Cobra Electronics XRS 970 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

15 BAND

™

ULTRA PERFORMANCE DIGITAL RADAR/LASER DETECTOR WITH XTREME RANGE SUPERHETERODYNE

TECHNOLOGY

XRS 970

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Operating Instructions

Printed in China

Part No. 480-635-P

Version A

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/Strobe 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, 3M or strobe 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

•

Introduction

Controls, Indicators, Connections and Display

Introduction

Product Features

Customer Assistance

Accessories Order Info

Controls, Indicators, Connections and Display

Windshield Bracket

Release Button

12V DC Power Jack

On-Off/Volume Control

Allows user to adjust the

volume of the tone

and voice alerts.

Program/Mute Button

For manual mute of

audio alerts (and to enter

programming mode).

Shows user mode settings, programming instructions, signal

strength indication, City/Highway mode indicators,

radar, VG-2, Spectre I and safety/strobe indicators.

* See pages 5 – 28 for more information

about display features.

English

Adjusts the display brightness for easy reading

(and to scroll through user mode settings while

Alpha/Numeric Dot Matrix Text Display*

Windshield

Bracket

Mount

Select/Dim Button

programming).

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 and strobe signals.

System Ready

Auxiliary Audio Jack

Speaker

Set/City Button

For City or Highway modes to reduce false alerts (and to change user mode settings while programming).

•

Product Features

•

Congratulations! You’ve made a smart choice by purchasing an ultra high performance digital 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, XRS provides extra detection range and the best possible advance warning to even the fastest radar guns

Ultra Performance

Provides advanced warning with extra detection range

Detection and Separate Alerts

For radar signals (X, K, Ka and Ku bands, with signal strength indicated), Laser signals, Safety Alert signals, Strobe Alert signals, VG-2 signals, Spectre I signals

8-Point Compass

Displays direction of travel

LaserEye

For 360° detection of laser and strobe 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

Voice or Tone Alert

With adjustable volume

DigiView Data Display

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

IntelliShield Highway/City Modes

Reduces falsing in urban areas with Highway mode and three levels of City mode settings

Safety Alert

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

Strobe Alert

Emergency vehicle warning system

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

Smart Power

A timed power saving function that saves your car’s battery

EasySet Programming

User-friendly mode selection and setting with visual guidance

Auxiliary Audio Jack

For external speaker connection

Mounting

Mounts easily on windshield or dashboard

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

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.

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

Please visit our website: www.cobra.com

Item # Description

420-030-N-001 Straight 12V P owe r Cord

420-026-N-001 Coiled 12V Pow er Cord

545-159-N-001 Windshield Mounting Bra cke t

CLP-2B Dual Por t 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 trademark of Ford Motor Company, Inc. Electriclear Motors 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

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

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

for Ford is a registered

for GM is a registered trademark of General

is a registered trademark of TOMAR Electronics, Inc.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

•

Introduction

Contents

Introduction

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

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

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

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

Your Detector

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

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

EasySet Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

IntelliShield Highway/City Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Muting an Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Auto Mute Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Voice Alert and Tone Alert Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Auxiliary Audio Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

IntelliMute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

IntelliMute Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Pop Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

K, Ku and X Band Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

VG-2 Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Spectre I & IV+ Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

SmartPower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

DigiView Data Display Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Signals Detected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Audio Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Visual Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Instant-On Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Pop Detection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Responding to Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Understanding Radar and Laser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Warranty

Limited 1-Year Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Customer Assistance

Product Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Optional Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Accessories Order Info . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Trademark Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

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. 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.

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.

English

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Your Detector

Installation

Your Detector

Getting Started

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.

Getting Started

On-Off/

Volume Control

Rotate clockwise

(away from you)

To Turn On the Unit and Adjust the Audio Volume

Rotate the On-Off/ Volume control

clockwise (away from you).

Power On

Testing

Tone

Visual Display

Three beeps Testing

System Ready

The display will then cycle through the user mode settings (city or highway, Intellimute and SmartPower status).

Start-up is complete when the display shows – – h.

Important: Once the compass is calibrated, the dashes will change to one of the cardinal compass directions (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW). See page 18 to calibrate the compass.

Start-Up Complete

•

Voice

Testing, then three

beeps

System Ready

Voice Alert

English

6. Plug the cigarette lighter

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

System Ready

Voice Alert

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 and you have turned the SmartPower Off, you should turn Off or unplug your detector when parking for lengthy periods. Cobra recommends leaving SmartPower at the factory setting, which is On.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

Your Detector

EasySet Programming

All user mode settings on your detector can be changed by using Program mode. When changing the settings, please keep in mind:

■

Buttons can have multiple functions.

■

All settings will be stored in memory when the power is turned Off and recalled when the power is turned back On.

The procedure for using Program mode is shown on page 7.

NOTE

You cannot enter Program mode during an alert. The unit will not detect signals while in Program mode. During programming, if no buttons are pushed for ten seconds, the unit will automatically exit Program mode and save the last settings.

