Review of the Uniden LRD950 Radar Detector

[CJR238]

I'm curious how the 950 will stack up against the RedLines off excess sensitivity. That would be the true test in my opinion.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Gleaning HC's results from recent testing, it does NOT do off-axis like an M3 does off axis. Although the LRD does very well on 34.7, beating even the V1C and Radenso in testing.

Impressive. Think ill stick with my M3's but it certainly sounds like a great cost effective option.

[upstatedoc]

I've posted this on other forums but my 950 is on par with my V1 as far as Ka 34.7 detection goes..

[happya$$]

I am currently using an LRD950 and I can tell you that so far it has been the quietest RD I have ever used. I am using firmware 1.51. I can't comment on its performance yet but everything else so far on this RD has been impressive!

[Radar Roy]

I've heard great things from lots of people about the Uniden, so I wonder being I had one of their first models if there was something screwed up with it? We also tested the same unit at the Shootout and didn't do well there either.

[Veil Guy]

I've heard great things from lots of people about the Uniden, so I wonder being I had one of their first models if there was something screwed up with it? We also tested the same unit at the Shootout and didn't do well there either.

I think so, Roy. The very first unit I got had serious reception issues. Send yours in, like me, and let's give it a second look. VG

[Vortex]

So before you guys go back and retest this unit (please do it properly, one detector at a time, and mounted on the windshield), can you check what firmware version you're running?

Some people have reported better results with the older firmware versions, but I'm not sure yet if that's simply sample variation. 1.22 is the earliest version I've heard of and some people are still receiving older firmware revisions on brand new units. Heck even the brand new one I received earlier this week shipped with 1.22 on it. There's also 1.35, 1.37, 1.48, 1.51, etc... so lots of improvements and changes over time. Plenty of testing has been done with the older versions along with the newer versions and they've all done well.

Can you double check what version you've tested? I don't think it'll make a big difference in the end, but it's something to consider before writing things off as simply being due to earlier production unit or version.

[Veil Guy]

So before you guys go back and retest this unit (please do it properly, one detector at a time, and mounted on the windshield), can you check what firmware version you're running?

Some people have reported better results with the older firmware versions, but I'm not sure yet if that's simply sample variation. 1.22 is the earliest version I've heard of and some people are still receiving older firmware revisions on brand new units. Heck even the brand new one I received earlier this week shipped with 1.22 on it. There's also 1.35, 1.37, 1.48, 1.51, etc... so lots of improvements and changes over time. Plenty of testing has been done with the older versions along with the newer versions and they've all done well.

Can you double check what version you've tested? I don't think it'll make a big difference in the end, but it's something to consider before writing things off as simply being due to earlier production unit or version.

I'll have to check. I will say this, I have refrained from a review because of the disappointing performance. So much so, I had it checked in a chamber and its reception was seriously off.

We believe is that it's hardware. Not firmware. Keep in mind too, I had one of the very first units. So I wouldn't rule out early production or QA variance issue.

VG

[Radar Roy]

We got one of the earliest versions Vortex, 1.22 and those were the 1st tests we did with it. Then we updated it to 1.35 for our April shootout.

It's going to be awhile before we do anymore retesting, but Vortex I have complete trust with your findings, perhaps I just got a dud??

So before you guys go back and retest this unit (please do it properly, one detector at a time, and mounted on the windshield), can you check what firmware version you're running?

Some people have reported better results with the older firmware versions, but I'm not sure yet if that's simply sample variation. 1.22 is the earliest version I've heard of and some people are still receiving older firmware revisions on brand new units. Heck even the brand new one I received earlier this week shipped with 1.22 on it. There's also 1.35, 1.37, 1.48, 1.51, etc... so lots of improvements and changes over time. Plenty of testing has been done with the older versions along with the newer versions and they've all done well.

Can you double check what version you've tested? I don't think it'll make a big difference in the end, but it's something to consider before writing things off as simply being due to earlier production unit or version.

[Vortex]

We got one of the earliest versions Vortex, 1.22 and those were the 1st tests we did with it. Then we updated it to 1.35 for our April shootout.

It's going to be awhile before we do anymore retesting, but Vortex I have complete trust with your findings, perhaps I just got a dud??

Gotcha. Sounds like it's not firmware dependent. Thanks for clarifying.

Given that you were running two detectors side by side, we can't rule out interference either. I know it was a Redline you tested with, but even the Redline will alert to the Spectre if you put it close enough. It's effectively stealth to RDD's in practice, true, but that doesn't mean that it's truly leak-free at very close distances. I've run a V1 and Redline together for a while and noticed the V1 would affect the Redline and sometimes vice versa. Because of this, it's hard to take your I/O results seriously when you're breaking one of the cardinal sins of radar detector testing, you know? Weird stuff can and will happen and we gotta do everything in our power not to do anything that could incorrect skew the results.

As for the radar shootout you did, are you referring to the one where you were handholding detectors while the radar gun was being transmitted? I wasn't there and I only saw the little clip you posted on youtube, but how can we be sure that some detectors weren't pointed off in different directions, incorrectly skewing the results? Is it possible that one detector was being tested on axis while another was being tested off axis, for example? Radar detector sensitivity can vary significantly based on the angle the horn is receiving the signal so you looked to be introducing a bunch of variables that could easily be invalidating your results.

It's certainly possible that you had a dud of a detector. Things happen. At the same time, we have to make sure the testing itself is conducted properly for obvious reasons.

[Radar Roy]

Never thought of the Redline interfering with the other detectors so you bring up a valid point with your experiences with your I/O tests, thanks for sharing..