SDS Series Quality Control

[Engine104]

Hi guys,

This is in no way a trolling message. I just would like to hear some thoughts on the overall quality control/reliability of the SDS series. There is no doubt that these are amazing radios. My area (Greater L.A.) will be bringing online new phase 2 trunked systems in the next year or two and I'll be in the market for a new radio. I am not certain if the new systems will be simulcast or not, and people in the SoCal Discussion area on here don't seem to be certain about that, either.

I know with any new technology, and the SDS radios do have that, there are growing pains, but I read more issues with the SDS radios than with the 996P2 or even the 536HP, though the latter does seem to have its share of problems. It just seems like when you're shelling out ~$650.00 for an SDS 100 and ~$700.00 for the SDS 200, that you should not see issues like all that much. You don't see that with HF transceivers as much, though they average a few hundred dollars more.

 

[doctordialtone]

I bought an SDS 200 and have NO issues with it.

I also own a 996P2 and 996XT and 325P2 and 396XT and have had no issues with them either

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Do we really need another "quality control" discussion here? As I've re-iterated time and time again on various similar threads, Uniden product development will never be the same since its lead developer, Paul passed away last year (he was an active user and tech supporter on these forums) When Paul was alive and well, updates and improvements came regularly to the Uniden product line, he answered our questions and concerns and folks were happy. It seems as though Uniden may never find anyone else to fill his shoes, and they were HUGE shoes to walk in. Also with more and more agencies making the move to the dreaded "big-E", scanner radio monitoring is becoming more and more of a niche market. Let's just enjoy the scanners for what they are, whether or not they're ever "improved" upon.

Just my two cents,
73!

 

[Engine104]

I'm sorry if this is repetitive. I agree that Paul is sorely missed. He was great. I certainly miss Bill Cheek too.

As with any mass-produced item, there will be issues, and the majority of the SDS radios seem solid. I've seen a lot of posts on here about people having problems. Some may be "user error", but it seems a bit more than that. Again, sorry if this is repetitive.

 

[Hit_Factor]

...but it seems a bit more than that...

What are the numbers of failures, operator errors, completely satisfied users, total units shipped, etc.? Will need the same info for 'HF transceivers'

Anecdotal statements are difficult to act on.

 

[Engine104]

What are the numbers of failures, operator errors, completely satisfied users, total units shipped, etc.? Will need the same info for 'HF transceivers'

Anecdotal statements are difficult to act on.

You're right. I'm basing this on the number of posts I see here and posts about new HF transceivers on QRZ and eHam. For the most part, you don't see a lot of posts about QC problems with new Icom, Yaesu, or Kenwood HF or dual-band rigs. Granted, they are more expensive than an SDS 200.

 

[doctordialtone]

The fact is that people normally only post when they want to complain.

Face it - people don't bother to find a place to tell everyone that they are satisfied. But they will seek out a place to whine and complain.

 

[minasha]

My first question with the SDS 100 is how did they release a scanner with a battery that only holds a charge for a couple of hours?
Yes the larger battery stays charged longer but the scanner also looks like it's pregnant.
Real question is why? was it rushed to the market? This is page 1 for R & D of a new scanner yet no one knew or was it no one cared?

 

[whooey]

Love my SDS 100 & 200. The 100 has been back to Uniden twice, the 200 has been solid with no issues.

 

[Engine104]

Doctordialtone: Valid point, though there are a lot of posts by people saying how much they like their SDS radio.
Minasha: I've heard people say the same thing about the 325P2's short battery life. I was thinking the issue could be that the display on the SDS 100 is draining a lot of power, but then, the 325 doesn't have a display like that and it seems to have battery life issues too.
Whooey: Why did your SDS 100 have to go back to the factory twice? That seems to prove my point.

 

[Hit_Factor]

My first question with the SDS 100 is how did they release a scanner with a battery that only holds a charge for a couple of hours?
Yes the larger battery stays charged longer but the scanner also looks like it's pregnant.
Real question is why? was it rushed to the market? This is page 1 for R & D of a new scanner yet no one knew or was it no one cared?

It never bothered me that that battery was only good for a few hours. I sold off my big batteries when they arrived.

I'm pretty sure if you search you'll find where Paul fessed up to battery capacity issues.

Now for my guess as to answers: Money, more money, a bad calc - but they cared enough to go to the extra mile and fix the problem.

 

[sallen07]

I was thinking the issue could be that the display on the SDS 100 is draining a lot of power, but then, the 325 doesn't have a display like that and it seems to have battery life issues too.

