Cobra RAD 700i Connected Radar and Laser Detector Owner’s Manual

Cobra RAD 700i Connected Radar and Laser Detector Owner’s Manual

Introduction

Congratulations! You’ve made a smart choice by purchasing a radar/laser detector from Cobra. This booklet describes the simple steps for mounting and setting up your detector. It also provides helpful information about how radar and laser guns are used and how you can interpret the alerts you receive.

RAD 700i FEATURES

• Premium Detection Range – Get alerts earlier and faster with DSP technology.
• 3rd Generation IVT Filter™ – User updatable system automatically reduces false alerts from moving In-Vehicle Technology sources such as collision avoidance systems and adaptive cruise control, automatic door openers, and traffi c fl ow monitoring systems.
• AutoLearn™ Intelligence – Silence false alert locations with GPS.
• LaserEye® – Detects laser signals from both front and rear.
• 5 Color OLED Display – Match your interior display color.
• Shared Radar & Laser Alerts – Get alerts from other connected detectors.
• Defender Database – Updatable red light and speed camera database.
• VoiceAlert – Digital voice announcements keep your eyes on the road.
• Dual Language – English and Spanish voice and text alerts.
• Quiet Drive – Quiet Drive is a muted driving mode for times when a driver wants less audible feedback while talking with passengers, on the phone, etc.
• Sensitivity Modes – Multiple sensitivity modes to reduce false alerts.
• Auto Mute – Automatically mutes audio for sustained alerts.
• User Updates – Micro-USB port allows users to access future software updates.
• 6’ Power Cord and EZ Mag Mount included.

**Drive Smarter®

**drivesmarter.com/downloads

PRODUCT SERVICE AND SUPPORT
For any questions about operating or installing this new Cobra product, PLEASE   CONTACT COBRA   FIRST…do not return this product to the retail store. The contact information for Cobra will vary depending on the country in which you purchased and utilize the product. For the latest contact information, please go to www.cobra.com/support

WHAT’S IN THE BOX

• RAD 700i Radar/Laser Detector
• 12V Power Cord
• E-Z Mag Mount™
• Quick Start Guide

CONTROLS & FEATURES 

Using RAD 700i

1. Plug small end of 12 Volt cord into power jack on RAD 700i and large end into your car’s lighter/accessory socket.
2. RAD 700i should power on automatically. If not, rotate the On/Off Volume control wheel.

Software Updates
RAD 700i can be updated using a data transfer Micro USB cable and our RAD 700i software available on our web site, cobra.com/support.

IMPORTANT: Defender Database updates require first registering your RAD 700i to activate the included 90-day Defender subscription. Defender subscriptions are available at cobra. com/collections/software-services.

EZ Mag Mount™
Quick and simple windshield mounting of your RAD 700i. See pages 8-9 for mounting details.

Installation

Your new detector comes with our latest EZ Mag Mount™. Simply line up the detector’s mounting area with the bottom of the EZ Mag Mount bracket and the magnet will connect.
To remove the detector from the mount, simply pull the detector off of the mount.

Mounting Tips:

• Center of windshield between driver and passenger.
• Ensure clear view of road ahead and sky above.
• Avoid windshield wipers and heavily tinted areas

To Mount the Detector in Your Vehicle:

1. Remove backing from EZ Mag Mount.
2. Firmly press the EZ Mag Mount onto the windshield and fl ip the locking clamp to secure.
3. Tilt the display end of the detector slightly upward and engage with the mounting bracket. The EZ Mag Mount magnet holds the detector fi rmly in place.
4. To adjust view, loosen thumb wheel and adjust angle of mounting bracket. Tighten thumb wheel to secure.
5. To remove the detector, simply lift the display end of the detector upward. The detector will detach from the mount.
6. To remove the mount from windshield, release the locking clamp and pull the tab on top of the EZ Mag Mount.

