SDS100/SDS200: Your scanner's microSD card and emergency file back-up

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

Has anyone had to use their scanner's microSD card as an emergency back-up for non-scanner related files?

I bring my scanner to work with me at night, so I'll have something interesting to listen to besides the canned music out in my building's lobby. I've been working on a project both at home on my laptop as well as here at work. I did a major chunk of work on it tonight and when I went to get my thumb drive out of my lunch bag to save my work to, it wasn't there. Bummer, as what I did tonight, added to what's on my computer at home, would get my project pretty close to completion. What to do, what to do? And then it hit me. I've already got my scanner connected to my work computer for charging, so why not just temporarily write my project files to the scanner? It worked like a charm and now when I get home in a few hours, I'll write the files to my laptop.

I was concerned that perhaps the non scanner related files on the card might somehow affect the scanner's performance, but it's been running for well over an hour now and it's working as good as it always does, so all is well and no concern was warranted.

 

[fxdscon]

Has anyone had to use their scanner's microSD card as an emergency back-up for non-scanner related files?

I've done that quite a few times. I actually have cards with other systems on them for other card dependent devices. As long as there is plenty of room on the cards, things can easily co-exist.

I've popped the card out of my scanner and used it in an emergency for those other devices, and then put it right back in the scanner to continue listening.

In fact, you can even use the "Clear User Data" in Sentinel on that card and it will not disturb any other files or folders on that card except to re-write a fresh "BCDx36HP" folder.

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[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

I've done that quite a few times. I actually have cards with other systems on them for other card dependent devices. As long as there is plenty of room on the cards, things can easily co-exist.

I've popped the card out of my scanner and used it in an emergency for those other devices, and then put it right back in the scanner to continue listening.

In fact, you can even use the "Clear User Data" in Sentinel on that card and it will not disturb any other files or folders on that card except to re-write a fresh "BCDx36HP" folder.

That's good information to know. Thanks!!

 

[pb_lonny]

Good idea.

 

[pbesselm]

I am intending to load my favorites from the BCD436 to SDS100. I have used Sentinel to copy file to "write files to radio". Is this the correct method to copy the BCD436- files to SDS100? The file structure on the SDS100 has a file folder labeled "BCDx36HP", is this correct for the SDS100, or have I overwritten the SDS100 with my BCD436 files?

Thanks, Pat

 

[TailGator911]

I make a portable backup every time I update/change/add any FLs or SLs (Uniden or Whistler) to the scanners I have. It's a simple 16G thumb flash drive with all of my other radio files on it (maps, frequency lists, tower locations, code guides and FL/SL cheat sheets) so that if anything goes awry I have a backup plan in my pocket, so to speak. The same files/profiles/etc are written to a 2TB Seagate drive as well. You make this a priority once you've been wiped out and have to go back and do everything from scratch.

JD
kf4anc

 

[hiegtx]

I am intending to load my favorites from the BCD436 to SDS100. I have used Sentinel to copy file to "write files to radio". Is this the correct method to copy the BCD436- files to SDS100? The file structure on the SDS100 has a file folder labeled "BCDx36HP", is this correct for the SDS100, or have I overwritten the SDS100 with my BCD436 files?

Thanks, Pat

The x36HP folder is used for both the SDS100 as well as the 436/536HP scanners on the micro-SD cards. The set of Favorites you see in Sentinel can be used for any of the three scanners (SDS100, 436HP, and 536HP).

You may want to set up a second profile in Sentinel for your SDS100. The original, "Default", profile can work for either series of scanner, but to access the SDS100 specific settings in Sentinel, such as customizing the display, you need to set the 'Target Model' (under the drop-down Tools menu) to the SDS100.

I set up a second profile for the SDS100, setting the target model accordingly. The original profile remains set with the target model of BCDx36HP. I also added a specific Favorites list for the SDS100, to utilize the NAC setting available for trunked systems. Besides the model specific Favorites list, the SDS100 profile has a different mix of lists set for download and monitor.