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View Full Version : My Ratshack review of the XRS-9485, it's not good...



MacTech
02-16-2008, 05:21 PM
A thoroughly worthless detector
By MacTech from Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha on 2/11/2008
Pros:Clear Alert, Easy To Mount
Cons:Gives False Reads, Inaccurate, NO Sensitivity at all, Poor audio volume, Voice alerts annoying
Best Uses:Paperweight
Describe Yourself:
Commuter, Gearhead
Bottom Line:
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
I bought this detector to replace an ancient Whistler 1490 that was beginning to show it's age, it served me well for 10 years, but it was falsing more often now, so it was time for a new detector

I took a chance on the XRS-9485, big mistake, it failed on it's first real test

On the drive in to work the next day, I had both the Whistler and the Cobra hooked up, the Whistler alerted to a weak Ka signal about 1/4 mile ahead, the Cobra, silent, I approached an intersection and turned right, Whistler showing a strong alert (4-5 bars), Cobra, nothing, as I turned into the intersection and decended the hill, the Whistler was on full alert, as coming up the hill was a local cruiser driving in the opposite lane with his Ka band radar on the constant on setting

the Cobra, silent

the cruiser passed me, heading in the opposite direction, as soon as the cruiser passed my rear bumper, the Cobra emitted two weak, halfhearted "Braps", a voice alert, and fell silent

the Whistler's alert was at 3 bars and falling....

I was not speeding in this encounter, I was simply driving the posted limit, and trying to get a feel for the effectiveness (or total lack thereof) of this detector.

the Cobra was a complete and utter failure, it was returned that evening, and I purchased a Escort Passport 8500-X50 at a different retailer, which has worked flawlessly and easily outperforms the Whistler

Yes, it's possible I may have recieved a defective Cobra, but it's abyssmal performance did not fill me with confidence, the alert tones are quiet, even on highest volume setting, and the voice alerts are irritating and distracting

I DO NOT reccomend this detector at all, if I could give it zero stars, I would, heck, it deserves *negative* stars for it's complete and utter failure to fulfill it's most basic function, to *detect* radar

You think people will get the point?

SuperDave
02-16-2008, 06:50 PM
X50 is light years ahead of a Cobra period. Congrats on your purchase!

Ovencleaner
02-20-2008, 03:11 PM
While I don't doubt the Cobra sucks, running two detectors in one car can confuse them into ignoring real signals.

stray444
02-20-2008, 08:25 PM
While I don't doubt the Cobra sucks, running two detectors in one car can confuse them into ignoring real signals.

The oscillators will interfere with one another causing false alerts.

Ovencleaner
02-20-2008, 08:40 PM
While I don't doubt the Cobra sucks, running two detectors in one car can confuse them into ignoring real signals.

The oscillators will interfere with one another causing false alerts.

I have had two detectors lock each other out to completely miss a signal once.

stray444
02-21-2008, 10:56 PM
While I don't doubt the Cobra sucks, running two detectors in one car can confuse them into ignoring real signals.

The oscillators will interfere with one another causing false alerts.

I have had two detectors lock each other out to completely miss a signal once.

what detectors were they?

bkrell
03-12-2008, 02:35 PM
While it's possible it was defective, Cobras are horrible at off-axis signals. I have a 9930 that I bought on a lark and while it's not bad on the highway, it can miss things the slightest bit off. My wife uses it with the understanding that "you better not speed to much." As the units use the same hardware as the 9930s and the other newer XRS's they should fare the same.

edit: just realized which unit you were talking about. Same review applies, though.

MEM-TEK
03-12-2008, 05:20 PM
A thoroughly worthless detector...

Cobras, Cobras, yum yum yum.

Cobras, Cobras, dumb dumb dumb.

happya$$
03-12-2008, 06:58 PM
WHY do people bother with these?

dpatel01
03-12-2008, 11:47 PM
WHY do people bother with these?

"They look pretty so it must be awesome compared to that old, clunky looking V1!" :lol:

bkrell
03-13-2008, 07:25 AM
You can buy them at Wal-Mart and they are cheap. :lol:

Beatlesfan
03-19-2008, 02:56 AM
You can buy them at Wal-Mart and they are cheap. :lol:

Yeah, some kid(most of us) walks into a super store and sees a neato looking, streamlined, shiny Cobra with plastic chrome on it and not knowing anything about RD's we think "cool" and buy one. We brag to our friends that our RD can detect 12 bands and like 32 laser "bands". Only after a few close calls or tickets we realize we screwed up. We come home and google RD and find this site.

jadar
03-19-2008, 08:26 AM
Yeah, some kid(most of us) walks into a super store and sees a neato looking, streamlined, shiny Cobra with plastic chrome on it and not knowing anything about RD's we think "cool" and buy one. We brag to our friends that our RD can detect 12 bands and like 32 laser "bands". Only after a few close calls or tickets we realize we screwed up. We come home and google RD and find this site.[/quote]


that really sums it up perfectly ! were you following me around :shock:

Loiosh
03-19-2008, 09:20 AM
That's how I got my Cobra back when.

I'm much better now :)

Beatlesfan
03-19-2008, 04:38 PM
that really sums it up perfectly ! were you following me around :shock:

Haha, I've just heard stories from people on here and that's how it happens. I lucked out. My first was an old V1. :D :D

djrams80
03-19-2008, 04:41 PM
My first RD was a Cobra, back in 1988. It worked fine, but all it had to find was X band.

Beatlesfan
03-19-2008, 04:44 PM
My first RD was a Cobra, back in 1988. It worked fine, but all it had to find was X band.

Yeah, that's not to hard. Cobras can do that just fine...usually. :D
I still wouldn't trust it though.

I don't know if any of you have gmail, but it takes words from your emails, googles them, and gives you little facts and stuff at the top of the screen. Here's the one it JUST gave me:

Cobra Electronics. Drive smart with a radar detector. High-quality at reasonable prices.