EZ Mag Mount Care Instructions:
To clean your EZ Mag Mount, simply rinse under warm water, gently wipe off any debris and allow to air dry

1. Attach Magnetic Mount to RAD 700i
   

2. Mount
   

3. Lock Mount
   

4. Connect and Power On
   

Operation

DOWNLOAD AND CONNECT TO DRIVE SMARTER®

1. Power on RAD 700i.

2. Install and run the Drive Smarter® app on your smartphone.

3. If you’re using Drive Smarter® for the fi rst time, you will be prompted to set up an account.

4. Fill in your account information within the “Create Account” screen and click “Register”.

5. A message will be sent to the email address specifi ed in your account set up, which will verify your new account.

6. Be sure Bluetooth® is actived on your smartphone. In the Drive Smarter® app, press the Account button then select “Add devices”.

7. Follow the prompts in the Drive Smarter® app to connect RAD 700i.

DISPLAY AND MENU

Signal Band Indicator
Displays the radar band of the alert:

• X Band (commonly false alerts).
• K band (used by police radar and false alerts)
• Ka band (almost always police radar)
• Laser (almost always police)

Signal Strength Meter
Displays the signal strength, or how close, the alert is. The more alert bars displayed, the stronger the signal strength.

OSP/Speed Limit Indicator
Over Speed alert setting, can be adjusted in the Programming menu. Bluetooth icon will appear here when paired to phone. Speed limit data will appear here when connected to the Drive Smarter app.

Speed
Displays the current speed. When Speed Display is off , displays the vehicle voltage.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR DETECTOR

How Radar Works
Traffic radar, which consists of microwaves, travels in straight lines and is easily reflected by objects such as cars, trucks, even guardrails and overpasses. Radar works by directing its microwave beam down the road. As your vehicle travels into range, the microwave beam bounces off your car, and the radar antenna looks for the reflections.
Using the Doppler Principle, the radar equipment then calculates your speed by comparing the frequency of the reflection of your car to the original frequency of the beam sent out.
Traffic radar has limitations, the most significant of these being that it typically can monitor only one target at a time. If there is more than one vehicle within range, it is up to the radar operator to decide which target is producing the strongest reflection. Since the strength of the reflection is affected by both the size of the vehicle and its proximity to the antenna, it is difficult for the radar operator to determine if the signal is from a sports car nearby or a semi-truck several hundred feet away.
Radar range also depends on the power of the radar equipment itself. The strength of the radar unit’s beam diminishes with distance. The farther the radar has to travel, the less energy it has for speed detection.
Because intrusion alarms and motion sensors often operate on the same frequency as X, and K-band radar, your detector will occasionally receive non- police radar signals. These transmitters generally produce much weaker readings than will a true radar encounter.
As you become familiar with the sources of these pseudo alarms in your daily driving, they will serve as confirmation that your device’s radar detection abilities are fully operational.

How Laser (Lidar) Works
Laser speed detection is actually light detection and ranging (LIDAR). Laser guns project a beam of invisible infrared light. The signal is a series of very short infrared light energy pulses that move in a straight line, reflecting off your car and returning to the gun. Laser uses these light pulses to measure the distance to a vehicle. Speed is then calculated by measuring how quickly these pulses are reflected, given the known speed of light.
Laser is a newer technology whose use is not as widespread as conventional radar; therefore, you may not encounter it on a daily basis. And unlike radar detection, laser is not prone to false alarms.
Because laser transmits a much narrower beam than does radar, it is much more accurate in its ability to distinguish between targets and is also more difficult to detect. As a result, even the briefest laser alert should be taken seriously.
There are limitations to laser, however. Laser is much more sensitive to weather conditions than radar, and a laser gun’s range will be decreased by anything affecting visibility, such as rain, fog or smoke. A laser gun cannot operate through glass, and it must be stationary to get an accurate reading. Because laser must have a clear line of sight and is subject to cosine error (an inaccuracy that increases as the angle between the gun and the vehicle increases), police typically use laser equipment parallel to the road or from an overpass. Laser can be used day or night.

