Operating Instructions

11 BAND HIGH-PERFORMANCE RADAR/LASER DETECTOR WITH XTREME RANGE SUPERHETERODYNE TECHNOLOGY

XRS 9500

Nothing comes close to a Cobra
Printed in China Part No. 480-105-P

English

Introduction
Important Information And Customer Assistance

Important Information

Federal Laws Governing The Use Of Radar Detectors It is not against federal law to receive radar transmissions with your Cobra radar/ laser detector. The Communications Act of 1924 guarantees your right to receive radio transmissions on any frequency. Local laws that contravene this Act, while illegal, may be enforced by your local law enforcement officials until and unless they are prohibited from doing so by federal court action. Safety Alert Use of this product is not intended to, and does not, ensure that motorists or passengers will not be involved in traffic accidents. It is only intended to alert the motorist that an emergency vehicle equipped with a Cobra Safety Alert transmitter is within range as defined by that product. Please call local fire and police departments to learn if coverage exists in your area.
Safe Driving Motorists, as well as operators of emergency or service vehicles, are expected to exercise all due caution while using this product, and to obey all applicable traffic laws. Security Of Your Vehicle Before leaving your vehicle, always remember to conceal your radar detector in order to reduce the possibility of break-in and theft.

Customer Assistance

Should you encounter any problems with this product, or not understand its many features, please refer to this owners manual. If you require further assistance after reading this manual, Cobra Electronics offers the following customer assistance services: For Assistance In The U.S.A. Automated Help Desk English only. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 773-889-3087 (phone). Customer Assistance Operators English and Spanish. 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT Mon. through Fri. (except holidays) 773-889-3087 (phone). Questions English and Spanish. Faxes can be received at 773-622-2269 (fax). Technical Assistance English only. www.cobra.com (on-line: Frequently Asked Questions). English and Spanish. productinfo@cobra.com (e-mail). For Assistance Outside The U.S.A. Contact Your Local Dealer

A1 English

2003 Cobra Electronics Corporation 6500 West Cortland Street Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA www.cobra.com
Controls, Indicators And Connections
Display And Product Features

Order Form

Windshield Bracket Release Button Windshield Bracket Mount

Display

LaserEye For 360 detection of laser and strobe signals. Speaker City Button For City or Highway modes to reduce false alerts.
Alpha/Numeric Dot Matrix Text Display See pages for more information about display features.

Address (No P.O. Boxes)

State/Province

Country

Product Features
Congratulations! Youve made a smart choice by purchasing the XRS 9500 high performance radar/laser detector from Cobra. Just look at some of the sophisticated features and capabilities your new unit includes: Xtreme Range Superheterodyne Technology With super-fast sweep circuitry, XRS provides extra detection range and the best possible advance warning to even the fastest radar guns Detection And Separate Alerts For: Radar signals (X, K and Ka bands, with signal strength indicated), laser signals, Safety Alert signals, Strobe Alert signals, Spectre 1 signals, VG-2 signals LaserEye For 360 detection of laser and strobe signals Instant-On Ready Detects radar guns with instant-on (very fast) speed monitoring capabilities Tone Alert or Voice Alert With adjustable volume DigiView Data Display With easy-to-read alpha/numeric dot matrix text readout City Or Highway Modes to reduce false alerts Safety Alert Traffic warning system distinguishes important safety alerts from other K band signals Strobe Alert Emergency vehicle warning system Manual Mute Or Auto Mute A mute function of audio alerts IntelliMute A mute function which automatically reduces false alerts by sensing engine RPMs Mounting Mounts easily on windshield or dashboard

Telephone

Credit Card Number
Type: Visa MasterCard Discover

Exp. Date

Customer Signature

Item #

Description

U.S. Cost Each

Amount
12V DC Power Jack On-Off/ Volume Control Allows you to adjust the volume of the tone alerts.
420-030-N-001 420-026-N-001 545-139-N-001 CLP-2B
Straight 12V Power Cord Coiled 12V Power Cord Windshield Mounting Bracket Dual Port Power Adapter
IntelliMute Button Engine RPM sensing mute function which reduces false Mute Button alerts. Button For manual mute or turns IntelliMute auto mute of audio alerts. On and Off. (Also turns Voice Alert (Also enters On and Off. ) * IntelliMute setting mode. ) *

