Got my C100 today...first report and recommendations for improvements

My C100 arrived this morning. I immediately unpacked it and did an update. But, as advertised, it already had the latest updates installed. But I updated anyway just to get familiar with the process. Update process worked great. The software found a free Com Port and the update took about 3 minutes.
Next I took it out to my truck to see how quickly it locked on the satellites. First thing I noticed was a very long connection cable. I suspect it's the same one as the Cheetah mirror, so it's made to go from the mirror all the way around the window to the lighter plug. But for a dash or steering column mount, this cord is way too long. Perhaps Cheetah will sell a shorter coiled cord in the future? One like the radar detectors use would be ideal for the C100.
Second thing I noticed was the connector to the C100 unit didn't go in all the way. I had read about this with the Cheetah mirror, so it wasn't a big surprise. The unit functioned fine, it just looked wrong.

Lockon to the satellites was quick. But the volume as shipped was loud!!! I found the volume knob and turned it down. Much more understandable voice when lowered. I set the clock, and unlike the other product made by the competition, this clock was accurate even after it was turned off and retains the Mountain Standard Time setting I use. Glad to see that :)

Brightness/visibility was fine for me. I see no need or reason to dim it down.

I drove away and at 9 MPH the clock switched to speedometer mode. I knew my cruise control only worked at exactly 25 MPH so I brought the speed up to 24MPH and hit the cruise button. Nothing. Excellent!!! I nudged the speed reading up to 25MPH and held it there and hit the cruise button and the cruise activated. So I know that the accuracy of the GPS is quite good at low speed. On the way out of town I passed two squads, one using radar and one just passing by. (I don't have the link to use a detector yet, but I am beginning to think I will get one.) The C100 got me up to 55MPH and I set the cruise control. I passed the radar squad and no lights came on, so I can assume I was okay with the reading.

Mounting...the unit comes with a mounting bracket and suction cups. But it also warns in the instructions against mounting it in the sun. So I don't see much point in the mounting bracket. A better solution would be to include a couple of velcro strips. Since the C100 has excellent reception of the GPS signal, it can be placed just about anywhere. Since I am mainly using it for a speedometer, I velcroed it to the top of my steering column. I have perfect vision of it and no worries about it being exposed to the sun. As an added protection/security measure, I found some black cloth and covered it up when I park. So it's all but invisible from any prying eyes.

One complaint I have is the lack of protection of the display window in the box. Mine came with a few abrasions on it. It doesn't affect the readout, but it is a shame that they didn't take the extra effort to protect it. It wouldn't be all that expensive to cover the display window with a peel-off piece of plastic like they put on new cellphone displays. The little ziplock bag it was enclosed in was unzipped when I got it, so that's not a good way to protect it.

Compass display...really neat. It uses the standard N,S,W,E in little letters that are visible even in bright sunshine. For NW they use a little arrow pointing between N and W. Still pretty cool.

The on/off switch...I really like that it has this feature. My cigarette lighter plug doesn't shut off with the engine. So this switch is a nice feature. However, I wonder at the durability of the switch. Too many times switching it off and on may wear it out quickly. It's a very small switch and I just don't know about it's durability.

So to sum up the things I think need improvement:
#1 A shorter coiled power cord. One the size of most radar detectors would be fine.
#2 Connector needs to go in further.
#3 Toss the mounting bracket and suction cups and include velcro instead.
#4 Better protection of the display lens during shipment. Suggest removeable plastic cover of the lens.

Overall I am very happy with this unit. It seems well made and works great. All it needs is some minor improvements/changes and it will be perfect. It's already far superior to the competition.

Dep

You can use in the sun no problem. :D

There is no problem with using the C100 on the windscreen bracket or dashpad - that's why we provide them.

The warning :deal:is to remind you not to leave it sitting in the full sun in a parked car all day. Where we are in Arizona, if you do that with any electronics they melt. You should not do that with your RD either. It's just common sense. All we're saying, is if you do mount them there, please remember to move it when you park for a long time. Stick it it the glove box, under the seat, take it with you in your pocket, whatever you want to do.

Alternatively, mount it high or on the steering column. That's one of the reasons why it comes with an 11ft power cord to give you a huge amount of options on where to mount it.

One other reason why you shouldn't leave it on display anyway - it's like saying, "come get me," to any passing thief.

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Originally Posted by Deputy

However, I wonder at the durability of the switch

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The one in my car is 4 year old and going good! :)

Ally: Do you turn the switch off every time you leave the car and leave the lighter plugged in? That's what I plan on doing. If it's lasted 4 years and still works, then you can scratch that complaint :D

One other comment I've read from other owners is that mounting it in direct sunlight causes the nifty little Cheetah emblem to peel off. I don't want that to happen ;)

I drove from Silver City, NM to Las Vegas a couple of years ago with my RX65 mounted on the dashboard. This was in August and I know how hot it gets in all 3 states (we drove through much of Arizona). I never leave any of my electronic doodads where they are in the sun or visible. When I'm in the car I have the AC going, so the temps aren't quite as hot. And where they sit on the dashboard, they aren't normally subject to full sun unless it is sunrise or sunset.

BTW...Saturday I drove to Truth or Consequences, NM and used the RX65. The sun was rising and I was driving straight in to it. The laser warning was going off like crazy. I found out from other users this is pretty common. Had to turn the detector off till we started heading South.

I wish there was an easy way to tap off a power source that shuts off when I turn off the key. I'm not crazy about splicing into wires, though.

Dep

yes - I just leave the plug in the cigarette socket all the time.

I hear you about splicing wires. We made a gizmo that makes it easy to tap power in the engine bay, but it doesn't work inside the car. It's got to be hooked up directly to the car battery so it's not really useable inside the car.

False alarms from Sunlight is pretty common, you notice it on laser jammers too.

My 2 cents: On setting up your own mobile alert: At 70+MPH on Arizona highways, the mobile alert doesn't seem to provide enough warning soon enough. I think you would get a ticket before you slowed down enough for the mobile van. I could mark the location before the van location actually passed but is there anyway to increase the warning distance?

Personal reminders alert at a fixed distance.

For camera van sites on the freeway I agree you may want to store a point ahead of time. If you read the manual or the quick start guide we mention this. We also advise doing this for motorcycle cop laser gun sites - you want to store a point at the corner before, or out of range of the laser gun.

C100 manual - see page 8 and also on page 11

A better idea is to email the camera van sightings in to cameras@speedcheetah.com

When we load these locations onto the database, you get a much longer alert distance and everyone else gets to have the mobile alert too.

If you do happen to store a location at the camera van site, it is still just enough time to slow down. In fact it gives you far more warning than a radar detector does for the same location. This was shown in the recent video we released about detecting mobile camera vans.

YouTube - Valentine 1 -v- Arizona DPS Photo Radar Van

i don't know if it's just me, but when i'm heading NORTH, and i hit whichever button on the C100 to announce my heading, i swear it says FOUR. :hmmmm2:


US voiceskins please! :lol:

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Originally Posted by cell21633

US voiceskins please! :lol:

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^ Hey, I like my lovely lady's voice! :p

I can't imagine trading her for a "Southern Drawl" accent! :)

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Originally Posted by TSi+WRX

^ Hey, I like my lovely lady's voice! :p

I can't imagine trading her for a "Southern Drawl" accent! :)

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Actually, I normally have a hard time understanding Brits. But this lady sounds loud and clear to me. :D