Uniden has released firmware 1.54 for both the Uniden R1 and Uniden R3.
This is a minor update that gives you a little more customization for MRCD alerts. Long range performance, BSM filtering, and MRCD detection performance itself is unchanged compared to 1.53.
Download 1.54 for the R3 here.
Download 1.54 for the R1 here.
MRCD Quiet Ride
There is now a new menu option called “Q-Ride MRCD” that allows you to get low speed muting for MRCD alerts, independent of low speed muting for traditional radar alerts.
MRCD Alert Priority
There are now new options to control the alert priority when you’re seeing multiple different signals. Here is how signals are prioritized with the different menu options:
- Ka/MRCD Priority: Ka -> MRCD -> The strongest X/K radar signal
- MRCD/Ka Priority: MRCD -> Ka -> The strongest X/K radar signal
- Signal Priority: MRCD -> The strongest X/K/Ka radar signal
How to Update
To update your detector, you can download 1.54 for the R1 here and you can download 1.54 for the R3 here.
If you need help updating, check out this tutorial explaining how to update your R1 or R3.
Finally, if you still need to purchase your detector, you can purchase the R1 here and you can purchase the R3 here.
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Apologies if I missed it elsewhere, but Uniden appears to have packaged an obsolete Red Light Camera database with the new firmware. Their last DB update was dated 6 Oct 20. The one packaged with FW v1.54 is from 6 Apr 20. I, therefore, loaded the new FW (v1.54) and, then, reloaded the 6 Oct 20 DB. Did anyone else notice this?
Hello;
This detector is new to me and I downloaded the latest posted files just 3 days ago. I’ve since downloaded the “older” DB file.
Thank you for noticing and posting.
@Steve Day: Excellent observation and much appreciated posting! Gold star for you sir!!
Thank you very much for all the detailed information you have meticulously provided. I just updated the firmware and programmed my new R3 as per your recommended settings.
This is the only sire anyone needs to do research on all the things mentioned here. Amazing!!!
Hi,
As always, thank you very much for these posts.
I own a Uniden R3 and I’ve just updated the Firmware to ver. 1.54.
The thing is that I’ve realized that I never installed the previous one (ver. 1.53).
Therefore, the question would be: are the Firmware updates cumulative or should I also install ver. 1.53 and afterwards again ver. 1.54?
Thank you very much in advance for your help.
AFAIK, firmware updates are cumulative. You shouldn’t have to sequentially step thru them.
Thank you Steve for your prompt answer!
my Uniden R3 and my friend’s R3 both are updated to the latest firmware and db, but they are not picking up the latest laser detection from Vancouver Canada anymore, maybe since last year.
I’ve gone thru these speed traps almost everyday and not once it pick them up.
can someone confirm and is there someway Uniden will address that in firmware update or my R3 is now just an Radar detector and red light camera reminder now?
Dear VortexRadar.com community;
I just bought the R3 Uniden radar detector. I live in New York State, specifically Merrick NY, 11566.
One: I can’t figure out how to set the time, and two: what is the best frequency to run: specifically for speeding tickets on the highway….Ronald
Author
For time, you set that by adjusting your timezone and DST settings. For frequencies, running extra Ka segments would be wise for NY. This thread can be helpful.
When ordering a new R3 is the latest software already installed 1.54
Author
No way to say for sure. Depends on when the detector was manufactured. Either way, it’s a good idea to check when you receive your detector, as well as to know how to update in general since updates continue to be released over time.
Database Incompatibility Issue …
Uniden’s most current posted downloadable red light and speed camera photo enforcement database .bin file for the Uniden R3 DB_20210702.bin is misnamed in as much as it instead contains the database for the Uniden R7. As such, it cannot be installed on the R3. I brought this to the attention of Uniden Customer Service and they were unaware of this and had no solution. My guess, Uniden software engineers will make fix, remove the incorrect R7 database and put proper correct R3 database DB_20210702.bin in this file, or perhaps the current database will be bundled with the next Uniden R3 Firmware update. Uniden R Series SW Download Tool v.1.28 will not allow B_20210702.bin to be installed to the R3 radar detector. So, although the database is no doubt identical for both the R3 and the R7, it does not work as a stand-alone DB download with the v1.54 2.15 firmware preinstalled in the R3.
Yeah me and a buddy here in Alberta Canada also are running the R3 but it’s Awsome on ka band. But not good at all with laser. It’s basically useless up here for the laser part they get you every time with the laser. There’s no time to slow down. Just wondering is there a canadian update maybe the signals are different? Just wondering thanks ?
I’m not aware of any detector that’s consistently good against laser. Laser is more discretely targeted than radar so, when your detector goes off, your speed has almost always been clocked and it’s too late to slow down. The only exception of which I can think is if you’re in a group of cars and the cop is careless in targeting an adjacent car. In my experience with a few different detectors, unless you run a laser jamming system, laser alarms are almost always ticket alarms.
The problem is it doesn’t even pick up any signal when the cop is directly shooting at you with the laser in vancouver here! It seems like the R3 can’t detector that new type of laser gun
Interesting. Thanks for the clarification, James. I have yet to experience that behavior, and am interested to see how common it is…
I’ve gone thru many speed trap with cops using the newer laser gun, not once my R3 pick, up the signals.
I had tried what everyone saying, just to factory reset it, and it seems to pick up more K bands when I pass by automatic door, but still no laser
Author
Radar detectors are the wrong tool against laser. Plus Uniden detectors aren’t known for their stellar laser sensitivity in the first place. Against laser, Waze and laser jammers are FAR better tools.
Hi there I was on the Uniden website and noticed that there is a 154.215 firmware update. Is it worth updating it from the regular 154 version. Thanks
I updated it to this version but the screen went black, but everything is working fine. I’m not sure if it is from the firmware or something went wrong. I am still using it though and relying on the beebs and also I can change the settings and the screen will show up without problems.
Anybody got an idea on this if you ever faced the same?
I downloaded and installed it last week. It updafed fine. Maybe it’s your PC ?
I’d like to see the Auto Dim Settings impact the Dark mode settings, including alert brightness as well as brightness of the moving DOTS. I have an R3 and am trying dark mode to mitigate screen burn-in. These changes would improve dark mode usability. Please pass this on to the manufacturer. Thanks.