Customer Reviews

Cobra XRS R10G Voice Alert Radar/Laser Detector with Wireless Remote System, Full Color Screen and GPS Locator with Red Light/Speed feature

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Installation was pretty darn easy as it only a matter of sticking the receiver to your windshield and running a power cable to somewhere down in the dash. Locating the remote is not so easy, as the mounts for it are very limiting as to where it'll attach. The remote mounting plate and options need to be expanded and more flexible.

It would be nice if the receiver were smaller and with USB GPS stick recessed into it, as both do block windshield view more than it seems is necessary. Also, one very annoying design is that you have to manually turn the unit on every time you want it. The receiver provides a welcome ready alarm when it recognizes the car power is back on, but it does not auto-start and similarly auto-shut off following turn off of power. This should be a simple setting as it is annoying to have to turn it on every time I start driving. Plus the auto-off timer of the remote waits 5-minutes after power has gone from the receiver, so why would it? It should turn off soon as the power is off.

Compared to my last radar detector (Whistler remote mount), this one has many false alarms including store door openers, which is very annoying and the muting of alarms seems to do no good as they come right back a second later. I chalk this up to poor quality of detector, programming and electronics, which makes me wonder just how accurate and quick this will be for real alarms. Furthermore, it picks up alarms for street speed cameras when traveling on freeways, even though those cameras are located on side streets, not the freeway. Since it can tell speed, and location should be fairly accurate, it should be able to turn off alarms for speed cameras on streets one is not on; it gets very annoying when an alarm chimes at every over or underpass on the freeway for no radar concerns on the freeway.

Overall, it seems that about 80-90% of the alarms are false, which makes me have to rate this product less than with some minor programming tweaks could be a pretty good product with ease of installation, good quality construction and some good features.

Having owned the XRS-R9G, I fell in love with the GPS feature. However, I wanted the R10G with the mini-USB GPS unit. I found there to be a significant difference in appearance and cleanliness of this product on my windshield.

As for actual use, this detector works on all bands, as specified. While driving on 422 in Philly area, it alerted me to all State troopers and various traffic signals. The Camera maps are accurate, as it has specified every intersection in my locale which utilizes a speed trap system.

This detector is the best I would recommend in cleanliness and ease of use. It has kept me and my Pontiac G8 GXP safe from tickets for quite some time.

Well i purchased one of these because it seemed to have all the features i was looking for.

Too bad the units ability does not meet Cobra's ambition. Too bad function is not on par with form.

As the unit is very well thought out, user friendly & flat out cool.

I have been using this for about a month now, & the fact that i have not been ticketed IS a positive point in it's favor, as i recently tricked out my Jetta & now hardly a day goes by that i dont hit 100 + mph. So yeah it DOES WORK.

BUT

As you have no doubt heard it is prone to false signals

It WILL detect & sound off when in close proximity to another radar detector. Yes, you will have to deal with sorting out whats what when it sounds off, yet even though that is problematic.....it is not so much so to discount it's usefulness altogether.

A quick visual scan will assess the probability factor of the signals veracity, caution is advised as a mistake could be very costly.

Detection range is sub par when compared to higher end units, yet it will alert within an acceptable radius giving you just enough reaction time. & truthfully....i do not want or need to be alerted to a radar gun going off 2 miles away.....that could be more confusing than close range false signals. So the detection range....although somewhat limited.....seems adequate.

I REALLY like how stealthy the unit is....no ugly coiled "telephone cords" to alert others to my detectors presence.

I REALLY like how i dont have to remember to turn the main unit on....it fires up when you start the car....with a voice informing you that the "system is ready" which reminds you to turn on the RDU [ remote display unit ] Yet even if you were to forget to turn the RDU on....you are still covered as the main unit will sound off anyways....you just wont enjoy the benefit of the signal ID feature.

I think this is Cobra's best effort to date, it is very well thought out & executed & if it were not for the range & false signal issues would be a 5 star unit.I felt it just barely deserves the four star rating as i think the pros outweigh the cons.

So bottom line is....this is the best "economy" unit out there at this moment IMO & will serve you well as long as you drive smart.

Remember

A radar detectors effectiveness is enhanced or eliminated by operator intelligence.

They are not going to offer you a magic blanket of protection from the cops.

Once you "tune into" a detector & realize it capabilities & limitations you work within those parameters & maximize your driving potential.

So, even though this unit is not perfect.. .i can & do give it a good recommendation.

Jan 2012 update.... 2 years later & still no tickets.....it WILL work for you, if you learn how to work with it.

I used this detector around Twins City on daily basis for a month and not get any false so far. This detecter doing amazing job and you should not pay twice for other brands as here is all what you need. I beleive now that Cobra just discriminated by other "top experts" for market reason. They probably get paid for it... Take Cobra's detector and GPS for same money as Valentine_1 and you will happy twice more!

This detector is fun with all it's gadgets, but for it's main job detecting radar it falses all the time. Even after I turn off instant on detection and and turn it to it's lowest city mode it still will false like no tomorrow. This is typical of cobra radar detectors though. I strongly suggest you save up for a little more and get a good detector instead of falling into cobra's trap of getting you interested with all the other things the detector does. I regret my purchase after researching online how all of cobra's radar detectors are subpar on their main job. Until cobra steps up their game I suggest you stay away. It does typically give you enough detection range to make use of a real threat when it happens, but the detector falses so much it's hard to tell a real from fake threat and you just start ignoring it after a while. If you like a neat remote control gadget that does lots of things buy this, but if you want a reliable radar detector that you can trust every time save a little more money and get a better one.

Poor battery life on the remote. The battery ran out in couple of days even with the remote did not use at all.

GREAT, GREAT, GREAT!!!!!!!!!!This has saved me in more ways that I can count. A must for those who drive long distances. Well concealed behind mirror like an I-Pass. with a remote control. Definetly worth the price.

Shipping was dead on. Anyone with a little bit of electrical knowledge can install the unit. Took me about 30 minutes to hard wire into vehicle. Would only take 2 minutes if using litter plug in. :). The remote display last about 8-9 hours of continual use. So great for road trips. And you can use it while recharging so acceptable payoff for me regarding the dash look vs a cord showing once and awhile to recharge. I've only used whistler and cobra in the past and feel this unit is great introductory to wireless. Would have gave 5 stars but the emergency vehicle( fire trucks and ambulance) alert has yet to pick up the vehicle strobes. But if you can't see them comming any how, you shouldn't be driving on the road. :)

I love the Cobra XRS R10G. It performs just as described. It was easy to install and is not visibal from outside my car. I love the fact that you don't even have to use the remote if you don't want to. On long trips I use the remote but just around town I place the remote in the glovebox and use the voice alert on the XRS R10G.

I loved my unit so much I purchased one for my mother and she loves hers as well.

Excellent product. Ease of operation; outstanding. Plug and play,simple. Drawback: NOT Vista 64 friendly. Cobra promises a patch for Vista 64 within 2 weeks.....