One Week Review of R7 vs R3 Side by Side. LEO & BSM

[DC Fluid]

I know I know, don't run 2 detectors. Regardless, I did this week:

There has been much discussion about which detector is quieter to use, R7 or R3.
R7 has newer BSM filtering and some extra features, 2 horns, more sensitivity.
What does that really mean for a user or potential buyer recommendations.

I have run the last week with one of my R7s in it's usual position high to the headliner to the left of the rear view mirror. The R3 lower right side of the windshield in front of front passenger.

Purpose is mostly BSM comparisons, what difference does the extra R7 sensitivity mean for alerts, and checking MRCD for falsing.
Long drive today in city full of LEO alerts.

Without a long story, settings and findings.
Both detectors Ka 2,4,5,6,8 Ka filter on in case of interference. (2 R7s close together create Ka falses) R7 firmware 133. R3 firmware 1.54
K @ 40%
K Filter on, TSF off, MRCD on, QR 50 KPH.
R7 rear K Mute off, Rear @ 80%
Everything else identical settings, most lockouts all done the same.

BSM falsing: Surprising that these two detectors do not alert to all BSMs the same. There are some low 24.078 the R3 alerts to, while the R7 does on 24.160. Some stronger ones they both alert.
The R7 would always show more bars on the strength meter and almost always alert first. R7 also had a couple rear alerts of cars passing on opposite direction, that R3 did not alert to.
R7 at 40% was much more sensitive than the R3 and my tests had previously confirmed that. A more equal settings test would be R7 30, R3 40-50%. But the settings are what they are, 40% each.
One K Band cop 24.125 on the nose, R7 aced it, alerted first by a few beeps, and showed more signal strength and continued to show in the all threats display when 2nd LEO with Ka joined the fun. R3 dropped any indication of K band threat and All Threats display never appeared.
BSM Count 14 for R7, 6 for R3.
Winner for quiet the R3.

LEO radar encounters: the week has been pretty quiet but the weekend busy.
Seven radar encounters, R7 alerted first on 6 of seven (one was K as detailed above).
R3 alerted first on one low 2 bar alert on an off axis.
Every alert was won over the other by only two beeps before the other alerted. 2 seconds max difference. Nothing that would ever be noticed or make a save difference, just this side by side comparison.
Finally, TSF off, MRCD on for maximum Edmonton protection (I'm an occasional visitor) and I have nothing to report.
No MRCD falses, no extra BSM or any other strange behaviour to report.

My personal observation is that the R3 is easier to set up and run as a quiet detector, mostly by design, sensitivity and slightly different BSM filtering.
R7 has tools and settings to match it.
K @ 30% or City, TSF on may help both, Rear K Mute, Rear horn sensitivity%,
I hope some find this helpful.

 

[Brainstorm69]

I agree that the settings should have been K=50% on the R3. Maybe 40% on R7.

 

[DC Fluid]

I have to add some more observations as I remember them.
Got in trouble posting just now as dinner was ready and I was phone zoning.

I am impressed with Uniden and the consistency of these detectors.
Every single LEO, my guns, stationary door opener, BSM and every alert of every type, both R7 and R3 displayed the exact same frequency right down to .001. Identical every time. Impressive. All the Escorts I've tested vary. Radenso Pro M, well.....

R7 is definitely more sensitive based on my shootout tests and road testing.
It always alerted first, longer and stronger to every stationary door opener. Both detectors lit up to the same openers, unless it was too weak for the R3 to receive.
I would definitely suggest R7 @ 30% would be more equal to R3 50%.
For comparison the R7 alerts to the same door openers as the Max II on highway, well before when at 30%.
At full highway sensitivity in testing these R Series the R7 holds a K Band advantage of close to 10% on alerts by distance.
Interesting that the R3 beat 2 R7s on some off axis runs, and the one alert the R3 won on this comparison was a weak off axis today.
Again, all alerts happen within 2 seconds of each other.

