Cobra Detector
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 185
From:
Cobra Detector
Isthis detector any good?
http://www.buyradardetectors.com/pro...-xrs-9530.aspx
Just got it for about $100, and I was wondering if it's a decent detector?
http://www.buyradardetectors.com/pro...-xrs-9530.aspx
Just got it for about $100, and I was wondering if it's a decent detector?
1st Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 116
From:
RE: Cobra Detector
How do I say this without hurting your feelings.
NO that detector is NOT a good detector.
Cobra makes some of the worst units out there with the exception of Rocky Mountain Radar detectors.
Cobras detection range is one of the lowest out there of all manufactures.
Cobras also leak emissions which causes other detectors to get a false alert when a car is close that has a cobra detector.
I have posted information about radar detectors in the forum, do a search and you will see more about what I am talking about.
Sorry if I have offended you guys but I hate to see good money thrown away on Cobra Detectors.
With radar detectors the old saying is true, you get what you pay for.
I understand some people do not want to spend big money on a radar detector but in the long run it is better to save your money until you can afford a higher end unit.
If you have to have a detector and do not want to spend a lot of money look at the Whistler XTR 425 or XTR 560 models or the pro models from Whistler
If you can save about $200 look at the BEL 895 being sold at Radio Shack that is the best bang for your buck when it comes to radar detectors.
It uses the older motherboard and chip set from the BEL RX65 which is one of the top 3 radar detectors being sold at this time.
Like I said do a search on radar detectors in the forum and you will see that I have posted more information.
NO that detector is NOT a good detector.
Cobra makes some of the worst units out there with the exception of Rocky Mountain Radar detectors.
Cobras detection range is one of the lowest out there of all manufactures.
Cobras also leak emissions which causes other detectors to get a false alert when a car is close that has a cobra detector.
I have posted information about radar detectors in the forum, do a search and you will see more about what I am talking about.
Sorry if I have offended you guys but I hate to see good money thrown away on Cobra Detectors.
With radar detectors the old saying is true, you get what you pay for.
I understand some people do not want to spend big money on a radar detector but in the long run it is better to save your money until you can afford a higher end unit.
If you have to have a detector and do not want to spend a lot of money look at the Whistler XTR 425 or XTR 560 models or the pro models from Whistler
If you can save about $200 look at the BEL 895 being sold at Radio Shack that is the best bang for your buck when it comes to radar detectors.
It uses the older motherboard and chip set from the BEL RX65 which is one of the top 3 radar detectors being sold at this time.
Like I said do a search on radar detectors in the forum and you will see that I have posted more information.
1st Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 90
From:
RE: Cobra Detector
Congrats on the purchase. No doubt about it, Boomerman knows his stuff. I've read his posts and he's done his homework. That said, I don't have a rolex watch, but I still know what time it is. I don't have a Mercedes, but my Mustang gets me to work. I don't have a passport detector, or a Bel, but my Cobra does what it was advertised to do. It lets me know when to watch out. I rarely speed on purpose, but drift up by accident some times. I have never gotten a speeding ticket, with the exception of a camera that got me on the autoban in Germany (passing over a very high bridge with a speed limit due to high cross winds, $300... ouch!). I looked at a comparison chart on a very detailed website on detectors. The Cobra you mention scored an 8.4 or so and the $200+ more expensive models scored in the 9.6 range. There is such a thing as value, and for my driving style, the Cobra was the right fit. If you're going to deliberately speed in excess of 10 mph over posted limits on a regular basis, maybe the more expensive "good" detectors make sense. It is alwaysinteresting to get the techno-file opinion, and their opinions are really valuable when taken into proper context. I'd be happy with my purchase if it suits you. Me? I'm saving the difference for the next mod... Hope you don't take offense Boomerman, I certainly don't intend any.
Roadlizard
Roadlizard
Thread Starter
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 185
From:
RE: Cobra Detector
No need to apoligize Boomerman. 
Thats exactly what I asked for, "was it a good detector", and you gave me some good insight. I've heard that from others as well, saying that Cobra was the lowest quality in detectors. Like you said roadlizard, I don't speed or race much so it works for me. I just race from digs if somone chalanges me first and I think it'll be close or maybe if I'm running late to work. 
Thats exactly what I asked for, "was it a good detector", and you gave me some good insight. I've heard that from others as well, saying that Cobra was the lowest quality in detectors. Like you said roadlizard, I don't speed or race much so it works for me. I just race from digs if somone chalanges me first and I think it'll be close or maybe if I'm running late to work.