WARNING

U.S. Subtotal Amount Shipping/Handling* Tax Table Wisconsin add 5% $10.00 or less. $3.00 (Tax if Applicable) Indiana, Michigan, $10.01-$25.00. $5.50 Ohio add 6% $25.01-$50.00. $7.50 California add 7.25% Shipping/Handling Illinois add 8.75% $50.01-$90.00. $10.50 Total $90.01-$130.00. $13.50 *For AK, HI and PR add additional $26.95 for FedEx Next Day or $10.95 for FedEx 2nd Day. Excludes weekends and holidays shipments. $130.01-$200.00. $16.50 Please allow two (2) to three (3) weeks for delivery in the U.S.A. $200.01 plus. 10% of purchase Prices subject to change without notice.
Dim Button Allows you to adjust the DigiView Data Display brightness for easy reading. (Also turns Spectre 1 and VG-2 alerts On and Off. ) *

Ordering From U.S.A.

Call 773-889-3087 for pricing or visit www.cobra.com. For Credit Card Orders Complete and return this order form to fax number 773-622-2269. Or call 773-889-3087 [Press one (1) from the main menu] 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. Make Check or Money Order Payable To Cobra Electronics, Attn: Accessories Dept., 6500 West Cortland Street, Chicago, IL 60707 U.S.A.
* Press and hold for two (2) seconds to access these functions.
Modifications or parts substitutions not approved by Cobra Electronics Corporation may violate FCC Rules and void your authority to operate this equipment.
This booklet describes the simple steps for mounting and setting up your detector. It also provides helpful information about how radar and laser guns are used and how you can interpret the alerts you receive.

A2 English

To Order Online Please visit our website: www.cobra.com

Your Detector

Installation
Installation Where To Mount Your Unit
You will get optimum performance from your detector if you Mount it at a point approximately in the center of the vehicle, as low as possible on the front windshield without obstructing the units view of the road either to the front or rear. You can also mount it directly on the dashboard.
Windshield Mounting Dashboard Mounting

Windshield Mounting

1. Attach the rubber

cups to the bracket.

2. Make sure the rubber cups and your windshield are clean. 3. Push the bracket firmly onto the windshield.
The units lens must not be blocked and the LaserEye should have a clear view out the back window to allow 360 detection.
The LaserEye Should Have A Clear View
4. Attach the detector to the bracket. Check the angle of the unit.
5. To adjust the angle if necessary, gently push or pull on the bracket to bend it. DO NOT use the detector to bend the bracket. 6. Plug the power cord into the detector.

Radar and laser signals pass through glass but not through other materials and objects. Objects that can block or weaken incoming signals include:

s s s s

Windshield wiper blades Mirrored sun screens Dark tinting at the top of the windshield Heated windshields currently available on some vehicles (Instaclear for Ford, Electriclear for GM.) Consult your dealer to see if you have this option.
7. Plug the cigarette lighter adapter on the power cord into your vehicles cigarette lighter. 8. You can temporarily remove the detector whenever you wish by pressing the bracket release button and sliding it off the bracket.
Getting Started And Settings

Dashboard Mounting

Getting Started

Power On

1. Place the detector on the dashboard to find a location
where the unit has a clear, level view of the road. The angle can NOT be adjusted after mounting. 2. Remove the paper backing from one (1) side of the hook-and-loop fastener.

Testing

On-Off/ Volume Control Rotate clockwise (away from you)

System Ready

Voice Alert
To Turn On The Unit And Adjust The Audio Volume Rotate the On-Off/ Volume control clockwise (away from you). Tone Three (3) beeps Voice Testing, then three (3) beeps Visual Display

Se co nd ary Ico ns

3. Attach the pad to the dashboard at your chosen location and remove the other paper backing.
4. Attach the detector to the hook-and-loop fastener. You can remove and reattach the unit as often as you like. 6. Plug the power cord into the detector.

Start-Up Complete

The display will cycle through the user mode settings System Ready, then (Voice Alert, Voice Alert Spectre 1 and VG-2, IntelliMute, City X or Highway status).
Start-up is complete when the display continuously shows the letters indicating the current user settings (c = City mode, h = Highway mode, i = IntelliMute On) NOTE In some vehicles, power is supplied to the cigarette lighter even while the ignition is Off. If this is the case with your vehicle, you should turn Off or unplug your detector when parking for lengthy periods.
7. Plug the cigarette lighter adapter on the power cord into your vehicles cigarette lighter.