Post automatically merged: Dec 6, 2020

I may be returning both my R7s to 30% K Advanced and leave R3 at 40%.
I ran like this most of 2019, and changed it up for 2020.
30% R7 is still damn strong.
Highway mode for the open road still great here.
City only rarely or when in different cities.

 

[jwjsr]

Thanks for the info, I was thinking of the r3 based on reviews I have read , and I like the price. I had my v1 and ixc stolen within the last year or so. I'm concerned about the r3 falsing/filtering, can I expect firmware updates to improve falsing in the future . No reason to have a detector if its constantly falses,

 

[DC Fluid]

Thanks for the info, I was thinking of the r3 based on reviews I have read , and I like the price. I had my v1 and ixc stolen within the last year or so. I'm concerned about the r3 falsing/filtering, can I expect firmware updates to improve falsing in the future . No reason to have a detector if its constantly falses,

R3 is an excellent detector and is not constantly falsing.
The R7 is excellent too.
They are both miles better than all but a few newer premium detectors when comparing BSM.
R3 is still supported and receiving updates.
If you want plug and drive, buy an Escort high end model and set to Auto or Auto Low K.
If you want top radar performance get a R3 and realize switching from City, Advanced and Highway to suit where you are is the effort you have to put in

 

[jwjsr]

R3 is an excellent detector and is not constantly falsing.
The R7 is excellent too.
They are both miles better than all but a few newer premium detectors when comparing BSM.
R3 is still supported and receiving updates.
If you want plug and drive, buy an Escort high end model and set to Auto or Auto Low K.
If you want top radar performance get a R3 and realize switching from City, Advanced and Highway to suit where you are is the effort you have to put in

Thank you for your response. I'll do the r3 and look forward to Theia. what r3 vendor would u suggest?

 

[DC Fluid]

Well I'm in Canada so....
But check out links to @Vortex Radar deals, @BestRadarDetectors , eBay Amazon, and others as recommended.
If prices are close try to support a vendor or link here on RDF.
Used R3 in the classified section here when you get access.
Happy hunting

 

[Kennyc56]

Great testing @DC Fluid ! There is a reason I still own 5 R1's, other than I'm crazy of course! This is a great platform that is still hard to beat even by my V1G2! I still run them a lot and have 100% faith in them against all threats that Jane and I face! She is still running her ghetto arrow R1's and loves them!

 

[DC Fluid]

Great testing @DC Fluid ! There is a reason I still own 5 R1's, other than I'm crazy of course! This is a great platform that is still hard to beat even by my V1G2! I still run them a lot and have 100% faith in them against all threats that Jane and I face! She is still running her ghetto arrow R1's and loves them!

I mentioned it earlier and can't say it enough how the consistency and reliability and accuracy of the R Series alerts give me incredible faith and confidence in running them. Very easy to learn and understand their alerting behaviour and how it translates as a radar threat.
In R we trust!

 

[wellfleetion]

2 seconds is a lot.

 

[DC Fluid]

2 seconds is a lot.

No it's insignificant. You need context.
My review is against C/O signals, moving cruisers mostly.
It was between 1 and 3 minutes before seeing LEO. 2 beeps or 2 seconds of 1 bar alert is miniscule.
Significant difference would be my tests where R7(x2) and R3 pulled of 9 km warnings against Falcon HR. Next best was Pro M and Max II at 5.5 kms.
At 62 mph that was 3 minute difference.
Against Ka and 9500ix the R Series has 22x (twenty_two) times the range.
That's a lot.

 

[catch1147]

I mentioned it earlier and can't say it enough how the consistency and reliability and accuracy of the R Series alerts give me incredible faith and confidence in running them. Very easy to learn and understand their alerting behaviour and how it translates as a radar threat.
In R we trust!

Well said, I fully trust my R3(have one from the first batch sold). I'm starting to play with my newly acquired R7, I'll use some of your settings. Thanks

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[olemil]

Great info and write up, thank you for all your effort and for sharing this with us.

