Enjoy free shipping on orders $80 and up. Larger vehicles are bigger targets. The Cobra RAD 480i is a great option for a radar detector under $200. Run (double click on Cobra_RAD_480i_Update_Installer_V1.0.exe) to install onto your PC and follow the InstallShield Wizard instructions. Range is okay. There are even some apps that work with the Apple Watch, so you can mute alerts just by moving your wrist. Like its big brother, the R7, the Uniden R3 offers aGPS lockout featureto prevent any reoccurring false alerts. Furthermore, AutoLearn and GPS technology, Bluetooth and laser jammer capability, and a multicolor OLED display make the Escort MAX 3 a no-brainer in this price range. We found it best to turn the volume off and simply keep an eye out for visual alerts. You can toggle through them by hitting the SEN button on top of the unit. Unit Dimensions: 4.25 L x 2.75 W x 1.25 H (107.95mm x 69.85mm x 31.75mm), Individual Box Dimensions: 2.13 L x 5.10 W x 7.70 H (54.10mm x 129.54mm x 195.58mm), Individual Box Weight: 12.8 oz. Although the screen is small, its very easy to decipher between multiple threats at the same time. . RAD 480i Features Windshield Mounting Option Assemble Suction Cup Bracket Adjust Suction Cup Bracket to ensure your RAD 480i has a level view of the road But because it comes at an affordable price, its hard not to doubt that promise. Great Unit On High mode goes off a lot which is explained in directions but definitely Lights the Ka band up from around corners and far distances. Both radar detectors have advanced technology to detect the radar bands from law enforcement. <> At $99, the Cobra RAD 380 is a winner if you want something inexpensive but not cheap. Get . It has impressive long-range detection and good false alert filtering. I bought a rear-view mirror mount to anchor this thing in the best possible location for laser signatures (radar experts recommend using your rear-view mirror to mount any radar detector). Cobra is the best. Escort offers two customer-friendly programs that help them jump to the top of our list. Keep in mind that radar detectors are not always a go big, or go home type of purchase. I was able to test the RAD 480i in three different vehicles: a 2020 Subaru Legacy, a 2020 Cadillac XT6, and a 2020 Honda Civic Si. We do have a couple of bones to pick with the 480i in this department, though. Sometimes we go in-depth and analyze something, or we talk about car history or motorsports, or maybe were just giving our thoughts on something in the automotive industry. You may find the RAD 480i will issue a slow alert as you approach a hill or bridge. Otherwise, the Cobra RAD 480i is designed to be maintenance-free. The amount of tax charged on your order is contingent on your state. In town, the radar detector does well with Ka band and the alerts were generally very accurate. This data alerts you to things like an unforeseen red light camera, speed trap, construction work, school zone, or police radar activity. Cause your eyes don't need to be taken off the road when driving. And with these settings, you would have different needs. A loose power cord or connection on the unit itself could also be to blame. Our response to COVID-19, Sign up for exclusive offers and the latest news. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. "The Cobra RAD 480i Is An Easy To Use And Accurate Radar Detector", "consistently warned me about police lurking on the roadside and at least once saved me from an expensive ticket". Bluetooth connectivity isnt essential, but its a handy feature to have. <> However, for only <200$, you're getting a package that can read crash frequencies, cops, and more, at the range that's astounding to me. The R3 tops our list of the best radar detectors under $300, but there are a lot of great options in this price range. Reach your destination safely and efficiently. 5 0 obj The Cobra RAD 480i has twice the range of other radar detectors in its class. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Escort Passport 7500 Radar Detector Detection *Unit Only* Tested at the best online prices at eBay! Best overall: Uniden R7Best connected: Valentine 1 Gen2Best stealth: Escort Redline 360cBest mid-range: Uniden R3Best budget: Cobra RAD 480i How we chose the best radar detectors I eliminated a number of the cheaper units right off due to poor testing results, and cut out a number of brands that were outlandishly priced. It offers shared alerts from other drivers and updated locations for speed cameras and red lights. But you better make sure you have a passagner when using the app. Cobra boasts that the 480i effectively doubles the detection range of other units in its price range. This manual is available in the following languages: English. Dont toss your old Escort unit just yet. We only received one VG-2 notification during our three-week drive, and we could never visibly see the source. By no means would I say its an extended range, especially compared to any other radar detectors Ive used in the past. CES 2023: The Biggest Trends for Pros; Best iPhone models; Best note-taking apps for iPad; Brightest flashlights; Best home battery and backup systems In our experience, you will sacrifice quality and performance. If you live in an area with long straight roads and want a budget-friendly device, this is a good choice. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. The app is straightforward informative. Sales: It doesn't have GPS built into the system, but Bluetooth capabilities allow you to connect to your smartphone via an app and use GPS that way. Bonus: Best radar detector mount for motorcycles. From there, a black warning bar serves as a count down of sorts, working from right to left. It offers great detection range, lighting-fast response, advanced anti-falsing circuitry, and access to the iRadar app. The Cobra RAD 480i packs in a lot of powerful features. If you have a small car, putting a radar detector on the windshield might obstruct your view. One of the best features of the Cobra DualPro 360 is the directional arrows that point towards the threat. The RAD 380 doesnt have these features. The display screen will show you alerts according to your desired detail mode. In More Detail mode, the RAD 480i displays the detected band, signal strength, and frequency (pulse rate for lasers). endobj Are radar detectors worth it? When you compare the price to what you get, the RAD 480i is a great deal. Is it as powerful and robust as the Uniden R7? In my opinion, there is little to no point in upgrading to a higher tier system past this, it's not going to eliminate false positives or increase range dramatically, unless you want light statistics, etc. (362.9 g.), Master Pack Dimensions: 6.85 L x 10.20 W x 11 H (173.99mm x 259.08mm x 279.4mm). For a small car, they only need about 500 feet. Having them bundled like this will save you money over buying them individually. However, you can simplify things via the Less Detail mode. The downside is how the Redline 360c is one of the most expensive portable radar detectors at about $750. Built-in Bluetooth connectivity allows Cobra's iRadar app to . Previous firmware releases also include improvements to fix screen freezing, BlueTooth Communication, and general fixes. One downside is that the Valentine One Gen2 does not have GPS, meaning you dont get automatic red light or speed camera alerts. We went to a family wedding in Bryant, Indiana, about a 200-mile drive from Detroit. Thus, you get full protection from threats on the road, no matter where theyre coming from. With real-time updates, a small collection of features, and mid-level customization, this is a great budget-friendly option. Whether youre shopping for a new car, looking for the latest products, or wanting something to spruce up the man cave, youll find our review of it here. Intelligently reduces false alerts from blind spot systems and other vehicle avoidance systems. The GPS lockout feature remembers up to 2,000 individual locations to prevent reoccurring false alerts (like automatic doors in a shopping plaza, construction zones, or digital signage). As a bonus, there is an emergency recording feature too, which is activated by a G-sensor. You also receive access to theDefender Databasethrough the Escort Live app. 9 0 obj I bet 2/3 of the people who buy this are bros who have tribal arm band tattoos and wear mostly Ed Hardy. See special price in cart: Add Bundle to Cart detector with xtreme range They are also illegal in all 50 states for commercial drivers, such as truck drivers and taxi drivers. Works good. The 480i has a surprising number of features for the price. Even though we were driving at slightly higher speeds, we were still in Detroit proper or rather, we were still doing city driving. They are illegal in Virginia and Washington D.C. Commercial vehicles arent allowed to use them, and they are prohibited on military bases by federal law. The RAD 480i, on the other hand, seemed to struggle with false alerts, especially in Auto Sensitivity mode. Unlike other radar detectors, the RAD 480i does not have a color display, opting instead for a black and white combo that is sofer on the eyes. Shop; Technology; Apps; Cobra Business; Support; Sales: 800-964-3138 Monday - Friday 8am - 9pm EST It does exactly what it is supposed to, although it goes off on a lot of other bands. I prefer the windshield mount as the hook-and-loop fastener makes it impossible to adjust the angle of the RAD 480i. Make Offer Add to Wish List. To experiment, we ran through the same area (both north and southbound) in Low sensitivity. Other than that it works. They function like this:. UPC. I cover automobiles and their impact on consumers. It depends on the size of your vehicle and the model of radar gun the police use. From setting up your profile to customizing app alerts and device settings, you can easily control your Cobra detectors and dash cams from within Drive Smarter. You should be able to save about $150 going with the MAX 360c over the Redline 360c. There are sensitivity settings that allow you to determine how many alerts get filtered out. Millions of user-base traffic avoidance exchanges. This device has saved a few traffic awards and is very useful at detecting all different types of alerts at great distances! It will perform best if you mount it in the center of your vehicle (approximately) on your front windshield. endobj This way, you wont be bombarded by false alerts and you get the performance you expect. Instead, you must adjust the sensitivity of the entire device from high to medium to low. Cobra SC 200D. Join our community to stay up to date on cool car stuff and updates every few days: #1: Best of the Best: Escort Redline 360c, Best with Dash Cam: Cobra Road Scout Elite, Audi activesphere Debuts With Futuristic Interior, Self-Driving Mode & Off-Road Muscle, Porsche 911 GT3 RS Tribute to Carrera RS Package: Saluting The Most Iconic 911. Five squares represent the signal strength on the display screen. Millions of users update the database all the time, so you always get the latest information for that ultimate road coverage. We also report on other significant announcements in the automotive industry. No questions asked. However, since it runs on batteries, youre going to have to change those regularly. Its best to think of the RAD 480i as a middle ground unit. The Cobra Road Scout Elite is our pick for the best radar detector with built-in dash camera. The Cobra RAD 480i issues a specific alert tone for each type of radar band it detects. Provides Early Warnings and rapid response on all radar bands. Got feedback? Setting your detector to Low or Medium sensitivity delays the audio alerts for weak X band and K band signals until they become