SDS100/SDS200: SDS200 powers on without receiving.

[drake1792]

Hello all,
I just purchased a used but good condition SDS200. I’m familiar with the Sentinel software since I have a 536. I received the scanner and swapped it out with my 536 and used the power supply for that scanner. The SDS200 powered on and seems to work perfectly except it will NOT pick up any signal no matter how strong it is..

The weird thing is when I switch out the power cable with the one it came with, it works perfectly fine.. My confusion is also due to the cables being identical in model numbers… I have tried multiple other cables with no luck. I’ve also formatted the SD card twice now and even manually programming a analog frequency makes no change. Any thoughts? Has anyone else had this sort of issue??

 

[Enforcer52]

The weird thing is when I switch out the power cable with the one it came with, it works perfectly fine.

If it works perfectly with the power supply it came with, then why try to use a different power supply?

Without metering the output of the power supplies under a load it is hard to determine.

But here is a picture of the original power supply that came with my SDS200 to compare to.

 

[dmfalk]

I wouldn't be surprised that the power brick for the 536HP is putting out significantly lower voltage, as to why that one won't work, but the power brick for the SDS200 does! The fact it powers on at all means it's in the correct polarity.

 

[dave3825]

I received the scanner and swapped it out with my 536 and used the power supply for that scanner.

Why? Was the one supplied not working?

The SDS200 powered on and seems to work perfectly except it will NOT pick up any signal no matter how strong it is..

manually programming a analog frequency makes no change.

Do you it showing received signal? Is the freq active? Try the weather freq or program a control channel in and post a pic.

 

[KevinC]

I wouldn't be surprised that the power brick for the 536HP is putting out significantly lower voltage, as to why that one won't work, but the power brick for the SDS200 does! The fact it powers on at all means it's in the correct polarity.

I’d bet they are both around 13.8 volts. I’d also bet the 536 one can’t supply enough current.

 

[K9KLC]

I’d bet they are both around 13.8 volts. I’d also bet the 536 one can’t supply enough current.

The supply that came with my 536 is only 500 mils and the photo by @Enforcer52 shows the original at 750 mils. I'd venture to say you're correct.

 

[dave3825]

The supply that came with my 536 is only 500 mils and the photo by @Enforcer52 shows the original at 750 mils. I'd venture to say you're correct.

Did something change over the years? Wiki says 536 should be 13.8 750 milliamp

BCD536HP - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Page 10 in Uniden manual states the same.

https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCD436HPom.pdf

 

[K9KLC]

Did something change over the years? Wiki says 536 should be 13.8 750 milliamp

BCD536HP - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Page 10 in Uniden manual states the same.

https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCD436HPom.pdf

dunno, unless mine accidentally got switched out with some other Uniden brick thru out the the years (I've had a bunch). The one I'm using on the 536 is only 500 mils and it works fine on it. Been in use for years that way now. It' "possible" I guess that somewhere along the way I accentually switch them I guess.

Assuming that is correct then I have no idea why his 200 isn't working with another 13.8 V 750 Mil brick.
I don't think I've ever had anything else Uniden that wasn't a scanner so I am not sure. Also, I did get the 536 used and honestly never even looked at the specs when I got the thing of the power supply ratings, just plugged it up, programmed it and it's been working for years now.

 

[K9KLC]

Did something change over the years? Wiki says 536 should be 13.8 750 milliamp

BCD536HP - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Page 10 in Uniden manual states the same.

https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/BCD436HPom.pdf

Later on or over the weekend I'll get behind this mess of a desk I got and verify it's actually a Uniden brick, to be 100% honest I never even looked at the brand when I got it. When I got it used it came in the original box and I just took it out looked at it and thought I saw 13.8@ 500 and never gave it a thought other than if that goes out I have a house full of those around here. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[kc2asb]

Assuming that is correct then I have no idea why his 200 isn't working with another 13.8 V 750 Mil brick.

Agreed, it makes no sense. The OP said he tried other power cables in addition to the one from his 536, and none work. Only the original one that came with the 200 works, which is strange. The power requirements of the 200 and the 536 are apparently the same, so the cables should be interchangeable with no issues. No explanation for this mystery.

