Great video. The reason why CarPlay support is very important is that in some states your phone’s display can not be on or you will get a ticket for using your phone. If the App was able to display all the alert information on the car’s display would be very helpful.
Apple has restrictions on how quickly you're allowed to update popup notifications so you're not gonna get the same realtime information about arrow flips and signal strength changes the way you would from your detector. I dunno, I get that people like the idea in theory, I really do, but I just haven't found it to be as good as what you already have from the RD, or even necessary given that you already have the display. To each their own though. I know people are gonna ask regardless, lol.
I sent an email to Uniden to pretty much express the same thing. I have a R4 and a R8 that I purchased not only for their performance but for the future release of a compatible laser jammer. I stated that not only myself but many others felt lied to and this was just a way to sell more detectors. I had mentioned the additional port on the detectors and smart cord. I actually laid into them and stated that I would have a hard time buying another one of their products because they are not trustworthy. Uniden responded with an apology and more or less said I received misinformation but not from them. They stated that they never said a laser jammer was going to be released for those detectors and the additional port on the detector isn't and never was meant for a laser jammer. So all this time all the different information I gathered from RD forum, Vortex Radar, and a couple other sources was incorrect and just made up by those sources without any information from Uniden. I call BS and that makes me even more PO. I just thought I would share that with you.
CarPlay could be a useful interface for the app because it can be controlled in a vehicle's bigger built in screen and the iPhone can be put away out of sight. Audio alerts get fed through the sound system and heard much better even with music playing. Just my opinion. Another thorough production as always.
FINALLY. So far from what you've shown I like it. Especially it showing the system voltage in the app, because I always have that little side window on my detectors displaying voltage. I just like knowing my alternator is working as it should, and were it to fail, diagnosing would pretty much be instant. The whole audio output for people like motorcycle riders would be good, but most certainly would like it to be just an option. One reason I really don't use Highway Radar that much is the lack of an option to turn that off. Every time the detector hits, I get to hear it through my car radio. 100% not necessary in an enclosed vehicle. Especially as often a radar detector picks something up.
You can disable specific alerts on highway radar or mute them as you receive them by tapping the alert banner. The setting is under radar detector integration > operational settings. Also notification over the stereo is huge for me in a car because I like it loud and the detector is nearly inaudible over it.
It's crazy how people doubted uniden when they first came out... They made nothing but solid products in the radar segment.. it's crazy how they are the new benchmark and they are the new "Escort" of the industry IMO! I have both high-end detectors from each brand and I hate my 360C. And it's in my nice car. My uniden is in my daily driver.
I have an R3, I was really hoping they would have a USB adapter or something to connect to my phone so I could use the app. Hopefully, someone might figure out a way in the future. Or I might just upgrade at some point
6:51 During the alert at this time frame, which appears to be an Auto Memory lockout, the phone shows the alert in color for a brief second, while the radar detector shows it correctly in gray.
Waze reports, Aircraft warnings, reports to it's own system and to highway radar, and work with the IOS dev for highway radar and integrate the whole thing in.
That's pretty cool uniden now has their own app to compete with Cedar's DS app. Will it offer CSAs like escort and cobra? Great work, Vortex. Side note: To all the escort/cobra radar users out there, long live iradar and escort live. I say this because I'm having an issue where I launch escort live on my phone (Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra) and only the BT symbol shows up on the display of the detector instead of the speed limit. I tested this on other android phones and the speed limit on the detector just displays - - and disconnects from BT after a certain amount of time. Plus, is it me or did Cedar lose their mind: WHO ELSE RUNNING DS NOTICED A PREMIUM BUBBLE POP UP WHILE RUNNING THE APP IN THE BACKGROUND??
