*9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 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 Digital Displays ............................................................6 Operation..........................................................................9 Turning On....................................................................9 Dim Button.................................................................10 Highway/City Mode.................................................11 Muting Mode.............................................................13 Calibrate the Compass...........................................14 Memory Set................................................................15 Aux. Audio Jack .........................................................15 Detection........................................................................16 Band Detection.........................................................16 Audible Alarm Indicator.........................................16 Radar.............................................................................17 VG-2 Undetectable..................................................17 Safety Alert®/Strobe AlertTM.................................18 Laser Detection.........................................................19 Radar/VG-2/Laser Alerts.........................................19 Facts About Safety Alert®/Strobe AlertTM........20 Radar Frequencies....................................................21 Facts About Lidar (Laser).......................................21 Maintenance.................................................................22 Specifications...............................................................23 Limited One Year Warranty ...................................24 Optional Accessories ................................................25 Order Form ....................................................................26 If You Think You Need Service.............Back Cover Features of This Product · 8-point Digital Compass · Alpha/Numeric Dot Matrix Text Readout · Safety Alert® Traffic Warning System · Strobe AlertTM · Tone Alert · Separate Visual and Audio Alarms · Laser Eye 360° Detection · VG-2 Undetectable · Auto and Manual Muting · 4 Level Dim Button · Audio Jack · Superior Audio Volume · Adjustable Windshield Mounting Bracket 1 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 2 Installation Location Location Selecting the proper location to mount the Cobra ESD-9550 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-9550 lenses must not be blocked.The Laser Eye should have a view of the rear window to take advantage of its 360° detection capability.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-9550 to bend bracket. 5 Plug power cord into detector. 6 Plug power cord into cigarette lighter. 3 2 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 4 Installation Dash Mounting Dash Mounting Turn On and Adjust Volume Quick Start Turn On and Adjust Volume Note For your convenience Display Dim, City/Highway, and Muting mode settings are retained in memory even when the power is unplugged. 1 1 Note It will be easy for you to remove and reinstall your Cobra ESD-9550 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-9550 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. The unit will perform a selftest and the following message will appear ...Testing...System Ready. 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 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 6 Quick Start Set Display Brightness Set Display Brightness Select from four levels of LED brightness for your Cobra ESD-9550 display: Bright, Dim, Dimmer and Dark.The ESD-9550's state-of-the-art readout presents clear alerts even in sunlight. Quick Start Set Highway/City Mode City Mode For urban driving­reduces number of X-Band audible alerts. Set Highway/ City Mode Note The ESD-9550 will retain the chosen mode while OFF. LED Displays Note A four position Dim mode is provided for dusk or night driving (please see Dim Button,page 10 for details). 1 Press and release City button. CTY will display while in City mode and remain on for 2 seconds. 1 For more detailed operation instructions on display brightness, see page 10. Press and release Dim button once to select normal setting. Press and release Dim button a second time to select Dim setting. Press and release Dim button a third time to select Dimmer setting. Press and release Dim button again to select Dark setting. CTY will be replaced by a small lower case c. Highway Mode Press and release City button again. HWY will be displayed for 2 seconds followed by h. A double beep confirms highway mode. For more detailed operation instructions on set highway/city mode, see page 11. 6 7 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 8 Quick Start Set Muting Mode Set Muting Mode Signal Reduces signal alert volume. Auto Muting Mute button when no 1 Press and release signal is being received.This will immediately reduce volume of alerts. 1 Operation Turning On Your ESD-9550 Turning On Your ESD-9550 Plug power cord into detector. 2 Plug power cord into cigarette lighter. For more detailed operation instructions on setting muting mode, see page 13. Manual Muting 1 Press and release Mute button to reduce volume while signal is in progress. MUTE will appear in the display. Press and release Mute Button when no signal is being received. 