My XTR-695 has arrived - Initial musings

[GET 1T DONE]

Anyone know when the XTR-695 user manual will be available for download on Whistler's site?

...or why Whistler dropped the custom audio alerts feature introduced with the XTR-560? (I personally think it would be nice having the option for custom sounds so as not to annoy, or at least annoy to a lesser degree, passengers who are not too fond of the loud BEEP, BEEP, BEEP which can go on for 30 secs or more)

And just to confirm, the XTR-690 has multiple Filter modes like the XTR-690?

[WK446]

Hi GET 1T DONE,

1. Unknown if the user manual is avail for download.

2. There are 3 preset groups of audio alerts. I find the alert sounds fine. I use preset group #2. As this is my first Whistler unit, I cannot comment why they dropped custom alerts. Generally speaking, beeps are found in all of the serious detectors I own and, I prefer them.

3. The XTR-695 has three filter modes: Filter, Filter 1, and Filter 2. I use the default mode, Filter, which is apparently the least obtrusive.

Originally Posted by GET 1T DONE

Anyone know when the XTR-695 user manual will be available for download on Whistler's site?

...or why Whistler dropped the custom audio alerts feature introduced with the XTR-560? (I personally think it would be nice having the option for custom sounds so as not to annoy, or at least annoy to a lesser degree, passengers who are not too fond of the loud BEEP, BEEP, BEEP which can go on for 30 secs or more)

And just to confirm, the XTR-690 has multiple Filter modes like the XTR-690?

[WK446]

Sarge,

The display brightness is not enough to discount the other fine features of this unit. I'm glad you ended up purchasing one.

Originally Posted by Sarge

Thanks....mine should be here this week....this will help with config/usage from the get go.

[GET 1T DONE]

Originally Posted by WK446

Hi GET 1T DONE,

2. There are 3 preset groups of audio alerts. I find the alert sounds fine. I use preset group #2. As this is my first Whistler unit, I cannot comment why they dropped custom alerts. Generally speaking, beeps are found in all of the serious detectors I own and, I prefer them.

Thanks for the reply. I personally could care less about BEEP, BRAP, or whatever the audible alert.

The issue is my passengers. I think it's safe to say that my girlfriend is like most others in that she finds the highly effective, but non-pleasant standard RD alerts to be headache generating and/or plain annoying. Plus several non-RD enthusiast friends also make derogatory comments when the unit begins blaring and seemingly won't shut up (I generally always keep the volume up since I like windows-down motoring and listening to the radio).

Therefore, the novel idea of custom audio alerts as introduced in the XTR-560 seemed like a very nice convenience feature. I can still have my audible alerts so I don't have to take my eyes of the road to see signal strength, plus the alert can be something pleasing (or at least tolerable) to those who just don't see the same value in situational awareness as I do.

Perhaps it was a packaging issue, having to fit a microphone in? Maybe Whistler could have used a mic-in or line-in input instead, so as not to need an mic built-in? Maybe Mike B can shed some light on this subject??

[Michael B]

Did you try the auto quiet feature?

The audio will start at the selected level and then after a few seconds will drop down to level 1

[GET 1T DONE]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Did you try the auto quiet feature?

The audio will start at the selected level and then after a few seconds will drop down to level 1

Yeah, I know. It's just with the windows down (unfortunately, my car's profile lends itself to unusually loud wind noise), after the initial 3 or 4 beeps I can no longer hear any alert and am forced to take my eyes off the road to track signal strength.

3 things that would/could improve upon this situation:

1) Custom audio alert ala XTR-560 (for my situation where passengers are typically not too fond of "loud annoying" RD alerts) that have tolerable tones.

2) Adjustable Auto-Quiet volume. So instead of alerting at volume 7, then dropping all the way down to a whisper at volume 1, you could have the volume drop to 3 (or whatever you prefer) instead.
OR... initial alert at standard selected volume, then drops to 1 (or a low volume) for alerts of strength 1-3, then increase in volume as the signal strength also increases.

3) Instead of a BEEP - <pause or voice alert> - BEEP - BEEP being the minimal alert duration, have the detector alert the same as non-voice response models (like my old DE-1540) where a sudden Cobra false would simply result in an alert of signal strength 1 accompanied by only 1 beep, then immediate silence. With these current models, you have to wait 3-4 seconds before knowing whether you have a momentary false or a legitimate threat. I find this to be annoying.


Just some of my thoughts.

[Suburbs]

I have had my XTR-695 for 2 months and also at first found the display poor in sunlight.

After fooling around with placement I found out for some odd reason I can see it better when I am looking at it more at an angle rather than straight on.

Also, depending on the person, when you try different colors seems to make a real differance.

For example, I at first thought I would use "red" for Ka to really catch my eye but for me "red" seems to be the worst color I can see at the distance to the unit.

How good your mid vision is seems to determine which color works best for you.

It's also easy enough to change the color you might use for normal driving during a sunny day and choose another color you can better see for night driving.