TSR Signal Ranking Software
Your radar detector includes an optional boost in false alert filtering software to eliminate excessive alerts from erroneous K-band sources. One example of this is traffic flow monitoring systems. These systems, which are becoming more widely used in several countries, generate K-band signals to measure the flow of traffic on a given road. Unfortunately most detectors see this as a real threat and will alert you to it unnecessarily. Our proprietary TSR software, intelligently sorts, ranks and rejects this type of false alarm automatically. The result is ultimate protection without excessive false alarms.

POWERING ON THE DEVICE, ADJUSTING VOLUME
To turn on the unit and adjust the audio volume, rotate the On-Off/ Volume control clockwise (away from you).

NOTE: In some vehicles, power is supplied to the cigarette lighter even while the ignition is Off. If this is the case with your vehicle, you should turn Off or unplug your detector when parking for lengthy periods.

SENSITIVITY MODES
Setting your detector to Low or Medium sensitivity delays the audio alerts for weak X band and K band signals until they become stronger. (A single beep will sound when the signal is first detected.) Also, additional filtering is done to reduce false alerts while you are driving in, or near, urban areas where there are many sources for conflicting X and K band signals such as microwave towers and automatic door openers.

To change the sensitivity mode, press the SEN button

adjust the Sensitivity level based on your speed

• Drive Smarter®-based features require connection to a smartphone running the Drive Smarter® app

ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
Your RAD 700i is designed to provide you the truest alerts and minimize the distraction of erroneous signals from radar-based fixed-position and moving sources

• Adjustable Sensitivity: allows driver to adjust sensitivity to driving environment, reducing false alarms from fixed position sources such as automatic door openers.
  When using Drive Smarter®, Auto mode automatically adjusts sensitivity based on vehicle speed.

• IVT Filter: system automatically reduces false alerts from moving In-Vehicle Technology sources such as collision avoidance systems and adaptive cruise control.

AUTOLEARN™ INTELLIGENCE
The AutoLearn feature analyzes (over time) the source of radar signals by location and frequency.
This allows RAD 700i to determine if a fixed location signal is a real threat or a false one. If it determines that the signal is an automatic door opener, motion sensor, etc., it automatically locks out this source at this particular location. A “Stored” message will appear on the display when a signal has been automatically locked out. AutoLearn needs to encounter the exact frequency in the same location approximately three times to lock it out. Since some door openers are turned on and off routinely, some variations may occur. Variations may also occur with seasonal temperature changes that can affects the frequency that these radar sources transmit.
RAD 700i will also unlearn signals to protect you from locking out real threats. If a particular signal is no longer present at a location that was previously locked out, RAD 700i will unlock that signal. If you prefer, you can turn the AutoLearn feature off.

GPS FILTER (TRUELOCK)
RAD 700i is equipped with a TrueLock GPS Filter to store and lock out, or ignore, fixed location false alerts in its memory. Common sources of fixed location false alerts are storefront automatic door openers and motion sensors. The TrueLock GPS Filter will not lock out moving false alerts that are commonly caused by vehicle’s blind spot monitoring and collision avoidance systems.

MUTE
Manual Mute allows you to quickly turn OFF an audio alert by momentarily pressing the MUTE button. If you press the MUTE button a second time during the alert, the audio alert will be turned back ON. When an alert is being muted, the audio icon on the display will change to the MUTE icon.

QUIET DRIVE
A muted driving mode is for times when a driver wants less audible feedback while talking with passengers, on the phone, etc. Only the first few seconds of audio will be heard. This mode is Off by default.
This mode can be changed in the User Settings menu or by pressing and holding the MUTE button for two seconds. When Quiet Drive is on the audio icon on the display will change to the QUIET MODE icon.

BATTERY VOLTAGE
To display your vehicle’s battery voltage, press the MUTE button while no signal is being detected.