3 Rotate ON-OFF Volume Control to the left (away from you). To Switch Between Modes 1 The message "Testing...System Ready " will be displayed, along with 3 beeps. The Compass directions will then be displayed. 8 9 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 10 Operation Dim Button Dim Button You may select from four levels of brightness for your Cobra ESD-9550 display: Bright,Dim, Dimmer and Dark (Off). 4 Operation Press and release Dim button a fourth time to return display to Bright. A double beep confirms this selection. Note Bright = "Beep-Beep" Dim = "Beep" Dimmer = "Beep" Dark = "Beep" 1 Press and release Dim button once to reduce brightness to Dim.A single beep confirms this selection. Highway/City Mode The Highway/City function is controlled by a 2-step button. To select City Mode: 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 The ESD-9550 will retain the chosen brightness level while OFF. 2 Press and release Dim button twice to reduce the display brightness to Dimmer. A single beep confirms dim led brightness. 1 Press and release City button and CTY will be displayed for 2 seconds followed by c. A single beep confirms City mode. 3 Press and release Dim button a third time to reduce display to dark (Off).A single beep confirms this selection. The power light will remain on. x Continued 10 11 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 12 Operation Highway/City Mode Note City ="Beep" Highway ="Beep-Beep" Note The ESD-9550 will retain the chosen mode while OFF. 1 Operation Highway/City Mode To select Highway Mode: Press and release City button. HWY will be displayed for 2 seconds followed by h. Audio Muting The mute button is used to temporarily turn off the alarm and turn Auto Mute mode off and on. Muting Note To completely turn off incoming alerts while in auto mode, press and release mute button. Note In either mode the next alarm will begin with normal volume.The ESD9550 will retain the chosen mode while OFF. Manual Muting of the Audio Use this operation to turn off the audio alarm at any time. Press and release Mute button to turn off the audio for any alert. Mute will be displayed. The alarm will be turned off until the signal is over, with audio set at previous volume level for next signal. Selecting Auto Muting Mode In Auto Mute mode the alerts will be heard at the volume set for 3 seconds, then automatically be reduced to a lower level. Note Mute="Beep" OR Auto Mute="Beep-Beep" 1 x Continued Press and release Mute button when no signal is being received. x Continued 13 12 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 14 Operation Muting Auto Mute will appear in display for 2 seconds, then disappear. All future alarms will be Auto Mute. Operation Note Your compass may not give a correct reading if you are inside any enclosure, building or close to a large metal tractor trailer, truck or The message "Drive in 2 circles... train. Your compass will press City when done. " will then be displayed. work again correctly as Drive your car in a circle twice and then press soon as you get away from City. Your compass will be set. The display these locations. There is no provides 8 primary directions;N,NE, E, SE, S, need to calibrate your SW, W and NW. compass again. Selecting Manual Muting Mode In Manual Mute mode the alerts will always be heard at the set volume level. 1 Press and release Mute Button when no signal is being received. Mute will appear on the display for 2 seconds, then disappear. 2 Memory Set This product features an automatic, internal electronic memory system. It will automatically "remember" your settings when the unit is turned off or removed from the power source up to 7 days. Memory Set Calibrate Compass Note Pushing City button for more than 2 seconds produces a single beep confirmation tone. Note If you decide to re-locate your ESD-9550 to a different location in your vehicle or move it to another vehicle, it is best to recalibrate the compass. Calibrate Compass The compass in your ESD-9550 must be calibrated before you use it to give accurate directions. Calibration allows the compass electronics to measure and store information about the magnetic fields from your vehicle. Auxiliary Audio Jack Auxiliary Audio Jack Use to connect an external speaker to your Cobra ESD-9550 in environments with high ambient noise levels.The internal speaker will be disconnected. 1 Press City button for a minimum of 2 seconds. Compass is displayed. 14 15 *9550.MANUAL 8/9/00 12:21 PM Page 16 Detection Band 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 Detection X,K and Ka Bands The display will show the band received (X,K/Ka). The signal strength will be indicated by a bar graph which increases in size as you approach the radar gun. Distinct tones will also be generated for each band. X, K, Ka Alert Weakest signal Audible Alarm Audible Alarm Speaker A different alert tone will sound for X,K, Ka,Laser Speaker (a distinctly different tone for each of the three laser signals: LTI 20-20,UltraLyte and ProLaser), VG-2,and Safety and Strobe Alert signals. Strongest signal Instant-On Detection The Cobra ESD-9550 is also designed to detect Instant-on speed monitoring signals. Immediate action is r ...