Settings

When changing the Settings on your detector, please keep in mind:
Buttons can have multiple functions. Depending on your choice of Voice Alert or Tone Alert mode, you will hear either voice messages or tones confirming changes in settings. All settings will be stored in memory when the power is turned Off and recalled when the power is turned back On.
Nothing comes close to a Cobra 5

Highway/City Mode

Setting your detector to City mode delays all X band audio alerts until the signal strength reaches Level 3. (A single beep will sound when the signal is first detected.) This will reduce false alerts while you are driving in, or near, urban areas where there are many sources for conflicting X band signals such as microwave towers and automatic door openers. To change settings, follow the procedure listed below, which indicates what you will see and hear (either in Voice Alert or Tone Alert mode) as you complete each step. The factory setting is Highway mode.

DigiView Data Display Brightness
You can choose from four (4) settings for Brightness of the display. You can cycle through the settings by repeatedly pushing the Dim button. The factory setting is Bright.

Bright

Press and

Dark release

Dim button

Dimmer

Dark Indicator

Highway Mode

Dim Button Press and release
To Change The Brightness To Dim Press and release the Dim button once. Tone One (1) beep Voice Dim Visual Display Display dims

City Mode

City Button Press and release
To Change The Brightness To Dimmer Press and release the Dim button again. Tone None Voice Dimmer Visual Display Display dims further
To Change From Highway Mode To City Mode Press and release the City button. Tone One (1) beep Voice City Visual Display

c appears

in the display To Change The Brightness To Dark Press and release the Dim button a third time. Visual Display Tone One (1) beep Voice Dark Visual Display Display remains dim (no visual alerts will be seen)
To Change From City Mode Back To Highway Mode Press and release Tone the City button again. Two (2) beeps Voice Highway

h appears in the display

To Change The Brightness To Bright Press and release the Dim button a fourth time. Tone Two (2) beeps Voice Bright Visual Display Display returns to full brightness
Nothing comes close to a Cobra 7

Muting An Alert

Your detector allows you to quickly turn Off an audio Alert by momentarily pressing the Mute button. If you press the Mute button a second time during the Alert, the audio Alert will be turned back On.

IntelliMute

IntelliMute is a unique new feature that allows you to avoid alerts you dont need to hear because you are stopped or moving slowly. By sensing the revs (RPMs) of your engine, IntelliMute knows when you are at low speed and automatically mutes alerts (except for strobe signals from emergency vehicles). Before IntelliMute will work, you must set an activation point for your engines revs (see page 11). Whenever the revs are below that point, IntelliMute will begin muting. The activation point will be stored in memory and recalled each time the power is turned On. The factory setting is IntelliMute Off. NOTE IntelliMute may not work with some vehicles because it cannot sense the engines revs. In such cases, you can reduce unwanted audio alerts by using Auto Mute and City mode when appropriate.

Auto Mute Mode

Auto Mute will automatically reduce the audio volume of all alerts after four (4) seconds for as long as the signal is detected. The factory setting for Auto Mute is On.
Mute Button Press and release

IntelliMute On

To Turn Auto Mute Off Press and release the Mute button while no alert is occurring. Tone One (1) beep Voice Auto Mute Off Visual Display None To Turn IntelliMute On Press and release the IntelliMute button. Voice Auto Mute On Visual Display None To Turn IntelliMute Off Press and release the IntelliMute button again. Tone Tone

IntelliMute Button Press and release

Voice IntelliMute On

Visual Display
To Turn Auto Mute On Press and release the Mute button again while no alert is occurring. Tone Two (2) beeps

Two (2) beeps

i appears in the display

Voice IntelliMute Off

Visual Display None

One (1) beep

Rev Level Set
What To Remember While Using IntelliMute IntelliMute works with both City and Auto Mute modes. Whenever engine revs are below the activation point, an arrow pointing down will appear in the display. Above the activation point, an arrow pointing up will appear.
Below Activation Point Above Activation Point

Hold IntelliMute Button

Press Int.