 

[DC Fluid]

Well said, I fully trust my R3(have one from the first batch sold). I'm starting to play with my newly acquired R7, I'll use some of your settings. Thanks

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

This morning I returned to my quiet default daily driver settings, but lowered K sensitivity.
Adv K @ 30%
K Filter & TSF on.
MRCD off.
Rear K Mute on.

These will return me to a more quiet ride than the test, which I had turned off TSF and MRCD On, Rear K Mute off, for the purpose of comparison to the R3.

There is a lot of tools in the box to customize the ride you want.

 

[milkman]

I know I know, don't run 2 detectors. Regardless, I did this week:

There has been much discussion about which detector is quieter to use, R7 or R3.
R7 has newer BSM filtering and some extra features, 2 horns, more sensitivity.
What does that really mean for a user or potential buyer recommendations.

I have run the last week with one of my R7s in it's usual position high to the headliner to the left of the rear view mirror. The R3 lower right side of the windshield in front of front passenger.

Purpose is mostly BSM comparisons, what difference does the extra R7 sensitivity mean for alerts, and checking MRCD for falsing.
Long drive today in city full of LEO alerts.

Without a long story, settings and findings.
Both detectors Ka 2,4,5,6,8 Ka filter on in case of interference. (2 R7s close together create Ka falses) R7 firmware 133. R3 firmware 1.54
K @ 40%
K Filter on, TSF off, MRCD on, QR 50 KPH.
R7 rear K Mute off, Rear @ 80%
Everything else identical settings, most lockouts all done the same.

BSM falsing: Surprising that these two detectors do not alert to all BSMs the same. There are some low 24.078 the R3 alerts to, while the R7 does on 24.160. Some stronger ones they both alert.
The R7 would always show more bars on the strength meter and almost always alert first. R7 also had a couple rear alerts of cars passing on opposite direction, that R3 did not alert to.
R7 at 40% was much more sensitive than the R3 and my tests had previously confirmed that. A more equal settings test would be R7 30, R3 40-50%. But the settings are what they are, 40% each.
One K Band cop 24.125 on the nose, R7 aced it, alerted first by a few beeps, and showed more signal strength and continued to show in the all threats display when 2nd LEO with Ka joined the fun. R3 dropped any indication of K band threat and All Threats display never appeared.
BSM Count 14 for R7, 6 for R3.
Winner for quiet the R3.

LEO radar encounters: the week has been pretty quiet but the weekend busy.
Seven radar encounters, R7 alerted first on 6 of seven (one was K as detailed above).
R3 alerted first on one low 2 bar alert on an off axis.
Every alert was won over the other by only two beeps before the other alerted. 2 seconds max difference. Nothing that would ever be noticed or make a save difference, just this side by side comparison.
Finally, TSF off, MRCD on for maximum Edmonton protection (I'm an occasional visitor) and I have nothing to report.
No MRCD falses, no extra BSM or any other strange behaviour to report.

My personal observation is that the R3 is easier to set up and run as a quiet detector, mostly by design, sensitivity and slightly different BSM filtering.
R7 has tools and settings to match it.
K @ 30% or City, TSF on may help both, Rear K Mute, Rear horn sensitivity%,
I hope some find this helpful.

Nice job and thanks for sharing.

 

[DrHow]

I have to add some more observations as I remember them.
Got in trouble posting just now as dinner was ready and I was phone zoning.

I am impressed with Uniden and the consistency of these detectors.
Every single LEO, my guns, stationary door opener, BSM and every alert of every type, both R7 and R3 displayed the exact same frequency right down to .001. Identical every time. Impressive. All the Escorts I've tested vary. Radenso Pro M, well.....

R7 is definitely more sensitive based on my shootout tests and road testing.
It always alerted first, longer and stronger to every stationary door opener. Both detectors lit up to the same openers, unless it was too weak for the R3 to receive.
I would definitely suggest R7 @ 30% would be more equal to R3 50%.
For comparison the R7 alerts to the same door openers as the Max II on highway, well before when at 30%.
At full highway sensitivity in testing these R Series the R7 holds a K Band advantage of close to 10% on alerts by distance.
Interesting that the R3 beat 2 R7s on some off axis runs, and the one alert the R3 won on this comparison was a weak off axis today.
Again, all alerts happen within 2 seconds of each other.

