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Speed Cameras - Mobile
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Speed Cameras are perhaps the most cunning form of speed enforcement. Many motorists see them as some sort of mysterious, scientific device. In fact, a speed camera is nothing more than a slant radar (used in Australia since 1962) attached to a computer and camera. Even so, the "photo-radar" is an incredibly efficient instant-ticket machine, when set up in areas where the speed limit is artificially low.
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Gatso Speed Camera
A Speed Camera (photo radar in the USA) must be positioned absolutely parallel to the traffic flow. If not, the device will produce incorrect speed readings. This is the "away" mode (pictured) where the radar beam is angled at 20 degrees across the road in the same direction as the traffic flow. Any vehicle above a preset speed has the rear license plate photographed. The "towards" mode angles the beam at 20 degrees towards the oncoming traffic and photographs the front license plate. The "both" directions mode can be used to check all vehicles.

Gatso Speed Cameras are used in Queensland and Victoria. The Traffipax units in New South Wales and South Australia work in the same manner. Western Australian Speed Cameras are Multanovas from Switzerland.

Gatso Speed Camera
The Gatso Radar Control Panel may look complicated but is really quite simple. Key points reveal its secrets.
  • The analogue number wheels set the "violation" limits.
    This is always a figure "above" the posted speed limit.
  • The vehicle icons show settings for trucks (upper) and cars (lower) violation limits.
  • Blue dial selects Automatic or Manual "direction control".
  • Red dial selects towards, away or both directions mode for traffic.
  • White dial selects the sensitivity of the receiver not transmission power.
  • The "km/h" window displays the speed of a vehicle passing the radar speed camera.
Gatso24 Control Panel
The European made "photo radars" used in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia are very difficult to detect. To consistently defeat the photo radar, you need an extremely sensitive detector with good filtering of false alarms. Many detectors (even well known brands) will warn too late to be of any real advantage./This is a case of "only the best will do".

The Gatso and Traffipax "photo radars" transmit in the "K" band. The Multanova units operate in the Australian Communications Authority approved "Ka" Band.

Multanova Speed Camera
Multanova Speed Camera
Email - mail@radarlaser.com.au