Cobra XRS 9330 & V1 vs. Stationary KA Radar.

[StlouisX50]

Tonight I was able to test a Cobra XRS 9330 vs. my V1. As everyone knows there is no way to test 2 detectors properly while both on. So I decided to take a drive and find radar.

I found a stationary KA car marked it in my GPS and took a drive back to the straight road where I had picked up the radar with the V1.

I turned the V1 off and turned the Cobra XRS9330 on and started to proceed towards the radar. 1 mile away from the radar car I got an alert with the Cobra Model. I was fairly impressed with it's front detection. So I marked where the Cobra started to pick up KA and drove towards the KA car.

Surprisingly the Cobra kept at a 1. A 1 shows that a signal has been picked up but is a very weak signal. Well this is OK at one mile away but the detector did not go to a 2 until I was 2/10s of a mile from the KA Radar Car. Then when I was at 1/10th of a mile from the KA Radar Car it went to a #5. As I passed the Radar Car the Detector became mute and had no signal.

All I can say is the Front detection was amazing but they need to adjust the sensitivity levels a hell of a lot more.

Next I tested the V1 in (L mode).... As I made the turn I was able to pick up the 1 Mile away signal almost instantly. 498 Feet faster than the Cobra to be exact.

With the V1 as I hit 9/10s of a mile away from the KA Radar Car I was at about 3 lights and increasing. As I passed the KA Radar Car the V1 alerted for about 3/10ths of a mile past the car (Radar pointed away)

The conclusion on both detectors.........

Well is the Cobra XRS 9330 really good at picking up KA and almost as good as the V1? OR is the V1 Almost as bad as the Cobra? I don't know what to think, but I will say, a miles worth of detection is fair enough for both detectors, however the signal strength is well worth having the V1. along with it's rear antenna.

On another note, the Cobra's volume was all the way up to a 10 and it was still hard to hear :cry:


Review by STLOUISX50 - 04/03/2007

[Oxygen]

i like my 9330 alot myself, its very good on K band also.. glad someone did tests on one..

[StlouisX50]

i like my 9330 a ot myself, its very good on K band also.. glad someone did tests on one..

Well as I said, I only tested the unit on one band (KA) and only one frequency. So results may vary on other bands and frequencies.

Leos are known to shoot from on ramps and from overpasses, with being that there was no reception from behind once just passing the stationary car I would not recommend this Cobra Detector.

[nascar]

Every once in a while I buy a less expensive radar detector and I put it head to head with my X50 and V1.

I mostly notice that the less expensive radar detectors do well in straight line tests but falter when it comes to road curves and road inclines/declines.

My definition of well is that I would have had ample time to get to PSL doing a reasonable speed over PSL. Also my testing is all "real world" with no radar guns. So, like any test, take it with a grain of salt. :wink:

[jdong]

Do more tests with it and you will be less impressed. Depending on the circumstances and the type of radar gun being used, the Cobras can be EXTREMELY inconsistent in performance. On my XRS9400, sometimes it gives excellent range on K and Ka, picking up police at adequate range for a smooth reaction.

However, at other times, I've found the thing to be DEAF MUTE to a LEO threat -- even a constant on oncoming police officer is picked up just 2 or 3 seconds before seeing him, while my Whistler 1793 from experience has been able to get a good 10 second warning in the densest traffic.