Can you talk to uniden about connecting to Idatalink maestro module for Idatalink maestro compatible aftermarket radios. I love this feature with my Redline C or any escort C models. You can setup the radio to cut the radio & alert on the screen & over your car speakers if you’re jamming out loud during the day where the radar detector screen can be hard to hear & see. There are other features as well but those are the ones that are important to me & other audiophiles
My R4 works awesome but really needed a true undetectable RD and apparently they ae not and now no laser jammer ...... I knew should have got the Redline 360
Android app and R8 continues to disconnect Bluetooth connection. When it was working the app showed 10 mph when I was going about 40. Using latest 1.35 firmware. So.....not ready for prime time!
Thank you Vortex Radar: Tried the new android app and it has a flaw. When I went to settings, the only thing I changed was the daylight savings time switch, and when I did the detector r4 the screen went blank with a blue dot showing. Next thing it said was that it did a factory reset. Ugggg, Now I will have to change all my setting back to the way they were.
I was recently setting up the uniden r8 following your install video + setting preferences, but I cannot find any k block segmentation any more to turn them on. Is that just non existent anymore? For myself in Florida I wanted to do the k block segmentation recommended from your blog.
@@jasondowd7077 you don't tech at all do you? Like.. at all? Anyways "conspiracy theorist" was a term coined and released as a strategy by the cia in the late 60s/early 70s to discredit witnesses/people who had CORRECTLY seen something or had nailed what the agency was doing. So.. I guess yeah. He's that. Correct. Guess what that makes you?
I just checked their privacy policy on the app store and it says it doesn't collect your data. Android app is now out and it says the same there. If you're concerned about this, it might be worth taking a look at the privacy policies of other apps too including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Drive Smarter, etc. :)
I changed an escort. I returned the 360 MKII camera bundle due to interface failures. I had to return everything, so I replaced it with an R8, but I'm seeing that the Uniden app is very complicated.
Jammers, shifters, defusers... all different names for the same thing. Scramblers are Rocky Mountain Radar's terminology for their scammy junk that doesn't work.
I see you can check for firmware updates, but can you actually update the firmware on an R8 for example? I know Bluetooth transfers data slower than the WiFi version, but data can be transferred over Bluetooth. There’s an update available for mine that I haven’t done yet so I may try this myself and get back with you if you don’t have the answer yet
@@VortexRadar Okay, so I missed that part. My bad You cannot update it through the app Thanks for making a short question difficult Love your channel, don’t love the attitude 😊
Would be cool if they can integrate this into android auto/apple car play as navigation but I know both have a stranglehold on the market and arbitrarily block apps. I think this is more useful as a lot of modern cars run android right on the infotainment so pairing with the phone is moot. I like to leave my phone in my pocket or on the charge so having to put it in a phone holder on my dash just feels cheap and dumb when I can have it integrate directly with the car.
@@VortexRadar thank you Vortex. I appreciate the reply and the information. I have been subscribed to your channel for quite some time now and I really enjoy all the information and time you take to explain everything.
@@tailsneon556 thanks for replying. Could you explain what you mean by the rear facing horn? I was under the assumption that that clear thing on top of the radar detector picked up the rear, but I’m guessing not.
@Grumpy392 The antennas that pick up radar. The R8 has two. One faces toward the rear on the right side of the detector. On the R8 it's behind that panel that says Uniden on it.
I wish they (uniden) would just use Waze app (when marking on the map) since soo many people use Waze anyway(people w/o radar detectors)… because i notice a lot of cops don’t even have there detectors on (where i drive)… thanks tho vortex
Why do i need an app showing me the same exact thing as the radar detector is telling me? I'd rather just run waze and rely on the actual detector for alerts.
Yeah this seems totally useless, and phones overheat, run out of batteries, and are also used for other things like pulling over and taking pictures, music, etc. I specifically want it to be a phone-free device.
I own an R8 and use R8 Companion and this seems like a huge step backwards, even with it being free. Not sure what uniden is doing these days but their current strategy with products and software is... Disappointing. Great engineers, questionable leadership it seems.
