Cobra XRS9960G Reviews, Best Prices, Compare
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Cobra XRS9960G Reviews, Best Prices, Compare.
Product: Cobra XRS9960G Amazon Price: Too low to display Availability: In Stock |
Compare Prices on Cobra XRS9960G
This is definately not a fine radar detector. In the days of Apple compose, and GPS's looking expansive and slim, LCD televisions, and kitchen appliances looking and functioning great; there's not a lot of excuse for abominable industrial earn. More on the construction in a moment.
October 10, 2009 update. The Emergency Vehicle awe finally went off. Another that made me almost jump out of my skin, the noise is a lot like a police siren. A police car was pulling somebody over with siren going. Well before I could hear the siren, the apprehension went off on the cover. I had already seen the lights before the fear went off. If a police car is equiped with a special transmitter, the Cobra will go off.
September 26, 2009 update. Laser detector finally went off. About made me jump out of my skin. The sound is kind of Star Wars, crazy buzzy sound. The goofiest icon advance up, its an image of a gun with a laser eye on it. But the superior news - it works. Definately works fair lovely. I've also had some fun with this unit, the Chicago state has a ton of construction with threatened photo radar rush enforcement. The improbable thing, if they ever turn on those radar guns that are out there just now, Chicago will construct a ton of money. This unit warns for those guns a long ways in come, and it beeps like insanity whenever I am on top of one. This thing really works.
June 2, 2009 Tech Encourage update. Well this is not the fastest company I have ever met. Web wait on via the web design is pitiful at best. Twice I entered the right same information and never got a response over a 1 week time period. I finally extinct an email address (it's buried in an advertisement looking thing on the FAQ's) and got a response within two hours of their normal business hours. And I got a noxious gram from somebody telling me to relax, tech succor would win serve to me (after over 7 work days, I lost all hope), they did receive all three of my emails. Frankly, a really awful showing on their share. God serve you if you need tech succor from this company. The FAQ fraction for the radar detectors is impartial abominable. Lovely well worthless.
Bottom line - There are no 64 bit drivers, they promise them in 1 to 2 months. So you are stuck using XP or Vista 32 bit (the limit of my testing) . They did manage to straighten out my lisp with the lifetime subscription to GPS updates.
Back to Current Review:
The really broad news, this radar detector flat out works. It works well. I'm amazed at how well it works. Photo, Ka, X, and Caution Zones - saw them all, they all work unbiased enormous thank you very worthy. Haven't seen a laser alert, emergency vehicles, or a Railroad crossing alert yet; but I'd have every reason to maintain those will work when they are really there.
The estimable - 1/2 mile down the road, Ka chirped on, the blooming lady said Ka Alert, and two balls of signal strength. Positive enough, a 1/2 mile later down the raod, a policeman with radar pulled somebody over. Radiant darn satisfactory proof the unit can detect radar.
Unboxing - I've posted some pictures of unboxing. It's actually some elegant decent packaging and got my heart rate up honest a bit. You peruse, I aged to be addicted to radar detectors. And then Laser came along, and I lost interest, (I'd already been through X band, then derive a original one that would do Ka, enough already) . Well that whole world has settled down now.
What is in the box? This funky looking radar detector with a vast honking veil on the succor raze of it. And this really gruesome half arm, half wart hanging off the side of the body; the GPS receiver. A coiled power cord. A goofy looking female mini-USB to male USB cable. A really crummy cheap window suction cup mount. A chunk of velcro. And an instruction book bag.
The installation. Ouch. The first step, you have to register the GPS and update the database. If you utilize the nasty model number to register the GPS you'll be ripped off your lifetime Aura database updates. Manufacture distinct you employ the XRS 9960G model number - not the number on the radar detector. And you have to input the serial number off the microscopic exiguous GPS receiver. Once registered, you then have to download and install a miniature share of software that will live on your computer forever - it's called RDA GPSL-55 (you got me how they came up with that sparkling name) . Then you are supposed to creep in the USB cable and the GPS receiver. Now if you have Vista, the website says you are on your bear. With XP they give you step by step instructions. Well, the best deal, if you have Vista or XP 64 Bit - don't even bother. The software / driver will not work at all, nothing, nada. So you have to net a 32 bit machine to do this update. My Aspire One netbook did the job. Then you have to choose the GPS when you initiate up the RDA GPSL-55 software, and you have to enter the GPS serial number. Once all that craziness is done, you might rep lucky and the GPS will update with it's imprint spanking current database. Mine finally did after three tries.