Your Detector

•

To Use Program Mode

Press and hold the Program/Mute button for two seconds.

EasySet Programming

Tone

Three beeps Program will appear.

Visual Display Voice

PROGRAM

Then brief programming instructions will scroll through the display three times.

Set/City Button

Press and release

Select/Dim Button

Press and release

Program/Mute Button

Press and hold/Press and release

Start Program

Programming User Modes

The tables on pages 8 through 9 show you how to program all user modes and the settings you can choose from.

NOTE

On the following pages, you will find more detailed explanations of each setting.

See page 15 for instructions on setting the IntelliMute activation point. See page 18 for instructions on calibrating the compass. See page 23 for instructions on using SmartPower.

English

While the programming instructions are scrolling, press and release the Select/Dim button to cycle through the user modes.

With the user mode you wish to change displayed, press and release the Set/City button to change the setting.

To move to the next selection, press the Select/Dim button again.

When you have finished programming any or all of the user modes, press and release the Program/Mute button to exit Program mode. Or simply wait ten seconds without pushing any buttons.

One beep with each button press

One or two beeps, depending on your selection

One beep When you exit Program mode,

As each mode is displayed, the current setting for that mode will be shown.

The setting you select will be shown.

the new setting will automatically be saved and EXIT PROGRAM and Settings Saved! will appear.

EXIT

PROGRAM

Settings

Saved!

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

None

Current setting

Exit Program

Your Detector

EasySet Programming

This EasySet programming menu lists all of the modes and settings you can choose from after you have entered Program mode as described on page 7.

Mode Tone Display/Voice Result

Set IntelliShield City mode default*

IntelliMute mode

Set IntelliMute

RPMs

IntelliMute Pro mode

Auto Mute mode

Set Compass

Pop Detect mode

English

Two beeps City X A single beep sounds when the

signal is first detected.

One beep City X

beep Off

Audio for all X band alerts are blocked until signal strength reaches Level 3.

One beep City X+K Combines the City X mode with prevention

of K band audio alerts until signal strength reaches Level 2.

Two beeps IntelliMute On All alerts (except for strobe signals from

emergency vehicles) are automatically muted below the engine rev point you set.

One beep IntelliMute Off Normal operation.

One beep Set IntelliMute

(see page 15 to set activation

Allows you to set the engine rev point while using IntelliMute. Note: Only shown if IntelliMute is Off.

point)

Two beeps IntelliMute ProOnAll radar, VG-2 and Spectre detection is

turned Off below the engine rev set point.

One beep IntelliMute Pro

Normal operation.

Off

Two beeps AutoMute On The audio volume of all alerts will be

automatically muted after four seconds for as long as the signal is detected.

One beep AutoMute Off All alerts will sound at full volume

for as long as the signal is detected.

One beep Set Compass Allows you to calibrate the compass.

(see page 18 to calibrate compass)

Two beeps Pop Detect On Unit will detect Pop signals.

One beep Pop Detect Off Unit will not detect Pop signals.

Your Detector

Mode Tone Display/Voice

VG-2 Detect mode

VG-2 Audio mode (not shown if VG-2 detect is Off)

Spectre Detect mode

Spectre Audio mode (not shown if Spectre detect is Off)

SmartPower mode

X Band Detect mode

K or Ku Band Detect mode

Set display Dim mode default*

EasySet Programming

Result

Two beeps VG-2 Detect On Unit will detect VG-2 signals.

One beep VG-2 Detect Off Unit will not detect VG-2 signals.

Two beeps VG-2 Audio On With VG-2 Detect On, the unit will give

One beep VG-2 Audio Off With VG-2 Detect Off, the unit will give

Two beeps Spectre

Detect On

One beep Spectre

Detect Off

Two beeps Spectre AudioOnWith Spectre Audio On, unit will give

One beep Spectre Audio

Off

Two beeps SmartPower On SmartPower is On.

One beep SmartPower Off SmartPower is Off.

Two beeps X Band On Unit will detect X Band signals.

One beep X Band Off Unit will not detect X Band signals.

Two beeps K or Ku Band On Unit will detect K or Ku Band signals.

One beep K or Ku Band Off Unit will not detect K or Ku Band signals.

Two beeps Display Dim Partially dimmed for dusk or night driving.

One beep Display Dimmer More dimmed for dusk or night driving.

audible alerts for VG-2 signals.

only visual alerts for VG-2 signals.

Unit will detect Spectre I & IV+ signals.

Unit will not detect Spectre I & IV+ signals.

audible alerts for Spectre signals.

With Spectre I Audio Off, unit will give only visual alerts for Spectre I & IV+ signals.

One beep Display Dark Display is Off.

Restore factory settings

One beep Restore Factory

Settings

Resets user modes and settings to factory default.

Exit program One beep EXIT PROGRAM Allows you to exit Program mode.

* The settings for these user modes can also be changed with

the one button method.See description of each user mode (pages 10 and 25) for details.

Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra

+ 14 hidden pages