"I Wonder How The POOR PEOPLE Detect Radar?"
Written: Dec 13 '00 (Updated Jan 09 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: It's, well, cheap. X-band detection not bad.
Cons: Inadequate audio/visual display, no rear radar protection, marginal K/Ka band performance, overall cheapness.
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| driver4t5's Full Review: Cobra Electronics ESD 9000 Radar Detector |
Beating the cops at Radar Games leaves no margin for error. The penalty for failure is getting pulled over and very likely cited. At the risk of sounding elitist, if a person can't afford good, capable equipment, he's better off saving his money and not playing. Of course, that doesn't stop most radar manufacturers from making entry-level, "affordable" protection. What, though, IS affordable? Is it worth saving a couple hundred on a detector to throw away several hundred in tickets that it failed to prevent? Such is the dilemma with the Cobra 9000.
This detector can be had for under $80. I bought mine at Ebay for $75 all said and shipped, which likely wasn't all that great a deal even if it was new.
When it arrived the entire package defined cheapness. Instead of a nice, compartmented box it was wrapped in tamper-proof plastic. No way to repackage it for resale, which was my full intention after testing this. The plastic exterior felt inferior and thin. Also included is a solid cord with an old male/female connection (good detectors use a telephone-type connector), a very flimsy windshield clip, two smallish suction cups (no spares), and a decently descriptive instruction manual.
Some of the features include:
* Detection of X, K, Ka, and Laser radar
* Safety Alert and Strobe Alert signal reporting
* VG-2 invisibility and detection
* Signal Strength Indicator
* Mute, City/Highway, and Brightness adjustments
* Volume adjustment
Sounds impressive on the surface, huh? It ain't. I'll elaborate further.
The safety signal reporting is nothing more than an indication that a safety warning transmitter has been detected. These safety transmitters broadcast a code stating what specific warning/road condition exists. The 9000, however, doesn't relay this code so the driver has no idea what exactly is up ahead, which is no better than not being warned at all.
The Signal Strength indicator has little graduation. First step is the indicator stating which band was found. After that there are two more sets of lights that come on. Again, not much better than just flashing the band indicator.
The city/highway switch desensitizes X-band detection in the city mode. This is semi-useful in a busy urban situation but even then doesn't drown out very many signals.
The alarm volume is so weak that users will want to turn the adjustment to the full setting of 10. The Cobra has problems making itself heard.
The K and Ka band indicator is one icon, so there's no good visual way to know what band is being used. This is critical since K remains on while Ka is impulse or instant-on radar. An experienced user can tell by the way the audible signal comes on. If it comes on gradually, it's K band. If it comes on suddenly strong or in short bursts, it's likely Ka.
All of the aforementioned lamentations are trade-offs for that nice low price. Some are petty annoyances while others play a serious part in battling speed detection devices.
Aesthetically, despite its cheap construction, the Cobra 9000 is a good looking, compact machine, especially when placed beside the boxy Valentine One. Draw your own conclusions, but the 9000 looks a lot like the Batmobile to me. The suction cups have nice little tabs that make removal from the windshield easy. Then again, with such a cheap piece, it's almost a waste of time to hide this detector.
The road is the real test. As always I throw new gladiators into the pit against my reigning (though not perfect) champ, the Valentine. I ran into my first compatability problem with this pairing. Things would work fine for a few minutes, then inexplicably the Valentine would start reading false Ka signals. Weak at first, then very strong, then fading away. This cycle ran for about 5 seconds and would repeat about ever 10 seconds. This would go on for a few minutes, quit for a few more, then resume. First inclination was that the V1 was much superior to the Cobra in K/Ka detection as the Cobra never made a peep. I finally realized that it was the Cobra that was setting the Valentine off! Whenever the cycle would start I turned off the Cobra and the Valentine didn't false again...until a couple minutes after I switched the Cobra back on. As a result my comparison test was cut short.
One thing I did notice during their brief tenure together was the Cobra was less susceptible to false reports. Strangely, though, sometimes the Cobra would pick up an X signal the Valentine would not, and vice versa.
I had to resume testing the Cobra solo. Fortunately I know some hot spots that would help determine distance testing. For X, the Cobra was very close to the V1 and provided adequate warning. K and Ka bands were where the 9000 faltered. Its range was noticeably shorter, although better than the pricey Escort 7500. Warning range, though, was what I considered marginally dangerous for if the driver wasn't alert he wouldn't react in time.
The Cobra 9000 is completely oblivious to rear radar. No such ability is advertised nor delivered. While rear attacks aren't common, they do occur and any serious detector needs to pick this up. I suppose for the price a person could buy two and mount one in the rear.
Three separate signals are emitted for three different kinds of laser radar. I never had an opportunity to check this but this sounds like a totally unnecessary frill. Time and effort would have been better spent giving the 9000 rear vision or a better audio/visual display.
Even at its low price, don't waste your money buying the Cobra 9000. Either scrape up the additional funds to buy a good detector or don't play The Game. Its limited range of vision, lack of features, and marginal K and Ka band performance leave the 9000 ill-equipped for combat.
Related Reviews (and better detectors):
Passport 8500 Radar Detector:
http://driver4t5.epinions.com/elec-review-6DC4-15F80693-3A1166AE-prod2
Passport 7500 Radar Detector:
http://driver4t5.epinions.com/elec-review-269B-11999613-39EA738E-prod5
Passport 6800 Radar Detector:
http://driver4t5.epinions.com/elec-review-4F55-2278D30-3A20984C-prod1
Valentine One Radar Detector:
http://driver4t5.epinions.com/elec-review-1878-10D3544-39EFB908-prod1
Recommended:
No
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driver4t5
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Member: Jon Harney
Location: Lake Mary, FL
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2000 - 2001 Epinions Fixture...Now living off of my Eroyalties Millions
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