Gizmodo: radar detector

RENNtech Mercedes C63 AMG SPEC.R and Its Radar Jamming System Get a Test Drive

Sean Fallon — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:20:00 EDT

Jalopnik had the honor of test driving the RENNtech Mercedes C63 AMG SPEC.R. It's a beautiful car, but one of the most interesting features is the radar jamming system built into the rear-view mirror.

Amazingly enough, the system worked flawlessly in Jalopnik's test. The savings in speed tickets alone means that this car will pay for itself in time. Well...maybe not. Hit up Jalopnik to get the full test-drive details. [Jalopnik]

Cobra Brings Radar Detectors to the 21st Century with OLEDs and Smart Car Monitoring

Wilson Rothman — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:13:05 EST

I thought radar detectors were a thing of the 1980s until I spotted Cobra's sexy new Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne Maximum Performance 12 Band XRS 9950. Even its name says "I drive a long red car very fast for reasons I won't go into now." Seriously, the 1.5" OLED screen on this baby shows you everything from battery voltage to compass heading to where Smokey lies in wait. With an add-on dongle, you can even get locations of red-light cameras. Forget my Volvo daddy-wagon, this makes me want to invest in Chevrolet's finest.

New Maximum Performance Detectors—A Dashboard "Must-Have" Cobra Electronics Announces Newly Designed 2008 Line of Maximum Performance, Full-Color Radar Detectors
LAS VEGAS (January 4, 2008) — Chicago-based Cobra Electronics (NASDAQ: COBR) today announced the launch of its new Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne™ Maximum Performance 12 Band™ 2008 radar line. Following the success of the wireless remote controlled XRS R9G, the new line once again offers drivers detection of the fastest radar and laser guns—including POP Mode and KU-Band—high-resolution full-color displays and other Cobra radar mainstay features drivers have come to rely on. Cobra's 2008 radar products offer maximum performance at prices that challenge competitors' products with less features and higher prices.

The XRS 9950 and 9940 feature the ExtremeBright DataGrafix™ full-color display with alert screens and icons such as car battery voltage, signal strength and eight-point digital compass. The products feature a 1.5-inch and 1-inch OLED display, respectively, and a sleek new industrial design.

The new XRS 9950 includes the added benefit of an optional GPS locator. The locator, also available in Cobra's XRS R9G, alerts drivers of dangerous speed and red light camera locations in North America.

"In a category that's been around for more than 20 years, Cobra continues to innovate," said Tony Mirabelli, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Cobra. "Whether it's our speed and red light camera alerts, our full-color video displays or our S-XRS™ maximum performance, Cobra has transformed the radar detector from a 'nice-to-have' to a 'must have' in today's car."

In addition to the products' enhanced performance and added benefits, the 9950 and 9940 offer Cobra firsts such as Voice Alert™, which clearly annunciates signals and alerts being detected; IntelliMute®, a programmable speed sensing auto mute system that reduces false alerts; SmartPower™ to automatically shut off the unit when the vehicle's ignition is turned off; and Safety Alert® and Strobe Alert®, which alert the driver of approaching emergency vehicles and select road hazards.
The XRS 9950 has an MRSP of $259.95 and the XRS 9940 has an MSRP of $229.95. Both will be available at major retailers starting in April 2008.

Beyond the flagship XRS 9950 and 9940, Cobra is also introducing upgrades to its existing line of detectors with price points ranging from $209.95 to $99.95 to suit every driver's need.
Along with its maximum performance XRS radar line, Cobra's 2008 mobile navigation, two-way radio, citizens band and marine products will be on display at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, January 7-10 in the Central Hall, booth # 9841, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Cobra's radar, mobile navigation and two-way radio products will also be on display at CES Unveiled, January 5 in the Sands Expo and Convention Center.

Uniden Packs Radar Detector Inside MapTrax GPS for High-Tech Cop Spotting

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:35:49 EST

Uniden hasn't been long in the GPS game, but its experience in high-end radar detectors goes back years and years. So it's no surprise that, come CES, it will be the first company to introduce a MapTrax GPS navigator with radar detection built in. We don't know much about them yet, like how the radar detection might be represented on a map, or if detection could help mark speed traps on the screen, but damn if it's not a start. People who note the placement of portable GPS navigators have asked me for years about this—"Why can't it have a 'fuzz buster' so I can see where all the cops are?" Well Dad, guess what? You're gonna get your wish. [Uniden]

How Can the Valentine One Still Be the Best Radar Detector?

Brian Lam — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:04:44 EDT

I have to buy a radar detector before snow season starts and the Tahoe PD start crawling all over my ass. For a long time, I'd wanted a Valentine One. I knew it was supposed to be the best a few years ago, but was shocked to see that was still the case today when Alex Roy mentioned he'd used a Val One in his blistering coast to coast record breaking drive. Why is there no march of progress here?

I read the website and I still don't know what's made them so good. I hear the Valentine Ones are upgrade capable, but there's only so much that software can do. And is it really the case that no one from Cobra or Bel or Passport can catch up? Couldn't they make a slimmer one or something? And how did they test these things in the first place? That's one gadget assignment I wouldn't take. How does anyone really know it's good? Are we playing into an urban legend? Aren't you just screwed anyhow if the supertroopers pick you off with a controlled blip of a radar or laser gun? I don't know, but I feel like my insurance is going up just thinking about this stuff. UPDATE: Patent on 360 degree detection? Really? Wait, no.[How to Comment and Valentine1]

Cobra XRS R9G GPS-Enabled Radar Detector Available Now

Jason Chen — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 15:30:48 EDT

The Cobra XRS R9G GPS Radar detector we first saw in January is available now. Why would you want a GPS-enabled radar connector? Besides beeping when you go too fast, it also has an index of police red light cameras and speed traps. [PRNewswire]

Radar Detector with GPS Memorizes Speed Traps

Adam Frucci — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:32:00 EST

The Passport 9500i is a radar detector that has GPS loaded into it, giving you even more of an excuse to dangerously speed without worrying about getting busted. The GPS doesn't do anything fancy like give you directions — no, that would be boring. Instead, it memorizes the locations of speed traps to better warn you about hidden 5-0, and can also memorize locations of false alarms so you aren't always hearing an alarm when you pass a convenience store with an automatic door and a microwave.

It's a whopping $450, which is much more expensive than the cheaper alternative of obeying traffic laws and driving safely. –Adam Frucci

Product Page [via MobileMag]

Cobra XRS R9G GPS Radar Detector: Fights the Man by Dodging Red Light Cams

Brian Lam — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 08:01:42 EST

Here's a gadget for those who learned to drive by watching Mad Max. Cobra's latest radar detector picks up on standard radar and laser guns used by The Man in speed enforcement. But it also has a GPS and a database of known speed traps and red light cameras. That's good for slowing down before John Q. Law pegs you with his speed guns, and for knowing which red lights are "safe" to run.

As a guy who drives like a complete A-hole, I have to say, I've got mixed feelings about this device. No matter how rushed I am, I don't run red lights — Did you know that T-boning, along with spins, lead to the most fatalities on the road. Well, next to my friggin road rage that is.

Anyhow, the radar detector also uses the GPS to detect the car's speed, and mute the alarms if you happen to be driving the speed limit.

–Brian Lam

Cobra Website [gizmodo]