@ because i dont want my phone taken over by a rd app. I dont mount my phone like you are showing and these apps are Taylor made for carplay especially running along side waze on the car screen
Escort makes a CarPlay app and it isn’t useful IMO. You already have the RD display available. I love CarPlay as well, but in practice I haven’t found that it adds much that you need from your RD. 🤷♂️
I've stumbled upon your channel while looking up dash cams, what is the point of having a radar detector in a car? Other than to help people break the law (speeding) and not get caught?
2 Updates:
1) The app is now available for Android.
2) The R4 and R8 will now support Uniden’s laser jammer add-on too.
I think the biggest shock for me is this App being available for the iOS before Android
Its available in Android here in NZ..
Usa also, I just downloaded it
yeah. i’m still using the r8 companion app. the smart locks are good
Nice job getting a detailed review of the app out so quickly and hopefully you get over covid soon.
Thanks! Yeah just super lame timing with getting sick right before and then getting better right when it was no longer worth going late.
This is pretty cool, and yes, it would be great in the future to be able to do firmware updates through the app.
Great video. The reason why CarPlay support is very important is that in some states your phone’s display can not be on or you will get a ticket for using your phone. If the App was able to display all the alert information on the car’s display would be very helpful.
Apple has restrictions on how quickly you're allowed to update popup notifications so you're not gonna get the same realtime information about arrow flips and signal strength changes the way you would from your detector. I dunno, I get that people like the idea in theory, I really do, but I just haven't found it to be as good as what you already have from the RD, or even necessary given that you already have the display.
To each their own though. I know people are gonna ask regardless, lol.
Thank you so much for getting this out for us!
R/CRAP would be more appropriate after not supporting laser jammers in their bait and switch advertising
I sent an email to Uniden to pretty much express the same thing. I have a R4 and a R8 that I purchased not only for their performance but for the future release of a compatible laser jammer. I stated that not only myself but many others felt lied to and this was just a way to sell more detectors. I had mentioned the additional port on the detectors and smart cord. I actually laid into them and stated that I would have a hard time buying another one of their products because they are not trustworthy. Uniden responded with an apology and more or less said I received misinformation but not from them. They stated that they never said a laser jammer was going to be released for those detectors and the additional port on the detector isn't and never was meant for a laser jammer. So all this time all the different information I gathered from RD forum, Vortex Radar, and a couple other sources was incorrect and just made up by those sources without any information from Uniden. I call BS and that makes me even more PO. I just thought I would share that with you.
Uniden is NOW supporting OG R4 and R8 detectors for laser jammers.
Thank you for covering all of these! unique content on RUclips.
CarPlay could be a useful interface for the app because it can be controlled in a vehicle's bigger built in screen and the iPhone can be put away out of sight. Audio alerts get fed through the sound system and heard much better even with music playing. Just my opinion. Another thorough production as always.
If it doesn't already do this, I'd like it to pop up on android auto screen with alerts
1000 %
There's a big ass wall of legal issues surrounding Android Auto and Apple Car Play when it comes to apps. So I doubt we'll ever see that
FINALLY. So far from what you've shown I like it. Especially it showing the system voltage in the app, because I always have that little side window on my detectors displaying voltage. I just like knowing my alternator is working as it should, and were it to fail, diagnosing would pretty much be instant. The whole audio output for people like motorcycle riders would be good, but most certainly would like it to be just an option. One reason I really don't use Highway Radar that much is the lack of an option to turn that off. Every time the detector hits, I get to hear it through my car radio. 100% not necessary in an enclosed vehicle. Especially as often a radar detector picks something up.
hm you should be able to turn off that audio in highway radar too
@@VortexRadar I've tried to find the fix, and I'm on the forums too. Haven't found one.
You can disable specific alerts on highway radar or mute them as you receive them by tapping the alert banner. The setting is under radar detector integration > operational settings. Also notification over the stereo is huge for me in a car because I like it loud and the detector is nearly inaudible over it.
Thanks! Im fixing to buy some new R8s since Escort cant fix the Redline 360C.
