Cobra SPX 5500 User Manual

Introduction

Important Information and Customer Assistance

The Cobra line of quality products includes:

CB Radios

microTALK

Radar/Laser Detectors

Safety Alert

Truck-Specific Navigation Systems

HighGear

CobraMarine VHF Radios

Power Inverters

LED Lights

Jumpstarters

Accessories

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Radios

Traffic Warning Systems

Accessories

For more information or to

order any of our products,

please visit our website:

www.cobra.com

English

14 BAND™ ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE DIGITAL RADAR/LASER DETECTOR

SPX 5500

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Operating Instructions

Printed in the Philippines

Part No. 480-839-P

Version B

English

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 owner’s 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 5:30 p.m. Central Time

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

English

6500 West Cortland Street

Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA

www.cobra.com

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Introduction

Controls, Indicators and Connections

Introduction

Display and Product Features

Introduction

Customer Assistance

Accessories Order Info and

Important Information and Trademark Acknowledgement

Customer Assistance

Controls, Indicators and Connections

Windshield

Bracket

Windshield Bracket

Release Button

12V DC Power Jack

On-Off/Volume Control

Allows you to adjust the

volume of the tone alerts.

Dim Button

Allows you to adjust the UltraBright Data Display brightness for easy reading. (Also turns VG-2 and Spectre I & IV+ alerts On and Off.*)

turns Voice Alert On and Off.*)

* Press and hold for four seconds to

access these functions.

English

Speaker

Mute Button

For manual mute or auto

mute of audio alerts. (Also

Mount

WARNING

Modifications or parts substitutions not approved by Cobra Electronics Corporation may violate FCC Rules and void your authority to operate this equipment.

LaserEye

For 360° detection of laser signals.

Audio Jack

City Button

For City or Highway modes to reduce false alerts. (Also turns Ku alerts On and Off.*)

IntelliMute Button

Engine RPM sensing mute function which reduces false alerts. Button turns IntelliMute On and Off. (Also enters IntelliMute setting mode.*)

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Display

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Ordering From U.S.A.

Call 773-889-3087 for pricing or visit www.cobra.com.

For Credit Card Orders Call 773-889-3087 [Press one from the main menu] 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time, Monday through Friday.

Alpha/Numeric Dot Matrix Text Display

See pages 6 – 18 for more information about display features.

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

Product Features

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Congratulations! You’ve made a smart choice by purchasing a ultra-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, 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,Ka and Ku bands, with signal strength indicated), Laser signals, Safety Alert signals, Spectre I & IV+ signals, VG-2 signals

LaserEye

For 360° detection of laser signals

Instant-On Ready

Detects radar guns with “instant-on” (very fast) speed monitoring capabilities

Pop Detection

Detects the latest super-fast instant-on single pulse radar guns

Tone Alert or Voice Alert

With adjustable volume

City or Highway

DigiView

Data Display

With easy-to-read alpha/numeric dot matrix text readout

Alert Programming

Easy setting of radar bands to be monitored

Safety Alert

Traffic warning system distinguishes important safety alerts from other K band signals

Manual Mute or Auto Mute

A mute function of audio alerts

IntelliMute

A mute function which automatically reduces false audio alerts by sensing engine RPMs

IntelliMute

Pro

Prevents detection by radar detector detectors (RDDs) when traveling at slower speeds

Mounting

Mounts easily on windshield or dashboard

Modes to reduce false alerts

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.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Please visit our website: www.cobra.com

Item# Description

420-030-N-001 Straight 12V Power Cord 420-026-N-001 Coiled 12V Power Cord 545-159-N-001 Windshield Mounting Bracket CLP-2B Dual Port Power Adapter

Trademark Acknowledgement

Cobra®, DigiView®, EasySet®, Extra Sensory Detection®, IntelliMute®, IntelliMute® Pro, IntelliShield Strobe Alert are registered trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA.

Cobra Electronics Corporation™, 14 Band™, 15 Band™, Extreme Bright DataGrafix™, IntelliLink™, Revolution™ Series, SmartPower™, Spectre Alert™, Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne™, S-XRS™, UltraBright™, and Voice Alert™ are trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA.

