slow scan and no audio after software, firmware and master database updates

[jpdmac]

I updated to Sentinel 2.03.00, then updated master database and SDS200 firmware. Now the scan is very slow, but I have no audio. Tried "clear user data" then "write to scanner" using the profile that worked well before the updates. Still very slow scan and no audio, even with squelch set to 0 on analog conventional channel. Ideas?

 

[N0MLP]

Try Turning off the scanner, Removing the power cord, then turn the scanner back on and wait about 30 seconds. Then plug the power back in and turn on and see if that works. "Static Reset"

 

[jpdmac]

Tried the static reset procedure, but there is no change. Still have no audio and there is no indication that it is receiving anything.

 

[jtwalker]

I’d guess some profile settings were changed by firmware update. I’d look at location and service types to start.

 

[JTR604]

Just updated My SDS 100 firmware and data base had the same issues and had to go into my settings and update range,Location, services,
now everything is working fine again. Just FYI maybe this can help someone.

 

[jpdmac]

After the updates and the resulting slow scan and loss of audio (and no indication that it is receiving anything), I reprogrammed the SDS200 with the original (pre-update) profile that was working well before the updates. I have not read the scanner, I have only written to it, so that I'm not downloading to my computer whatever has caused the problems. Some radios require that you read the radio before you write to it, but writing to the SDS200 without first reading from it has gone smoothly; no error messages. Based upon your suggestions, I have rechecked the settings in the scanner, and they have not changed. I've read elsewhere that the microSD card may be the source of the problem, so I am awaiting the arrival of new (and higher quality) cards. Any suggestions about other things to try now or how to proceed with the new card?

 

[dave3825]

Slow scan speed could be from a filter. Check your filter settings and make sure none of them are set to auto.

 

[ToddWilkinson]

Try Turning off the scanner, Removing the power cord, then turn the scanner back on and wait about 30 seconds. Then plug the power back in and turn on and see if that works. "Static Reset"

Can you hear NOAA weather radio?

 

[jpdmac]

My SDS200 has fully recovered! I turned it on (for about the 10th time since the problems appeared) and it is working again! Very strange....maybe it was something I did (wrong) after the update(s)? Nonetheless, I greatly appreciate all the helpful suggestions.

 

[jpdmac]

I'd like your advice on programming my SDS200 with Sentinel: Should I read the scanner first, then edit Favorites Lists and write to the scanner? Or can I make the changes on my PC and write to the scanner without reading the scanner? Also, after writing to the scanner, should I unplug the cable, or should I turn off the scanner first?

 

[JTR604]

I have an SDS 100 But always write to the PC first also did this with my home patrol,
after you edit your list then write to your scanner. When done always click to safely remove your usb cable from your scanner and it will restart on it's own.
it's easy to program your talk groups using the sentinel. Also remember to check for updates every Sundays/Mondays.

 

[tvengr]

If you have not made any changes using the scanner menus, there would be no reason to read the scanner first.

 

[jpdmac]

Just when I thought it was safe to use Sentinel again........ You may remember that my SDS200 suddenly recovered when I turned it on a few days ago, and it's been working fine. I even changed some display and scan settings, turned it off so it would write to the card. When I turned it on again, it had saved all the changes, and was working as expected. So, when my new 32Gb cards arrived, I decided to copy my profile to the new card as a backup. I used the SDA formatter, then used "clear user data," and then wrote the profile to the new card. I put the new card in the scanner, turned it on, and the former problems were back: no audio, slow scan, no indication it was receiving. But all the right favorites lists were there. So, I turned off the scanner, removed the new card and inserted the original card. No change: still had no audio, slow scan, etc. As test, I created a new profile with only the nationwide database, wrote it to the new card and put it in the scanner: the database is there, but no audio, slow scan, etc. I am really puzzled. Why does it work until I use the new Sentinel v 2.03.00 to read or write? And why did it return to normal operation a few days later? Is it a hardware problem?

 

[shansmi]

Just when I thought it was safe to use Sentinel again........ You may remember that my SDS200 suddenly recovered when I turned it on a few days ago, and it's been working fine. I even changed some display and scan settings, turned it off so it would write to the card. When I turned it on again, it had saved all the changes, and was working as expected. So, when my new 32Gb cards arrived, I decided to copy my profile to the new card as a backup. I used the SDA formatter, then used "clear user data," and then wrote the profile to the new card. I put the new card in the scanner, turned it on, and the former problems were back: no audio, slow scan, no indication it was receiving. But all the right favorites lists were there. So, I turned off the scanner, removed the new card and inserted the original card. No change: still had no audio, slow scan, etc. As test, I created a new profile with only the nationwide database, wrote it to the new card and put it in the scanner: the database is there, but no audio, slow scan, etc. I am really puzzled. Why does it work until I use the new Sentinel v 2.03.00 to read or write? And why did it return to normal operation a few days later? Is it a hardware problem?