AUTO MUTE
Auto Mute will automatically reduce the audio volume of all alerts after four seconds for as long as the signal is detected. The factory setting for Auto Mute is On.

DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
You can choose from four settings for Brightness of the display. Repeatedly push the DIM button to cycle through the settings. The factory setting is Bright.

MENU
The Menu is broken up into User and Alert settings.

USER SETTINGS
To change the User settings, enter the Menu by pressing the MENU button. A voice announces “Menu” and the display will change to:

Press the DIM button to enter the User settings menu.
Press the MARK and MENU buttons to switch between User settings.
Press the DIM or SEN buttons to change the selected User setting’s value.

then press SEN button again to confirm (not displayed until a setting has changed)
Exit Menu| Press the MENU button to exit the Menu

DETAIL
More detail mode displays information about the radar band, signal strength and frequency. Less detail mode only provides the threat level (see the Radar Alerts section).

LANGUAGE
Can be set to either English or Spanish for all text and voice audio.

SCREEN SAVER
Your detector has a screen saver mode. When screen saver is turned on, the screen will change to Dark after the selected time interval (factory default is 3 minutes). While the screen is Dark, the scanner will be displayed dimly.
NOTE: While SCREEN SAVER is activated, any alert will turn the display back on at the last brightness setting (Bright, Dim or Dimmer). Touching any button will also turn on the display.

ALERT SETTINGS
To change the Alert settings, enter the Menu by pressing the MENU button. A voice announces “Menu” and the display will change to:

Press the SEN button to enter the Alert settings menu.
Press the MARK and MENU buttons to switch between Alert settings.
Press the DIM or SEN buttons to change the selected Alert setting’s value

*Denotes factory default settings

SMART POWER
Your detector includes the Smart Power feature that, when turned On, will put the unit into Low Power mode 15 minutes after the car’s engine has been turned Off.
Before Smart Power enters Low Power mode, you will hear three beeps and Smart Power will flash on the display. To return the unit to Normal Power mode and exit Low Power mode, start the car, press any button or turn the unit Off and then On again.

SYSTEM INFO
Displays information about the versions of firmware that are installed on your detector.

RESTORE DEFAULTS
To return your detector to factory default settings, press the SEN Button. Press the SEN Button again to confirm that you want to restore factory settings.

EXIT MENU
Pressing the MENU button exits the Menu.

DETECTION
A distinctly diff erent Alert tone is used for each type of signal detected (including separate tones for each laser signal). For X, K and Ka band radar signals, the tones will repeat faster as you approach the signal source. The repeat rate of the tones gives you useful information about the signal detected.

RADAR ALERTS

More Detail
In More Detail mode the radar band, signal strength and frequency of the detected radar signal will be displayed

Once Locked Out, the Locked Out alert will be displayed as a “shadow” alert.

Less Detail
If you are a new user of radar detectors, you may want to use the Less Detail mode. In this mode the display will only show one, two, or three bars which indicate how likely the alert is to be a police radar or laser gun. This threat level indication takes into account the laser or radar band, strength, and frequency of the detected signal.

LASER ALERTS
With Laser signals you will always receive a full-strength alert.
In More Detail mode the word Laser will be shown on the display along with the pulse rate of the Laser signal.
In Less Detail mode three signal strength bars will be shown.

INSTANT-ON DETECTION
Your detector is designed to detect Instant-On speed monitoring signals, which can suddenly appear at full strength.

