Cobra XRS 9970G Voice Alert 15 Band Radar and Laser Detector

by Cobra

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.5 x 2.8 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0036UMQX0
• Item model number: XRS9970G
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,205 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)

  #12 in

  Electronics > Car Electronics > Radar Detectors

• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The XRS 9970G provides total protection and peace of mind with Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne Technology, detecting all 15 radar/laser bands with super-fast lock-on detection circuitry. The unit provides extra detection range and the best possible advance warning of even the fastest of POP mode radar guns. It comes with a GPS Locator and Lifetime updates to the AURA Database, to alert you to verified Speed and Red Light Camera locations, dangerous intersections, and reported Speed Trap locations for entire United States and Canada. Other features include touchscreen operation, a full-color ExtremeBright DataGrafix Display, an 8-point electronic compass, Voice Alert, car battery voltage display/low car battery warning and much more.

15-Band Detection
Detects 7 radar, 6 laser and 2 safety signals. Radar signals include X Band, K Band, Ka Superwide, Ku Band, VG-2, Spectre I and Spectre IV+. Laser signals include LTI 20-20, Ultra Lyte, ProLaser, ProLaser III, Stalker LIDAR and Speedlaser. Safety signals include Safety Alert and Strobe Alert.

Spectre I Undetectable
Provides complete immunity to Spectre I radar detector-detectors.

Spectre Alert I/IV+
Alerts user when they are under surveillance of Spectre I/IV+ radar detector-detectors.

VG-2 Undetectable
Provides complete immunity to VG-2 radar detector-detectors.

AURA Camera & Driving Database (included)
GPS-based technology warns the driver of fixed speed and red light cameras, speed traps and dangerous intersections across North America. The AURA database is updated daily and provides the industry's most complete and accurate coverage and reliability. GPS Locator and Lifetime subscription included.

Touchscreen Interface
The XRS 9970G features a 1.5-inch full color graphic interface that makes setting up the radar detector fast and easy. Simply tap on the menu screen tab and scroll through the menus to set user settings such as the display colors, city/highway modes, IntelliMute, Frequency Display Mode and other preferences, as well as the alert settings including turning on or off POP Mode, the detection of certain Bands and Low Car Battery Warning.

The display provides enhanced data display in easy-to-read vivid colors, and allows user to select from 5 different color schemes to match dash illumination (Full Color, Blue, Orange, Green and Red).

Includes USB GPS locator and lifetime subscription to AURA camera & driving database.

1.5-inch full color graphic interface with touchscreen control.

Suction mounting bracket included.

Dim Mode
Allows the user to dim the radar detector display enhancing night driving visibility.

Auto Mute
Automatically mutes the alert tone for enhanced driver convenience.

IntelliView
Picture-in-picture shows radar/laser alerts simultaneously with GPS locator based alerts.

Voice Alert
Warns driver with specific voice annunciation of the signal being detected.

IntelliScope
This Patent-Pending Techonology provides information about the direction of Location Based Alerts relative to your moving vehicle using Global Positioning System.

IntelliShield False Signal Rejection
3-Level City Mode offers the best false signal rejection in both urban and rural areas.

Safety Alert
Warns drivers of the presence and/or approaching emergency vehicles, railroad crossing, and road hazard locations equipped with Cobra's exclusive Safety Alert transmitters.

Strobe Alert
A Cobra exclusive, works with tens of thousands of emergency vehicles currently equipped with traffic light controlling strobe emitters. Provides advance warning of the presence and/or approach of emergency vehicles.

SmartPower
Automatically shuts off power to the unit when ignition is turned off.

IntelliMute Pro
Relative speed sensing auto shutdown feature will render your detector undetectable by currently available radar detector-detectors.

Digital Speedometer
Provides accurate, current vehicle speed using Global Positioning System.

8-Point GPS Compass
Provides accurate, 8-point directional reading using Global Positioning System.

8-Point Electronic Compass
Automatically provides an accurate electronic direction heading.

Stay Set Electronic Memory
Electronically remembers radar detector settings for an indefinite period of time even with the power removed.

EasySet Programming Menu
User-friendly mode selection/setting with visual guidance.

Digital Signal Strength Meter
Provides the driver with relative proximity to the target using 5-level digital signal strength meter.

Latitude/Longitude Information
Provides accurate latitude/longitude information using Global Positioning System.

POP Mode Radar Gun Detection
Detects the latest POP Mode Radar Gun (Super-fast Instant-On Mode)

Programmable Up to 1,000 Location Alerts
Add up to 1,000 location-based alerts of your choice.

