The Uniden DFR6 slots into the Uniden lineup a notch below the GPS-enabled DFR7. It has an OLED display with white fonts on a black background, making it more readable than some.
The primary control buttons are top-mounted and easy to locate.
The user guide is 2-by-3-inches and difficult to read. Most owners will likely opt to use it in plug-and-play mode and rely on its good signal processing to sort things out.
The menu also offers some options that can reduce false alarms. For example, K narrow and Ka narrow reduce the bandwidth being scanned to quicken response and cut false alarms.
The Uniden DFR6 delivered above-average range on K band and 34.7 GHz Ka-band. Against the other common Ka-band frequency, 35.5 GHz, it performed similarly to its pricier Uniden DFR7 sibling.
The Uniden DFR6 has a good set of features and an attractively low price. In fairness, its performance can't be compared to models that cost two or three times as much. A few high-risk drivers may be tempted to pony up additional bucks for a bit longer range but most will be happy as-is.
The Uniden DFR7 is the company's entry-level GPS-enabled model and identical visually with the DFR6. Like its sibling it has a black OLED display with white fonts. Unlike the latter it shows your speed at the left of the display and in the presence of a red light camera, an icon to represent that threat.
In addition to speed and vehicle voltage, it can also display an 8-point compass or, if you really want to know, the altitude.
Like most upscale detectors, the DFR7 will display a radar signal's digital frequency. This won't help on X or K band but the information can be useful on Ka. Police radar occupies only three slivers of this extraordinarily-wide band, enabling very knowledgeable users to identify legitimate threats at a glance.
Approaching a red light camera triggers a voice alert and a camera icon appears in the display. If the camera also looks for speeding, it adds Speed Camera to the display. Distance to the camera counts down as the distance closes and if you're speeding, a double-chime alert warns of the transgression.
With GPS the DFR7 has a big advantage over its non-GPS sibling, the DFR6. It's able to lock out nuisance signals like automatic door openers and refrain from alerting each time one is passed. Commuters in particular will find favor with this ability.
Like the other Unidens, the DFR7 comes with a tiny user manual. But since all but the enthusiast will likely use it as factory-configured anyway, probably that's a non-issue.
Compared to its non-GPS stablemate, the Uniden DFR7 offers some additional tools to help combat false alarms. It knows how fast you're driving, for instance, and Quiet Ride shuts off audible radar and laser alerts until a user-selected speed is reached. It's adjustable in 5 mph increments and be set to speeds up to 50 mph and helps to keep it much quieter, particularly around town.
Two more features, K narrow and Ka narrow, reduce the bandwidth being scanned and can be used to further cut down on false alarms.
Performance
The Uniden DFR7 led the pack on K band, dropping back somewhat in Ka-band performance.
The Verdict
The Uniden DFR7 has some endearing qualities—fewer false alarms and protection from red light cameras chief among them. It's also priced far lower than the upmarket Uniden R3, making it a very cost-effective alternative.
Uniden R1
Review Summary
Pro
- Good performance
- Decent feature set
- Effective windshield mount
Con
- Low-contrast display
- Sub-par audio tones
- Tiny user manual
The Uniden R1 is billed as the company's premier high-performance model. The same detector is offered with GPS and dubbed the R3 ($399 MSRP).
Unlike previous Unidens, the R1 has a color OLED display. The default color is blue with other colors available including pink and purple.
Regardless of the color choice, the display is a bit fuzzy and looks out of place on an expensive piece of electronics.
Much of the R1 is borrowed from the DFR6, which includes switchgear and control layout.
The default audio tones are a collection of chirps, whistles and tweets. Eleven alternatives are available, none of them much better. Voice alerts are the option most users will likely choose.
Like the other Unidens, the R1 offers K narrow and Ka narrow which reduce the bandwidth being scanned and limit false alarms.
Aside from the usual City and Highway modes, the R1 offers Advanced mode. This allows the user to adjust the sensitivity of each radar band. From the factory-default 100 percent, sensitivity can be lowered by as much as 70 percent, equal to -10.5 dB, a significant degree.
We experimented by dialing back K band to 60 percent and found that it had little effect. By lowering it to the minimum 30 percent we saw a reduction in the number of false alarms from door openers. This strategy also marginally reduced false alarms caused by Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) radar in nearby cars.
Another feature to reduce false alarms is Ka-band segmentation, allowing knowledgeable users to select from 10 segments for the detector to scan. Only three of the 10 are used by police radar and shutting off the others is a worthwhile move.
Performance
The Uniden R1 displayed good sensitivity on K band, ranking second behind the leading Escort Redline EX. On 34.7 GHz Ka band it trailed the Radenso XP but finished ahead of the other two Unidens.
On 35.5 GHz Ka band the R1 led the pack, finishing a few feet ahead of the Escort iX and Radenso XP.
We also tested the R1 against our Spectre radar detector-detector and confirmed that it can't be detected. Drivers in Virginia and Canadian provinces where detectors are banned will find this trait useful.
The Verdict
We found the Uniden R1 to be a good-performing radar detector. It has a comprehensive set of features and enough adjustability to make it attractive to many enthusiasts.
We were disappointed by the color display that hampers its ability to convey information. On the plus side, features like Ka-band segmentation and superior performance make it a good choice for those looking to dodge a ticket.
Escort Passport Max Ci
Review Summary
Pro
- Outstanding sensitivity
- Red light camera alerts
- Extensive features
- Laser jammers
- Autolearn
Con
- Overspeed Alert
- Expensive
- Professional installation only
The Escort Passport Max Ci twins, the Ci ($2,995 MSRP) and Ci 360 ($3,495 MSRP) succeed the Passport 9500ci, the remote (built-in) model we consider the best ever.
Otherwise identical, the Max Ci 360 comes with two extra laser jammers, for the rear, and a rear radar antenna. This lets it indicate whether a radar or laser threat is coming from the front or rear, a feature introduced on the Max 360.
The Max Ci's thumb-sized control unit is backlit, making the buttons easy to locate at night. The module can be surface-mounted or concealed, often tucked away in the ash tray or console.
Users who prefer plug-and-play operation may opt for the factory-default Novice mode. This permits a choice of display colors; all other user preferences remain off limits.
Engaging Advanced mode allows access to the user settings. Meter mode offers the same options as the Escort Max 360c—Standard, Spec, Expert and Simple. Standard mode displays the radar band (X, K or Ka, or laser) plus a bar graph depicting signal strength.
In Spec mode the Max Ci can be set to numerically display a radar frequency, in gigahertz (the Max Ci 360 will show two, one for each antenna).
Simple Mode replaces the bar graphs and alphanumeric displays, showing only a rudimentary Caution or Slow Down warning instead. For non-nerds Simple mode is probably a wise choice. Strangely, it's accessible only by selecting Advanced mode and navigating through the Preferences menu.
The Escort Max Ci showed substantially better Ka-band range than its 9500ci forebear.
The Escort Max Ci showed substantially better Ka-band range than its 9500ci forebear.
Performance
The Max Ci clearly benefits from its new front radar antenna and revised signal processing. On the all-important Ka band, the Escort Passport Max Ci delivered nearly double the range of the Escort 9500ci, our previous record holder.
On the nearly-extinct X band the Escort Passport Max Ci was within a few feet of the 9500ci and it had 27 percent better K-band range. This makes the Max Ci the best-performing remote radar detector we've seen.
The Verdict
There's hardly any competition for the Max Ci. K40 sells a rebranded Korean model with low performance and ineffective laser jammers, leaving the Radenso RC-M as the only other choice.
