Common Radar Questions

Radar has no power

One of the most common fixes we have found is that when operating the vehicle, owners of R-Series radar detectors will press the mute button on the 12v power adapter supplied with their device. However, pressing and holding the MUTE button will result in dimming the screens brightness between "Auto", "Bright", "Dim", "Dimmer", "Dark", and "Off". If you are experiencing a small blinking dot on your screen in the bottom corners, the radar is in "Dark" mode. This is a normal function of the device. You can return the radar to normal by pressing and holding the mute button on the adapter.

If you have reason to believe that the device is not currently being powered despite being plugged into its power source, press and hold the "Mute" button on either the device or the power adapter to be sure that the screen is not set on the "Off" setting.

Next, look at the other end of the power adapter that plugs into the R-Series radar detector. Inspect the RJ45 acrylic tip for any cracks, dirt, or separation from the wire boot. Ensure the internal wires are still fully seated forward as to make contact with the copper leads. Additionally, inspect the cable boot as over time the cable boot can become frail causing it to either no longer provide the strain relief necessary, or it can become separated from the clear acrylic tip.

Now, return to the cigarette lighter portion of the charger. Inspect the chrome tip for any residue, debris, or dirt that may interfere with a good contact to the cigarette port in your vehicle. If there is any potential contamination, take a cotton swab, apply Isopropyl alcohol to it, and swab softly until the debris is cleared. Once you confirm that the solution has dried, test to see if this has fixed the issue.

If this does not work, either the internal fuse (which has not shown any faulting in past subjects) or internal spring has become worn down over the time of ownership. If this is the case, you may need to replace the charger as the internal spring is not able to be removed from the housing.

No audio

Does the device display a "Sound DB Err" notification?

The error stems from a failure to upload the files when performing a firmware update. In order to resolve the issue, please reattempt the firmware update until it is complete. Once complete, acknowledge the notification and close the update tool. Power on the device and wait for roughly 30-45 seconds to see if the notification persists. If the notification persists, you should consider sending the device in for repair inspection, denoting the previous steps on the repair forms comment box, being as detailed as possible. Repair instructions can be found at the associated link here: https://repair.uniden.com/repairInstruct.cfm  

Does the device have no audio or is the audio intermittent?

When the device is powered on, press the + and - key to check if the device is responding to the changes you are implementing. If the display is responding correctly to your entries and you are still not receiving audio, and you do not have any notifications for sound file errors, you may need to consider sending the device in for repair. If the audio sounds "raspy" "tinny" or intermittent, it is also advised to send the device in for repair to have the speaker replaced by our technician.

How loud do you keep the device on a normal basis?

Previous tests have shown that radar detectors whose audio levels are left on either max or close to max volume will result in the speaker becoming "raspy" "tinny" or intermittent much quicker than those whom leave the speaker on a reasonable or manageable level, though it is not uncommon for the speakers to fault after a long period of use on normal audio levels (audio level 5 or less). If you need the speaker to be set to a higher level (level 6 or higher), you may want to consider using an external 3.5mm speaker such at the BC7, or BC15 with respects to the size of speaker and visibility in the vehicle.

No display

If the radar detector is turned on (you are receiving audible alerts when interacting with keys, or the start test audibly can be heard) and the display is blank, please see the following troubleshooting methods:

Display is cycling through brightness levels despite key interactions

If the devices display is cycling through the brightness levels, either the mute key on either the power adapter or the radar is stuck. Inspect the areas to see if there is any dirt, debris, or is sticky from repeated exposure to hand oils. If you suspect that the cable is faulting, please contact Uniden customer service via our email or phone number for further assistance or send the device in for inspection/repair. When sending the device in, please include the power adapter you are using and describing the previous trouble shooting steps performed to aid in us resolving the repair in a timelier manner. Repair instructions can be found at the associated link here: https://repair.uniden.com/repairInstruct.cfm 

The display is faded, discolored, or displaying artifacts

Over a period of time, OLED displays will begin to fault from:

1. continued or repeated exposure to sunlight 
2. continued high brightness levels commonly referred to as "OLED burn in" 
3. Repeated vibrations or movement resulting in artifacts / dead pixels in the display

If you suspect your display to be resulting in the above-mentioned symptoms, you can send the device in for replacement by a technician. All of the displays for our radar detectors are not for direct sale, as to ensure both proper installation to the unit, but also to provide the customer with a 90-day day repair warranty should there be any issues after the display is installed by the technician. If you have any questions regarding the warranty period or policy, please see our repair section for more information: https://repair.uniden.com/repairInstruct.cfm 

GPS not connecting

If you are experiencing an issue with the radars GPS not connecting correctly or taking longer than usual to connect we can advise that in some situations, the GPS will take up to 3-5 minutes if the detector has not be turned on for an extended period of time or if you are in a location that might inhibit the performance of the GPS locking on, such as a parking garage or metal roof covered building. 