Intelli

button ag.
IntelliMute Button Press and hold for two (2) seconds

desired RPMs

If, for any reason, the unit stops sensing your engines revs, IntelliMute will indicate an error and automatically turn Off. The rev point you set will be stored in the units memory when power is turned Off and recalled each time the power is turned On. NOTE The rev point must be reset if you use your detector in a different vehicle. NOTE When initially choosing your IntelliMute activation point, a setting of approximately 300 to 600 RPMs above idle is recommended. You can reset the activation point at any time to fit your individual preferences and driving style. Setting The IntelliMute Activation Point Your detector must be installed in your vehicle. CAUTION Do not attempt to set the rev point while driving. Your vehicle should be parked and idling. IntelliMute must be turned On before setting the activation point. Depending on whether the unit is in Tone Alert or Voice Alert mode, you will hear a series of beeps or voice messages as you follow the steps on page 11.
To Set The IntelliMute Activation Point Press and hold the IntelliMute button for two (2) seconds. Tone Two (2) beeps Voice Set Engine Revs Visual Display Press IntelliMute button again at desired RPMs None
Rev your engine to None the level you wish to set (recommend slightly above idle) and hold revs steady for two (2) seconds. At the desired rev level, press and release the IntelliMute button.

IntelliMute Not Set

IntelliMu.

Three (3) beeps

IntelliMute Set

IntelliMute Set!

Please tr.
NOTE If the unit is unable to sense usable pulses within three (3) seconds or if you do not set a rev point within 20 seconds of beginning these steps, IntelliMute will indicate an error and automatically turn Off. Tone Four (4) beeps Voice Visual Display

IntelliMute Off

IntelliMute Not IntelliMute not set Set, Please Try Please try again Again followed by IntelliMute Off IntelliMute Off

10 English

Voice/Tone Setting
You can set your detector to sound alerts with either a Voice or a Tone. You can change settings by using the Mute button. In Voice Alert mode, you will first hear several tones, then a voice message announcing the type of signal detected, followed by more tones. In Tone Alert mode, you will hear the tones only. The factory setting is Voice Alert mode.
Spectre 1 And VG-2 Alert Audio Settings
The detector is undetectable by police Spectre 1 and VG-2 radar detector detectors and will alert you when such a device is in use near your vehicle. During the alert, the unit continues to detect other signals. You can choose whether or not you want your unit to show Spectre 1 and VG-2 alerts. The factory setting is Spectre 1 and VG-2 alert On.
Spectre 1 And VG-2 Off Spectre 1 And VG-2 On

Spectre1

& VG2
Mute Button Press and hold for two (2) seconds
To Change From Voice Alert To Tone Alert While no signal is being detected, press and hold the Mute button for two (2) seconds. Tone One (1) beep Voice Tone Alert Visual Display None
Dim Button Press and hold for two (2) seconds
To Turn Spectre 1 And VG-2Alerts Off While no signal is being detected, press and hold the Dim button for two (2) seconds. Tone One (1) beep Voice Spectre VG-2 Off Visual Display Spectre1 & VG 2 Off
To Change From Tone Alert Back To Voice Alert While no signal is being detected, press and hold the Mute button for two (2) seconds again. Tone None Voice Voice Alert Visual Display None
To Turn Spectre 1 And VG-2 Alerts On While no signal is being detected, press and hold the Dim button for two (2) seconds. Tone Two (2) beeps Voice Spectre VG-2 On Visual Display Spectre1 & VG 2 On

12 English

Detection
Voice X Alert K Alert Ka Alert
K Signal Detected Ka Signal Detected
Detection Signals Detected
Radar Signals, Voice And Visual Displays Type of Signal X Band Radar K Band Radar Ka Band Radar

X Signal Detected

Visual Display X and Signal Strength K and Signal Strength Ka and Signal Strength

The tables on the following pages show you the types of Signals your detector will detect, as well as the voice and visual alerts it provides for each of them.

Audio Alerts

In Voice Alert mode you will first hear several tones, then a voice message announcing the type of signal detected, followed by more tones. In Tone Alert mode, you will hear the tones only. In both Voice Alert and Tone Alert modes, a distinctly different alert tone is used for each type of signal detected (including separate tones for each laser signal). For X, K and Ka band radar signals, the tones will repeat faster as you approach the signal source. The repeat rate of the tones gives you useful information about the signal detected. (See responding to alerts on page 17.)