Opticom™ is a trademark of 3M Corporation. Instaclear Motor Company, Inc. Electriclear LTI Laser™ and LTI 20-20™ are trademarks of Laser Technology, Inc. Kustom Laser™, Kustom Laser 340™ and ProLaser II™ are trademarks of Kustom Signals, Inc. SpeedLaser™ is a trademark of Laser Atlanta. Bee III™ and Pop™ are a trademarks of MPH Industries. Stalker™ LIDAR is a trademark of Applied Concepts, Inc. Spectre I™ and Spectre IV™ are trademarks of Stealth Micro Systems Pty. Ltd. Interceptor VG-2™ is a trademark of TechniSonic Industries LTD. Tomar registered trademark of TOMAR Electronics, Inc.

, LaserEye®, Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®, Safety Alert® Traffic Warning System,

, VG-2 Alert®, Xtreme Range Superheterodyne® and the snake design

for GM is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation.

for Ford is a registered trademark of Ford

is a

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

•

Introduction

Contents

Introduction

Important Information ............................................................................... A1

Customer Assistance ................................................................................. A1

Controls, Indicators and Connections ........................................................ A2

Display ....................................................................................................... A3

Product Features ........................................................................................ A3

Your Detector

Installation .................................................................................................... 2

Getting Started .............................................................................................. 5

Auxiliary Audio Jack .................................................................................. 5

Settings ......................................................................................................... 6

Highway/City Mode .................................................................................... 6

DigiView Data Display Brightness .............................................................. 7

Muting an Alert .......................................................................................... 8

Auto Mute Mode ........................................................................................ 8

IntelliMute .................................................................................................. 9

IntelliMute Pro ........................................................................................ 12

Voice/Tone Setting .................................................................................. 13

VG-2 and Spectre I & IV+ Alert Settings ................................................ 14

Radar Alert Settings..................................................................................14

Pop Alert ...................................................................................................15

Detection ..................................................................................................... 16

Signals Detected ...................................................................................... 16

Audio Alerts ............................................................................................. 16

Visual Display .......................................................................................... 16

Instant-On Detection ................................................................................ 19

Responding to Alerts ............................................................................... 19

Understanding Radar and Laser ................................................................. 20

Maintenance ................................................................................................ 21

Specifications .............................................................................................. 22

Warranty

Limited 1-Year Warranty ............................................................................. 22

Customer Assistance

Product Service .......................................................................................... 23

Optional Accessories .................................................................................. 24

Accessories Order Info ............................................................................... 25

Trademark Acknowledgement ..................................................................... 25

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Your Detector

Installation

Your Detector

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 unit’s view of the road either to the front or rear. Make sure the unit is level with the road. You can also mount it directly on the dashboard.

Windshield Mounting Dashboard Mounting

The unit’s 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

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

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.

English

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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.

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.

7. Plug the cigarette lighter adapter on the power cord into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter.

8. You can temporarily remove the detector whenever you wish by pressing the bracket release button and sliding it off the bracket.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Your Detector

Installation

Your Detector

Getting Started and Auxiliary Audio Jack

Dashboard Mounting

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 side of the hookand-loop fastener.

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.

5. Plug the power cord into the detector.

6. Plug the cigarette lighter adapter on the power cord into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter.

Getting Started

Power On

Testing

System Ready

To Turn On the Unit and Adjust the Audio Volume

Rotate the On-Off/ Volume control

clockwise (away from you).

Start-Up Complete

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.

On-Off/

Volume Control

Rotate clockwise

(away from you)

Tone Voice

Three beeps Testing, then

three beeps

System Ready

Visual Display

The display will cycle through and show the user modes

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)

(

Auxiliary Audio Jack

The Auxiliary Audio Jack can be used to connect external speakers in environments with high ambient noise levels. The internal speaker will be disconnected. (This uses a mini stereo audio connector.)

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English

Auxiliary Audio Jack

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

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