So software location up - honest not cold at all. Forget 64 Bit operating systems. And forget about any kind of precise live software relieve on the Cobra website; it unbiased doesn't exist at all.
So now that the itsy-bitsy reciever is updated, I installed this in the car. Cobra needs to retract a lesson from Garmin, or the GPS industry, about car mounts for devices. They shipped the cheapest section of garbage to hang this on your windshield. The metal is nothing to bend. The suction cups are exactly that, suction cups that are very hard to push on or assume. So, bottom line this thing looks like garbage hanging from the windshield.
The power cord is procedure too short. I had to stretch is a long ways to work in my Buick Rendezvous (I know a radar magnet) - if those suction cups ever let go, this unit is flying to the relieve of the bus hasty. The Mercedes was a cramped better.
There's one other significant originate flaw. The socket for the GPS receiver is a standard mini-USB connector; cheap and not exactly trim regain. Definately not an automotive type connection. The power socket is apt beside that GPS socket. The GPS almost covers up the power socket, and when you stretch the power cord, it stresses the GPS connection. First time around, the GPS wasn't seated correct because the power cord pulled it out.
Now the wonderful stuff. Power this up, and you are greeted by one of the nicest female voices I've heard on an electronic scheme in a long time. And then you glean to inspect at the show. Well Cobra could have spent maybe five more dollars on this explain. It is well-kept grievous res, the icons are really goofy looking and tidy clunky. For some unknown reason, they worship how great electricity the unit is getting, there's this ample battery in the default prove that tells you 14.7V, or whatever is going in. I would haver rather seen the bustle displayed.
Customization through the menus is not shipshape intuitive, there's only 4 buttons to work with. They don't always do exactly what I understanding they should, a minor annoyance.
Now on to the testing. About 1/4 mile from a camera monitored intersection, the displayed turned to a camera with a green donut, and the Cobra lady said Photo Alert. A bit closer, and an arrow appeared at the top. Closer and the donut got larger and yellow. Closer unruffled, the donut turned red, by that time I was heavenly remarkable at the edge of the intersection. This was splendid frosty. Worked every single time.
I found a policeman staked out on a road, doubled relieve and got the Ka alert mentioned at the top of the review. Given the two level signal strength, it wasn't a fake scare. And the fact that he pulled somebody over, well it was trusty.
The Caution zones is kind of involving. It's apparently areas where a lot of accidents have been reported. Clear enough, Caution came on with an exclamation point in the middle of the donut, and Cobra lady told me Caution Alert. The color change was exactly like the Camera alert. The two that came up were in front of a school at a very busy intersection. And the second was in front of a hospital.
False alarms. It did a gorgeous darn capable job rejecting them. O'Hare airport is eminent for heavy duty fallacious alarms everywhere. I got X and Kz alarms, but all were only one ball signal strength. The other ample thing this unit does, once the scare is region, you win the pronounce plus a tone. Then you bag tone. And if the signal doesn't find stronger, the tone gets quieter; but the X or Ka radar gun icon stays lit up. It's a really expansive arrangement to work.
Multiple alarms - got a caution and an X band dread at once. The Caution stayed colossal and the X band radar showed up on the camouflage. So both were there to behold.
Highway driving. Well this is a bit queer and will acquire some getting weak to. Those Caution and Photo alarms are all based on GPS coordinates data. When you disappear along a highway, sometimes you will pass advance one of those areas. Well you have to inspect closely at the icon for the direction the arrow is pointing. If it's pointing straight up, that zone is probably on the road in front of you. If it's to the side, well it's probably not a highway warning, but a street parallel to the highway. It's tricky to sight at first.