S-XRS Maximum Performance Technology
New and improved Super-Xtreme Range Superheterodyne (S-XRS) detection technology, with its super-fast radar lock-on detection circuitry, provides maximum detection range and best possible advance warning to even the fastest of POP mode radar guns.

Car Battery Voltage Display/Low Car Battery Warning
Provides approximate voltage of your car's battery and also alerts user whenever car battery voltage falls below 11.9 volts.

What's in the Box
Cobra XRS-9970G Radar and Laser Detector Bundle (XRS-9965 Detector Unit and GPS Locator that Includes Lifetime Subscription to AURA Database), Mini-USB to USB Type-A Adapter Cable (for Database Updates), Coiled 12V DC Power Cord, Windshield Suction Mounting Bracket, Instruction Manual

Product Description

RADAR DETECTOR, XRS9970G, 15 BAND,

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Troopers Meet Your Match, May 5, 2010

By	David Trammell - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cobra XRS 9970G Voice Alert 15 Band Radar and Laser Detector (Electronics)

I purchased this radar unit for my Hummer H2. I am very familiar with radar being a commercial pilot. I've owned radar detecting equipment off and on for 32 years. This is the most sophisticated highly sensitive unit I've owned and its easy to set up and operate. Its mounted on my dash since I cant reach the windshield from the drivers seat. The radar detector performs great. It has many features to reduce false alerts. I like the intellimute feature. It senses your RPMS and mutes the sound up to a preset RPM that you have entered, plus speed alerts you can preset. Mine is set at 75. It will chime and says "speed alert" if speed is exceeded, very handy and shows your speed when alerting. It has picked up state troopers in town blocks away, plenty of time to adjust your speed. The screen is visable in bright daylight, but I use the blackout feature which it goes dark after a preset time you enter but it will light back up upon a radar/gps signal. The icons can be set to different colors (green blue red orange or multi) to match your dash light colors. You can tell if its a false hit because it will only read out KA band, but a police radar hit will show the frequency he is using. The touch screen is priceless. Just a touch of an icon will change a feature and is very easy to change settings on the go, and the red-light/speed camera/speed trap detection is indispensible. As I was driving the interstate on a camp trip the Cobra 9970G alerted (caution speed trap area). Right after it alerted I looked over at the oncoming lanes and a state trooper had someone pulled over with lights flashing. This thing really works. The AURA Database is constantly updated every 12 hours and is free with the purchase of the 9970G. You can also manually set different alert locations up to 1000 of them. I usually set it up for school zones. It will alert you well ahead of them.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Superb Protection and Detection Capabilites., May 27, 2010

By	~Z~ - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Cobra XRS 9970G Voice Alert 15 Band Radar and Laser Detector (Electronics)

(What's this?)

I can remember the last radar detector I had was a Cobra. They sure have come a long ways since the long strip of red lights that would increase in increments when a signal was detected. The Cobra XRS 9970G is all digital, full color touch screen and has an easy to read display. Gives you 360 degrees of protection. The voice alerts are a plus to let you know if you are being targeted. Measurements are approximately 5 x 3 And weighs about 7 ounces. There are so many features in this little piece of equipment. The extra features I find the most helpful is the GPS Locator, the low battery warning and the speed indicator. We have a rebuilt 1984 Mustang drag car that is street legal and the speedometer is not accurate. Using the speed indicator on the radar detector has been extremely helpful to monitor our speeds. With so many features and options, you will need to play around with it to feature out how to set the features and display to your needs. The Cobra XRS 9970G offers false recognition detection but it still goes off whenever I pass certain banks, municipalities or building with some kind of security system. It does not happen all the time but I have come accustomed of knowing which buildings and areas will give me a false detection.

At first I was confused after reading the AURA Database feature but after doing some reading I was able to find out on the Cobra website that the AURA stands for Advanced Universal Road Alert. The database covers all of the United States.

Description quote from Cobra's website:

"It warns drivers of thousands of driving threats that could cause unintended traffic violations as well as accidents. The result is that AURA-equipped drivers have heightened situational awareness--extra help to know what's around them, and what's ahead. The AURA database stores GPS coordinates of speed and red-light cameras and driving hazards. Users can access this database online and download daily updates onto various devices. One such device is a GPS locator (a USB flash drive) that connects to various AURA-compatible units and synchronizes the database to the device for the most current driving hazard warnings. Given the rate at which new photo enforcement cameras are being installed, providing daily updates is critical to providing motorists with the most reliable protection possible."

