Cobra Electronics SPX7800 User Manual

SPX 7800BT

Maximum Performance

Radar/Laser/Camera Detector

Printed in China Part No. 480-890-P Version C

Operating Instructions

NOTE: This device complies with part 15 of FCC rules: Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation. CAUTION: Modiﬁcations or parts not approved by Cobra Electronics Corporation may violate FCC Rules and void authority to operate this equipment.

This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d’Industrie Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence. L’exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes : (1) l’appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et (2) l’utilisateur de l’appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d’en compromettre le fonctionnement.

Thank you for purchasing Cobra’s maximum performance radar/laser/camera detector.

The Cobra SPX 7800BT works with

iPod

touch (5th Generation)

iPod

touch (4th Generation)

iPhone

™

Android

Controls and Connections

Power/Volume Control

• Press to turn power On and Off.

• Push forward or pull back to adjust volume

Dim/ Button

• Adjusts the display brightness.

• In Menu mode, steps backward through available

settings selection.

smartphones running OS 2.1 or higher

Windshield Bracket Mounting Slot

12V Power Jack

Menu/Save Button

• Press once to enter

Mute/Set Button

• Press once to manually mute audio alerts.

• In Menu mode, press to save selected settings.

Menu Mode.

• Press again to save

settings.

City/ Button

• Switches between Highway and City ltering modes.

• In Menu mode, steps forward through settings selection.

Mounting

Your detector should be mounted on the windshield or dashboard of your vehicle. Two mounting options are included:

Suction Cup Mount – This is the best option for portability and moving the detector from car to car. Make sure to thoroughly clean the suction cups and windshield mounting area to insure a tight seal.

Hook and Loop Fastener– Included for dashboard mounting.

Your detector should be mounted so that it is oriented parallel to the road.

Windshield

Correct Position

The suction cup mount comes standard bent at a 45° angle. The metal is designed to bend without breaking. Adjust the angle so when mounted the detector is level with the road.

Avoid blocking the detector’s view by windshield wiper blades or dark tinting at the top of the windshield.

Note: Do not attempt to bend the mount while the detector is attached.

Incorrect Positions

Suction Cup Mount

Hook & Loop Fastener

Powering

Plug in your detector using the included cigarette lighter adapter.

Note: the adapter includes a USB port that can be used to charge your smartphone or tablet using the manufacturer’s charging cable.

Turn your detector on/off by pressing the Power/Volume switch on the side of the unit. The unit will light up.

12V Cigarette Lighter Adapter

12V Power Jack

USB Port

Power/Volume Control

Types of Screens

1. Menu/Settings Screen

User and Alert Settings are available for customizing your detector. When Menu is pressed, you will see the screen shown below (Active mode icon will be enlarged/highlighted).

User Settings

For customizing settings for:

• City/Highway Filtering

• IntelliMute/IntelliMute Pro

• Auto Mute

• Tone/Voice

• Color Theme

• Display Timer

• Smart Power

• Factory Default

Alert Settings

For customizing settings for:

• X-Band

• K-Band

• Ka-Band

• Ku-Band

• POP Detection

• VG-2 RDD

• Spectre RDD

• Safety Alert

• Low Car Voltage

Alert Settings

2. Standby Screens

No connection to phone.

Connected to phone.

Note: Pressing Mute button while connected to an iPhone®/ Android™ smartphone will toggle betwee

Compass Heading:

Automatically displays GPS-based heading

n these two screens.

when connected to a smartphone*. If a GPS signal cannot be received through your smartphone, will be displayed.

Vehicle Speed:

Automatically displays your current vehicle speed using your smartphone GPS. If a GPS signal cannot be received through your smartphone, will be displayed.

City/Highway Indicator: Shows curent ﬁltering mode.

Vehicle Battery Voltage: Displays your car battery voltage and

automatically warns you if this drops below 11.9V.

IntelliMute Indicator: Indicates status of IntelliMute. See IntelliMute section for details.

*Works with iPhone and Android smartphones. Internet connection and data plan usage required.

3. Alert Screens

Radar bands consist of X-band, K-band, Ka-band, and Ku-band. With Radar signals, the signal strength meter shows signal strength of the radar gun as well as relative proximity to the source. With Ka-band, you will also be notiﬁed of the actual Ka-band radar gun frequency being used.

Signal Strength

• Level 1= Weakest Signal

• Level 5= Strongest Signal

Ka Band Alert

Frequency

With Laser signals, you will always receive full alert and pulse rate (PPS) of the corresponding laser gun being used.

Laser

Pulse Rate

Settings

Quad-level IntelliSheild™ False Signal Rejection: Highway Mode

provides full immediate response to all signals detected. Use this mode when you are driving on interstate highways. Automatic door openers operate in X and K-band frequencies. To minimize unwanted false alerts in an urban environment where these sources exist, use one of the City Filtering Modes below:

• City X: automatically mutes X-band audible alert until signal strength reaches level 3 or above.