K---3 -

_ Ka-----5 ---_
Laser Signals, Voice And Visual Displays Type of Signal LTI 20-20* LTI Ultra-Lyte* Kustom Signals ProLaser* Kustom Signals ProLaser III* Voice Laser Alert Laser Alert Laser Alert Laser Alert

Kustom Signals ProLaser

Visual Display Laser 20/20 Laser UltraLyte Laser Pro Laser Laser Pro Laser 3
Kustom Signals ProLaser III
An indication of the type of signal detected will appear in the DigiView Data Display. During X, K and Ka alerts, you will also see from 1 to 5 vertical bars, indicating the strength of the signal detected.

Signal Strength Chart

Signal Strength = 1 (Weakest Signal) Signal Strength = 2 Signal Strength = 3
* Your detector provides 360 detection of these signals.

LTI 20-20 LTI Ultra-Lyte

Signal Strength = 4
-Signal Strength = 5 (Strongest Signal)

UltraLyte

Pro Laser

Pro Laser 3

_ ------_ --
NOTE Beep rate changes with different laser alerts. Strobe Alert Signals, Voice And Visual Displays Type of Signal 3M Opticom or Tomar*
Strobe Alert Display (Flashing)
Emergency Vehicle Approaching Emergency Vehicle
* Your detector provides 360 detection of this signal.

Emergency.

14 English Nothing comes close to a Cobra 15
Voice Emergency Vehicle Approaching Road Hazard Ahead Train Approaching
Road Hazard Alert Signal Detected Train Alert Signal Detected
Safety Alert Signals, Voice And Visual Displays Type of Signal Emergency Vehicles Road Hazards Trains
Emergency Alert Signal Detected

Instant-On Detection

Visual Display Emergency Vehicle Road Hazard Train
Your detector is designed to detect Instant-On speed monitoring signals, which can suddenly appear at full strength. NOTE You should take appropriate action immediately whenever an instant-on alert is given.

Responding To Alerts

Description Interpretation

Probably police radar

Recommended Response

FULL ALERT

Hazard
Tone repeats slowly at first, then speeds up rapidly. Tone sounds one (1) time only. Tone instantly begins repeating rapidly.
NOTE There are different tones for each Safety Alert. Spectre 1 Alert Signal, Voice And Visual Display Type of Signal Spectre
Spectre 1 Alert Signal Detected
Probably a false alarm, but possibly pulsed radar, Spectre 1 or VG-2 nearby Radar, Spectre 1 or VG-2 nearby has been activated suddenly

Exercise caution

Voice Spectre Alert

Visual Display Spectre1

NOTE There are different tones for each alert.
Tone repeats slowly as you Probably police approach a hill or bridge, radar beyond the then speeds up sharply as hill or bridge you reach it. Tone repeats slowly for a short period. Probably a false alarm Laser alerts are never false alarms You are nearing an emergency vehicle, railroad crossing, or road hazard (construction, accident, etc.)
Exercise caution FULL ALERT Exercise caution
VG-2 Alert Signal, Voice And Visual Display Type of Signal Interceptor VG-2
VG-2 Alert Signal Detected

Voice VG-2 Alert

Visual Display VG2
Any type of laser alert. Any Safety Alert or Strobe Alert.

16 English

Understanding Radar And Laser
Understanding Radar And Laser Radar Speed Monitoring Systems

Strobe Alert

Special strobes mounted on the light bars of authorized emergency vehicles (fire trucks, police cars, ambulances) automatically change traffic signals as the vehicle approaches an intersection. These strobes and the special strobe detectors located on the traffic signals, introduced fairly recently by 3M and Tomar, are already in use in more than 1000 cities nationwide. Cobras exclusive Strobe Alert detector will detect these special strobes and give an emergency vehicle alert. When you receive such an alert, please watch for an approaching emergency vehicle and pull over to allow it to pass. To inquire about coverage in your area, contact your local fire and police departments.
Three (3) band frequencies have been approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use by speed monitoring radar equipment: X band K band Ka band 10.525 GHz 24.150 GHz 33.400 36.00 GHz

Your detector detects signals in all three (3) radar bands.

Spectre 1 And VG-2

Spectre 1 and VG-2 are detector detectors that work by detecting low-level signals emitted by most radar detectors. Your detector does not emit signals that can be detected by Spectre 1 or VG-2, but does detect Spectre 1 and VG-2 signals and will alert you when a device is in use near your vehicle, if you so choose.