Another consideration is if the windshield is currently tinted, and if that tint as any form of metallic coating. These coatings have shown in the past to 

However, if the GPS does not connect after 5 minutes, the GPS antenna may be faulting and need to be replaced. To ensure that this is the case, leave the vehicle turned on and set the display mode to "Speed" and then drive for around 10 minutes. If the speed continues to display "---" during this time then you will need to have the antenna replaced.

GPS Error

For this type of error message, we request that users denote if it is "GPS Error", "GPS Error: 1", or "GPS Error: 2" to better aide in diagnosing the issue. Should it be "GPS Error: 1" or "GPS Error: 2" please perform the following steps:

1. With the vehicle parked and with the engine on, turn on the radar detector
2. Next, wait for the error to display as previously seen
3. Once the error displays, and you are still parked, roll down the window and place the detector outside of the window.
4. Now wait for 2-3 minutes to see if the GPS connects again.
5. If the GPS does not connect, power cycle the unit while leaving it outside the window and see if the error comes back up or changes at all
6. If the error changes, please denote the change (whether it is the error number or if the error message went away)

With GPS Error: 1 and 2, we have noted very limited success with replicating it when customers send their effected units in for repair. This is primarily due to the GPS faulting in a way related to location of the device at the time of the fault displaying. We are continuing to document the quantities and cases of these errors to better find a resolve, and will continue to monitor the issue as they arise. If you are experiencing GPS Error: 1 or GPS Error: 2 notifications, please attempt the above-mentioned steps before sending the device in for repair.

Additional FAQ questions

Q: Is there any option to use anything other than the 12v Cig. Lighter port? My vehicle does not have this port and only has USB/USB-C ports.

A: Yes! On Uniden.com, in the search bar if you type in USBC and press enter, the first option available should be USBCRJ11-2M – Uniden America Corporation. We have also tested this with a USB-A adapter with relative success. Please keep in mind not all vehicles USB ports are rated to handle the amount of power draw required by a radar detector. Please see your vehicle owner's manual for further clarification. 

Q: Why is my Radar detector alerting K-Band when no law enforcement is around?

A: One thing radar detectors are competing against, for newer cars, are the safety sensors. Cars that emit collision avoidance, lane monitoring, stop monitoring, and similar features can set off the K band on the radar detector. To solve this issue, you can set the K band filter to ON, but this will lessen the capability to notify you to true K band alerts.

Q: Why is it difficult to get the charger seated all the way / removed. My vehicle's dash panels bend when I try to pull the charger out with force.

A: The CLA port is a smaller diameter as we want the cable to stay secured during use. If the cable were a looser fit, and a driver hit a bump in the road, the cable could fall out. If this happens, the unit will turn off while operating the vehicle creating a potential instance of distracted driving. 

Q: Will my radar still function if I have a heated windshield or if I have an anti-glare coating

A: Heated windshields or windshields with an anti-glare coating typically have metal in them that will either reduce or eliminate any radar's ability to perform as intended.

Q: Are radar detectors allowed in my state?

A: Radar detectors are currently banned in some states in the U.S. Enclosed is a list and link to American Auto Association AAA which keeps an ongoing list of permitted states. Radar detector driving laws — http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/radar-detectors/

ALABAMA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

ALASKA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

ARIZONA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

ARKANSAS — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

CALIFORNIA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

COLORADO — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

CONNECTICUT — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

DELAWARE — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA — Radar detectors are not permitted.

FLORIDA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

GEORGIA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

HAWAII — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

IDAHO — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

ILLINOIS — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

INDIANA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

IOWA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

KANSAS — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

KENTUCKY — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

LOUISIANA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MAINE — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MARYLAND — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MASSACHUSETTS — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MICHIGAN — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MINNESOTA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MISSISSIPPI — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MISSOURI — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

MONTANA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NEBRASKA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NEVADA — Detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NEW HAMPSHIRE — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NEW JERSEY — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NEW MEXICO — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NEW YORK — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NORTH CAROLINA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

NORTH DAKOTA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

OHIO — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

OKLAHOMA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

OREGON — Radar detectors are permitted but are prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

PENNSYLVANIA — Radar Detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for commercial vehicles.

RHODE ISLAND — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

SOUTH CAROLINA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

SOUTH DAKOTA — Detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

TENNESSEE — Detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

TEXAS — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

UTAH — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

VERMONT — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

VIRGINIA — Detectors are not permitted.

WASHINGTON — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

WEST VIRGINIA — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

WISCONSIN — detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

WYOMING — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.

PUERTO RICO — Radar detectors are permitted for passenger vehicles but prohibited for use by commercial vehicles.