Affordable Radar Detector Provides Excellent False Alert Filtering

Cobra RAD 700i Crash Course

• Digital Sign Processing expertise minimizes false alerts.

• The non-obligatory smartphone app is a bonus, however it would run down your cellphone battery.

• General, unexpectedly good efficiency for a radar detector on this worth vary.

Professionals

Inexpensive

False Alert Filtering

General Ease of Use

Cons

Materials Development

Our Overview Course of for Radar Detectors

Automoblog is a member of the Radar Detector and Countermeasures Discussion board to make sure reality and accountability when masking radar detectors. The Discussion board has members with years of expertise testing and validating radar detectors. These members can present extra context and perception if in case you have extra in-depth questions on a selected radar detector.  

Whether or not we obtain a radar detector from a producer to evaluate or buy it with our personal cash, there are 4 details we think about, listed under. Our main driving areas with any new radar detector embrace the Detroit metro and the Ohio Turnpike.

Cobra RAD 700i Overview Abstract

The Cobra RAD 700i hits that candy spot between efficiency and worth, making it a superb alternative if you wish to buy your first radar detector or improve from an older unit. As the most recent in Cobra’s RAD household of radar detectors, the 700i simply outpaces its brethren and provides different higher-priced radar detectors just like the Uniden R4 and Radenso DS1 a run for the cash.

Within the weeks main as much as the discharge of the Cobra RAD 700i (September thirteenth, 2023), I hung out driving with the unit round metro Detroit, later taking it on two prolonged journeys: one to Sandusky, Ohio, and one other to the Twin Cities.

I’ll hit the hit factors of the Cobra RAD 700i right here and summarize my expertise with it. Not counting any specials that may run once in a while, the RAD 700i retails for $250 on Cobra’s official web site and for a similar worth on Amazon. For a restricted time, Automoblog readers can take $20 off the RAD 700i on Cobra’s web site with the AUTOMOBLOG20 promo code.

That can assist you make the perfect buy resolution, permit me to offer extra context on the place the Cobra RAD 700i lands on the earth of radar detectors.

Escort vs. Cobra Radar Detectors: Options & Pricing

Underneath Cedar Electronics are two standard producers of radar detectors: Cobra Electronics and Escort. And below every of these is a “household” of radar detectors: RAD (Cobra) and MAX (Escort).

In essence, Cobra is the extra budget-focused model, whereas Escort is the premium nameplate. For instance, in Escort’s MAX household of radar detectors, the least costly unit (the MAX 3) is $400, whereas nothing in Cobra’s RAD household exceeds $250, the retail worth of the RAD 700i.     

Spec-heavy and feature-laden Escort radar detectors, just like the MAX 360c MKII and MAXcam 360c, can run as excessive as $700 and $850, respectively (and extra but in the event you go for extra equipment like radar-mounted sprint cameras and laser shifters). Escort could be the popular model over Cobra for radar detector fanatics who need to squeeze each final drop of juice out of their countermeasures setup.

Greater-end items from Escort have a extra sturdy materials development, super detection vary, elevated false alert filtering, and directional alert arrows, which illuminate on the detector to point the place the police radar is coming from. Given the retail worth of the Cobra RAD 700i, there might be some sacrifices relating to materials high quality versus an Escrot radar detector. The RAD 700i additionally doesn’t have directional alert arrows, which is likely to be a deal breaker for some.

By comparability, Cobra’s RAD household is extra just like the “life hack” type of radar detector. It’s that “one easy trick” you need to use in the event you solely want the occasional mild reminder to maintain your proper foot in test. Cobra’s RAD household doesn’t have the identical efficiency muscle or detailed characteristic set as Escort’s MAX household, however the worth is correct contemplating the meant utilization.

The place the Cobra RAD 700i will get attention-grabbing, nevertheless, is that it borrows sure technical facets from Escort’s MAX household, like Digital Sign Processing.

On the left is a digital velocity restrict check in Northville, Michigan, and on the best is a Kroger parking zone simply down the road. Normally, radar detectors, whatever the model, will alert on a Ok band false right here. That’s not the case with the Cobra RAD 700i, a welcome and nice shock. My Cobra RAD 480i tends to alert the Korger doorways, as do my Uniden R4 and Radenso DS1. Pictures: Danielle Anthony.

Cobra RAD 700i: Digital Sign Processing

Digital Sign Processing expertise helps radar detectors decipher false alerts (the proverbial automated doorways of a grocery retailer or pharmacy, for instance) from official police radar. Usually written as DSP for brief, the expertise analyzes and processes all the radar indicators which may be current in a given space, prioritizing solely probably the most related radar sources on the detector’s show display screen, displaying issues like sign energy, band varieties, and frequency.

Radar detectors with the best steadiness of DSP will warn you to official police radar each time whereas conserving false alerts, particularly on the Ok band frequencies, to a minimal.  