• City X+K: combined with City X, automatically mutes K-band audible alert until signal strength reaches level 2 or above.

• City Plus X+K+Ka: combined with City X+K, adds ﬁltering to Ka-band.

• City MAX: Maximum ﬁltering against urban false signal sources.

The City modes can also be adjusted by pressing the City button for 2 seconds.

IntelliMute

don’t need to hear because you are stopped or moving slowly. By sensing the RPMs of your engine, IntelliMute knows when you are at low speed and automatically mutes alerts. You can set your preferred engine RPM activation point and/or turn on/off IntelliMute by following simple steps that appear on your unit screen, under User Settings and then IntelliMute.

: IntelliMute allows you to avoid audible alerts you

IntelliMute®continued

• IntelliMute Engine RPM Activation Point Not Set.

• IntelliMute On/Above Set Engine RPM Activation Point.

• IntelliMute On/Below Set Engine RPM Activation Point.

Note: IntelliMute may not work with some vehicles, especially hybrids or EVs because the detector cannot sense the engine RPMs. In such case, Quad-level IntelliShield City Filtering or Auto Mute can help reduce unwanted audible alerts.

IntelliMute® Pro: IntelliMute Pro prevents detection by radar

detector detectors (RDDs) such as VG-2, Spectre I and Spectre IV when traveling at slower speeds. It is intended for use by experienced users only. When IntelliMute Pro is turned On and engine RPMs are below the IntelliMute Pro Activation Point, your detector’s radar detection circuits are turned Off to prevent detection by RDDs.

IntelliMute Pro cannot be turned on until IntelliMute is turned on and set. The IntelliMute Pro icon will appear in the display when IntelliMute Pro is On and the Activation Point has been set. Whenever engine RPMs are below the Activation Point, the arrow points down with the “i” blinking. When RPMs are above the Activation Point the arrow points up with the “i” blinking.

Auto Mute Mode When Auto Mute is On, the audio volume of all alerts is automatically reduced after 4 seconds. The signals will remain muted for as long as the signal is detected. When Auto Mute is Off, the alerts will sound at full volume for as long as the signal is detected. The factory setting for Auto Mute is On.

Voice or Tone Mode You can set your detector to sound alerts and conﬁrm menu settings with either a Voice or a Tone Alert. Voice Alert provides voice messages in addition to tones. Tone Alert provides tones only. The factory setting is Voice Alert.

Illumination

The display illumination intensity can be adjusted to suit driving conditions with ﬁve levels and Dark Mode:

• Factory default is Bright, then Display Timeout after 1 minute.

• Dark to blank the screen for discreet use. In this mode, alerts will sound but not show. (The display scanner bar will move slowly back and forth near the bottom of the screen to indicate

the unit is turned On). You can adjust the illumination by pressing the Dim button and then use the and buttons to step through the levels.

Dim/ Button

Customizable Display Colors

Your detector includes the Color Theme feature that allows you to customize the display screen color scheme to match your car’s dash illumination: Multi-Color, Red, Blue, Orange, White or Green. The factory setting is Multi-Color.

Settings continued

Display Timeout

Your detector has a Display Timeout mode. When Display Timeout is turned On (factory default is 1 minute), the screen will change to Dark from Bright, Dim, or Dimmer after the time interval selected in Menu mode. The Display Timeout setting can be changed so the display is always On. In Display Timeout mode, the display scanner bar will move slowly back and forth near the bottom of the screen to indicate the unit is turned On and detecting. Note: While at the Dark level under timer control, any alert will turn the display back on at the last brightness setting (Bright, Dim or Dimmer). Touching any button will also turn On the display.

SmartPower Mode Your detector includes the SmartPower feature that, when turned On, will put the unit into Low Power mode 15 minutes after the car’s engine has been turned Off.

Before SmartPower enters Low Power mode, you will hear three beeps and SmartPower will ﬂash on the display. To return the unit to Normal Power mode and exit Low Power mode, start the car, press any button or turn the unit Off and then On again. The factory setting is SmartPower On.

Car Battery Low Voltage Warning In addition to displaying system voltage, your detector can provide a warning that battery voltage is low so that timely steps can be taken to correct the problem. The Car Battery Low alert is triggered when the voltage drops below 11.9 volts. Following the alert, the unit enters SmartPower mode to avoid further draining your car battery.

Detection

Your detector is capable of detecting the following signals in addition to X, K, Ka, Ku-Band and Laser signals.

Instant-On Signals: Your detector is designed to detect Instant-On speed monitoring signals, which can suddenly appear at full strength on your detector’s signal strength indicator.

POP Detection: radars. These radars are designed to have a low probability of detection. You should note that these radar guns have a much shorter range while in this mode.