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 576
From: Earth
RE: Cobra Detector
Worked fine for me until after about a month of using it, stopped working period... Turns on powers up and doesnt detect ANYTHING, well detects emergency vehicles but thats sure as hell not why i bought it.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,936
From:
RE: Cobra Detector
I got a whistler pro 3450 from ebay for a little more then a $100 shipped off of ebay. It is a pretty cool remote system that I managed to put where the clock was. Page 3 of my signature shows it.
1st Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 116
From:
RE: Cobra Detector
Roadlizard, no offense taken what so ever[sm=icon_cheers.gif]
What I am trying to do on this forum is to teach people about radar detectors in general.
I know some people can not afford the higher end units or do not want to spend the money on them.
When these websites test detectors sometimes they are influenced by the manufactures they sell for so they will not bad mouth a product that they sell.
It is like any other business or hobby we all know of products that work and get the job done but how well do they get the job done is more important.
I do not own a Rolex either but I do know that a $10 watch will tell me the time just fine and will not last as long as a Rolex.
But when it comes to detectors you do get what you pay for. Watches and electronics are 2 different things.
So my $10 watch is off by a couple of minutes, no big deal, I will either be late or early depending on which way it is off.
With Radar detectors it is a matter of precious seconds that can determine if you will get a ticket or not.
The lower end ones just do not have the processors and chips and algorithms as the higher end units do and this makes them take more time to detect an alert.
Those times can make or break you sometimes.
Yes the cobra will detect radar but at what distance and how much time will I get to react to the situation to slow down?
Even for the casual speeder that goes only 10 mph over once in a while or only speeds when they are running late you could still end up with a ticket because the range on some of the units are low.
Especially if the police is using instant on or laser.
I have found that it is the casual speeder or someone who is in a hurry that usually gets the ticket, they relied to much on their radar detector and did not pay attention when it went off because most of the time they think it is a false alert because they are used to getting them with the lower end units.
Another thing is they put full faith in a radar detector and never pay attention to what may be a cop ahead hiding and using instant on and when they do get an alert it is to late.
The money that they want for that cobra you can buy a Whistler PRO series that will detect better and will not cause other detectors to get false alerts when you drive by another car that has the Cobra in it.
For those of you who own Cobras that is fine, but just be aware that you do cause other radar detectors to give false alerts due to the poor design of the detector.
This causes us great headaches sometimes. hahahahahahahahahahahaa
Chris01gt, enjoy the radar detector and remember no radar detector is 100% fool proof, you can and probably will get a ticket at sometime with any radar detector.
What I am trying to do on this forum is to teach people about radar detectors in general.
I know some people can not afford the higher end units or do not want to spend the money on them.
When these websites test detectors sometimes they are influenced by the manufactures they sell for so they will not bad mouth a product that they sell.
It is like any other business or hobby we all know of products that work and get the job done but how well do they get the job done is more important.
I do not own a Rolex either but I do know that a $10 watch will tell me the time just fine and will not last as long as a Rolex.
But when it comes to detectors you do get what you pay for. Watches and electronics are 2 different things.
So my $10 watch is off by a couple of minutes, no big deal, I will either be late or early depending on which way it is off.
With Radar detectors it is a matter of precious seconds that can determine if you will get a ticket or not.
The lower end ones just do not have the processors and chips and algorithms as the higher end units do and this makes them take more time to detect an alert.
Those times can make or break you sometimes.
Yes the cobra will detect radar but at what distance and how much time will I get to react to the situation to slow down?
Even for the casual speeder that goes only 10 mph over once in a while or only speeds when they are running late you could still end up with a ticket because the range on some of the units are low.
Especially if the police is using instant on or laser.
I have found that it is the casual speeder or someone who is in a hurry that usually gets the ticket, they relied to much on their radar detector and did not pay attention when it went off because most of the time they think it is a false alert because they are used to getting them with the lower end units.
Another thing is they put full faith in a radar detector and never pay attention to what may be a cop ahead hiding and using instant on and when they do get an alert it is to late.
The money that they want for that cobra you can buy a Whistler PRO series that will detect better and will not cause other detectors to get false alerts when you drive by another car that has the Cobra in it.
For those of you who own Cobras that is fine, but just be aware that you do cause other radar detectors to give false alerts due to the poor design of the detector.
This causes us great headaches sometimes. hahahahahahahahahahahaa
Chris01gt, enjoy the radar detector and remember no radar detector is 100% fool proof, you can and probably will get a ticket at sometime with any radar detector.