My guess is just a setting. For me it was having the national database loaded. I disabled all of that in the scanner then turned off the national database in things to scan and much better. Also check the service types that you have enabled. I only run with Interop, the 3 for Law and the 3 for Multi. Everything else is disabled. Only turn on what you are interested in.

Now here is another thing to check. while testing ProScan the first thing I did was read from the scanner. I noticed an old fav list that I had created and renamed in Proscan. It did not show up on the scanner when looking at favorites. I thought I was going crazy so I deleted everything from ProScan and did another retrieval. It was there again. Then I used Sentinel to wipe all settings and user data from the scanner then did a full push and replace of the full database and favorites. After that I did another pull from ProScan - the rogue fav list was no longer there.

Something easy to try is locking on to a department and/or system and scan only that one thing to see if you get hits.

An easy thing to do is create a new simple fav list with only ONE thing in it even if it is part of a fav list that is currently not working. Push it to the scanner and turn everything else off but the new one. Preferably this should be done in Sentinel via the context menu when right clicking on the fav list. Download and monitor enabled only on the new fav list or at least monitor set to no on all the others. When it scans do you see RSSI populate? Any chance you can provide a screenshot of a favs list that is not working? Something simple to try is move the scanner to another room or even outside for a little bit. Stock antenna?

 

[wtp]

if you have conventional frequencies and set the squelch to 0 they probably have CTCSS/PL on then.

turn the squelch to 2 and see what happens.

 

[shansmi]

if you have conventional frequencies and set the squelch to 0 they probably have CTCSS/PL on then.

turn the squelch to 2 and see what happens.

damn fine idea! my scanner comes to a screeching halt with it to 0 or 1 monitoring p25 systems. 2 is the sweet spot. on a 200 that is a knob vs something that can be set on a 100 in Sentinel. for sure something to check.

Along those same lines make sure Sentinel is set to the correct scanner type (SDS200 vs SDS100). This is one of the few settings where that does matter.

 

[jpdmac]

There is so much helpful information here! Thank you all for sharing your experience and advice.

I routinely set the squelch at 2, and have tested my current favs with 0 squelch, but forgot that all the conventional freqs have CTCSS, so nothing should have been heard. I will use Sentinel to create a new profile (on a new, clean card) without the nationwide database and with one favorites list with just one conventional analog frequency with no CTCSS, so that I can try your suggestions about simplifying the scan list to check for a settings conflict, and I will open the squelch to see if I hear noise. If that works, I'll try adding a few more conventional freqs to see if it scans them all at the right speed.

Interesting thought, shansmi, about selecting the correct target radio. What happens if the selected target is the 100 instead of the 200? Does that cause permanent problems that cannot be overcome by reprogramming the card with the correct target?

 

[shansmi]

There is so much helpful information here! Thank you all for sharing your experience and advice.

...

Interesting thought, shansmi, about selecting the correct target radio. What happens if the selected target is the 100 instead of the 200? Does that cause permanent problems that cannot be overcome by reprogramming the card with the correct target?

You are welcome.

As for the wrong radio type in Sentinel, in my experience it just gets ignored by the scanner. That's for Squelch and volume. On the 100 this is settable in Sentinel but not for the 200. If you have the wrong radio selected you can set it in Sentinel but it is ignored when writing as far as I can tell. Select the correct radio i.e. SDS200 and those thngs grey out in Sentinel. I had mine incorrect for a while and did not notice anything. I have a 100 and 200 with different profiles for each radio.

 

[shansmi]

There is so much helpful information here! Thank you all for sharing your experience and advice.

Are you familiar with screen mods? Sounds like you are hitting analog channels or trying to. If digital you can mod one of the counters to add DEC. Watch that for large amounts of errors. A few errors now and then are normal RF "stuff"... especially on a weak signal say -100dBm or less. Attached is a screenshot of ProScan. I have this mod on both of mine. Just make sure you mod the screens in pairs i.e. simple or detailed...

Another question - are you doing an ID Search or an ID Scan? This will affect results and speed as well.

 

[tvengr]

Interesting thought, shansmi, about selecting the correct target radio. What happens if the selected target is the 100 instead of the 200? Does that cause permanent problems that cannot be overcome by reprogramming the card with the correct target?

No, it won't cause problems. One interesting fluke is that if the Target Model is BCDx36HP you can lock the keypad on the SDS100 and cannot unlock it on the scanner. You have to write to the scanner again with the Target Model set to BCDx36HP and Keypad Lock set to Off in the profile. Keypad Lock is not available if Target Model is set to SDS100.