Why is it a Best-Seller? Previous firmware releases also include improvements to fix screen freezing, BlueTooth Communication, and general fixes. The RAD 480i is compatible with Cobras iRadar app (hence the i in the name). You get an early notification so you can slow down before your speed is recorded, thus avoiding that speeding ticket. 800-543-1608 Option 3 800-964-3138 Option 1 . This model maintains the aesthetic of the, Many radar detectors today have DSP, and the, One of the best things about the Cobra RAD 480i is the access it gives to the Cobra iRadar app[. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support. Otherwise, you can grab the RAD 480i through Cobras official website for $149.95. The question is whether or not the extra $50 is worth it for the iRadar app. Connect to smoother driving with this Cobra detector. Cobra recommends installing the unit as close to the center of the windshield as possible, which may be difficult in some vehicles, depending on the location of the power outlet. Buy Cobra RAD 480i Laser Radar Detector . It also knows the difference between static and LIVE laser signatures. "The Cobra RAD 480i Is An Easy To Use And Accurate Radar Detector", "consistently warned me about police lurking on the roadside and at least once saved me from an expensive ticket". What more can I say? Whether that hassle is worth it will be up to you, but it would be helpful to determine the location of your vehicles power outlet and how the cord might impact your driving experience before buying. 7 0 obj That said, there are multiple display adjustments to cope with this, including an auto setting that adjusts to the ambient light. How can we improve GearLab? Radar jammers are illegal, so you should definitely get a radar detector. Beyond the fact that Im a gadget nerd and enjoy playing with technology of all sorts, its always interesting to test new automotive accessories, no matter what they are. Our in-depth guides provide advice and insight on numerous aspects of vehicle ownership, including maintenance, car care, warranty, accessories, and safe driving. To experiment, we ran through the same area (both north and southbound) in Low sensitivity. :M=$AG,X-ns;28*GirFlIObA~)+a YM.WtlL?&dvQ All products purchased factory direct come with a 30-day money back guarantee. Make Offer Add to Wish List. User rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars with 462 reviews. Anything cobra makes is great. In 49 states, yes. Cobra RAD 480i Radar Detector unboxing and installation VIPD CUSTOMS 2.25K subscribers Subscribe 284 35K views 1 year ago I show the unboxing and the installation of the radar detector. Many brands have proprietary apps that let you adjust different settings and signal strength and even connect you to data from other users. RAD 480i Features Windshield Mounting Option Assemble Suction Cup Bracket Adjust Suction Cup Bracket to ensure your RAD 480i has a level view of the road In most situations, the device gives enough time to slow down; however, it struggles when there are obstacles in the way. Keep in mind that radar detectors are not always a go big, or go home type of purchase. The styling is also kind aggressive. We also report on other significant announcements in the automotive industry. Plan Your Route Reach your destination safely and efficiently. As such, for this three-week drive and subsequent review of the RAD 480i, Cobras iRadar app had little competition on my phone. Cobra is the best. Yes, the Cobra RAD 480i is worth the money, but whether or not its the best radar detector for you is another question. To update the firmware, connect RAD 480i to your PC using a standard USB-A to USB-micro cable. 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. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. After its release, the Cobra RAD 480i was dubbed as a breakthrough in radar-laser detection. All of these settings are available through clearly labeled and simple controls on top of the RAD 480is body and are easy to figure out with very little frustration. Overall, it provides a great and reliable performance to help any driver avoid speeding tickets. You will still see them for sale, but we dont recommend buying one. works very well alerts you long distance status there are no problems if you have the window open and you pass by since its volume decreases when you are close. Press the "Menu" button then "Home" to return to the Map screen. This is only intended for international users where this type of radar is used. This is useful for people in densely populated areas, but rural areas like where I live dont have many other Cobra users floating around to fill in data on the app. There are plenty of high-quality units from top brands that dont cost an arm and a leg (some we will cover on this list). From there, a black warning bar serves as a count down of sorts, working from right to left. Dwg.g.j+hGZb|0k el[Q\oBar-+d`e_|I;lEN2q0Wvy'uVl\LVP6,r!StlJx:oRB7!r*+}lj Please note that road conditions (hills and curves) can affect the range. The RAD 480i doesn't have award winning range, but gets the job done. IVT, or In-Vehicle Technology filtering, helps filter out technology like Blind Spot Monitoring on more modern vehicles. One possible explanation is a dirty power outlet or cigarette lighter socket. One of the best features of the Cobra DualPro 360 is the directional arrows that point towards the threat. The LaserEye should have a clear view out of your rear window to ensure maximum coverage. 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. Escort offers two customer-friendly programs that help them jump to the top of our list. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. The first is a 30-day price match promise. They function like this:. If youve been using radar detectors for a while now, you know all too well how annoying false alerts are. Thanks to its triple-antenna design, the Redline 360c has twice the range as other detectors by Escort. high-performance 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. One downside is that the Valentine One Gen2 does not have GPS, meaning you dont get automatic red light or speed camera alerts. Prices and offers are subject to change. 