they might offer a way to share GPS data, in a similar way that TomTom do on the Pocket PC platform. Until that happens, unfortunately TrafCam must run on its own.

Can I use TrafCam at the same time as I use a Bluetooth headset?

Possibly - it depends on whether the phone can handle two Bluetooth connections at the same time. For example, the Nokia N70 can talk to a headset and a Bluetooth GPS receiver simultaneously, whereas an older phone such as a Nokia 3650 cannot. You should check with your handset supplier or manufacturer for confirmation.

Please Note:

In the UK it is illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, irrespective of whether you're speaking, texting, or using any other services on the phone. This also applies while waiting at traffic lights or during small traffic jams as you are still deemed to be driving under the new legislation.

You can use your mobile phone while driving if you use a hands-free mobile phone device to make and receive calls as long as it is secure and you do not need to hold the phone to operate it. You must also drive safely - even with a hands-free device you can still be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.

For more information on the new laws please check this site out.