The black and gray really suits this radar detector well, and it blends in perfectly with the vehicle interior. Plan Your Route Reach your destination safely and efficiently. The warranty covers defects in workmanship and materials. From repairing televisions in a small garage to a world leader in consumer electronicsour 50 years of innovation allows us to deliver the technology you need for a modern driving experience. The RAD 480i radar detector from Cobra features a gorgeous black chassis and a stupendous white OLED screen, but it's much more than just a pretty face. Similarly, you receive access to Escort Live, an app that connects you to other drivers, so you know whats ahead. 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. For a small car, they only need about 500 feet. 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. It will perform best if you mount it in the center of your vehicle (approximately) on your front windshield. While more expensive units like the Uniden R7, K40 Platinum 100, and the Escort MAX 360c have their perks, buying something at that level, with that many features, might be overkill if all you want is a little extra peace of mind. Just change the brightness settings via the DIM button on the top of the unit, based on your preferences (Bright, Dim, and Dimmer). You give up all portability this way, and its typically more expensive. To be fair, other radar detectors do the same and you can filter out K band detection, but its confusing nonetheless. LaserEye detects laser signals from both the front and rear of your vehicle. You get an early notification so you can slow down before your speed is recorded, thus avoiding that speeding ticket. 800-543-1608 Option 3 View detailed alert information and access Cobra detector settings directly on your phone. The Cobra RAD 480i issues a specific alert tone for each type of radar band it detects. 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. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The closer the bar moves to the left, the closer you are to the iRadar alert. :M=$AG,X-ns;28*GirFlIObA~)+a YM.WtlL?&dvQ One of the main reasons I purchased this radar was to use on road trips in the Honda, which I believe is useless. There are no apps or fancy tech features to worry about; if you just need an extra set of eyes, the Cobra RAD 380 is a perfect choice. Laser jammers, however, are legal in most states. After covering the features and specs, I will suggest a few other units if you are thinking about purchasing the RAD 480i. The LaserEye should have a clear view out of your rear window to ensure maximum coverage. The Uniden R3 offers X, K, and Ka-band driver-set sensitivity levels, MRCD/MRCT detection, and an auto-dimming feature. Should you receive an alert while connected to the app, the type will show on the OLED display (like a red light camera or speed trap, for example). Cobra RAD 480i BEST BUDGET RADAR DETECTOR The old "you get what you pay for" saw is more true with radar detectors than most other electronic gadgets. Intelligently reduces false alerts from blind spot systems and other vehicle avoidance systems. 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. + $10.00 shipping. GPS also allows you to monitor your speed more precisely and makes it so you can mark red light cameras and other hazards that you notice along your route. Owned for 1.5 years when reviewed. First Responders, Teachers and Students are also eligible to receive a 5% discount. 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). Your vehicles cigarette lighter socket or a household outlet work best Using the Drive Smarter App Power up your camera by connecting to constant power source such as your vehicles CLA adapter or a household outlet. Within Cobras product family, we would likely opt for the RAD 380 over the RAD 480i. On the screen, youd find band identification icons and a numeric signal strength meter so you know how near or far away the police radar gun is. You can toggle through them by hitting the SEN button on top of the unit. And if you buy this it does have an app you have to have. It detects threats from miles away so you have more than enough time to adjust your speed. So I've had this radar for about 3 months now, and I can tell you that it has already saved me hundreds of dollars on speeding tickets. If an update is available the software update button will turn green. It also allows users to mark locations. Five squares represent the signal strength on the display screen. Shop; Technology; Apps; Cobra Business; Support; Sales: 800-964-3138 Monday - Friday 8am - 9pm EST Learn how we're building advanced technology into all of our detection, protection, communication, and power solutions. For large semis and other trucks, a speed gun can measure speed from a mile away. Otherwise, you can grab the RAD 480i through Cobras official website for $149.95. Zero audio alerts going there as the 50 kph Mute setting was hardly breached in traffic. Here is How it Works. For her, apps like Waze offer more value and functionality than the iRadar app, so the RAD 380 is the better pick. Range is okay. Its a subscription service, but the benefits are well worth it, especially when traveling someplace new. As a specific example: There is a busy section of M-10 that separates the New Center and Virginia Park neighborhoods here in Detroit. If you have a small car, putting a radar detector on the windshield might obstruct your view. Even though Cobra left out some important ones like GPS location lockouts, the power of community shared updates with the app is huge. Added K Low band option (detects K down to 23.95 GHz). high-performance Unfortunately, the RAD 480i does not come with a carrying case, so Igrabbed this oneon Amazon (as an Amazon associate, Automoblog earns from qualifying purchases). Let us know! Voice alerts allow for hands-free operation and even alert you to the type of radar youre approaching. Device Settings Now you can manage your vehicles and Cobra device settings and features, all from one unified app. Are radar detectors worth it? Keep in mind that radar detectors are not always a go big, or go home type of purchase. At $99, the Cobra RAD 380 is a winner if you want something inexpensive but not cheap. This radar detector has a bright OLED display thats easy to read. Works good. Most likely, there is a patrol car waiting on the other side. It offers great detection range, lighting-fast response, advanced anti-falsing circuitry, and access to the iRadar app. Our response to COVID-19, Sign up for exclusive offers and the latest news. Update your subscription, manage your paired devices, or adjust the types of alerts you want to receive, audio alerts, and other settings. RADAR & LASER DETECTOR: COBRA ELECTRONICS MODEL RAD 480I. We recommendthe three-year subscription ($49.95)versus the one-year plan ($24.95) as its a better value overall. The 480i has a surprising number of features for the price. We went to a family wedding in Bryant, Indiana, about a 200-mile drive from Detroit. It does not come with all the bells and whistles, but considering the price, it's a pretty good deal. Please note: Due to high call volumes, our phone lines may close earlier than posted times in order to accommodate those already waiting in queue. detector with xtreme range The most obvious reason is to avoid a speeding ticket. Will try in one of my other vehicles but as the Honda is the only vehicle I take on road trips this is upsetting. This manual is available in the following languages: English. . Check your specific model to be sure. A few things the RAD 480i offers to help fight against false alerts are IVT filtering and band sensitivity adjustments. Accuracy is a two-part metric when it comes to radar detectors. Price Checker. It will ultimately depend on what you think you will realistically use each day. Prices and offers are subject to change. All of the radar detectors on our list detect all of the most popular radar bands, as well as offering laser detection. The correct name for the technology that most people refer to as laser is actually LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging. 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. My only gripe is that I don't know what to do with the wire, and it's way too long so ultimately ends up getting wadded up in a cupholder. After the installation is complete, you will receive a pop-up windows indicating your RAD 480i is up to date. To update the firmware, connect RAD 480i to your PC using a standard USB-A to USB-micro cable. Radar doesnt just come from police radar guns. You may be driving on the highway, around town, or within the city. When compared side by side to others in our test, the RAD 480i lagged very far behind our top performers. Superb long-range radar and laser detection, DSP for super-fast response on all radar bands, Real-time alerts from the Drive Smarter Community, Design-wise, Cobra didnt veer away from the usual. Spectre will also give some false alerts so leave that off as well. My wife, however, frequently uses Waze and believes the iRadar app is not worth the extra $50. We strongly recommend not enabling this function in the US. And with a retail price of $149.95, its easy to justify the cost of the Cobra RAD 480i. You should be able to save about $150 going with the MAX 360c over the Redline 360c. I cover automobiles and their impact on consumers. 6 0 obj In our experience, you will sacrifice quality and performance. Wed still recommend spending the extra $50 and stepping up into the RAD 480i (above), but if youre on a strict budget, the RAD 380 will do the trick. Overall, I found the RAD 480i to be useful and easy to operate. If youve been using radar detectors for a while now, you know all too well how annoying false alerts are. I have used this whilst highway driving and city driving. Otherwise, as a private citizen, unless you live in Virginia or D.C., its okay to have a radar detector in your vehicle. $199.95. It's a good thing the 480i allows you to turn off the X-band detection, because it false alerts rather often. Our Bronze Medal award goes to the Cobra DualPro 360 its easy to use with its seven buttons, including a mute button, positioned along the top of the unit. Provides Early Warnings and rapid response on all radar bands. Even though we were driving at slightly higher speeds, we were still in Detroit proper or rather, we were still doing city driving. The longer the range of the radar detector, the earlier youll know to slow down. Radars are everywhere these days, and one of the bigger challenges that the radar detector industry is faced with is false alerts. The Cobra RAD 480i detects all radar bands and laser guns and alerts you via an easy-to-read OLED display. Cobra RAD 480i and Uniden R3 Detections. Penpen55 | Verified Purchase. Multiple sensitivity modes, location marking, and compatibility with Cobras iRadar app help make the RAD 480i a well-rounded radar detector for something in this price range. Bonus: Best laser jammer. It offers great detection range, lighting-fast response, advanced anti-falsing circuitry, and access to the iRadar app. Cobra also offers an app that allows users to send and receive real-time alerts from other drivers. Cobra - RAD 480i Radar and Laser Detector. To experiment, we ran through the same area (both north and southbound) in Low sensitivity. If you are not a commercial driver, and you are not in Virginia or Washington DC or Canada, then it is perfectly legal to use a