Uniden R-Series Update: New Ka Block Settings Explained

October 7, 2026

R-Series Radar Detector Firmware Update

We've launched a new firmware update for our radar detectors: the R4, R8, and their wireless counterparts, the R4W and R8W.

All four of these models will now have an additional setting called a Ka Block. This feature has 4 distinct functions to choose from, depending on the user's situation.

Weak · Mute · Level 0.5–3.5 · Low Priority (-P)

Weak

The weak setting does not alert you to signals that are within your set frequency range if the sensitivity level is within 2 bars. Once the alert goes over that threshold (2.5-8), it will begin alerting you as expected.

Mute

This setting allows for a visual on-screen alert but does not produce an alert tone, as long as the frequency that is being alerted is within the frequency range you set.

Level 0.5-3.5

Much like the weak setting, this functions based on the sensitivity level. Anything at or below the set level will not be audibly or visually reported, and anything above the set sensitivity level will report with an audible and visual report as expected.

-P

This function is used as a "Low Priority Mode" for a given frequency range set by the user. For the Ka Block filter, let's say the lower frequency is set to 33.745Ghz and the higher frequency is set to 33.755Ghz (I'd never recommend this wide a frequency difference; this is merely for explanation purposes).

Any time the frequencies are at or between these user-set limits (33.745, 33.746 ... 33.754, 33.755), those frequencies are a lower reporting priority to other frequencies that might come up (34.708 and 34.709 as an example).

This feature does not mute, reduce or block the alert from the BSM frequencies; it only puts the alert at a lower priority compared to other frequencies outside of your set range so you do not miss anything else.

This differs from a traditional block set for a specific sensitivity level (Ex: Ka Blk Lvl 3.5), as anything at or below the specified sensitivity level does not get reported to the user, and only when the device sees a reported sensitivity OVER that threshold (in the case of the R8W, level 4 to level 8) are they reported as a nearby frequency.

Recommended Setting to Start With

Generally, weak is the setting we recommend to most users who intend to use their Ka blocks for internal vehicle false alerts. In most cases, these false alerts range between 1 and 2 bars of sensitivity, depending on the mounting location and the vehicle's make and model.

R/Tach App and PC Tool Update

Accompanying these new firmware updates is a new update for the Uniden R/Tach App on both IOS and Android, as well as a new PC tool version 2.26. All three of these will have the ability to fine-tune your R-series radar detector through your preferred method of making settings changes.

Updated macOS R-Series Tool Now Available

Uniden has released an updated R-Series tool for macOS, expanding compatibility to Apple silicon-based Macs (non-Intel) while continuing support for Intel-based Macs.

The release builds on the existing Intel-compatible tool and brings a stable R-Series configuration experience to users of newer Mac systems.

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