9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 1 How to Use Y our Cobra ESD Radar/Laser Detector Contents Introduction..................................................................A1 Safety Alert®/Strobe AlertTM Federal Law Governing Radar Detectors Included Accessories Controls & Indicators................................................A2 Our Thanks to You......................................................A3 Customer Support ...................................................A3 Features.............................................................................1 Installation.......................................................................2 Quick Start .......................................................................5 LED Displays..................................................................6 Operation..........................................................................9 Turning On....................................................................9 Dim Button.................................................................10 Highway/City Mode.................................................11 Muting Mode.............................................................12 Detection........................................................................13 Band Detection.........................................................13 Audible Alarm Indicator.........................................13 Radar.............................................................................14 VG-2 Undetectable..................................................14 Safety Alert/Strobe Alert .......................................15 Laser Detection.........................................................15 Radar/VG-2/Laser Alerts.........................................16 Facts About Safety Alert®/Strobe AlertTM........17 Radar Frequencies....................................................18 Facts About Lidar (Laser).......................................18 Maintenance.................................................................19 Specifications...............................................................20 Limited One Year Warranty ...................................21 Optional Accessories ................................................22 Order Form....................................................................23 If You Think You Need Service.............Back Cover 1 Features of This Product · Safety Alert® Traffic Warning System · Strobe AlertTM · Separate Visual and Audio Alarms · Laser Eye 360° Detection · VG-2 Undetectable · Auto and Manual Muting · 3 Level Dim Button · Superior Audio Volume · Adjustable Windshield Mounting Bracket 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 2 Installation Location Location Selecting the proper location to mount the Cobra ESD-9100 is very important for optimum performance. Both radar and laser transmissions pass through glass but not through other objects. For this reason the Cobra ESD-9100 lenses must not be blocked. It should have a view of the rear window to take advantage of Laser Eye 360° detection. It is best to locate your detector as low on the front windshield as possible. Examples of metal in the windshield area that can block or weaken incoming radar/laser signals: 1.Windshield wiper blades. 2. Mirrored sun screens. 3. Regular tinted glass does not affect radar reception,although the darker tint at the top of the tinted windshield prevents laser light from penetrating. 4. Heated windshields, currently available as an option for some Ford® (Instaclear) and GM® (Electriclear vehicles act as an impenetrable barrier to radar signals). If in doubt, check with your dealer to see if this applies to your vehicle. 3 Installation Windshield Mounting Windshield Mounting 1 Attach cups to bracket. 2 Attach bracket to windshield. Attach detector to bracket. 4 Bend bracket for correct detection angle (if needed). Do not use the ESD-9100 to bend bracket. 5 Plug power cord into detector. 6 Plug power cord into cigarette lighter. 3 2 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 4 Installation Dash Mounting Dash Mounting Turn On and Adjust Volume Quick Start Turn On and Adjust Volume 1 1 Note It will be easy for you to remove and reinstall your Cobra ESD-9100 detector at any time using this hook and loop material on the dashboard. Remember: Without the means to adjust the angle of the detector (when mounted as above), be sure you that your Cobra ESD-9100 has a level,clear view of the road before you attach the hook and loop material. Peel protective paper off one side of hook and loop material. 2 Place on dash. Rotate ON-OFF Volume Control to left (away from you). An audible "tone" will indicate the unit is on. PWR LED on front of unit is illuminated. 3 Peel top paper off. 4 Place detector on hook and loop pad. 5 Plug power cord into detector. 6 Plug power cord into cigarette lighter. 5 4 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 6 Quick Start Set Display Brightness Set Display Brightness Select from three levels of LED brightness for your Cobra ESD-9100 display: Normal, Dim and Dark. Quick Start Set Highway/City Mode City For urban driving­reduces number of X-Band audible alerts. Set Highway/ City Mode LED Displays Note A three position Dim mode is provided for dusk or night driving (please see Dim Button,page 14 for details). 1 Press and release Dim button to select normal setting. Press and release Dim button twice to select Dim setting. Press and release Dim button a third time to select Dark setting. 1 Press and release CITY button. CITY LED will illuminate orange while in City mode Highway For all other driving. 6 7 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 8 Quick Start Set Muting Mode Set Muting Mode Auto Muting Automatically reduces volume of alert in progress after 4 seconds. Operation Turning On Your ESD-9100 Turning On Your ESD-9100 Plug power cord into detector. 2 Plug power cord into cigarette lighter. Manual Muting 1 Press and release MUTE button to reduce volume of alert in progress. Rotate ON-OFF Volume Control to the left (away from you). An audible "tone"will indicate the unit is on and the PWR LED on the front of the unit will illuminate orange. ON mode To Switch Between Modes 1 Press and release MUTE Button when no signal is being received. One "beep"= Mute Two "beep" = Auto Mute 8 9 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 10 Operation Dim Button Dim Button You may select from three levels of brightness for your Cobra ESD-9100 display: Normal, Dim, and Dark. Operation Highway/City Mode The Highway/City function is controlled by a 2-step button.The Highway mode is automatically engaged when the unit is powered up. In the City mode, false radar alerts will be reduced. To engage City Mode: Press and release DIM button to reduce the LED display brightness to Dim.A single beep confirms dim led brightness. 