Oh the GPS bustle was off by between 1 and 2 mph. I know this because I've calibrated this vehicle's digital hurry point to with two Garmin GPS units. The Cobra thinks the bustle is really 1 to 2 mph slower than it really is.
So bottom line - it's a really top-notch unit, that does exactly what they say it does. It could be considerable better built. The Passport series from Cincinnati Microwave is distinguished better built - their GPS receiver is built in. However, their displays are all words, no pictures. So Cobra wins there. As Cobra's highest raze radar detectors, they did a gigantic job on the things that count; and did a unpleasant job on the visual allotment.
The fraction that I come by extraordinary, couple this with a Garmin Nuvi GPS; and it will be hard to stare at the road. I'll almost need a copilot to benefit me with all these gadgets! Fine travels.
English-speaking Cobra Radar/Laser Detector is truly one of the best, bar none! While relatively easy to operate and comprehend, this scheme is recommended for city dwellers and highway travelers alike.
After opening the package and viewing the sophisticated electronics, we dreaded having to use lots of time reading the operation manual; however, this was not the case. After roughly 22 minutes of reading, probing, and mounting the unit on our dashboard, the intention was ready to go. Sign that the product includes fixtures for optional windshield mounting too, but dashboard operation seemed more estimable to avoid having the required power cord dangling above.
The four buttons are pleasantly minimal with settings for:
* City or Highway
* Dimness or brightness (via OLED technology = Organic Light Emitting Diode)
* Mute
* Power on/off with volume control
* Menu for further optional programming
Mute is a beneficial feature when using this method with a normal GPS system; both sound and image are dually indicated. However, the unit includes an audio jack if one desires to connect to a speaker for sound amplification. Plus, using the Still control, one may idea additional features, such as the vehicle's proper voltage read from the cigarette lighter, which provides a 'low battery' warning; and there is a programmable compass; explain of numeric longitude and latitude (via the GPS), and noteworthy more.
The Global Positioning System addition is shimmering, but we wished it provided directions like ordinary GPS's. This one detects unique and existing photo enforcements; caution areas; rush alerts; programmable user set alerts, updatable GPS database information and more. Perhaps in the future, drivers will have all of these features worldwide - including telephone and email capability all-in-one.
We did not experience untrue alerts in our tested urban and suburban spot. For example, there were warnings for accelerate indicator units (warning drivers to be cognizant of their rush) ; law enforcement vehicles in transit (ticket that "parked" unattended units generated no alert) ; regular (non-cargo) trains did not alert; however, regular rails like AM-Trak picked up signals. At the local international airport, the map did not beep constantly, but rather it alerted us correctly when clear vehicles were nearby. Brand that in the city, we had unclear alerts, but realized there are often "unmarked" vehicles that aren't so distinct. With Intellimute technology, the system worked as expected. In fact, Cobra knows if our vehicle is racy slowly or stopped; it detects and displays RPM and may be programmed with Activation Points.
The only potential downside is the laser's need for 360 degree understanding of the vehicle's surroundings. If the laser is obstructed by object(s) or severe unsuitable weather (i.e. dense rain, snow, smoke, or fog), such Acts of God may prevent its operation. Also, the alerts only sing, "K Alert" or "Ka Alert" and few others; therefore, one must read the manual to decipher the alert code.
Thus far, Cobra XRS 9960G is fully proper in all 50 states.
So I have been using this Radar Detector for about 5 days now and loving/hating every moment of it. I am not convinced....here are my thoughts.
The box includes the detector, a suction cup mount (works well), a allotment of velcro for whisk mounting, a gps receiver dongle, a usb to mini usb cable (12 promenade cable), and of course the power cord.
What I like:
1. The unit is designed well and mounts very easily using the suction cup mount (I do not want to permanently set adhesive backing velcro to my pace) .
2. The ability to update the GPS dongle with up to date camera and hasten trap information (When the station works)
3. The intuitive (compact) expose that gives you basic GPS info (direction and so forth) .
4. The shriek feedback when an alert is detected.
What I dislike:
1. The website was down for-ever and in FireFox shows that it is blacklisted by Google. Internet explorer does not point to it blacklisted and works objective elegant.
