Operating Instructions for Your
®
Cobra
10 Band™Extra Sensory Detection
RADAR/LASER
DETECTOR
®
MODEL ESD –
Nothing comes close to a Cobra™
9210
RADAR/LASER
DETECTOR
MODEL ESD – 9210
Congratulations
You’ve made a smart choice by purchasing the
ESD-9210 radar/laser detector from Cobra.
Just look at some of the sophisticated features
and capabilities your new unit includes:
®
• Detects and provides separate alerts for:
radar signals (X, K, and Ka bands, with
signal strength indicated)
laser signals
emergency vehicle safety and strobe
alert signals
VG-2 signals
®
• LASEREYE
for 360° detection of laser
and strobe signals
• “INSTANT-ON” speed monitoring detection
• TONE ALERT or VOICE ALERT™ with
adjustable volume
• ULTRABRIGHT™ DATA DISPLAY
is easy-to-read with adjustable brightness
• CITY or HIGHWAY modes to reduce
false alerts
®
• SAFETY ALERT
Traffic Warning System
• STROBE ALERT™
• MANUAL MUTE or AUTO MUTE
of audio alerts
• SMARTMUTE™ a mute function which
automatically reduces false alerts by sensing
engine RPMs
• Distinguishes important safety alerts‚ from
other K band signals
• Mounts easily on windshield or dashboard
This booklet describes the simple steps for
mounting and setting up your ESD-9210. It also
provides helpful information about how radar and
laser guns are used and how you can interpret
the alerts you receive.
12V DC
POWER JACK
ON-OFF/VOLUME
control allows you to
adjust the volume of the
TONE or VOICE alerts.
SMARTMUTE™
engine RPM-sensing mute
function which reduces
false alerts. Button turns
SmartMute™ on and off.
(Also sets rev point.*)
MUTE button for MANUAL MUTE or
AUTO MUTE of audio alerts. (Also
turns Voice Alerts™ on and off.*)
*Press and hold for 2 seconds to access these functions
LASEREYE
detection of laser and
strobe signals.
SPEAKER
CITY button for CITY
or HIGHWAY modes
to reduce false alerts.
DIM button allows you to adjust the
UltraBright™ Data Display brightness for easy
reading. (Also turns VG-2 Alert
®
®
on and off.*)
for 360°
12V DC POWER JACK
radar, VG-2 and
safety/strobe indicators
SmartMute™
indicator
ON-OFF/VOLUME control
signal strength, laser and
CITY/HIGHWAY mode indicators
windshield
bracket
mount
Important Information
Table of Contents
Important information about...
Federal Laws Governing the Use of
Radar Detectors
It is not against federal law to receive radar
transmissions with your Cobra
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.
®
radar
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 Support
In this user's manual, you should find all the
information you need to install and operate
your ESD-9210. If you require further
assistance after reading through
this manual, Cobra
®
Electronics offers the
following customer support services:
Automated Help Desk is available 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week at 773-889-3087.
Customer Service Operators are available at
773-889-3087 Monday through Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST.
Questions can be faxed to 773-622-2269.
Automated Technical Assistance is
available 24 hours, 7 days a week via e-mail
at: productinfo@cobra.com
On-line answers to frequently asked questions
can be found at: www.cobra.com.
WARNING
Modifications or parts substitutions not
approved by Cobra Electronics Corporation
may violate FCC Rules and void your
authority to operate this equipment.
Important information about...
Federal Laws, Safety Alert
Security of Your Vehicle, Customer Support.................................................................................. A1
Installation .................................................................................................................................. 2-4
Operation–Getting Started ............................................................................................................ 5
Operation–Settings ...................................................................................................................... 6-13
Highway/City Mode ................................................................................................................ 6
™
UltraBright
Muting an Alert ...................................................................................................................... 8
Auto Mute Mode .................................................................................................................... 8
SmartMute
Voice/Tone Setting ................................................................................................................ 12
VG-2 Alert
Detection .................................................................................................................................... 14-17
Signals Detected .................................................................................................................... 14
Audio Alerts ............................................................................................................................ 14
Visual Display ........................................................................................................................ 14-16
Instant-On Detection ................................................................................................................ 17
Responding to Alerts ................................................................................................................ 17
Understanding Radar and Laser ...................................................................................................... 18-19
Maintenance and Service .............................................................................................................. 20-21
Limited 1-Year Warranty ................................................................................................................ 22
Specifications .............................................................................................................................. 23
Optional Accessories .................................................................................................................... 24
Order Form .................................................................................................................................. 25
Data Display Brightness .......................................................................................... 7
™
............................................................................................................................ 9-11
®
Audio Setting ........................................................................................................ 13
®
/Strobe Alert™, Safe Driving,
A1
INSTALLATION
1
INSTALLATION
1
Where to Mount Your Unit
You will get optimum performance from
your ESD-9210 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. You can
also mount it directly on the dashboard.
Windshield mounting
Dashboard mounting
The unit's lenses must not be blocked and
the LaserEye
the back window to allow 360° detection.
®
should have a clear view out
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)
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
Instaclear for Ford®is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company, Inc.
2
Electriclear for GM
®
is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation.
sliding it off of the bracket.
3
INSTALLATION
1
OPERATION•GETTING STARTED
2
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 hook-and-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.
1. Turn on the unit and adjust audio
volume by rotating the
ON-OFF/VOLUME CONTROL DIAL
clockwise (away from you).
2. You will hear the voice messages:
“TESTING” (then 3 beeps)
“SYSTEM READY”, then
“VOICE ALERT”
The letter “h” will appear in
the display indicating that the
power is on.
X K Ka V S
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 ESD-9210
when parking for lengthy periods.
4
5