SDS100/SDS200: Receiving issues

[blong]

Ok I know there is a ton of information about the Cold Solder Joint(s).
I've read through most. Before I send this radio in (bought last August) here is my problem,

Was scanning well up until last evening.
Symptom, While scanning Simulcast systems in I sometimes get reception sometimes not. When it seems to go out I move the antenna a bit with a little pressure and it comes back.

I have reformatted the SD card, cleared the data and reloaded my favorites list.
Same issue

Is this indicative of the cold solder joint?

Thanks for the help

 

[doctordialtone]

Is this indicative of the cold solder joint?

It's indicative of a flakey antenna connection that needs repair.

Send it in.

 

[Ubbe]

When it seems to go out I move the antenna a bit with a little pressure and it comes back.

First thing are to check with another antenna. It's cheaper to buy a new than to receive a fixed repair cost from Uniden.

/Ubbe

 

[n1chu]

If you are using the stock antenna, have the antenna connection looked at... especially if it has been stressed by continually connecting/disconnecting or using the antenna as a handle while carrying the scanner. It’s common to see a handheld picked up by the antenna but I’ve seen a BCD536HP carried by its antenna, a telescoping BNC antenna. By a young teenager who told me “That’s alright... my Dad will buy me a new one” when I cautioned the lad about the stress he was subjecting the connector to. Don’t ya just love it?

 

[n1chu]

Just to be clear, If anything it’s probably a broken or cracked solder joint if the antenna connection was subjected to stress, not a cold solder joint. You end up with the same results but it’s been my observation a cracked or broken solder joint is easier to spot when doing a visual inspection. A cold solder joint may look perfectly normal. (There’s a whole lot of science on the topic of solder and connections made with solder. NASA actually has a standard on the subject and a technician needed to be certified by NASA before being allowed to work on one of their projects, a requirement I became aware of while working for Hamilton Standard, a maker of space suits and other things aeronautical.) I didn’t need to be “certified” as there were already a bunch of people qualified but I worked with them and picked up some interesting tidbits, an example of just one was what they called “whiskers”, an unintended electrical connection between solder tabs caused by these whiskers that grew over time. I’ve been told some satellites have failed not due to running out of fuel used to correct their continual decaying orbits but whiskers, causing electrical shorts.

 

[blong]

Thanks for help so far, I am using a Tektronix antenna and seldom if ever pick the unit up by the antenna. Most times it's sitting on the table next to me. Right now I just turned it on and it seems to be working fine. I'll try the stock antenna to eliminate an antenna problem. Seems this mostly happens after running for a bit.

 

[werinshades]

Cold solder joint symptoms via You Tube:

 

[blong]

Thanks not exactly what I an experiencing. However there is something wrong so I packed it up an tomorrow it gets shipped for repair.
Frustrating that at the price of these so many issues are out there.

But I have faith they will fix it up better than new.

 

[JoeBearcat]

Thanks for help so far, I am using a Tektronix antenna and seldom if ever pick the unit up by the antenna. Most times it's sitting on the table next to me. Right now I just turned it on and it seems to be working fine. I'll try the stock antenna to eliminate an antenna problem. Seems this mostly happens after running for a bit.

Is that antenna made for the SDS100? If not that is the issue and you may be wasting time and money on a repair.

Most SMA antennas are not made for the SDS100 and will not make proper contact with the antenna connection. This results in intermittent reception that may change when the antenna is stressed (sound familiar?). Also, they will not modify the scanner or the antenna to work together so your faith may be displaced by physics.

 

[IAmSixNine]

My faith in physics is always being displaced. lol could not resist.

 

[blong]

Is that antenna made for the SDS100? If not that is the issue and you may be wasting time and money on a repair.

Most SMA antennas are not made for the SDS100 and will not make proper contact with the antenna connection. This results in intermittent reception that may change when the antenna is stressed (sound familiar?). Also, they will not modify the scanner or the antenna to work together so your faith may be displaced by physics.

Remtronics 820S has been working fine for 6 months

 

[JoeBearcat]

Remtronics 820S has been working fine for 6 months

OK. That one is made to work on the SDS. Before when you said Tektronix I was thinking it may have not been compatible.

One other thing to check is the fingers of the connector on the scanner - make sure they are not pushed out. If you remove the antenna, you should be able to see the ends of the fingers (will look like a gold ring).