2. The updates to the GPS dongle must be on a Windows based PC running a 32bit OS. MAC's are not supported.
3. Faulty serve. I tried to call when the station was down to watch if they had a solution....no response, no call backs.
**NOTE: You download a shrimp software from the website which you install on your pc..once installed you skedaddle the dongle in and you must enter the serial number on the benefit of it so you can accumulate the update...
My experience:
I live in the land of Residence Troopers (Unique Jersey) and commute to the city that invented the Traffic-Cam (Unique York City) . My total round-trip commute is about 125 miles daily...therefore I use a lot of time in my car. I have never felt the need for a Radar Detector because I was fearful that it would develop me drive a small bit more faster then I do already.. That being said I definitely wanted to give this puppy a shot and ogle what it detected and what it did not.
I finally got the GPS dongle updated with the latest database that had updated information about camera's, race traps, etc....apparently this is updated every 24 hours (when the area is up and running) . Straggle in the dongle and turn the unit on and you are ready to go.
First test, locally around my home where I know we have 3 live cameras at traffic lights and 2 dummy cameras. I drove my slight car come the dummy cameras and no alert...drove past the live cameras and 2 of them showed an alert while the 3rd did not. I made a imprint of the 3rd one so I could add it to the database (you are allowed to login to the situation and add updates for all users .. nice feature) . Fleet Note: June 25th Evening - Drove home via this camera that I added to the database and voila it actually worked...the procedure notified me of a camera.
Second test, the police department in our station tries to be nice and instead of issuing citations they install these radar's on wheels that announce you of your bustle so that you can control yourself (ha...I do live in the boonies) . What better arrangement to test a radar detector then to drive by these things...without facing a accurate officer. 
- I know of 4 of them on a regular basis. I drove up to two of them...meaning driving towards them and the detector started to signal an alert..probably about 3/4 of a mile before I got there. Awesome. Now then I drove up to two of them from late....on one I got an alert 1/2 mile before and on the other about 1/4 mile before I got to it. It works..
Third Test - The great ole' NJ highways with status troopers galore - now in unmarked Dodge Chargers. Woo Hoo...this was going to be fun...but I didnt go nuts driving mercurial...fair wanted to explore this puppy work. I inaugurate off by changing the diagram to Hwy mode and off I went. I drive on i78 about 45 miles one design each day and there are a lot of run traps. The rate of detection here was disappointing...about 50% of them never caused a signal...but that could simply mean the trooper wasn't looking for anyone. Aloof...delicate kindly. PS. I did turn on all of the available bands on the unit (it covers 15 different ones) .
Fourth and final test, The city of the cameras! I drove through the Holland Tunnel into NYC ( I had turned the procedure to City mode before entering the tunnel) . Naturally I got a lot of erroneous K Band alerts (to be expected in dense areas with lots of wireless garbage) . However here is where this thing came out in beefy force. It detected EVERY camera at EVERY light and warned me about it.... Gotta admire that. I knew about most of the cameras it found but there were 6 that even I missed on my route from the Holland tunnel to midtown NYC. AWESOME.
Why then is my rating of this product 4/5 (i would have given it a 3.5 if I could) . I simply dis-like the fact that the website is useless and blacklisted to boot. I also am a bit annoyed that I have to employ a Windows PC at 32bit to install/update the GPS dongle. I exercise 64bit operating systems on a regular basis and mac's when I can...so the ability to update on any of them would be awesome...but I cant abominate them for not supporting 64bit...a lot of companies don't. My main complaint is that its not MAC suited. Last but not least...my main anxiety is that if people don't pick enough of these types of devices, the database will become outdated and thus the GPS dongle will be unprejudiced that...it will whine you which device you are going but not be able to alert you to traps, frightened areas etc.
I detached consider the product is expansive but Cobra needs to work on implementation a puny bit more. 3.5/5 for me...but since no halves are allowed its rounded up to 4.