LIDAR (Laser)

The correct name for the technology that most people refer to as laser is actually LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging. LIDAR operates much like radar. Its signal spreads out like a radar signal, though not as widely. Unlike radar, LIDAR must have a clear line of sight to its target vehicle throughout the entire measurement interval. Obstructions such as sign posts, utility poles, tree branches, etc., will prevent valid speed measurement. Some common questions about LIDAR include: s Does weather have any affect on LIDAR? Yes. Rain, snow, smoke, fog, or airborne dust particles will reduce the effective range of LIDAR and can, if dense enough, prevent its operation.
Safety Alert Traffic Warning System
FCC-approved Safety Alert transmitters emit microwave radar signals that indicate the presence of a safety-related concern. Depending on the frequency of the signal emitted, it can indicate a speeding emergency vehicle or train, or a stationary road hazard. Because these microwave signals are within the K band frequency, most conventional radar detectors will detect Safety Alert signals as standard K band radar. Your detector, however, is designed to differentiate between standard K band and Safety Alert signals, and give separate alerts for each. Safety Alert technology is relatively new. Safety Alert transmitters can be found in limited numbers in all 50 states, but the number is growing. Depending on your location, you may not receive these alerts regularly and may often encounter emergency vehicles, trains and road hazards without being alerted. As the number of transmitters increases, these alerts will become more common. When you receive such an alert, please watch for emergency vehicles ahead of you, on cross streets and behind you. If you see an emergency vehicle approaching, please pull over to the right side of the road and allow it to pass.

18 English

Can LIDAR operate through glass? Yes. Newer LIDAR guns can obtain readings through most types of glass. However, the laser pulse also can be received through glass to trigger an alarm by your detector. Can LIDAR operate while in motion? No. Because LIDAR operates by line of sight, the person using it cannot drive the vehicle, aim and operate the gun all at the same time. Is LIDAR legal to use? Yes. It is legal in all 50 states.

Maintenance

Specifications
Maintenance Maintenance Of Your Radar Detector
Your detector is designed and built to give you years of trouble-free performance without the need for service. No routine Maintenance is required. If your unit does not appear to be operating properly, please follow these troubleshooting steps:
Band And Frequencies Band X Band K Band Safety Alert Traffic Warning System Frequencies 10.525 24.125 24.070 24.110 24.190 24.230 Ka Band Laser Strobe 34.700 0.050 0.125 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.010 1.300 GHz GHz GHz GHz GHz GHz GHz nm nm
Make sure the power cord is properly connected. Make sure the socket of your vehicles cigarette lighter is clean and free of corrosion. Make sure the power cords cigarette lighter adapter is firmly seated in your cigarette lighter. Check the power cord fuse. (Unscrew the ribbed end cap of the cigarette lighter adapter and examine the fuse. If required, replace it with a 2-amp fuse only.)
Unit Dimensions And Weight Dimensions* (H x W x D) 113" x 234" x 413" (34 mm x 70 mm x 110 mm) Weight* 5.11 oz. (145 g)
* Dimensions and weight measurements are approximate.
This radar detector is covered by one or more of the following U.S. patents: 5,497,148; 5,594,432; 5,612,685; 6,078,279; 6,094,148. Additional patents may be listed inside the product or pending.

20 English

Warranty
Product Service And Trademark Acknowledgement

Limited 1-Year Warranty

For Products Purchased In The U.S.A. Cobra Electronics Corporation warrants that its Cobra 11 Band Radar/Laser Detectors, and the component parts thereof, will be free of defects in workmanship and materials for period of one (1) year from the date of first consumer purchase. This warranty may be enforced by the first consumer purchaser, provided that the product is utilized within the U.S.A. Cobra will, without charge, repair or replace, at its option, defective 11 Band Radar/Laser Detectors, products or component parts upon delivery to the Cobra Factory Service Department, accompanied by proof of the date of first consumer purchase, such as a duplicated copy of a sales receipt. You must pay any initial shipping charges required to ship the product for warranty service, but the return charges will be at Cobras expense, if the product is repaired or replaced under warranty. This warranty gives you specific rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Exclusions: This limited warranty does not apply: 1. To any product damaged by accident. 2. In the event of misuse or abuse of the product or as a result of unauthorized alterations or repairs. 3. If the serial number has been altered, defaced or removed. 4. If the owner of the product resides outside the U.S.A. All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are limited in duration to the length of this warranty. Cobra shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential or other damages; including, without limitation, damages resulting from loss of use or cost of installation. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and/or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

