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Showing 1 of 29 conversations about:
mayorblurps
499
Apr 25, 2019
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Don't know what this was going for but came to suggest the Valentine one. I've had everything from cheaper cobras to Escort passport and beltronics (loved it until I got my V1). To me the Valentine 1 has plenty of capabilities - I honestly don't need a fancy screen on my RD. My V1 has saved me many times when I was shocked to see just how far out it alerted me before I passed the alert. Stuff like this I research to death before I buy, and the Valentine just seems like it comes out on top year after year. Just my 2 cents. I don't know anything about this uniden RD but the v1 has been around for a while. Add the BT module to the V1 and you can customize it with free apps as well.
Apr 25, 2019
user73
339
Apr 25, 2019
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mayorblurpsI've been considering a Valentine One also, but am skeptical of its ability to perform well in a dense urban environment like Houston. Whereabouts do you live, and what's your experience been like in urban areas? Thanks!
Apr 25, 2019
Mister-H
51
Apr 26, 2019
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mayorblurpsThe V1 has been a beast for a lot of years, but it's clearly fallen behind the pack in terms of performance in the last couple of years. Its signal arrow and its performance over the years is well-deserving of the fan-base it's built, but honestly, it needs updating. At $400+ it's more expensive and doesn't perform as well as the R3. Also, it doesn't offer a quiet ride like the R3 can, but the phone interface and apps are pretty cool. If it's the V1's arrows (that so many can't live without) pushing anyone toward a V1 purchase, the new Uniden R7 has a great directional/arrow display on multiple signals (IIRC) and the R7 pretty much crushes anything in its class in terms of performance...it's $599, though, so for now I'll be sticking with the R3.
Apr 26, 2019
mayorblurps
499
Apr 29, 2019
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Mister-HThanks for the info - I need to look into this more. For a while the high end escorts w color screens, etc couldn't hold up to the performance of the Valentine so I ended up with the V1. Now of course I'm definitely curious about the uniden r3. I certainly wish the V1 app was a bit more user friendly in explaining what the functions do. There is another free app that really opens the functionality of the V1 but I haven't really gone in depth with it.
Apr 29, 2019
mayorblurps
499
Apr 29, 2019
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user73I wish I could provide the info you want re: dense urban places. Unfortunately I live in a semi-rural area and venture into some urban areas but nothing like Houston. I think there's a RD forum (I found it looking for instructions on using the open source V1 app) that may help you there!
Apr 29, 2019
mayorblurps
499
May 2, 2019
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Mister-HOk, I just might be eating my words in a few days. Thanks for the comment and info about the R3. I researched the hell out of RDs before I ordered my V1 - at the time it was still a top dog as far as price/performance goes; I think my other choice was an escort and at the time they wanted a subscription fee for 1 of the features and it was considerably more expensive. But now that I've been reading up on the R3 the last few days... it definitely piqued my interest so much that I ordered one to compare to my V1. The R3 has some features (GPS!!) built in that I could really use and the distance it can detect easily beats the V1 per vortex radar's testing; plus being able to tweak things through an actual menu! I really have zero issues with the Valentine and it has certainly saved me multiple times but I definitely agree - it needs updating. I might miss the arrows but the R3 really is a better package. Can't wait to see how it goes
May 2, 2019
Mister-H
51
May 3, 2019
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mayorblurpsHey! I hope you love it. Check out Vortex's recommended settings and use the Mute Memory feature for those false Ks that you drive by frequently. When I first opened the package and took out the R3, I thought it felt too light, like, cheapish...but no worries, it's a winner, light or not. I think the current firmware is v1.48 from January '19. So just take a quick look in the settings to check your version. Google Vortex + Firmware for info on updating.
May 3, 2019
mayorblurps
499
May 5, 2019
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Mister-HSo far so good. I haven't messed with the settings other than the colors and display but was definitely excited to lock out the false X alerts I get often with the V1 - almost always grocery stores with auto open doors. But the R3 is good enough it recognizes them as false and doesn't even alarm. I do miss the arrows, but regardless I always slow down anyway. The R7 price was too high for me to consider, for now... Seems the R3 does just fine holding its own at the 399 price point! So far: I appreciate the informative screen with K/Ka band range and voice alerts (something I never thought I'd care about) and MUCH less chatter than the V1. I actually thought I got a lemon because it is so much more quiet. Plus the menu, being able to tweak settings without an app or special BT dongle. Maybe I'll run the V1 side by side and see how it does next time I'm running a trip out of town with stretches of highway that are prime speed traps.
May 5, 2019
Mister-H
51
May 5, 2019
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mayorblurpsGlad you like it! I like the the settings menu, too. I just wish they gave 5 more seconds before the menu times-out. There are SO many settings to toggle through, I think it would be great if Uniden would allow us to do batch setting adjustments while hooked up thru the USB after a firmware upgrade. It would only take seconds to do that on the PC, but it takes me awhile in the car due to the awkward angle of where I mounted it, combined with the fact that I refer to a cheat sheet and take too long to find my noted preference...then the menu times out and I have start again. Lol, what a crybaby I am.
May 5, 2019
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