Cheap parking spaces in cities have become a rarity. But they still exist, the free parking options. But they are usually limited to two hours – and if you stand longer, you pay. There has been a uniform parking disc regulation in Germany since 1979, and in Kassel since 1961. The design has been the same for decades: blue, large, mostly made of cardboard. A more elegant solution – and virtually safe from loss – are digital alternatives. Ooono, known for being a legally gray zone speed camera detector, now offers an approved electronic parking recorder called Park No1. Does that really help in everyday life?

Setting up the small clock is very easy. The device is activated as soon as you unpack it and you only have to do a few steps before you can start your journey. With three buttons you set the current time, activate the automatic switchover for summer and winter time and set the current date. Then set the parking interval (30 minutes in Germany) and off you go.

To install the Ooono Park No1 in the car, you should take a minute. Background: The puck sticks to two strong magnets that can only be attached once. If the self-adhesive adhesive points were to be removed or repositioned, the entire construction would no longer hold. So: It's better to check once more whether everything is really sitting as desired.

Please do not get creative with the attachment: Most manufacturers recommend that the screen is attached to the passenger side at the bottom of the windscreen. Although there is no corresponding regulation in Germany, the road traffic regulations require that a parking disc must be clearly legible from the outside and the public order office is not obliged to look for it. Speaking of regulations: Like many others, the Ooono is approved for German road traffic and meets all the requirements for an electronic solution.

If you only want to buy the Ooono once because of its price but want to use it in several vehicles, additional magnets are available in the manufacturer's online shop for 3.99 euros. The device itself is easy to detach from the mounts, for example to carry it to another car, replace the battery or reset the time.

Otherwise, the Ooono Park No1 is a silent companion. Once stuck in the car, it recognizes when a vehicle is parked and adjusts the time accordingly. It orientates itself exclusively on the movement, a location via GPS does not take place. It worked perfectly in the test, the clock reset itself after a short drive and stopped as instructed after parking. Even in strong sunlight, the display remained legible in the test.

Attention: The popular but forbidden "adjustment" of the parking disc is very difficult with the Ooono Park No1. In the test, we had to shake the watch for a few minutes across the parking lot before the time reset itself automatically. Just scurrying into the car to extend the parking period is difficult.

Incidentally, the time is displayed permanently – there is no proximity sensor or similar solutions. According to the manufacturer, the included CR2450 button cell lasts one year. Replacements are available in every supermarket for little money.

The Ooono parking disc plays its biggest trump card in terms of appearance. With a diameter of just six centimeters and the aluminum front, the small device looks pretty nice and - unlike the environmental badge - does not deface the car.

The electronic parking disc from Ooono convinced in the test with its simple operation, the pretty look and the compact design. It's a forgettable device that you attach once and then let it work. Changing the time worked perfectly if you follow the rules. Adjusting the clock proved to be very cumbersome, so it is better to use old cardboard for this forbidden application.

The Ooono Park No1 is currently on sale for around 40 euros, which is roughly the price of almost 28 conventional cardboard boxes. The price is also relatively high compared to the electronic competition. The alternative from TFA Drostmann costs around 30 euros, the Needit Park 3011 Mini costs 25 euros. Only the designer solution from Jacob Jensen is almost twice as expensive at around 70 euros. Whether you want to treat yourself to the luxury of an automatic parking disc with a particularly small diameter and a pretty cover should depend firstly on how often you use it and secondly on how important the look is to you.

A little tip: Forgotten parking discs, especially in supermarket parking lots, tend to be highly sanctioned - if your regular branch plays along, such a device is much more worthwhile.

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