Consumer Electronics Show 2008

This year’s Consumer Electronics Show was by far the most exciting for me in a long time as several radar detector manufacturers were showcasing their new line up for 2008 that included GPS radar detector integration and the resurrection of the Cincinnati Microwave’s brand name with the introduction of the ZR4 laser shifter.

My first stop opening day was the Escort and Beltronics booth. The first new product showcased for 2008 was the ZR4 laser shifter that will be crossed marketed by both Escort and Beltronics, but will carry the Cincinnati Mircowave’s name. The ZR4 incorporates a new “dual pulse rate” that in our test of a protype unit, jammed to gun when targeted with a Laser Atlanta programmed either normal or stealth mode.

By far the most exciting product was Escort’s new 9500CI GPS remote mounted radar detector and SR4 laser shifter. The main antenna for the 9500CI includes the stealth capabilities for the Spectre RDD as the STi-r, but also includes “smart learning” capabilities to self program (and unprogram) common false alarm locations and the ability to program speed trap locations such as traffic enforcement camera locations.

Escort and Beltronics has decided to abandon their policy of requiring professional installation on their remote models and took the extra step in color coding all their wires and connections to make it easier for the end user to install their own equipment. They are also planning on including an instructional DVD with their units.

I will be offering a full review of final production ZR4 and 9500CI units within the next eight weeks, just prior to their release.

Next up I visited the Uniden booth to check out their new MapTrax RD; GPS and radar detector combo. On the plus side I was very impressed with the GPS unit as it includes the Navteq mapping system, text to speech navigation, preloaded maps, Bluetooth integration and the ability of their detector to integrate with the GPS allowing alert messages through the detector.

However I feel that there are several items of concern with this package.

First off, Uniden has followed Cobra’s lead in misinformation by also dividing up three radar bands and one laser band and advertises their new MapTrax RD as a 13 band detector.

Secondly the points of interest do NOT include common traffic enforcement locations such as red light cameras or fixed camera locations.

And lastly from reliable sources within the industry, Uniden outsourced the design of their radar detector to Attowave who used the same platform as the RMR 450.

The MapTrax RD will be available mid April. The suggested retail of the GPS unit will be $395.00 and the radar detector interface will be an extra $100.00.

Next we headed over to the Cobra booth and checked out the new XRS-9970 radar detector. The XRS-9950 is Cobra’s new top of the line windshield mounted unit that has the ability to interface with their GPS module with included database of known fixed traffic enforcement camera locations. On the plus side the 3D full color LCD display of the 9550 was awesome and perhaps the best we have seen in the industry. On the downside, Cobra’s GPS interface is separate from the main body of the detector and requires additional windshield space and mounting.
We stopped in at the Rocky Mountain booth under the watchful eye of their staff to see if they had any new product offerings for 2008, but only found the same old propaganda material for their C-450 and Phazor radar scrambler line up.

As soon as final production models for all the units that were showcased at the 2008 CES Show become available, I will follow up with a full review.