stronger. Check out our in-depth guide to radar detector laws here. This is not a lot of time to slow down, so you need a radar detector that alerts you as soon as possible. Here is How it Works. ][Ce.G2=>1/Vp"rc Q: Whats the difference between the Cobra RAD 480i and the RAD 380? . So, does it really live up to the hype? Everything you record is timestamped with the location and date, and you can share and edit videos on your phone. International customers can shop on www.bestbuy.com and have orders shipped to any U.S. address or U.S. store. Though it responds to some interference at times, these false alarms are much less intense. >bj!L#n/[ If you consider the average cost of a speeding ticket in the United States (around $150, not counting the increased insurance premium), then yes, a radar detector makes sense. The latest devices do more than just alert you to the presence of law enforcement and may even be able to help you or your teen driver stay safe. When you buy a radar detector, you're assuming that you're going to experience false positives. The styling is also kind aggressive. Thats why we created this guide to the best radar detectors on the market in 2023, so you dont waste your hard-earned money on a high-tech, glorified paperweight. This essentially means its invisible to radar detector-detectors, devices that police use (remember VG-2 from back in the day) to determine if you have a unit. To be honest you really need to buy advanced ones that are like $300+ if you want a very consistent one. Rating 4.3 out of 5 stars with 462 reviews, Accurate, sleek, with map options on your phone to report accidents, patrol vehicles and changing speed limits. No ads. Otherwise, you can grab the RAD 480i through Cobras official website for $149.95. It also allows users to mark locations. Radars are everywhere these days, and one of the bigger challenges that the radar detector industry is faced with is false alerts. One possible exception is Uniden DFR1, which is among thebest-selling radar detectors on Amazon. When you Connect your camera, the app will check if a newer firmware update is available on the server. They should be easy to understand while driving and play the role of copilot seamlessly. Using the RAD 480i is as easy as flicking a switch on the side. Ultra-high performance digital radar/laser detector (15 pages), Supercharged long-range radar/laser detectors (14 pages), 2-in-1 radar detector and dash camera (19 pages), 15 band ultra performance digital radar/laser detector with xtreme range superheterodyne technology (21 pages), 14 band <> This is useful for people in densely populated areas, but rural areas like where I live dont have many other Cobra users floating around to fill in data on the app. I think having the real-time alerts and reporting them for other drivers to see is worth the extra $50. In 49 states, yes. In Auto mode, the RAD 480i constantly alerted on this stretch of M-10, even though there were no threats (patrol cars are pretty easy to spot in this area). The Valentine One Gen2 has an entirely new look and design from its predecessor. Without enough time to slow down, radar detectors are rather useless devices. Download Drive Smarter a cord that plugs into your cars cigarette lighter. Press the "Menu" button then "Home" to return to the Map screen. 800-543-1608 Option 3 Cobra 29 LTD. $129.95. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. Whether that hassle is worth it will be up to you, but it would be helpful to determine the location of your vehicles power outlet and how the cord might impact your driving experience before buying. After covering the features and specs, I will suggest a few other units if you are thinking about purchasing the RAD 480i. Many things could potentially set a radar detector off in that particular area, most notably Henry Ford Hospital and a police precinct (no joke; Detroits 3rd precinct is right there on West Grand Boulevard). The RAD 480i might drive you nuts. Zero audio alerts going there as the 50 kph Mute setting was hardly breached in traffic. Page 4: Product Service And Support Jammers work by disabling police radar and are banned in most places. Price Checker. If an update is available the software update button will turn green. According to Cobra Electronics, the RAD 480i has best-in-class range detection, thanks to its digital signal processing technology (here is a link to a cool engineering lecture on how digital signal processing works). All of these settings are available through clearly labeled and simple controls on top of the RAD 480is body and are easy to figure out with very little frustration. Lets find out in this Cobra RAD 480i review. Cobra - RAD 480i Radar and Laser Detector, Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability, CA Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information, Limit Use of My Sensitive Personal Information. And with LaserEye technology, the Cobra RAD 480i is able to detect radar and laser signals from the front and rear of the vehicle. It is basically the updated version of the 450, don't get me wrong, I . Its not that the RAD 480i is a bad unit, but if you drive through a lot of road construction zones by where you live, you might want to consider another unit. Accuracy is a two-part metric when it comes to radar detectors. Prices and offers are subject to change. The Uniden R3 offers X, K, and Ka-band driver-set sensitivity levels, MRCD/MRCT detection, and an auto-dimming feature. The DualPro 360 features an easy-to-read four-color OLED display, and you can choose the display color you prefer from green, copper, blue, and red. Make sure these areas are free of dirt, dust, and corrosion. As a specific example: There is a busy section of M-10 that separates the New Center and Virginia Park neighborhoods here in Detroit. 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