Thanks for this. I'll be waiting for the R8w review/test
Thank you Vortex Radar. Super Video.
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙏
The app, although it’s basic makes changing the settings of breeze 👍🏻
It's crazy how people doubted uniden when they first came out...
They made nothing but solid products in the radar segment.. it's crazy how they are the new benchmark and they are the new "Escort" of the industry IMO!
I have both high-end detectors from each brand and I hate my 360C. And it's in my nice car. My uniden is in my daily driver.
Saving for uniden right now. 🫡. Throwing away 360C
I have an R3, I was really hoping they would have a USB adapter or something to connect to my phone so I could use the app. Hopefully, someone might figure out a way in the future. Or I might just upgrade at some point
6:51 During the alert at this time frame, which appears to be an Auto Memory lockout, the phone shows the alert in color for a brief second, while the radar detector shows it correctly in gray.
Yeah I wonder if it’s how it communicates where the detector first reports an alert then that it’s a locked out alert.
I would love Uniden to integrate Special Activity Broadcast Receiving Engine (SABRE) or waze for crowd-source alerts.
Great video. Does the app show directional arrows with the R4w.
Nope, it doesn’t have a rear antenna. If you want arrows, you need the R8w. The app simply displays the RD info.
Waze reports, Aircraft warnings, reports to it's own system and to highway radar, and work with the IOS dev for highway radar and integrate the whole thing in.
Nice. I'm driving a VB WRX 459hp. That's what the dyno says. I get more attention than a Lambo. I'm upgrading from an R3. What do you recommend ?
That's pretty cool uniden now has their own app to compete with Cedar's DS app. Will it offer CSAs like escort and cobra? Great work, Vortex.
Side note: To all the escort/cobra radar users out there, long live iradar and escort live. I say this because I'm having an issue where I launch escort live on my phone (Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra) and only the BT symbol shows up on the display of the detector instead of the speed limit. I tested this on other android phones and the speed limit on the detector just displays - - and disconnects from BT after a certain amount of time. Plus, is it me or did Cedar lose their mind: WHO ELSE RUNNING DS NOTICED A PREMIUM BUBBLE POP UP WHILE RUNNING THE APP IN THE BACKGROUND??
That UI looks like something straight out of the 1990s. Lol.
There was no smartphones in the 90s or apps store
Can you talk to uniden about connecting to Idatalink maestro module for Idatalink maestro compatible aftermarket radios. I love this feature with my Redline C or any escort C models. You can setup the radio to cut the radio & alert on the screen & over your car speakers if you’re jamming out loud during the day where the radar detector screen can be hard to hear & see. There are other features as well but those are the ones that are important to me & other audiophiles
With this info is it better to get the R7 or save and get the r4? And is it really worth getting since I’m in Pa?
Wish these would sync to your dash like waze
What's the better radar to have? Any opinions? I have an r7 i think but iv had it for about 4 years now. And I want to upgrade
Interested to see how (if) it compares to R4 Companion in real life.
Android is already available at the google playstore, I have to change the Km/h to Miles though, works good
I have r4, cannot figure out how to change miles to kms on the unit, is there any way to get it done, thanks
To bad r7 don’t get any of these features, just picked mine up not long ago either for a good deal on prime. Makes me want to get the r8
Right, the R7 doesn’t have Bluetooth while the R8 and R8w do.
My R4 works awesome but really needed a true undetectable RD and apparently they ae not and now no laser jammer ...... I knew should have got the Redline 360
Android app and R8 continues to disconnect Bluetooth connection. When it was working the app showed 10 mph when I was going about 40.
Using latest 1.35 firmware.
So.....not ready for prime time!
Thank you Vortex Radar: Tried the new android app and it has a flaw. When I went to settings, the only thing I changed was the daylight savings time switch, and when I did the detector r4 the screen went blank with a blue dot showing. Next thing it said was that it did a factory reset. Ugggg, Now I will have to change all my setting back to the way they were.