The AURA Database is nice feature to have at no cost since it is sold as an ad-on for older units/inexpensive models for $99.95 for 12 months plus $29.95 per year after the first year. With the Cobra XRS 9970G it is a LIFETIME subscription at no charge. It is not a very difficult procedure to do. All you need is to have a computer with internet connection. Register your product on Cobra's website.
** Make sure you input the serial number on the GPS Locator and not the serial number of the radar detector.** You will see on the menu an option to "update my data". Follow the easy to install directions. Make sure you download the program prior to connecting the GPS drive in the computer. After the first initial install, all you have to do is plug the "included" USB adapter cable to the GPS Locater Unit and insert it to a USB slot on computer, it will automatically update. It states they are constantly adding more speed traps and cameras so it would be a good idea to update on a regular basis.
NOTE - it is Windows 7 compatible, which is what I use.

The only negative things I can say about this unit is that the 12V DC power plug could be a tad bit longer and that I wish it came with an optional longer tilt/adjustable mounting bracket. I would of preferred to place the unit in the middle of the dash by placing the windshield suction cups on a mounting disc plate (like the ones used with navigation systems). However, you can adhere the unit on your dashboard with the enclosed double-sided tape. Since the lip of the display screen overhangs, you will have to mount it with the display hanging off the edge of the dash. If you prefer to mount the unit to your windshield, it comes with two small suctions cups attached to a small bendable bracket. When I tested to see how the unit would sit on my windshield of my SUV I found that the weight of the unit caused it to droop downward even after I adjusted the bracket's angle. I believe it was because the windshield in my SUV (Dodge Durango) is very slanted. Also since the suctions cups are small, they kept coming "unstuck". If it offered one big suction cup, I think the hold would be much stronger.

Some states do not allow items to be adhered to the windshield, verify what your state's regulations are. It is banned from using radar detectors in the state of Virginia and it's even illegal to have them in your vehicle. In New York State it is prohibited in motor vehicles weighing over 18,000 pounds or commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds.


UPDATE: I found the perfect dash mount to use with the Cobra XRS 9970G - the Radar Detector Car Dash and Windshield Mount. This offers more flexibility in how you want to mount the unit. The large suction cup keeps it securely in place and it even comes with a double-sided tape dash mount plate.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quality radar detector with an impressive feature set, June 24, 2010

By	Eric S. Olstad (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cobra XRS 9970G Voice Alert 15 Band Radar and Laser Detector (Electronics)

(What's this?)

It's been a long time since I've had a radar detector in my car. The Cobra XRS is serious in that it has an impressive range as well as being able to detect various types of radar including laser. A number of features make it a winner for the digital age.

First off the XRS sports an OLED touch screen. For such a small screen, its surprisingly accurate to touch. I find that this type of interface really simplifies the look of the product as well as being able to display more information quite easily. However, I don't find myself ever needing to modify any of the options throught he menu system, which I suppose is a good thing. The menu system is easy enough to use and I have no issues with it.

The XRS includes a mini-USB jack, and it comes with a small GPS unit that plugs into it for directional and coordinate information. At first this seems kind of odd, but it serves a few purposes. First, when radar is detected, your speed is shown on the display. This is convenient so you only have to look in one place. Next, the GPS is also used with the AURA system for alerting you of speed traps. You plug the XRS into your computer via USB and load it up with speed trap information, and the device will use the GPS to alert you of possible traps. A nice feature in theory, but I have not seen it demonstrated in practice quite yet.

Up till now, most of the above features are fluff to justify the high cost. Where this unit really shines is in its detection capabilities. So far I've only really seen it demonstrated most often with the radar at toll plazas, which gives you about 100 yards or more -- enough time to slow down before you're in accurate range of the radar. I've also seen it pick up the radar in a cop car that had someone pulled over. This is significant because the cop must have still had is radar on, but wasn't actively using it.

When radar is detected, the unit alerts you with a unique sound for each radar band as well as a voice. After 5 seconds or so of alert, the unit drastically reduces the sound of the alert to prevent you from going crazy. The display shows the strength so you know how close you are to the radar. Each radar band has its own distinctive alert with increasing severity for the type of radar. Laser for example is a very severe-sounding alert because laser is really only used for speed traps and such.

The unit needs to be placed where the laser detector has a clear view of the landscape. So you need to put this thing up on your dash. I find that the included suction cup mount works quite well. I'm able to place the unit on the mount while resting the front of the device on the dash of my Honda Accord while still allowing the unit a clear view.

My biggest complaint with this device is the power adapter. The cable is a coiled springy type cable so it's too short to reach to the power plug without stretching. This makes it both ugly and annoyingly in the way. I actually take this product down a whole star because of the awful cable. I don't know what they were thinking with the design of that cable.

Other than that, I find this is a fine detector and I would highly recommend it if you got the cash.