RESPONDING TO ALERTS

FULL ALERT
Tone sounds one time only| Probably a false alarm, but possibly pulsed radar nearby.| Exercise caution
Tone instantly begins repeating rapidly.| Radar nearby has been activated suddenly.| FULL ALERT
Tone repeats slowly as you approach a hill or a bridge, then speeds up sharply as you reach it.| Probablt police radar beyond the hill or bridge.| FULL ALERT
Tone repeats slowly for a short period| Probably a false alarm| Exercise caution
Any type of laser alert.| Laser alerts are never false alarms| FULL ALERT

LOCKING OUT FALSE ALERTS
To manually lock out a fi xed location false alert (X band, K band or laser only), press the MUTE button three times during an alert. Pressing the fi rst time will silence the audio. Pressing a second time will generate a prompt on the display that will read “Lockout?” Press a third time to confi rm you want to lock this signal out by location and frequency. A “Stored” message will be displayed.
Once a signal has been stored, RAD 700i will not audibly alert the next time you approach this area but will display the locked-out alert in grey. To unlock a signal that has already been stored, press the MUTE button twice while receiving the locked out alert. The display will read “Unlock?” when pressing MUTE the fi rst time.
Press the MUTE button again to unlock it from memory. The display will read “Unlocked” to confi rm your action. Note: When the GPS Filter is set to OFF, you do not have access to RAD 700i’s other GPS- enabled features (e.g., Defender Database alerts, marking locations, etc.).

DRIVE SMARTER® ALERTS
While connected to the Drive Smarter® app, Drive Smarter® based alerts are displayed on the detector. The distance will count down as you approach the alert.

Only Driver Smarter® Alert

If both radar and Drive Smarter® alerts happen at the same time, both will be displayed side by side.

Driver Smarter® and Radar Alert

The alert types are:

Photo Enforced

Red Light Camera

Speed Camera

Speed Trap

Caution Area

NOTE: Posted Speed Limit (will appear in colored box on the right hand side next to the sensitivity indicator)

USING THE MARK BUTTON
You can report alerts to the Drive Smarter® Community when you see an active police speed enforcement by pressing the MARK button for 2 seconds.

MAINTENANCE
Your detector is designed and built to give you years of trouble-free performance without the need for service. No routine Maintenance is required.

If your unit does not appear to be operating properly, please follow these troubleshooting steps:

• Make sure the power cord is properly connected.
• Make sure the socket of your vehicle’s cigarette lighter is clean and free of corrosion.
• Make sure the power cord’s cigarette lighter adapter is firmly seated in your cigarette lighter.

BANDS AND FREQUENCIES

FCC Statement

WARNING
Modifications or parts substitutions not approved by Cobra Electronics Corporation may violate FCC Rules and void your authority to operate this equipment.

U.S. Patent Number: 6,078,279

FCC STATEMENT

FCC Part 15.19 Warning Statement- (Required for all Part 15 devices)
THIS DEVICE COMPLIES WITH PART 15 OF THE FCC RULES. OPERATION IS SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TWO CONDITIONS: (1) THIS DEVICE MAY NOT CAUSE HARMFUL INTERFERENCE, AND (2) THIS DEVICE MUST ACCEPT ANY INTERFERENCE RECEIVED, INCLUDING INTERFERENCE THAT MAY CAUSE UNDESIRED OPERATION.

FCC Part 15.21 Warning Statement
NOTE: THE GRANTEE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS NOT EXPRESSLY APPROVED BY THE PARTY RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLIANCE. SUCH MODIFICATIONS COULD VOID THE USER’S AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE EQUIPMENT.

FCC Part 15.105(b) Warning Statement- (ONLY Required for 15.109-JBP devices)

WARNING: This device should be installed and operated with minimum 20 cm between the radiator and your body.

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help

Trademarks Acknowledgment, Warnings, and Regulatory Information

Cobra, the snake design, Drive HD™, the d design, and Record your ride™ are proprietary trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

Cobra Electronics Corporation™ is a trademark of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA.
Cobra®, DigiView®, EasySet®, Extra Sensory Detection®, LaserEye®, Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra®, Alert®, Xtreme Range Superheterodyne® and the snake design are registered trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA.

Cobra Electronics Corporation™, AURA™, IntelliLink™, IntelliScope™, IntelliView™, Revolution™ Series, IVT Filter™, SmartPower™, Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne™, S-XRS™, and Voice Alert™ are trademarks of Cobra Electronics Corporation, USA.