I saw that with fw 1.30. Upgrade to 1.36 and try again. :)
Is there any app for Android for the r8 that outputs audio to the phone / headset for motorcycle riding
So can this replace highway radar app for us android folks?
Did the laser sensitivity get better?
since its categorized as a navigation app im hoping it gets pushed to car play soon
I was recently setting up the uniden r8 following your install video + setting preferences, but I cannot find any k block segmentation any more to turn them on. Is that just non existent anymore? For myself in Florida I wanted to do the k block segmentation recommended from your blog.
Are you running the latest firmware, 1.35?
How do you set up highway radar for R8W? "Sabre plugin"
Thanks for the tour through Uniden's new personal data harvesting platform.
Lmao..Uniden doesn't give a crap about your personal data. Conspiracy theorist much?
every company wants to sell your data. its foolish to think otherwise.
@@jasondowd7077 you don't tech at all do you? Like.. at all? Anyways "conspiracy theorist" was a term coined and released as a strategy by the cia in the late 60s/early 70s to discredit witnesses/people who had CORRECTLY seen something or had nailed what the agency was doing. So.. I guess yeah. He's that. Correct. Guess what that makes you?
@@jasondowd7077 So you're saying the app doesn't harvest any?
I just checked their privacy policy on the app store and it says it doesn't collect your data. Android app is now out and it says the same there.
If you're concerned about this, it might be worth taking a look at the privacy policies of other apps too including Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, Drive Smarter, etc. :)
Is there any app that gives you the sound alert too? I have a loud bike and it pretty hard to hear the radar beeping
what is that best app to use with the R8
Keyboard covers the "Connect" button so unable to connect to WIFI.
Just downloaded now
Pity Uniden don't offer a reverse option of the ergonomic of the R8 for right handed vehicles here downunder.
For those of us who do not own a computer, update over blue tooth for an existing detector like my R8 would be awesome.
most people who buy top of the line detectors have a computer
@@sir.636 I do not disagree. I don't see the need for a computer since I use an Android phone and it fulfills my needs including wifi to my printer.
Will the Uniden App work with Apple CarPlay, so I don’t have to have my phone out?
I’m assuming you asked before watching the video?
I changed an escort. I returned the 360 MKII camera bundle due to interface failures. I had to return everything, so I replaced it with an R8, but I'm seeing that the Uniden app is very complicated.
Can’t get my R8 to pair
Do you have a video on jammers vs scrambles?
Jammers, shifters, defusers... all different names for the same thing. Scramblers are Rocky Mountain Radar's terminology for their scammy junk that doesn't work.
@VortexRadar Thank you for the clarification!
Escort redline still the best
I see you can check for firmware updates, but can you actually update the firmware on an R8 for example?
I know Bluetooth transfers data slower than the WiFi version, but data can be transferred over Bluetooth.
There’s an update available for mine that I haven’t done yet so I may try this myself and get back with you if you don’t have the answer yet
Please consider watching the video. 😉
@ I’ll watch it again 🤔
@@VortexRadar Hate it when people get smart when they have the answer…not what I’m used to with your channel
@@VortexRadar Okay, so I missed that part.
My bad
You cannot update it through the app
Thanks for making a short question difficult
Love your channel, don’t love the attitude 😊
Is it worth upgrading from the R4 to the R4w?
No
Monthly fee for the app or radar ?
No
Android app available now
Hi
I live in Canada Ontario, what is the use of this I have a Honda crv hybrid
I believe radar detectors are illegal in Ontario.
@@patrickmassicotte7143I see, but what’s the use of this machine ?
Guess my R7 - no dice
Same 😢
Android available now.
Why is the R7 never supported by any app when the radar is so expensive??
The R7 doesn’t have Bluetooth
No R7 pairing?
R7 doesn’t have Bluetooth
@VortexRadar i have r7, what app do you recommend me for the alerts?