Product Service

If you have any questions about operation or installing your new Cobra product, or if you are missing parts Please call Cobra first! DO NOT RETURN THIS PRODUCT TO THE STORE! See customer assistance on page A1. If you suspect that your unit requires service, please call 773-889-3087 BEFORE shipping it to Cobra. This will ensure that you receive service as quickly as possible.
If you are asked to send your unit to the Cobra factory, please follow these steps: 1) Send the complete unit, including power cord. (It is not necessary to include the mounting bracket.) 2) For warranty repair, enclose some form of proof-of-purchase, such as a photocopy or carbon copy of a sales receipt. If you send the original receipt, it cannot be returned. 3) Enclose a typed or clearly written description of the problem you are having with your unit, plus the name and address where you want the unit returned. 4) Pack the unit securely to prevent damage during transit. If possible, use the original packing materials. 5) Ship prepaid and insured using a traceable carrier such as United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express, or Priority mail with delivery confirmation. Ship to: Cobra Factory Service, Cobra Electronics Corporation, 6500 West Cortland Street, Chicago, IL 60707 U.S.A. 6) Please allow three (3) to four (4) weeks before contacting us about the status of your service. Call 773-889-3087 for assistance. If your unit is under warranty, it will either be repaired or replaced upon receipt, depending on the model. If your unit is out of warranty, you will receive a letter informing you of the repair or replacement charge.
Trademark Acknowledgement
Cobra, 6 Band, DigiView, Extra Sensory Detection, HighGear, microTALK, LaserEye, Safety Alert Traffic Warning System, Strobe Alert, VG-2 Alert and Nothing comes close to a Cobra are registered trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation. Cobra Electronics Corporation, 11 Band, EasySet, IntelliMute, IntelliShield, Road Ready, SmartPower, Spectre Alert, UltraBright, Voice Alert and Xtreme Range Superheterodyne are trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation. Opticom is a trademark of 3M Corporation. Instaclear for Ford is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company, Inc. Electriclear for GM is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation. 20-20 and Ultra-Lyte are trademarks of Laser Technology, Inc. ProLaser and ProLaser III are trademarks of Kustom Signals, Inc. Bee III and Pop are a trademarks of MPH Industries. Spectre is a trademark of Stalcar. Interceptor VG-2 is a trademark of TechniSonic Industries LTD. Tomar is a registered trademark of TOMAR Electronics, Inc.

22 English

Optional Accessories
Optional Accessories You can find quality Cobra products and accessories at your local Cobra dealer, or in the U.S.A., you can order directly from Cobra.
Straight 12V DC Power Cord Includes plug and fuse Item # 420-030-N-001
Windshield Mounting Bracket Includes suction cups Item # 545-139-N-001
Call 773-889-3087 for pricing or visit www.cobra.com. Coiled 12V DC Power Cord Includes plug and fuse Item # 420-026-N-001 Dual Port Power Adapter Includes adjustable plug (up to 90) and fuse Item # CLP-2B For Credit Card Orders Complete and return this order form to fax number 773-622-2269. Or call 773-889-3087 [Press one (1) from the main menu] 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday. Make Check or Money Order Payable To Cobra Electronics, Attn: Accessories Dept., 6500 West Cortland Street, Chicago, IL 60707 U.S.A. To Order Online Please visit our website: www.cobra.com
Nothing comes close to a Cobra 25

24 English

The Cobra line of quality products includes:
CB Radios microTALK Radios Radar/Laser Detectors Safety Alert Traffic Warning Systems Accessories GPS (Global Positioning System) HighGear Accessories CobraMarine VHF Radios Power Inverters
For more information or to order any of our products, please visit our website: www.cobra.com