1 Highway/City Mode Note Use City Mode in or near cities where there are many sources of false radar signals such as microwave relay towers and automatic door openers.This will filter out weak signals. Note Normal = "Beep-Beep" Dim = "Beep" Dark = "Beep" 1 Press and release CITY button and the LED on the front of the unit will illuminate red. A single beep confirms City mode. The X LED will be visible showing you are receiving a signal. Note The Normal (Bright) mode is automatically engaged when the unit is powered up. 2 Press and release DIM button again to turn LED display off. A single beep confirms no LED display.The power LED will stay on dim. CITY LED will illuminate orange while in CITY mode. To reactivate the Highway Mode: 1 Press and release CITY button again. A double beep confirms Highway Mode. Note City ="Beep" Highway ="Beep-Beep" 3 Press and release DIM button a third time to return led display to Normal.A double beep confirms normal LED brightness. 10 11 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 12 Operation Muting Mode Muting Mode The ESD-9100 offers two Mute Modes; Auto and Manual. To switch between these modes: Note Mute ="Beep" OR Auto Mute="Beep-Beep" Detection Band Detection This detector is designed to detect X, K, Superwide Ka Band Radar, Laser (including LTI 20-20*, Ultra Lyte* and ProLaser* technologies), VG-2, Safety Alert and Strobe Alert* signals. *360° Detection Begin Band Detection Auto Mode Audible Alarm Speaker A different alert tone will sound for X, K, Ka,Laser (plus a distinctly different tone for each of the three laser signals: LTI 20-20, Ultra Lyte and ProLaser), VG-2, and Safety/Strobe Alert signals. Audible Alarm Speaker 1 Press and release MUTE button when no signal is being received. In Auto mode, the alarm will be reduced in volume after three seconds. AutoMute mode is automatically engaged when the unit is powered up. Manual Mode 1 Press and release volume. MUTE button to reduce 12 13 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 14 Detection Radar Radar The display will show the band (X,K/Ka).The signal strength will first be indicated by the band being illuminated, then the band plus , finally the band plus and will be illuminated. At the same time the frequency of the beeps will increase. Detection Safety Alert® Traffic Warning System and Strobe AlertTM Indicator "W" is illuminated. Safety Alert® Traffic Warning System and Strobe AlertTM Laser Indicator "W" is illuminated. Instant-On Detection The Cobra ESD-9100 is also designed to detect Instant-on speed monitoring signals. Immediate action is required when warning is given. Laser Detection with 360° Laser Eye Note The display does not indicate signal strength. VG-2 Alert Note The display does not indicate signal strength. VG-2 Undetectable Th Cobra ESD 9100 is undetectable by police VG-2 detection devices. It will alert you when one is in use near your vehicle. During this time, the unit is still on full alert and able to detect other signals. Laser will trigger 3 distinct audible signals;one each for LTI 20-20,Ultra Lyte and ProLaser. The VG-2 LED on the front of the unit will illuminate yellow. 14 15 9100.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:12 PM Page 16 Detection Radar/VG-2/ Laser Alerts Radar/VG-2/Laser Alerts Type of Audible Signal Your COBRA ESD-9100 starts to signal slowly, then increases in rate very rapidly. Your COBRA ESD-9100 signals just once. Very fast signal rate instantly. Slow signal rate as you approach hill or bridge. Sharp increase in signal rate as you reach hill or bridge. Short-term, weak signaling; series of such signals. Laser will trigger 3 distinct audible signals;one each for LTI 20-20,Ultra Lyte and ProLaser. Safety Alert and Strobe Alert ha ve their own unique "European Emergency" signal. Interpretation and Response Most likely police radar. FULL ALERT. Most likely a false sour ce, or could be pulsed radar. Exercise Caution. Radar or VG-2 close by has been suddenly switched on. FULL ALERT. Most likely police radar on other side of hill or bridge. FULL ALERT. Most likely a false radar sour ce. Exercise Caution. Use Full Caution. There are no false laser signals. Detection Facts About the Safety Alert® Traffic Warning System FCC-approved Safety Alert Transmitters emit microwave radar signals to indicate the presence of a safety-related concern. Depending on the frequency of these signals, as set on the transmitter, the outgoing signal can indicate whether the transmitter is on a speeding emergency vehicle or train,or at a stationary road hazard location. These microwave signals are located in the K-band and as a result, any radar detector which detects K-band radar will detect these Safety signals as standard K-band radar alerts. However, unlike a standard radar detector, your Cobra ESD-9100 is designed to differentiate between a standard K-band alert and a Safety Alert warning. Safety technology is relatively new so the number of transmitters in operation is still growing. You may not receive Safety Alert on a daily basis and should not be surprised to encounter some emergency vehicles, road hazards or trains not yet equipped with these transmitters, therefore failing to provide a signal. As Safety Transmitters become more prevalent (the number of operating transmitters is growing every day),these Safety Alerts will become more common. The Safety Alert Transmitter is in use in all 50 states in limited quantities. Facts About Safety Alert® Traffic Warning System An emergency vehicle is approaching, you are in the vicinity of a railroad crossing, or you are approaching a road hazard (construction site, accident scene, etc.). Note Strobe AlertTM is available in over 1,000 cities and works with Tomar and Opticom systems. Call your local Fire/Police department for your area coverage or area in which you will be traveling. Facts About Strobe AlertTM Alerts motorists to over 50,000 emergency vehicles equipped with strobe transmitters that activate red lights at traffic intersections in emergency high speed si ...