
- COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW INSTALL
- COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW FOR ANDROID
- COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW SOFTWARE
- COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW BLUETOOTH
I had virtually no warning here, and luckily I wasn't speeding (much).Ī big Report button on the main screen lets you "send in" crowd-sourced data for the benefit of other users. I still heard iRadar alerts as he passed by and pulled up about 200 feet ahead of me, but then I stopped hearing them, even though he was still following people a bit further ahead. He was already making a U-turn onto my side of the highway. For example, I saw one Ka alert, looked up, and saw a cop about 500 feet away on the opposite side. Range seemed okay with X-band, but much less with K-band and almost non-existent with Ka-band-which is typical for lower-priced radar detectors. In testing, the Cobra iRadar behaved more or less as expected. And all cars already have a speedometer, so what's the point? For example, while the app has a speedometer, it doesn't display the current road speed limit the way a GPS navigation app would. I appreciate the larger view, but the jury is out as to whether you need a smartphone to display this information.

Once alerts pop up, the screen changes to show information about the specific event, although many of these screens are also pretty barren. You can also view a Google-powered map showing your current location. It displays your current speed, your car battery's current voltage level (just because it can, apparently), your current compass direction, and a toggle for city and highway modes. Finally, both the newer Ka-band and laser are the toughest to detect. More advanced (and now common) guns use K-band, which is shot in bursts, and which detectors can pick up bouncing off of cars ahead. The oldest radar guns use X-band, and are often left on continuously a lot of things also emit X-band and trigger false alarms. Testing, Band Detection, and Crowd-Sourcing It turns out I picked some good days to review iRadar, because I encountered just about every radar short of actual laser-and several times. At this point, I fired up the app, which found the paired iRadar device and linked it up within moments.
COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW BLUETOOTH
Next, I used the phone's usual Bluetooth pairing mode to link up with the iRadar detector, which worked perfectly on the first try it pairs, but doesn't connect. To get started, I downloaded the Cobra iRadar app from Google Play and installed it. Given the SHO's 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6, which outputs 365 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque, having the iRadar along was certainly welcome. I sat behind the wheel of a 2013 Ford Taurus SHO, one of three that the automaker loaned us for PCMag's Fastest Mobile Networks 2012 testing.
COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW FOR ANDROID
You'll also want to find a way to run the cable to your car's power accessory jack as neatly as possible.įor this review, I tested Cobra iRadar for Android on a Samsung Galaxy S II Skyrocket ($149.99, 4.5 stars) running on AT&T's network.

But to effectively use iRadar, you'll also need a mount for your phone, which is true for any in-car Android app like iOnRoad Augmented Driving (Free, 3.5 stars), or even just when using the built-in Google Maps Navigation (Free). Instead of using a plastic lever to lock them in place the way GPS mounts usually work, you just push directly on the plastic center portion with a good amount of force. The built-in suction cups grab the windshield tightly. Behind that is a vertically oriented speaker grille. On top, there's an oversized, circular Mute button. The device is made entirely of black glossy plastic, with a single hardware volume knob on the left that doubles as a power switch, and a single status LED on the front front. Let's start with the unit itself, which looks like just about any other Cobra radar detector, albeit with less controls and LED lights than usual.
COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW INSTALL
The Cobra iRadar system consists of two distinct features: The main, Bluetooth-enabled detector unit, with its included DC power cord, and a free downloadable app that you install on your smartphone.
COBRA IRADAR IRAD 200 REVIEW SOFTWARE