Would be cool if they can integrate this into android auto/apple car play as navigation but I know both have a stranglehold on the market and arbitrarily block apps. I think this is more useful as a lot of modern cars run android right on the infotainment so pairing with the phone is moot. I like to leave my phone in my pocket or on the charge so having to put it in a phone holder on my dash just feels cheap and dumb when I can have it integrate directly with the car.
So us R7 Owners are just SOL?
Well the R7 doesn’t have Bluetooth so…
Is this the r8 2024?
Yes lol
@VortexRadar can you please send me the link so I can purchase it thanks
Hi Vortex , I realize the uniden R4 does not have arrows. Will it show arrows in the uniden app?
The app simply displays what the detector tells it, so no it won’t
Considering the R4 doesn't have a rear-facing horn. I'd say no.
@@VortexRadar thank you Vortex. I appreciate the reply and the information. I have been subscribed to your channel for quite some time now and I really enjoy all the information and time you take to explain everything.
@@tailsneon556 thanks for replying. Could you explain what you mean by the rear facing horn? I was under the assumption that that clear thing on top of the radar detector picked up the rear, but I’m guessing not.
@Grumpy392 The antennas that pick up radar. The R8 has two. One faces toward the rear on the right side of the detector. On the R8 it's behind that panel that says Uniden on it.
i see nice
but why not R7 man but r4 :(
R7 doesn’t have Bluetooth
I wish they (uniden) would just use Waze app (when marking on the map) since soo many people use Waze anyway(people w/o radar detectors)… because i notice a lot of cops don’t even have there detectors on (where i drive)… thanks tho vortex
When the R4 connects to the app but not my R7 😢
Right. The R7 doesn’t have Bluetooth. The R4 needs a firmware update for the settings changes to work.
@ yea I’m just saying it’s funny that a cheaper unit has an extra feature
@sriavula it's not really cheaper vs expensive it's an older model vs newer model situation.
@@Rossm812 i thoguht the r4 is older than the r7, i searched it up and it seems the opposite, so i guess that makes sense because the r7 is older
@@sriavula don't get me wrong its still unfortunate... the R7 is still a fantastic detector though. I don't feel like I'm missing anything with it.
Why do i need an app showing me the same exact thing as the radar detector is telling me? I'd rather just run waze and rely on the actual detector for alerts.
Yeah this seems totally useless, and phones overheat, run out of batteries, and are also used for other things like pulling over and taking pictures, music, etc. I specifically want it to be a phone-free device.
When is K or x band ever real?
They played us all just to get the same radar with WiFi like what 🤦🏽♂️
I’m happy with R4 Companion…see no compelling reason to change.
This is becoming too complex and confusing. Going back to the Fuzzbuster Ii.
lol
Can the app be used as a stand alone?
You mean without the radar no you cannot
They made available for the R4 but not the R3? What a great idea.
Well the R3 doesn’t have Bluetooth.
I own an R8 and use R8 Companion and this seems like a huge step backwards, even with it being free. Not sure what uniden is doing these days but their current strategy with products and software is... Disappointing. Great engineers, questionable leadership it seems.
Car play?
Why? I discuss it in the video.
@ because i dont want my phone taken over by a rd app. I dont mount my phone like you are showing and these apps are Taylor made for carplay especially running along side waze on the car screen
Escort makes a CarPlay app and it isn’t useful IMO. You already have the RD display available. I love CarPlay as well, but in practice I haven’t found that it adds much that you need from your RD. 🤷♂️
I've stumbled upon your channel while looking up dash cams, what is the point of having a radar detector in a car? Other than to help people break the law (speeding) and not get caught?
To be more aware of your surroundings.
lol what's your point?
Lol just lol
Seems like a crappy app, when compared to HR. IDK about R4 Companion...
How about Uniden update their Mac installer so I can update my detector!!!
No app for Android and I bet will not happen. How old is the R4??
That looks worse than escorts apps and thats saying a lot. Lol ...Plus, IOS before android?!?! What is this 2010? Lol