Opticom™ is a trademark of 3M Corporation. Instaclear® for Ford is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company, Inc. Electriclear® for GM is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation. LTI Laser™ and LTI 20-20™ are trademarks of Laser Technology, Inc. Kustom Laser™, Kustom Laser 340™ and ProLaser II™ are trademarks of Kustom Signals, Inc. SpeedLaser™ is a trademark of Laser Atlanta. Bee III™ and Pop™ are a trademarks of MPH Industries. Stalker™ LIDAR is a trademark of Applied Concepts, Inc. Spectre I™ and Spectre IV™ are trademarks of Stealth Micro Systems Pty. Ltd. SpeedLaser™ is a trademark of Laser Atlanta, LLC. Interceptor ™ is a trademark of TechniSonic Industries LTD.

NOTE: This device complies with part 15 of FCC rules: Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received including interference that may cause undesired operation.

CAUTION: Modifications or parts not approved by Cobra Electronics Corporation may violate FCC Rules and void authority to operate this equipment. This device complies with RSS-310 of Industry Canada. Operation is subject to the condition that this device does not cause harmful interference.

DISPOSAL OF ELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT: This product may contain hazardous substances that could impact health and the environment if not disposed of properly.

The crossed out wheeled bin symbol indicates that the product should not be disposed of along with household waste. It should be handed over to an applicable collection point for the recycling of electrical equipment. By ensuring that this product is disposed of correctly you will help/prevent potential negative impact on the environment.

If you need more information on the collection, reuse and recycling systems, please contact your local civic office or the shop where it was originally purchased.

Limited 1-Year Warranty

Warranty Terms:

Cobra warrants your product against all defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of original purchase.

Cobra, at our sole discretion, will repair or replace your product (with the same or comparable product) free of charge.

Cobra will not pay shipping charges that you incur for sending your product to us. Products received COD will be refused.

To make a warranty claim, we will require proof or purchase in the form of an invoice or receipt. No proof of purchase is required for factory direct purchases.

Warranty Exclusions: Warranty does not apply to your product under any of the following conditions:

1. The serial number has been removed or modified.
2. Your product has been subjected to misuse or damage (including water damage, physical abuse, and/or improper installation).
3. Your product has been modified in any way.
4. Your receipt or proof-of-purchase is from a non-authorized dealer or internet auction site including E-bay, U-bid, or other non-authorized resellers.

LIMITATION OF WARRANTY: EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN, YOU ARE ACQUIRING THE PRODUCT “AS IS” AND “WHERE IS”, WITHOUT REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY. COBRA SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO THOSE CONCERNING THE MERCHANTABILITY AND SUITABILITY OF THE PRODUCT FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. COBRA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE, MISUSE OR MOUNTING OF THE PRODUCT.

The above limitations or exclusions shall be limited to the extent they violate the laws of any particular state. Cobra is not responsible for products lost in shipment between the owner and our service center.

General Warranty Information
Each product we manufacture is covered by our factory warranty. While each product may have unique components and policy, the general guideline below will apply to most Cobra products.

All Cobra products purchased factory-direct or from our Authorized Resellers will come with a full one to three (1-3) year warranty from the date of the original retail purchase (see policy statement above for full warranty details and exclusions).

Standard accessories packaged with each model will have a one-year factory warranty.

Accessory items have a one-year factory warranty.

Shipping to our facility is not covered in our warranty. Return shipping is included within the US.

This warranty is non-transferrable.

For the sake of clarity, ‘repair or replace the Product or its defective part’ does not include removal or installation work, costs or expenses which include but are not limited to labor costs or expenses.

Cobra will not be responsible for lost packages.

References

• Communication Radios & Automotive Electronics | Cobra.com
• Product Help/Manuals
• Downloads - DriveSmarter

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