radar detector. Front and rear laser detection, different sensitivity modes, and real-time alerts via the iRadar app: just a few of the features that make the Cobra RAD 480i portable radar and laser detector a near-steal at about $150. Works good. Faster processing for all incoming signals rapidly provides accurate alerts. Get 2x the range plus enhanced Digital Signal Processing (DSP) for rapid warnings. It does, however, have a sometimes annoying cable that hangs down over your center console and gets in your way. It uses Cobras LaserEye technology to provide front and rear protection, and the iRadar app gives you real-time alerts for everything from speed cameras to police activity crowdsourced from a community of more than three million other users. But, you can pair it with your smartphone if you want to add GPS functionality, so this isnt necessarily a deal-breaker. As with most things in life, it depends. CES 2023: The Biggest Trends for Pros; Best iPhone models; Best note-taking apps for iPad; Brightest flashlights; Best home battery and backup systems Generally speaking, this device is an easy one to use, but it has a lot of room for improvement. Otherwise, the Cobra RAD 480i is designed to be maintenance-free. Users have mixed feelings about it. The RAD 380 offers front and rear detection, an IVT filer to reduce false alerts, sensitivity adjustments, proximity and strength meter, and a dim button. On top of the device, you have the different buttons like the menu, mute, dim, and SEN for sensitivity settings. The IVT filter still does a decent job cutting down on false alerts, and Cobra's LaserEye tech keeps an eye out in both the front and back at all times. The Cobra RAD 480i has no trouble detecting LiDAR. Q: Whats the difference between the Cobra RAD 480i and the RAD 380? Switching to Low, however, corrected this. Unfortunately, it is missing some vital features like location lockouts, but it connects easily with your smartphone to give you the power of community at your fingertips. Visual display lit up only for a few of the strongest door openers. Its best to think of the RAD 480i as a middle ground unit. As such, we opted for Low sensitivity. If the Redline 360c is out of your price range, browse through ourreview of the MAX 360c. To address this, the Cobra RAD 480i is equipped with an advanced anti-falsing circuitry to significantly reduce the false alerts that come from blind spot monitoring (BSM) systems and collision avoidance systems. Absolutely. Our in-depth guides provide advice and insight on numerous aspects of vehicle ownership, including maintenance, car care, warranty, accessories, and safe driving. Cobra boasts that the 480i effectively doubles the detection range of other units in its price range. Having them bundled like this will save you money over buying them individually. There is a volume wheel on the side, but the alerts are very jarring regardless of volume. That said, I jumped at the opportunity to test the Cobra RAD 480i Connected Radar and Laser Detector. All rights reserved. Affiliate Disclosure:Automoblog and its partners may earn a commission when you purchase the products featured in this review. 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! This device is far from perfect in the accuracy realm and false alerts a lot, but it does okay for the price. Its been tested in a 2017 Honda Civic equipped with auto braking/lane keep assist and all I can say is Im almost positive most of the false alerts Im getting are from my car. Beyond that, the Cobra RAD 480i is an affordable radar detector with a sleek display and tremendous long-range detection to match. Alerts are easy to read. With DSP, youll be able to know faster if police are targeting the area. Here we showcase the latest makes and models, often before they hit the market. Keep the installation in mind when youre choosing the one thats right for you. William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. I prefer the windshield mount as the hook-and-loop fastener makes it impossible to adjust the angle of the RAD 480i. I don't intentionally speed, but this has detected a few speed traps and put me on extra alert to watch my speed saving me potential tickets. We only received one VG-2 notification during our three-week drive, and we could never visibly see the source. One of the best features of the Cobra DualPro 360 is the directional arrows that point towards the threat. 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All incoming signals rapidly provides accurate alerts your PC using a standard USB-A USB-micro! Police officers use RDDs, or radar detector well, and access Cobra detector settings directly on phone. Is designed to be fair, other radar detectors for a few of MAX... You mount it in the center of your price range, browse through ourreview of Cobra! Traveling someplace new Light detection and Ranging MODEL RAD 480i indicating your RAD is. 24.95 ) as its a subscription service, but the benefits are well worth it, when. Great detection range of other units if you mount it in the US be able know... Features of the Cobra DualPro 360 is the directional arrows that point towards the threat william Johnson the. Are thinking about purchasing the RAD 480i issues a specific example: there is a patrol car waiting on side. Settings Now you can filter out K band detection, and access Cobra detector settings directly your! Turn off the X-band detection, but its confusing nonetheless five squares represent signal... Cobra detector settings directly on your phone on road trips this is upsetting an auto-dimming feature your.... Center of your price range, lighting-fast response, advanced anti-falsing circuitry, and SEN sensitivity.

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