Post automatically merged: Dec 6, 2020

I may be returning both my R7s to 30% K Advanced and leave R3 at 40%.
I ran like this most of 2019, and changed it up for 2020.
30% R7 is still damn strong.
Highway mode for the open road still great here.
City only rarely or when in different cities.

Thanks for all the data you are doing on R series. Good learning for me/everyone.

The Korean OEM contract engineers, and manufacturer do a great job when proper goals by a marketing brand product manager are executed to completion. When Uniden gets this right on their electronics, they have a good product to sell with their name on it. Some of their electronic products, not so much.

 

[NorEaster18]

I actually picked up an R7 (1.33) this week to try out and immediately returned it after about 80 miles. I couldn't believe how much noisier it was than my R3 in regards to BSM falses. I completely understand now what people mean when they say the R7 is chatty. I was averaging a false every 2 miles with K at 40%, all the filters on, rear sensitivity dialed to 60%, and rear horn muted. This is absolutely nothing like what my R3 displays on 1.50 (Advanced 80% or Highway, all filters on), which might have a few BSM falses every drive, with the occasional lengthy one that won't go away.

Interestingly, I tried both 1.53 and 1.54 on the R3 and felt it was a step in the wrong direction with BSM filtering as well. For instance, I never see Mazda falses with 1.50. On both later firmwares, they started appearing. Revert firmware back and they're gone. 1.50 seems to be the sweet spot for the R3.

Needless to say, the R3 on 1.50 will be staying for now. It's what I already own and is what I am so used to by now.

 

[MassGTI]

This morning I returned to my quiet default daily driver settings, but lowered K sensitivity.
Adv K @ 30%
K Filter & TSF on.
MRCD off.
Rear K Mute on.

These will return me to a more quiet ride than the test, which I had turned off TSF and MRCD On, Rear K Mute off, for the purpose of comparison to the R3.

There is a lot of tools in the box to customize the ride you want.

Hey, how do you think the new 1.35 update for the R7 will do against the R3 now? This is a major sticking point for me too because here inMA we have a ton of K band so have to keep that as strong as possible. Your words will be the deciding factor, it seems as if the new update is really good...but is it THAT good?

at this point, I’m not gonna wait for theia...I’ll be picking an R3($220 used) or an R7($350 almost new) based on further reports on the new update.

 

[DC Fluid]

IMO the R7 is worth it at these prices.
It's more future proof.
Falsing is very much comparable (on 133) because the R7 is much more sensitive on K settings than R3, plus dual horns..
To clarify: in testing I find that the R7 when on Advanced or City, to have more sensitivity by a large amount against K band radar. Example; R7 30% = R3 50%, R7 City = R3 30-40%
So you need to dial down the R7 more to make it equal to the R3 for comparison.
Also you can rear K Mute the R7, and now with Firm 135 even more tools, plus more protection against K Band
Combined with the larger display, arrows, MRCD performance and other features, the two are really in a different class now .
R3 is my backup detector, loaner, or travel companion due to the compact size, simplicity and cost if lost or damaged.
R3 is still a beast and all many need.
R7 is now pulling out front as definitely the showcase premier model Uniden envisioned it to be.
I now believe that at discounted prices the R7 is the bang for the buck leader bar none.
R3 wins for those on a budget, by a very large margin in it's price category.
Good luck and you will enjoy whatever choice you make.

 

[MassGTI]

@DC Fluid thanks again, I’d rather have a bit more chatter and a bit more range/features so based on your words and others’ I will absolutely be picking up the R7.
I’m excited! Soon enough the tax returns will be back and I’ll be running ALPs too, it’s gonna feel good to finally be NEAR FULL protection. PSL? L-O-L.

Endlessly appreciative of everybody who’s helped.