Cobra SPX 5500 User Manual

Important Information and
Customer Assistance
Introduction
A1
English
Important Information
•
Federal Laws Governing the Use of Radar Detectors
It is not against federal law to receive radar transmissions with your Cobra radar/
laser detector. The Communications Act of 1924 guarantees your right to receive
radio transmissions on any frequency. Local laws that contravene this Act, while
illegal, may be enforced by your local law enforcement officials until and unless
they are prohibited from doing so by federal court action.
Safety Alert
Use of this product is not intended to, and does not, ensure that motorists or
passengers will not be involved in traffic accidents. It is only intended to alert
the motorist that an emergency vehicle equipped with a Cobra Safety Alert
transmitter is within range as defined by that product. Please call local fire
and police departments to learn if coverage exists in your area.
Safe Driving
Motorists, as well as operators of emergency or service vehicles, are expected to
exercise all due caution while using this product, and to obey all applicable traffic laws.
Security of Your Vehicle
Before leaving your vehicle, always remember to conceal your radar detector
in order to reduce the possibility of break-in and theft.
Customer Assistance
•
Should you encounter any problems with this product, or not understand its many features,
please refer to this owner’s manual. If you require further assistance after reading this
manual, Cobra Electronics offers the following customer assistance services:
For Assistance in the U.S.A.
Automated Help Desk English only. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 773-889-3087 (phone).
Customer Assistance Operators English and Spanish. 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Central Time
Mon. through Fri. (except holidays) 773-889-3087 (phone).
Questions English and Spanish. Faxes can be received at 773-622-2269 (fax).
Technical Assistance English only. www.cobra.com (on-line: Frequently Asked
Questions). English and Spanish. productinfo@cobra.com (e-mail).
For Assistance Outside the U.S.A.
Contact Your Local Dealer
©2012 Cobra Electronics Corporation
6500 West Cortland Street
Chicago, Illinois 60707 USA
www.cobra.com
Customer Assistance
SPX 5500
14 BAND
™
ULTRA-HIGH PERFORMANCE
DIGITAL RADAR/LASER DETECTOR
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
English
Operating Instructions
Printed in China
Part No. 480-839-P
Version A
Nothing Comes Close to a Cobra
®
English
For more information or to
order any of our products,
please visit our website:
www.cobra.com
The Cobra line of quality products includes:
CB Radios
microTALK
®
Radios
Radar/Laser Detectors
Safety Alert
®
Traffic Warning Systems
Truck-Specific Navigation Systems
HighGear
®
Accessories
CobraMarine VHF Radios
Power Inverters
LED Lights
Jumpstarters
Accessories
SPX5500_MANL.indd 1-1 12/21/12 2:11 PM

Cobra SPX 5500 Specifications

General

GPS Technology	No
Voice Alerts	Yes
City/Highway Modes	Yes
False Alert Filter	Yes
Power Source	12V DC
Frequency Bands	X, K, Ka, Laser
Weight	6.4 oz

Summary

Introduction: Important Information and Customer Assistance

Important Information

Key details on federal laws, safety, driving practices, and vehicle security for radar detector use.

Customer Assistance

Contact information and support services for product issues and inquiries.

Controls, Indicators and Connections

Details on the unit's buttons, indicators, and connection ports for operation.

Display and Product Features

Explains the text display and lists sophisticated features of the radar/laser detector.

Your Detector: Installation

Where to Mount Your Unit

Guidance on optimal placement for radar/laser signal reception and vehicle integration.

Windshield Mounting

Step-by-step instructions for securely mounting the detector on a vehicle's windshield.

Dashboard Mounting

Step-by-step instructions for mounting the detector on a vehicle's dashboard.

Getting Started

Instructions for powering on the unit and initial setup procedures.

Auxiliary Audio Jack

Information on connecting external speakers via the auxiliary audio jack.

Your Detector: Settings

Highway/City Mode

How to switch between Highway and City modes to reduce false alerts.

DigiView Data Display Brightness

Adjusting the brightness of the DigiView data display for optimal visibility.

Muting an Alert

Instructions for temporarily muting audio alerts using the Mute button.

Auto Mute Mode

Enabling automatic volume reduction for alerts after a signal is detected.

IntelliMute

Using IntelliMute to automatically mute alerts based on engine RPMs.

What to Remember While Using IntelliMute

Key points for understanding and using the IntelliMute feature effectively.

Setting the IntelliMute Activation Point

Procedure for setting the engine RPM activation point for IntelliMute.

IntelliMute Pro

Feature to prevent detection by RDDs at slower speeds when IntelliMute is active.

Voice/Tone Setting

Changing alert notification from voice messages to tones, or vice versa.

VG-2 and Spectre I & IV+ Alert Settings

Configuring alerts for radar detector detectors (RDDs) like VG-2 and Spectre.

Radar Alert Settings

Choosing which radar bands (X, K, Ku) to monitor for alerts.

Pop Alert

Enabling detection for Pop Mode radar guns, ideal for highway driving.

Your Detector: Detection

Signals Detected

Details on signal types, voice, and visual alerts provided by the detector.

Visual Display

Explanation of how signal strength is indicated on the DigiView Data Display.

Safety Alert Signals, Voice and Visual Displays

Information on voice and visual alerts for Safety Alert signals like emergency vehicles.

Spectre I & IV+ Alert Signal, Voice and Visual Display

Alert details for Spectre I and IV+ radar detector detectors.

VG-2 Alert Signal, Voice and Visual Display

Alert details for VG-2 radar detector detectors.

Instant-On Detection

How the detector identifies and alerts to sudden, high-strength radar signals.

Responding to Alerts

Guidance on interpreting and responding to various types of alerts from the detector.

Understanding Radar and Laser

Radar Speed Monitoring Systems

Details on approved radar frequencies (X, K, Ka, Ku bands) used for speed monitoring.

VG-2 and Spectre I & IV+

Explanation of how VG-2 and Spectre I & IV+ radar detector detectors work.

Safety Alert Traffic Warning System

Information on the Safety Alert system for traffic warnings and emergency vehicles.

LIDAR (Laser)

Explanation of LIDAR technology, common questions, and its legality.

Your Detector: Specifications

Band and Frequencies

Lists specific frequencies and pulse rates for X, K, Ka, Ku bands, VG-2, and Laser.

Warranty and Product Service

Limited 1-Year Warranty

Details of the one-year limited warranty for products purchased within the U.S.A.

Product Service

Instructions on how to obtain warranty or out-of-warranty service for the product.

Optional Accessories

Information on purchasing optional accessories for the Cobra detector.