VG-2, Spectre 1, & IV+: spot users of radar detectors in a commercial vehicle. Your detector is able to identify signals from VG-2, Spectre I, and Spectre IV RDDs and can provide alerts when any of these or similar devices are in use near your vehicle.

You can choose whether you want to be alerted to VG-2, Spectre I, & IV RDD signals.

Safety Alert Trafﬁc Warning System: FCC-approved Safety Alert transmitters emit microwave radar signals that indicate the presence of a safetyrelated concern. Depending on the frequency of the signal emitted, it can indicate a speeding emergency vehicle or train, or a stationary road hazard.

Because these microwave signals are within the K band frequency, most conventional radar detectors will detect Safety Alert signals as standard K band radar. Your detector, however, is designed to differentiate between standard K band and Safety Alert signals, and give separate alerts for each.

When you receive such an alert, please watch for emergency vehicles ahead of you, on cross streets and behind you. If you see an emergency vehicle approaching, please pull over to the right side of the road and allow it to pass.

Your detector is designed to detect single pulse mode

Police use radar detector detectors (RDDs) to

Strobe Alert:

Special strobes mounted on the light bars of authorized emergency vehicles (ﬁre trucks, police cars, ambulances) automatically change trafﬁc signals as the vehicle approaches an intersection. These strobes and the special strobe detectors located on the trafﬁc signals, introduced fairly recently by 3M and Tomar, are already in use in more than 1000 cities nationwide. Cobra’s exclusive Strobe Alert detector will detect these special strobes and give an emergency vehicle alert.

When you receive such an alert, please watch for an approaching emer

gency vehicle and pull over to allow it to pass. To inquire about coverage in your area, contact your local ﬁre and police departments.

Responding to Alerts*:

Description Interpretation Recommended Response

Tone repeats slowly at first, then speeds up rapidly.

Tone sounds one time only.

Tone instantly begins repeating rapidly.

Tone repeats slowly as you approach a hill or bridge, then speeds up sharply as you reach it.

Tone repeats slowly for a short period.

Any type of laser alert. Laser alerts are

Any Safety Alert. You are nearing an

*These alerts can be turned on or off within the Alert Settings branch of the Menu.

Probably police radar. FULL ALERT

Probably a false alarm, but possibly pulsed radar, Spectre I or IV+ or VG-2 nearby.

Radar, Spectre I or IV+ or VG-2 nearby has been activated suddenly.

Probably police radar beyond the hill or bridge.

Probably a false alarm. Exercise caution

never false alarms.

emergency vehicle, railroad crossing or road hazard (construction, accident, etc.).

Exercise caution

FULL ALERT

Exercise caution

AURA® Location-based Alerts (LBAs) and iRadar Community

Your detector is capable of providing you with LBAs and iRadar Community threat sharing data when connected to iPhone or Android phones. The detector uses the GPS in your smartphone to connect to and obtain the latest LBA’s and alert you to them. Vehicle speed and compass headings use your phone’s GPS as well. Follow these steps to enable these features.

Downloading the App

To download the app you must enter the iTunes Store or Google Play and search for “Cobra iRadar”. Follow the onscreen instructions to download and install the Cobra iRadar app.

Cobra iRadar® App

The iRadar app is what separates Cobra from any other detectors out there.

Make sure to check out the Tutorial for a full explanation of app features. The Tutorial can be accessed from the Menu.

Information on speciﬁc settings and explanations of radar bands can be found by pressing the buttons in the settings menus.

Pairing/Connecting with Your Detector

In order to pair your detector to your smartphone, go to the Bluetooth Settings Menu on your phone/tablet. For most devices

this is found by pressing; Settings u Bluetooth.

Press Scan for Devices and/or wait for the Device list to populate and then select iRadar.

Pairing can take up to 30 seconds. If you are prompted to “Accept password to pair” press Conﬁrm. When iRadar is properly paired “Connected” will be shown on iOS products and “Paired but not connected” will be shown on Android products.

When your detector is properly paired and connected to your phone the Bluetooth icon on your display will show.

For more information on pairing with Bluetooth devices consult your phone’s owners manual.

If you are having trouble initializing or maintaining your Bluetooth connection completely turn off your smartphone and detector device, wait 30 seconds, and then turn them back on.

Now that you are paired with iRadar app you’re ready to start receiving AURA

and Threat Center Alerts.

Location-based Alert type

Size of the icons for different alert types will become progressively larger as you approach the Location-based Alerts (LBA) Area. The alert types are:

Photo-enforced Areas (Red-light & Speed Cameras)

Known Speed Trap Areas

Caution Areas (High Accident Areas)

LBAs will start as you approach the actual location. If both a radar and Location-based alerts happen at the same time, both will be displayed side by side.

iRadar Community

When you, or any other iRadar user, detects a radar or laser signal the alert information is anonymously sent to Cobra’s cloud servers. Within seconds, that information is processed and displayed on your map as part of a Threat Area.