8 0 obj This manual comes under the category Detectors and has been rated by 7 people with an average of a 9. <>/XObject<>>>/BBox[ 0 0 633.58 812.86] /Matrix[ 0.11364 0 0 0.088576 0 0] /Filter/FlateDecode/Length 112154>> Select Free Ground Shipping over $80 at checkout. $199.95. 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. It offers great detection range, lighting-fast response, advanced anti-falsing circuitry, and access to the iRadar app. First Responders, Teachers and Students are also eligible to receive a 5% discount. Be mindful if this happens, especially if the intensity of the alert increases as you climb the hill or begin to cross the bridge. Make sure these areas are free of dirt, dust, and corrosion. Users have mixed feelings about it. However, the RAD 480i does not give off this signal, making it invisible to radar detector detectors (which likely explains why the default factory setting for VG-2 is off). When you compare the price to what you get, the RAD 480i is a great deal. The black and gray really suits this radar detector well, and it blends in perfectly with the vehicle interior. It comes with a car charger power adapter, so if you only have one charging port in your car I'd highly recommend you get the Car and Driver extension box sold by Best Buy (its Blue) so you can charge your phone at the same time. 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. 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. Do you have a question about the Cobra RAD 480i or do you need help? I upgraded my Cobra RAD 450 to the New RAD 480i and I have got to say Great Job Cobra. Even if you dont have a newer car changes are youll pass one when driving. As far as the initial set-up goes, the RAD 480i is very easy. Find directions and gain access to speed limit and live traffic data. 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. The OLED display screen is one of our favorite things about the RAD 480i, especially when driving at night. Run (double click on Cobra_RAD_480i_Update_Installer_V1.0.exe) to install onto your PC and follow the InstallShield Wizard instructions. . Everything you record is timestamped with the location and date, and you can share and edit videos on your phone. The closer the bar moves to the left, the closer you are to the iRadar alert. This is a great brand. Whats really neat is how the Cobra RAD 480i can simultaneously display iRadar alerts with the countdown bar alongside other standard radar alerts with the signal bars. For one, most radar detectors are mounted on the windshield, so theyre easily visible. We like the colorful OLED display, which includes a signal strength monitor and directional arrows that tell you where the alert is coming from. There are sensitivity settings that allow you to determine how many alerts get filtered out. With the iRadar app, you can either report or receive real-time alerts as generated by an entire network of users. Coverage is good as the unit includes a radar antenna and a laser eye that monitor the front of your vehicle, while a separate antenna-eye monitors the rear. For a small car, they only need about 500 feet. Although the screen is small, its very easy to decipher between multiple threats at the same time. It has an ultra-fast long range protection, voice alerts, Bluetooth connectivity, and next-level IVT filtering for significantly less false alerts on the road. I prefer the windshield mount as the hook-and-loop fastener makes it impossible to adjust the angle of the RAD 480i. Good coverage. The Cobra RAD 480i offers four different sensitivity levels: High, Medium, Low, and Auto. The 9 Best Radar Detectors on the Market (2023). You also receive access to theDefender Databasethrough the Escort Live app. 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. As for the competition, theUniden DFR9is worth looking at in this price range. Although it offers a good array of features for the money, our overall opinion is mixed after three weeks of driving with the 480i through Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Cobra RAD 480i Laser Radar Detector - Long Range Detection, Bluetooth, iRadar App, LaserEye Front and Rear Detection, Next Gen IVT Filtering, Black The RAD 480i is the best performing radar detector in its class with 2x the detection range of its predecessor for advanced warnings plus next gen IVT filtering to eliminate unwanted alerts. If youre interested in an affordable radar detector at this price point, check out the rest of our top picks for radar detectors under $200. Cobra RAD 480i $149.95 Premium Mount $29.95 $179.90 The Premium Mount offers the best all-around mounting solution for the RAD 480i radar detector across a wide range of windshields. $129.99. Get . Sales: It works best on long flat roads, so if you live in the country where there are fewer obstacles to obstruct your detector, then this is a good budget option. You should be able to save about $150 going with the MAX 360c over the Redline 360c. Ram Magnetic Plate III. This depends on your specific car. Radar detectors should not distract you from the road. $19 at Amazon. Auto sensitivity wasnt much better for us on the open road either. Within Cobras product family, we would likely opt for the RAD 380 over the RAD 480i. Cobra - RAD 480i Radar and Laser Detector. Some police officers use RDDs, or Radar Detector Detectors, which can detect your units signal. This one is for the pros. In my opinion, there is little to no point in upgrading to a higher tier system past this, it's not going to eliminate false positives or increase range dramatically, unless you want light statistics, etc. It detects threats from miles away so you have more than enough time to adjust your speed. However, for only <200$, you're getting a package that can read crash frequencies, cops, and more, at the range that's astounding to me. Otherwise, we suggest not using Auto mode and keeping it more simple: Low for city driving and High for when you are on the open road. In Auto mode, the RAD 480i constantly alerted on this stretch of M-10, even though there were no threats (patrol cars are pretty easy to spot in this area). Works good. Radars are everywhere these days, and one of the bigger challenges that the radar detector industry is faced with is false alerts. On top of the device, you have the different buttons like the menu, mute, dim, and SEN for sensitivity settings. 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