Save your USB port from damage

[gordonz]

I am not a big fan of repeatedly plugging and unplugging USB cables. I worry this will increase the risk of damaging the USB port over time. Not good on a $700 radio.

I would suggest using a USB cable with an inline On/Off switch. This will allow you to switch in and out of download/upload mode without removing and replacing the USB cable.

I also use right angle cables for USB and Ethernet so they don't stick out so far from the radio.

Here is a photo of my radio. The USB switch is to the right of the radio. I just flip the switch when I want to upload or download. The switch cable is inserted between the right angle USB cable and the computer.



Here are the Amazon listings for the cables I use. There are many similar cables available.

USB Cable with On/Off Switch - https://amazon.com/gp/product/B07QTJZD99/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1



Right Angle USB-Micro cable - https://amazon.com/gp/product/B003YKX6WC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1






Right Angle Ethernet cable - https://amazon.com/gp/product/B01FHC0KG4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[fxdscon]

I do exactly the same with the micro USB port (switched at the other end of the cable), and also use an extension for the SD card slot to save wear and tear on that port.


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[stevez97]

Instituting this cable is certainly much less money than having to repair/replace the USB port. Thanks for posting!

 

[gordonz]

Uniden could have built this into the radio. A push button or menu selection could flip a tiny internal relay to enable/disable USB port power. This would also allow the USB port to be on the rear of the radio (where the ethernet port should have been). Not a complaint, but a suggestion for a much cleaner design.

 

[ProScan]

Uniden could have built this into the radio. A push button or menu selection could flip a tiny internal relay to enable/disable USB port power. This would also allow the USB port to be on the rear of the radio (where the ethernet port should have been). Not a complaint, but a suggestion for a much cleaner design.

Perhaps a key combination sequence. Not to disable the USB port but rather to put the scanner in Mass Storage mode. Uniden did add a Mass Storage mode (MSM) command to the protocol. I can't remember the last time I unplugged the USB cable.

 

[trentbob]

Instituting this cable is certainly much less money than having to repair/replace the USB port. Thanks for posting!

Perhaps a key combination sequence. Not to disable the USB port but rather to put the scanner in Mass Storage mode. Uniden did add a Mass Storage mode (MSM) command to the protocol. I can't remember the last time I unplugged the USB cable.

Nice to see an interesting thread and it would be good to see Joe"s input, with all respect, for obvious reasons, we are not going to see these changes made to the radio.

As silly as it seems, maybe not so much, but as the radios get older and some people do a lot of plugging and unplugging of whatever... Get out that can of air and blast away at every orifice. Dust does collect .

 

[MStep]

Certainly an interesting option in lieu of of continually inserting and removing the USB connector from the radio. As trentbob suggests, an occasional blast of air into all connection ports is also good advice.

Incidentally, one of my few "accidents" with one of my radios came when I tripped over the cable that connected my AOR DV-1 to an external speaker--- not a USB port, but the earphone jack on the back of the radio. Ripped the female connection port to shreds. That was an appx 200 USD "accident" which I could have repaired myself in days gone by, when my hands were steadier and my sight a bit better.

The moral is that having a USB cable continually attached may seem like a good idea, just don't trip yourself up over all the cabling.

 

[radio3353]

...As trentbob suggests, an occasional blast of air into all connection ports is also good advice...

Not necessarily. Blasting air into a connector jack may very well just drive the dirt deeper into the connector making it harder to remove when it causes problems. In high-reliability electronics manufacturing, we never allowed compressed air to be used on assemblies.

 

[BobW55]

Never thought of doing this with the SD card. I do keep a mini USB plugged in all the time. Just bring my laptop over when I want to make changes.

 

[fxdscon]

Never thought of doing this with the SD card.

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Also, the card slot end of the extension cable has a much more robust and positive feel to it than the card slot in the scanner. The finger push area is curved and cut deeper than the slot area on the scanner, and consequently it's so much easier to push on the card to lock/unlock it.

 

[Omega-TI]

If you are going to spend the money, consider a multi-port unit.

 

[stevez97]

Not necessarily. Blasting air into a connector jack may very well just drive the dirt deeper into the connector making it harder to remove when it causes problems. In high-reliability electronics manufacturing, we never allowed compressed air to be used on assemblies.

So would vacuuming the port(s) be a viable option?

 

[vagrant]

Magnetic USB for power only.

Amazon.com

 

[radio3353]

So would vacuuming the port(s) be a viable option?

Sure. Always better to remove dirt than to just push it around. That was what we used in manufacturing with proper ESD control (e.g. proper grounding, air ionizers.)

 

[jaspence]

Be aware that any USB transfer where the power is interrupted can lead to damage and/or destruction of the usb device. One well known example is turning off power to a scanner with a usb card while it is scanning.

 

[donc13]

Be aware that any USB transfer where the power is interrupted can lead to damage and/or destruction of the usb device. One well known example is turning off power to a scanner with a usb card while it is scanning.

That usb card in the scanner being corrupted is due to not being able to finish a write in progress to the usb card. If it's only reading from the card, no harm will come from losing power on the USB card.

 

[jaspence]

I have had it corrupt a card when turning it off during normal scanning. That may be the scanner model, but it has happened.

 

[kuzikan]

Magnetic USB for power only.

Amazon.com

My SDS 100 in repair now for usb failure. Wish I could find the usb mini magnetic setup. Will use the micro for now. Thanks for the link.

 

[JoeBearcat]

Uniden could have built this into the radio. A push button or menu selection could flip a tiny internal relay to enable/disable USB port power. This would also allow the USB port to be on the rear of the radio (where the ethernet port should have been). Not a complaint, but a suggestion for a much cleaner design.

Added to the idea list. (Bob's suggestion too)

 

[Ezra]

I do the exact same thing in the truck the 90º USB cable that goes into this...