Radar Detectors

Cobra ESD 9560 Radar Detector Technical Details:esd-9560 Key FeaturesDetection Mode:City / Highway modesDetection...

For those that don’t expect everything Cobra ESD 9560 Radar Detector Radar detectors are for one thing, to give you an edge when perhaps you aren't paying attention to the side of the...

Cobra Electronics has been in the field of Radar Detector for roughly 18 years. They company to this day produces average detection but full of feature detector that is geared for the low budget consumer. Though many of their units do not compare to the Valentine, Beltronics, and now Escort.

Now, Cobra Electronics has had its ups and downs in the field of radar detectors. In the Mid 80s, Cobra had once beaten the Classic Escort at its own game for a few years. Though during the early-mid 90s, Cobra and Escort teamed up on a few detectors that shared the same shell and internals, just rebadged. Since then Cobra has been near the bottom of the seven (American) company detector makers. It has been swapping the bottom three lining with Uniden and Whistler for the pass 8 years.

The new tactic that Cobra has been doing is listing features. 7 BAND DETECTION…9 BAND DETECTION… Now Cobra has 10 band detection. This is really not true. The true “Police Radar Bands” are X band, K band, and Ka band in the United States. Laser is not radar but another speed detection device used; that though, “ONE band”, 904 nanometers. There is no true band for VG-2 and for Strobe Alert (light).

Now getting the Cobra 9560, it “receives” X, K, and Ka band, Laser (4 Manufactures), VG-2, and Strobe Alert. In addition to this, the 9560 has Compass and SMART MUTE. The detector is Black and Silver, sporting the Cobra logo on the bottom of the unit. The Fascia is tinted with a green display that supplies the information of the detector. The 9560 has three Chrome buttons on top evenly spaced and volume (rotary) on the left side of the detector. Another addition to this detector is an audio output jack for either plugging it into AUX audio jack of a vehicle radio or for motorcyclist using an earpiece. The unit is provided a Suction-Cup windshield mount and a Coiled power cord.

The reception of the three radar bands (X,K,Ka), is POOR. It does not compare to a Beltronics, Escort, nor a Valentine One. The K and Ka band detection is near the bottom of the list with a Uniden, same for X band detection. With the latest Ka radar guns on the market, the Cobra 9560 has hard troubles picking up a signal in a bend or over a hill. K band is better, but still can get you in trouble without the driver realizing. Though X band being slowly phased out, the Cobra has no problem picking continuous signals. With the Cobra, BEWARE, Instant-On (aka Pulse Radar) can get the best of it. With standard detection, the cobra fails at providing early warning detection.

As for Laser, hang it up. The Cobra provides a distinct feature that informs the driver what particular manufactured laser gun is being used. Now I myself can understand, unfortunately the average consumer has no idea what gun does what and how to look for it. A nice feature, but just as Advertising Tactic.

Cobra has been offering Strobe Alert now for 2-3 years on their 9000 series radar detectors. Strobe Alert a trademark by Cobra, is provided to emergency vehicles by 3M and now Tomar. It can be a useful feature provided the detector mounted high for it to see the incoming signal.

Another useful tool that Cobra has just started is SMARTMUTE. This SMARTMUTE acts as an automute when the vehicle is below a specified RPM. You the detector operator has to set the RPM for this to work. It takes a few seconds to switch to the ON or OFF. And “yes” it does work. My hats off for this.

Next is the Compass. The Compass is easy to setup like others that offer this (Whistler, Precision Nav). The display on this unit provides a N, NW, W, SW, etc, etc. The Compass does function, but Whistler’s and Precision Nav’s work even better. Not only do their units display the N, S E, and W, but their units provide degree headings (360`). So here I believe it is a waste of effort.

Detection for this unit:

. City . Hwy

X band- . 0.35-0.65 . 0.45-1.00 mile

K band- . 0.35-0.55 . 0.35-1.00 mile

Ka band-. 0.15-0.35 . 0.25-0.75 mile

Laser- 1% effective (limited sweep)

Would I recommend this unit alone as just a detector? Not really, only if you would something a little time to react or to at least tell you if radar is being used as you drive by and officer. This is because Limited pickup is the reason. This unit is loaded with good features, but not solely as a detector. For the money you would be better off with a Whistler which has better pickup.

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Tags: Beltronics, Cobra, Escort, Uniden, Valentine One, Whistler

Filed under: Radar Detectors Reviews