fairyflowers Posted September 19, 2009 Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hi, have seen all of above mentioned in various threads and am now confused! I live in Dordogne and mainly travel south by car, therefore is Alis (free) no good for me?Also read on the Sanef site - something about the subscription being returned over 4 days per month - really didn't understand this, can anyone explain?thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted September 20, 2009 Share Posted September 20, 2009 [quote user="fairyflowers"]Hi, have seen all of above mentioned in various threads and am now confused! I live in Dordogne and mainly travel south by car, therefore is Alis (free) no good for me?Also read on the Sanef site - something about the subscription being returned over 4 days per month - really didn't understand this, can anyone explain?thanks[/quote]Any telepeage transponder ("doofer") from any French provider will work on any French toll road. Hence, although Alis only has a small section of autoroute near Paris, its transponders will work on autoroutes anywhere in France (and in Vinci car parks) like all other French transponders. For very frequent users (ie daily users), there may be some benefit in having a locally-sourced transponder because it may give a discount on a useful peage section: however this has to be set against the monthly/annual charges that most providers levy for the transponder. Hence, for anyone other than a daily autoroute user, the Alis transponder, with no initial charge and no monthly charge, is a no-brainer. During the sign-up process you will be asked to select an Alis autoroute section on which to get a discount: just choose any at random if you don't live in the Alis area.RegardsPickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Pickles,just to expand a bit on your post, APRR (Paris Rhine Rhone) offer one trip in 6 free between any 2 of their tollgates designated by you. Anyone regularly (but not necessarily on a daily or even weekly basis) travelling therefore down to the South East of France might well be able to use this to advantage - I reckon 3 round trips per year will usually more than pay for the rental if travelling from the start of their network South of Rheims to say Dijon or Lyon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Just to clarify, Alis (Alliance Seine Sarthe) run the autoroute between Rouen and Le Mans , thus if one travels South via the A28, the discount may also be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 As I use the A.28 every time I come to France, I have just printed off and am in the process of trying to fill in the application form.Out of interest, if and when I get a 'doofer', is there any particular spot or side of the windscreen it has to be fixed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 [quote user="Mel"]Out of interest, if and when I get a 'doofer', is there any particular spot or side of the windscreen it has to be fixed?[/quote]In most cars without an athermic windscreen, you can mount it anywhere, or even just have a passenger lift it up to get through. For athermic windscreens in particular, and the "normal" position for most doofers, is to mount it in the region of the windscreen by the central rear-view mirror, where there is generally an area marked by black dots to indicate in the case of an athermic screen that this portion of the screen is not treated with anything that may block the reception of the signals. The doofer comes with a holder which has a glue on it to stick it to the screen. Note that in very hot weather the glue may unstick ... RegardsPickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 Pickles,You are really helpful - thank you very much!(Trying to get to grips with understanding the form now...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gosub Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 They sent me a form in English, I didn't ask for it, they must have guessed that my surname wasn't French. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 [quote user="Mel"]As I use the A.28 every time I come to France, I have just printed off and am in the process of trying to fill in the application form. Out of interest, if and when I get a 'doofer', is there any particular spot or side of the windscreen it has to be fixed?[/quote]MelYou can scan and email the form to:Christine Zurkinden.Email address [email protected]Telephone number 0033232202188 - and she speaks English.If memory serves me correctly emailed my form on a Moday and received the doofer on Thursday.If you have to pay to use motorways then this is the way to do it. Nothing better than coming up to a peage that has a long queue of people waiting to pay and you just drive through the 'T' lane with a max of one or two cars in front.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 gosub - downloaded mine from the web...P2 - thanks, but I saw your reply too late. Just got back from the post office - but the walk was good for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gardengirl Posted September 21, 2009 Share Posted September 21, 2009 We don't stick ours on the windscreen, just hold it up at the barrier.It was very busy driving on the motorway from Montpellier to Nimes yesterday for the end of the Feria. So nice to just sail through! Then used a Vinci car park, so didn't need change - it just appears on the monthly bill!Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phylisbide Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 I have had a Sanef doofer for a few years. If I apply for a free Alis one, can I just stop using the sanef one - thereby no longer incurring charges? phylis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 [quote user="phylisbide"]I have had a Sanef doofer for a few years. If I apply for a free Alis one, can I just stop using the sanef one - thereby no longer incurring charges? phylis[/quote]By "just stop using the Sanef one" I presume that you mean "return it to Sanef" ... the point about the Sanef one is that until it is returned it will incur charges unless you use it four times per month. You will also need to officially give them notice to terminate the contract.However, there is nothing stopping you having both a Sanef and an Alis doofer at the same time ... just don't go through a péage with both in the car unless one is well-shielded!RegardsPickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Hi Pickles...May I pose a couple of questions please...I have just received my Alis télébadge - and what a lovely box of goodies they sent with it! Firstly, I am assuming the part of the badge that is read is the bar-code? The instructions suggest it should be fitted to the left of the driver's mirror. If I do this, the bar-code is not within the 'dotted' area of my screen that is not reflective. If I fit it there, will the bar-code still be able to be read at the barriers? Or would it be acceptable to fit it to the right of the mirror where I can position the bar-code in the 'dotted' area?Secondly, you mention above about using these doofers at least 4 times a month, is that the case with Alis because I do not recall reading that? (I visit France very two months).Thanks in advance for any help you can give me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 [quote user="Mel"]Firstly, I am assuming the part of the badge that is read is the bar-code?[/quote]No: it is a radio frequency transponder: the gubbins at the péage sends out a radio signal and the doofer responds by radio. The only time that the barcode MAY be used is if it is necessary for the doofer to be scanned manually at a péage eg if there is a problem. In such a case you would hand the doofer over to the operator, who would then get the ref no from the barcode. The booklet that came with the doofer will mention this. [quote user="Mel"]The instructions suggest it should be fitted to the left of the driver's mirror. If I do this, the bar-code is not within the 'dotted' area of my screen that is not reflective. If I fit it there, will the bar-code still be able to be read at the barriers?[/quote]With certain types of athermic screen then there is a possibility that the radio signal would not get through if the doofer is not in the dotted part of the windscreen. For most screens however this is not at all important.[quote user="Mel"]Or would it be acceptable to fit it to the right of the mirror where I can position the bar-code in the 'dotted' area?[/quote]That will be fine[quote user="Mel"]Secondly, you mention above about using these doofers at least 4 times a month, is that the case with Alis because I do not recall reading that?[/quote]No: I was responding to a question about a SANEF doofer, which has a different tariff structure. Alis is free.RegardsPickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Pickles, you are very kind - thank you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Ahem, probably this is a silly question, but...Does it matter which way up it is fitted? I have a new C4 Picasso and my doofer will fit better in the dotted area if it is upright, rather than sideways. By fitting it this way, much more of it will be exposed in the non-reflective area.PS to Pickles - do you charge for this advice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 [quote user="Mel"]Ahem, probably this is a silly question, but...Does it matter which way up it is fitted?[/quote]It does not matter at all. Some of us just get the passenger to wave the doofer in the general direction of the windscreen, especially if it has just fallen off the screen thanks to the effects of high temperature on the glue ...My advice is worth exactly the amount you pay for it!RegardsPickles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 And absolutely finally, I've got the doofer, it is installed and ready for France. Can I assume I do not have to phone in to register it? I have searched all the bumph that came with the badge and can find nothing to suggest that I do... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DerekJ Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Nope, no phone call required. Just drive to your first peage in slight trepidation and wait for the Green light. [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sprogster Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Best not to leave your doofer or mounting bracket on display in the car when left parked. as they are a popular target for thieves and by the time you have noticed its missing you could have paid for someone to drice across France at your expense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted October 5, 2009 Share Posted October 5, 2009 Thanks Derek. And also Sprogster for the excellent tip. Whilst I am very cautious about my sat nav, I probably would not have thought about the doofer being at risk!Mel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Enjoy it Mel....We came back on Sunday and the queues at the Peage to the south of Boulogne on the A16 were quite something with some deciding whether to join the queue to pay cash or whether the queue for card payment would be quicker.We just drove to the left and straight through the 't' lane and off. We then went towards St Omer to fill up at the Auchen filling station and I am sure that when we rejoined the A16 to Calais that there were cars in the queue when we went through only just getting to the point where we rejoined the Autoroute having refueled.The sadistic side of me does come out with the doofer hoping that there are large queues waiting to pay.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrCanary Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Paul - Love it!On my next visit to France in two weeks time, my son will be travelling with us in convoy in his car, so he will need to queue...But as most peages have waiting areas just after them, I think I will have to do a 'Paul' and sail through then wait for him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maricopa Posted October 6, 2009 Share Posted October 6, 2009 Sent off for my ALIS -T badge on 30/09 and received it today. My, how small they are! I will be trying out for the first time next week, should be fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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