Sun 8 Jul 2007

Cobra XRS R9G Review
Posted by Radar Roy I was first introduced to the new Cobra XRS R9G at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Trade Show in January. The first thing that set me back was all the ooohs and aahs that installers were making about Cobras new remote unit because of the ease of install. I wasnt as impressed even with their new wireless controller, as I didnt feel that by mounting a radar detector to the top of the windshield would put it into the same classification as a remote mounted unit. However I decided to back off until I could actually purchase a retail unit to perform an install and to put the detector through its paces, Im glad I did. A few days prior to Speed Measurement Laboratories 2007 Radar Detector Shoot-Out, I took delivery of the new Cobra unit. I decided to do full install at SML in my Ford F-250 Pick Up and put it through its paces during the Shoot-Out.
I have to admit during and after the install I was very impressed with Cobras ease of install. The package comes with lock strips that you attach to the windshield and to the main unit and GPS antenna. Also the unit comes with a lighter cord and a direct wire cord that you can use to attach to your fuse box. I chose to install the main unit and the GPS antenna to the right side of my rear view mirror and then I ran the power cable down the side pillar to the fuse box. I then plugged in the wireless controller to the lighter to charge, and attached it to the air conditioning vent with the supplied clip. The total time of the install took approximately five minutes.
After the install, we decided to first put the GPS through its paces against the red light cameras in the El Paso area. The XRS R9G does come pre-loaded with a database of enforcement camera locations already programmed into the unit; however the newer El Paso cameras were not in its database. Therefore when we first approached these locations, we simply had to press a few buttons on the controller and the locations were stored. We returned later during the test and the unit did alert us in advance of the approaching marked locations. However we noticed that the unit was not programmed to alert to these locations in the same direction only as the Cheetah and NavAlert GPS units. The same direction feature is nice when there are multiple enforcement cameras in the same area, as the unit will ONLY alert to cameras that you are approaching that are used in the direction that youre approaching from. We then spent some time testing the radar detector capabilities around the El Paso area. We had the Cobra XRS R9G along with Escorts SR7 and Beltronics STi operating, all in highway mode. Normally it is not a good practice to operate multiple detectors at the same time as they can cause interference with each other. However our SR7 was a remote unit with the antenna mounted below the front bumper and the STi is designed not to leak any RF, so we felt that we took the proper precautions. Traveling north on State Route 54 from El Paso, both our STi and the SR7 began alerting to a Ka signal at approximately the same time while the Cobra unit was completely silent. Approximately a half mile away, I noticed the light bar of an El Paso patrol car parked in the left shoulder, a hundred feet beyond a forty five degree turn. The Cobra unit remained silent during this off axis encounter, until we were straight on with the patrol car and within line of sight. This encounter would certainly have earned us a costly citation if we had only relied upon the Cobra unit.
To see if we could increase the sensitivity of the Cobra unit we switched the unit into POP mode. After fifteen minutes of what seemed to be continues false alerts, we decided to then switch POP off and to keep the unit in Highway mode. After the SML test, we decided to keep the Cobra unit in our pick-up for another few more weeks to compare the units overall performance. After returning home, we ran the unit against Scottsdales 101 freeway cameras and other local fixed photo radar and red light cameras in the area. As mentioned Cobras unit does not allow for same direction notification and this feature is almost needed on Scottsdales 101, as there are three cameras on each side of the freeway, for a total of six. During our trip down the 101, the Cobra alerted to all six, even to those on the opposite side. As far as Cobras preprogrammed database, we did find ourselves marking a number of fixed enforcement camera locations as they were not entered into their database. Prior to this review we went to Cobras website to check on availability of updates, but no information was posted. As noted in the El Paso encounter, we again found that the Cobra unit had a difficult time in alerting to off axis encounters on both K and Ka band, and lagged a few seconds behind the SR7 and the STi in all other real world encounters. What disappointed me the most was the high percentage of false alerts and even alerting to the wrong band on several encounters. The ratio of false alerts of the Cobra when compared to the SR7 and STi was almost 50 to 1. In many of these false alert encounters, we even shut off the STi and the SR7 to eliminate any doubt of these detectors interfering with the Cobra unit and while these units were powered off, we still encountered these same false alert signals. In all encounters the Cobra would always indicate the correct band during its initial alert. However we noticed on numerous occasions that the display would then switch to other bands. One K band speed trailer in particular caused the Cobra to first alert to K, but then fluctuate between K, X and even Ka. Cobras suggested MSP is $439.95, placing this detector in the same price category as the Escort 9500i, the STi and the Valentine One. However to compare the Cobras performance to against these higher ended units I can only say this, Cobra has a long way to go. I do admit that after installing and using the Cobra, I have appreciated their revolutionary idea using the mounting the detector in the method that they have chosen. However I did find myself a few times checking under my seats, under the dash and under the floor mats trying to find the remote control head that I misplaced.

I wouldnt find myself recommending this unit to any road warrior and if it is GPS and radar detection that you want, I feel that you have better options to choose from considering either the NavAlert or the GPS Mirror coupled with a good high end detector. Radar Roys Rating - Three Badges