Escort radar detectors have greater levels of DSP than Cobra radar detectors, so they’re much less susceptible to false alerts, which is a part of the explanation why they value extra. The Cobra RAD 700i, though nonetheless not on the extent of an Escort product by way of DSP, is miles forward of its fellow members of the family, the RAD 480i and RAD 380 (the latter of which doesn’t have DSP in any respect because it’s a $100 unit).

So far as Cobra’s RAD household goes, the 700i has the perfect software of DSP, making it the quietest of the lot. Whereas my RAD 480i struggled round metro Detroit with false alerts, the RAD 700i hardly made a peep, a lot to my shock and delight.

Further false alert filtering comes from Cobra’s proprietary IVT Filter, or “in-vehicle expertise” filter, and Visitors Sensor Rating (TSR) characteristic. The IVT Filter decreases the variety of false alerts brought on by collision avoidance and adaptive cruise management programs of different automobiles, that are radar-based.

In the meantime, the TSR characteristic filters out Ok band indicators generated by visitors move monitoring and measuring programs. Relating to fastened location false alerts, Cobra’s proprietary TrueLock GPS Filter is liable for storing, ignoring, and in the end locking these out (lined additional under).

Cobra RAD 700i In-Depth: What It Gives

The RAD 700i comes with a 12V energy twine, a suction cup windshield mount, and a fast begin information (you obtain the whole proprietor’s handbook from Cobra’s web site). Sadly, the Cobra RAD 700i doesn’t include a carrying case, so we suggest choosing up one thing cheap in order for you one.

Band Detection

The Cobra RAD 700i will warn you to X, Ok, and Ka radar bands, laser (lidar) weapons, and MultaRadar CD and CT, written as MRCD and MRCT for brief. MultaRadar is usually related to visitors gentle cameras and different picture enforcement units.

Throughout an alert, the audible tones will repeat sooner as you method the sign supply (the RAD 700i points a separate tone when a laser gun is detected, given the accuracy and urgency of a laser menace). You possibly can hold the audible alerts to a minimal by turning on the Quiet Drive possibility within the settings menu, during which solely the primary few seconds of an alert will sound.

In contrast to its premium Escort cousins, the Cobra RAD 700i doesn’t detect Mesta Fusion, a long-range, multi-lane, and multi-target enforcement technique provided by French expertise firm IDEMIA. Mesta Fusion towers, which mix a Doppler radar and high-resolution digicam, had been deployed in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada after metropolis officers acquired an indication from IDEMIA in 2017.

Ok Band Low Detection

Within the settings menu, you’ll discover one thing referred to as Ok Band Low. As described by Cobra Electronics, Ok Band Low was added in case the RAD 700i had been to go on sale in Asia. Because the title suggests, it permits the Ok band detection frequency to go decrease than what is usually seen in the USA. The default setting for U.S.-spec items is off, and Cobra recommends conserving it off.

Element Shows

You possibly can experiment with two completely different “element” shows within the settings menu. In “Extra Particulars” mode, the band sort, frequency, and sign energy through 5 illuminated bars might be displayed. Against this, the “Much less Particulars” mode will present one, two, or three bars to point how doubtless the alert is to be a police radar or laser gun.

I desire the Extra Particulars mode, as it would make it easier to turn out to be higher accustomed to what police radar bands and frequencies are mostly utilized in your space. Over time, it is possible for you to to take a fast look on the detector and know what is fake and what’s a official menace by the knowledge being displayed.

Sensitivity Modes & Detection Vary (Ohio Turnpike)

The Cobra RAD 700i has 4 completely different sensitivity modes relying on the place and the way you drive. You possibly can scroll by means of every mode by urgent the SEN button on prime of the unit. Right here is how they perform:

• Excessive: Zero filtering for optimum sensitivity (finest for freeway or open highway driving).
• Medium: Minimal filtering to assist cut back some undesirable alerts.
• Low: Most filtering to scale back undesirable and/or false alerts (finest for metropolis driving).
• Auto: Adjusts the sensitivity based on your present velocity.

Whereas I’ve experimented with the completely different sensitivity modes, I at all times gravitate again to the Auto setting because it’s speed-dependent. In Auto sensitivity, the Cobra RAD 700i turns into a “set it and overlook it” sort of radar detector. The worth is in attaching it to your windshield and going about your day, which the Auto sensitivity lends itself properly to.

Be it across the Detroit metro, down the Ohio Turnpike to Sandusky, or by means of Chicago on my approach to the Twin Cities, I’ve used the Auto sensitivity mode on the Cobra RAD 700i with no points.

Down the Ohio Turnpike, particularly on the best way to Sandusky from Detroit, I felt the RAD 700i gave me ample detection vary, as much as practically a mile at occasions. That was sufficient time to react and test my velocity, particularly on such a closely patrolled stretch of highway. 

AutoLearn Intelligence (Auto Lockouts)

As we mentioned above, Cobra is taking a web page out of Escort’s guide with this characteristic. AutoLearn analyzes fixed-location radar over time to find out if such alerts are official or false. Ought to the Cobra RAD 700i encounter the precise frequency in the identical location roughly 3 times – and that frequency is deemed false – it mechanically locks it out and flashes a “Saved” message.