As you approach a speciﬁc Threat Area you will hear a short beep and then the app will indicate the Cobra’s assessment of the reliability of the threat.

High-Threat Area means multiple reports have conﬁrmed a legitimate threat in the area recently.

Medium or Low-Threat Area means signals have been detected but have either not been conﬁrmed or have not been reported lately.

Paying attention to threat areas will allow you to be warned of potential threats before you enter radar detection range. Community Radar/Laser alert sharing means that you have an entire network of users working to keep you and your wallet safe.

Threat Area Alert

Threat Area alerts will be displayed on the screen. The Detection Scanner will stop moving and become a solid bar that will blink.

You can report to the iRadar Community when you see an active police speed enforcement by pressing the MENU button for 2 seconds.

Product and Customer Service

For any questions about operating or installing this new Cobra product, or if parts are missing…PLEASE CALL COBRA FIRST…do not return this product to the store. See customer assistance below.

If this product should require factory service, please call Cobra before sending the product. This will ensure the fastest turn-around time on any repair. If Cobra asks that the product be sent to its factory, the following must be furnished to have the product serviced and returned:

For Warranty Repair include some form of proof-of-purchase, such as

1. a mechanical reproduction or carbon of a sales receipt. Make sure the date of purchase and product model number are clearly readable. If the originals are sent, they cannot be returned

2. Send the entire product;

3. Enclose a description of what is happening with the product. Include a

typed or clearly printed name and address of where the product is to be returned, with phone number (required for shipment);

4. Pack product securely to prevent damage in transit. If possible, use the original packing material;

5. Ship prepaid and insured by way of a traceable carrier such as United Parcel Service (UPS) or Priority Mail to avoid loss in transit to: Cobra Factory Service, Cobra Electronics Corporation, 6500 West Cortland Street, Chicago, Illinois 60707 U.S.A.;

6. If the product is in warranty, upon receipt of the product it will either be repaired or exchanged depending on the model. Please allow approximately 3 - 4 weeks before contacting Cobra for status. If the product is out of warranty, a letter will automatically be sent with information as to the repair charge or replacement charge.

;

For any questions, please call 773-889-3087 for 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 773-8893087 (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

Trademark Acknowledgment

Cobra®, AURA® , Cobra iRadar®, DigiView®, EasySet®, Extra Sensory Detection®, IntelliMute®, IntelliMute® Pro, IntelliShield®, LaserEye®, Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®, Safety Alert® Trafﬁc Warning System, Strobe Alert®, VG-2 Alert®, Xtreme Range Superheterodyne® and the snake design are registered trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA.

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

Opticom™ is a trademark of 3M Corporation. 20-20™ and Ultra-Lyte™ are trademarks of Laser Technology, Inc. ProLaser™ and ProLaser III™ are trademarks of Kustom Signals, Inc. 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.

SpeedLaser™ is a trademark of Laser Atlanta, LLC. Interceptor VG-2™ is a trademark of TechniSonic Industries LTD. Tomar® is a registered trademark of TOMAR Electronics, Inc.

iPhone® and iPod® touch are trademarks of Apple, Inc, registered with the U.S. and other countries.

The Bluetooth® word mark is a registered trademark owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Cobra Electronics Corporation is under license. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners. Android™ is a trademark of Google, Inc. Use of this trademark is subject to Google permission.

Limited 1-Year Warranty

For Products Purchased in the U.S.A.

Cobra Electronics Corporation warrants that its Cobra Radar/Laser Detectors, and the component parts thereof, will be free of defects in workmanship and materials for a period of one year from the date of ﬁrst consumer purchase. This warranty may be enforced by the ﬁrst consumer purchaser, provided that the product is utilized within the U.S.A.

Cobra will, without charge, repair or replace, at its option, defective Radar/Laser Detectors, products or component parts upon delivery to the Cobra Factory Service Department, accompanied by proof of the date of ﬁrst consumer purchase, such as a duplicated copy of a sales receipt.

ou must pay any initial shipping charges required to ship the product for warranty

Y service, but the return charges will be at Cobra’s expense, if the product is repaired or replaced under warranty.

This warranty gives you speciﬁc rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.

Exclusions: This limited warranty does not apply:

1. To any product damaged by accident.

2. In the event of misuse or abuse of the product or as a result of

unauthorized alterations or repairs.

3. If the serial number has been altered, defaced or removed.

4. If the owner of the product resides outside the U.S.A.

All implied warranties, including warranties of merchantability and ﬁtness for a particular purpose are limited in duration to the length of this warranty.

Cobra shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential or other damages; including, without limitation, damages resulting from loss of use or cost of installation.

Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and/or do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.