The weird thing is when I switch out the power cable with the one it came with, it works perfectly fine.. My confusion is also due to the cables being identical in model numbers… I have tried multiple other cables with no luck. I’ve also formatted the SD card twice now and even manually programming a analog frequency makes no change. Any thoughts? Has anyone else had this sort of issue??

 

[K9KLC]

@dave3825 You are correct and I was mistaken, it's an older Relm scanner I have that has the 500 mil wall brick, I apologize, at 70, sometimes this old brain isn't what it's supposed to be. My Actual Uniden adaptor is exactly as @Enforcer52 pictured in his post. When I make mistakes I own it.

Now on the original OP, I have no idea why one would work and not the other one. IF one is working and the other isn't however, I'd just use the one that came with it and go from there I guess. The rest is a mystery.

 

[kc2asb]

This puts to rest any doubts about differences in the supplies.

Uniden AD-1009 AC Adapter | Scanner Master

Uniden AD-1009 AC Adapter

www.scannermaster.com

Base Station AC power supply for Uniden Scanners: SDS200, BC340CRS, BC370CRS, BCT15/BCT15X, BCD536HP, BCD996T, BCD996XT, BCD996P2, BC785D, BC780XLT, BC796D and BC-RH96 Remote Head.

 

[Enforcer52]

This puts to rest any doubts about differences in the supplies.

The AD-1009 has changed over the years, some were 500ma and some were 750ma, and the housings had a different design.

There a bunch of power supplies listed on Google as AD-1009 that are not Uniden OEM.

This is my original Uniden SDS200 13.8v/750ma power supply, as you can see it looks nothing like what scannermaster is selling. I have another supposedly AD-1009 but has a different manufacturer and only 500ma.

 

[tvengr]

I have two SDS200's running on BCD536 power supplies with no problems. The old and new power supplies have the same output ratings. It your supply has only a 500 mA current output, it is for one of the earlier scanners. I have a couple of the 500 mA supplies from previous scanners.

 

[crippledchicken]

My sds200 and bcd536 both, came with the same 13.8v 750ma bricks.

 

[tvengr]

Try this: Turn off power on the 536 and 200. Remove the SD card from the 200 and replace it with the one from the 536. That will eliminate any programming or SD card problems. I just did that with my 536 and 200 and the 200 received fine using the programming in the 536. After checking, install the SD cards in the original scanners. The next time you power off the scanners, the correct model and serial numbers will be rewritten to the SD cards.

 

[Ubbe]

My SDS100 takes 750mA at full volume and backlight on. Portable scanners are designed to take as little current as possible to preserve battery life. Those restrictions doesn't apply to a mobile scanner and SDS200 have an additional network port with two LED's and a bigger display that will need more back light power. So it is a bit surprising that Uniden only include a 750mA power supply with the SDS200.

Usually it's only the speaker amplifier and back light that goes on battery power and the RF circuits are powered from a voltage stabilizer of maybe 8,5V and the digital logic are driven from a 3.3V stabilizer. It should run on only a 10V source. The most common problem with scanners like BCT15x are its power supply that it can't hold enough voltage under load. Maybe its the same type of quality to expect from Unidens power supplys for all their 12volt scanners.

The SDS200 comes with a cigg plug cable so it will be easy enough to test if that will power the scanner without any issues.

/Ubbe

 

[drake1792]

Thanks for all the input. I have tried the three prong dc plug as well as a cigarette plug cable with no luck. I’ve also formatted the Micro SD card once again as well as switching it out with the one in my 536..

Attached is a picture of the power cable it came with (on the left) and the cable I already had with my 536. They appear identical…

 

[jtwalker]

The weird thing is when I switch out the power cable with the one it came with, it works perfectly fine..

It seems you have identified the problem component. Use the ps that came with it.

 

[kc2asb]

Thanks for all the input. I have tried the three prong dc plug as well as a cigarette plug cable with no luck. I’ve also formatted the Micro SD card once again as well as switching it out with the one in my 536..

Attached is a picture of the power cable it came with (on the left) and the cable I already had with my 536. They appear identical…

Is the output is 750mA on both? Hard to make out on the one on the right. If both are 750mA, you should not be having a problem. The easy answer is to use the power cable that came with the SDS200, but it's still a mystery.