Conversely, the Cobra RAD 700i will unlearn indicators to forestall itself from inadvertently locking out actual threats. If a selected sign is now not current at a location that was beforehand locked out, the RAD 700i will unlock it.

Press the Mute button 3 times to manually lock out a hard and fast location false alert. The primary press will silence the audible alerts, whereas the second press will generate a “Lockout?” immediate on the show. Urgent the Mute button a 3rd time will affirm the lockout with the identical “Saved” message because the auto lockouts. Sooner or later, the RAD 700i won’t audibly alert in the event you drive previous the realm once more, though it would show the locked-out alert in gray.

Mark Places

The MRK button on prime of the unit will flag a location and notify you the subsequent time you’re about to move it. In contrast to the lockouts (handbook or automated), the Mark Location characteristic is meant for areas with official threats, like purple gentle cameras and velocity traps.

Drive Smarter App

Drive Smarter replaces the earlier iRadar app, and far to our enjoyment, the app has seen marked enhancements since its first iteration (extra on our customer support interactions with Cobra under).

Though early variations of Drive Smarter had been clunky, the most recent variations have been optimized to offer a extra seamless person expertise for Android and iOS working programs (we used Model 3.2.0.1 whereas scripting this evaluate).  

Receiving & Sending Alerts

When paired to Drive Smarter, your cellphone will obtain close by menace notifications, be it a radar supply, purple gentle digicam, velocity digicam, or police patrol, as reported by different Cobra homeowners utilizing the app (i.e., shared alerts). These real-time alerts present an additional layer of situational consciousness and add worth to the Cobra RAD 700i, an already fairly priced detector.

Likewise, you possibly can concern an alert for others through the app in the event you discover one thing like a velocity entice or stationary patrol automobile.

Along with sending and receiving alerts, Drive Smarter enables you to regulate a number of settings for the RAD 700i out of your cellphone, together with show colours and brightness, sensitivity modes, and extra.

Apple CarPlay, Android Auto & Mapbox

The revised Drive Smarter app is suitable with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has Mapbox built-in.

In your automobile’s touchscreen, you will note all the regular Apple CarPlay or Android Auto options alongside any real-time menace notifications from Drive Smarter. Equally, Cobra has added Mapbox performance, which means Drive Smarter successfully doubles as a navigation app. 

It must be famous that it’s not essential to run the Drive Smarter app with the RAD 700i, particularly in case your main motive is to have an inexpensive radar detector with good false alert filtering. Forgoing the app will save your cellphone battery, too.

Buyer Service

Whereas engaged on this evaluate, we interfaced with customer support reps from Cedar Electronics (you possibly can contact a help rep by means of the Drive Smarter app). The reps we exchanged e-mails with about our points had been immediate and courteous.

As of early 2024, all the connection and crashing points we had with Drive Smarter have been resolved, together with minor glitches like how the velocity restrict in a given space would possibly show as 74 mph on the app when it’s really 75 mph.

Even with these fixes and enhancements, Cobra reps inform us they’re persevering with to refine the general efficiency and performance of the Drive Smarter app for his or her clients. 

Is The Cobra RAD 700i Price The Cash?

Skeptical However Completely happy

After I was supplied the RAD 700i earlier than its launch, I used to be skeptical, however I’m glad I saved an open thoughts. I’ve been pleasantly shocked throughout my drives round metro Detroit and prolonged highway journeys to Sandusky, Ohio, and the Twin Cities.

The Cobra RAD 700i punches properly above what its budget-focused price ticket would point out, prioritizing a quiet journey with practically zero false alerts and a simplified, easy-to-read show.

In relation to “seize and go” sort radar detectors, I normally attain for my Uniden R4 or Radenso DS1, however I might be transferring the RAD 700i to the highest of that record, contemplating it outperforms each of these dearer detectors with regard to false alert filtering.

Inexpensive & Easy

The Cobra RAD 700i is value it in case you are a first-time radar detector person and want one thing inexpensive, dependable, and straightforward to make use of. It’s additionally an excellent possibility if you wish to improve from an older unit however don’t need to break the financial institution.

If you are going to buy a brand new RAD 700i and have questions, be part of us on the discussion board, and we will level you in the best course. Be sure that to periodically test Cobra’s web site for the most recent firmware updates to make sure your RAD 700i is at its optimum. 

Carl Anthony is the Managing Editor of Automoblog and the host of AutoVision Information Radio and AutoSens Insights. As a revered automotive trade thought chief, Carl has appeared on quite a few podcasts and radio exhibits, together with Wrench Nation, Automobiles Yeah, The Automotive Physician, and Brains Byte Again, along with showing as an everyday contributor on MotorMouth Radio on WHPC 90.3 FM. His work may also be seen and heard 24/7 on the Automoblog YouTube channel.

Radar Detectors FAQ

Pictures: Danielle Anthony.