It's not the display. It's the SDR-based receiver, which uses a LOT more power than the older reciever designs.

 

[Engine104]

It's not the display. It's the SDR-based receiver, which uses a LOT more power than the older reciever designs.

That makes sense. Right.

 

[fxdscon]

My first question with the SDS 100 is how did they release a scanner with a battery that only holds a charge for a couple of hours?
Yes the larger battery stays charged longer but the scanner also looks like it's pregnant.
Real question is why? was it rushed to the market? This is page 1 for R & D of a new scanner yet no one knew or was it no one cared?

Your last statement couldn't be further from the actual facts....

SDS100/SDS200: - Nip it In the Bud

Ok, one disappointment on the final units with final battery. I really don't like battery life (max 320 minutes). So, we'll change to a high-capacity battery (entails a new battery door and making the unit about 8mm thicker at the base...which should actually relieve those of you worried about...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[whooey]

Whooey: Why did your SDS 100 have to go back to the factory twice? That seems to prove my point.

First time was cold solder joint issue, second time my volume/scroll knob had issues. I would still say the SDS100 is the best hand held scanner I have had in my 15 year scanning hobby. I've had PRO-96, PSR-500, BCD396T, HP-1, PSR-800 and a bunch of others. I would buy another SDS100 in a heartbeat.

 

[kc5igh]

Do we really need another "quality control" discussion here? As I've re-iterated time and time again on various similar threads, Uniden product development will never be the same since its lead developer, Paul passed away last year (he was an active user and tech supporter on these forums) When Paul was alive and well, updates and improvements came regularly to the Uniden product line, he answered our questions and concerns and folks were happy. It seems as though Uniden may never find anyone else to fill his shoes, and they were HUGE shoes to walk in. Also with more and more agencies making the move to the dreaded "big-E", scanner radio monitoring is becoming more and more of a niche market. Let's just enjoy the scanners for what they are, whether or not they're ever "improved" upon.

Just my two cents,
73!

Your points about well-taken about how important Paul Opitz was to Uniden and to us, his customers, Whiskey3JMC.

Nonetheless, I believe Uniden's quality-control problems are a moving target, and I am thankful for the input of other SDS-series owners over time. I bought an early-production model SDS-100 that's been back for repairs twice because of the "cold solder joint" issue, and I bought a new SDS-100 as a back-up, hoping that Uniden had solved that particular problem with its newer products. I think the only way we're going to be able to determine whether or not Uniden has taken action to prevent further "cold solder joint" Q/A issues is through forums like this that keep us posted on other users' more recent experiences.

I'm a semi-retired emergency response consultant, and the radio system I work with is a simulcast DTRS. I don't want to carry or be responsible for an extremely expensive Harris HT, so I rely on my SDS100's and a Unication G5 to stay in touch with what's happening with my employers' radio system . . . no other consumer-grade radio can monitor simulcast systems as effectively as those two receivers.

Only time and open discussions like this will tell the rest of us whether or not some of the SDS100's "early-production" Q/A issues have been resolved.

My two cents . . .

-Johnnie (KC5IGH)

 

[Engine104]

Hopefully, the cold solder joint issue has been resolved in later production runs. A QC problem like that is simply not acceptable in a $650 radio, in my opinion anyway. That sounds like the only thing that keeps the SDS 100 from being an exceptional radio. Hopefully, it has been fixed.

 

[Ubbe]

Yes the larger battery stays charged longer but the scanner also looks like it's pregnant.

I would have prefered the slim battery that last some 4 hours instead of 7 and then used a small 10A powerbank stored in another pocket in my jacket connected to the scanner if I wanted a full day of monitoring without any USB power source available. It is awkward to use the scanner with the big battery.

/Ubbe

 

[scantheman1]

My first question with the SDS 100 is how did they release a scanner with a battery that only holds a charge for a couple of hours?
Yes the larger battery stays charged longer but the scanner also looks like it's pregnant.
Real question is why? was it rushed to the market? This is page 1 for R & D of a new scanner yet no one knew or was it no one cared?

It is my understanding that once you go to uniden's website and register the unit, they can tell by the model ein and all the other stuff that the battery is the small and will send you the new one, with the cover, for $0.00

 

[scantheman1]

I would have prefered the slim battery that last some 4 hours instead of 7 and then used a small 10A powerbank stored in another pocket in my jacket connected to the scanner if I wanted a full day of monitoring without any USB power source available. It is awkward to use the scanner with the big battery.

/Ubbe

this is a great point! The SDS 100 will work, while the battery is charging. Nice!