SDS100/SDS200: Clicking Noise SDS 200

[buddrousa]

Has to be a hardware change when supplies were short supply. We know this with the 996p2's as I would suspect in the other models.

 

[ofd8001]

Could be the repeaters for their systems have a shorter hang time. Thus clicking isn’t as noticeable.

 

[werinshades]

Could be the repeaters for their systems have a shorter hang time. Thus clicking isn’t as noticeable.

Have you tried programming as an OFT system and see if the problem persists?

 

[ofd8001]

As this doesn’t seem to happen on TRS I suspect OFT would work. But every time I go that route, I seem to miss short transmissions.

 

[buddrousa]

The hang time is different between Conventional and Trunking.
Conventional the repeater hangs transmitting the nac just like the old days of CTCSS Tones.
Trunking Systems the Repeater drops and the scanner sits on the Control Channel Decoding non-repeated DATA Stream waiting for the time out nothing going to the Audio Amp.

 

[ofd8001]

I e-mailed Uniden Support and this is what they had to say:

"We have passed the information along to the development team so that the issue may be addressed in a future firmware update."

 

[EAFrizzle]

I e-mailed Uniden Support and this is what they had to say:

"We have passed the information along to the development team so that the issue may be addressed in a future firmware update."

Translation: We don't really care.

I updated both my SDS 100 & 200 the same day the updates came out. Both have the clicking on conventional systems now. If Uniden decides to fix it, great. If not, no biggie for me. Even if they fix it, that won't make the SDS scanners worth a flip on VHF or Analog.

 

[werinshades]

I have a 2024 manufactured date SDS200 in my collection along with previous year manufacture dates. I can't report the "clicking noise" when I run my P25 or DMR systems in conventional mode with the latest firmware. I normally run them in OFT, but since I read this, reprogrammed a few of them conventionally as an experiment. It's possible it has less to do with firmware and more to do with a hardware conflict? Might have been a hardware change during 2024?

 

[wakajazz]

I have a 2024 date coded SDS200 purchased a few months back with an audio clicking sound on conventional P25 systems identical to what the OP @ofd8001 described. The scanner was purchased a few months ago and I immediately installed the latest firmware (1.23.15 Main) at the time so have no clue if the P25 audio clicking noise was there out of the box. I missed my return window so shelved the SDS200 and went back to using my BCD536HP. I will try a firmware downgrade to 1.23.07 using the file linked in this thread by @petereye and see if that corrects the issue.

Thanks to all that contributed to this thread and @JoeBearcat, another datapoint for you.

 

[ofd8001]

Rolling back the firmware to the previous edition resolved my issue.

On @JoeBearcat, I haven't seen any activity from him for a couple of months and that's got me kind of curious. I can think of many reasons, some good, some not. Hopefully something good is happening.

 

[wakajazz]

Rolling back the firmware to the previous edition resolved my issue.

On @JoeBearcat, I haven't seen any activity from him for a couple of months and that's got me kind of curious. I can think of many reasons, some good, some not. Hopefully something good is happening.

Yep, reverting to firmware 1.23.07 fixed the click.

for good things.

 

[ColdnFrosty]

Being concerned what the future might hold for tariffs, I ordered an SDS 200 which arrived today. It was programmed and the firmware updated to the current release.

The good news is that I am receiving things from adjacent counties that the 536 that it replaced, did not.

The bad news is that I hear an annoying clicking sound on Conventional P25 frequencies. This occurs while the repeater is doing its "hang" thing. In other words when the display goes from P25 to LINK, I hear the clicking sound until the scan resumes. It does not do this for trunked systems.

I'm noticing this on multiple frequencies across UHF and VHF. Changed squelch settings to no avail.

There are no priority functions in operation (Priority, Priority ID or weather).

I'm sort of wondering if this might be associated with the firmware update. My other SDS 200 or SDS 100 does not do this nor does the 536 it replaced.

As another clue, when the clicking happens, I notice the signal strength indicator flashes, like it lost signal.

I have the same problem. P25 channel (specifically Hampton, NH PD). When the transmission stops, LINK appears and the clicking starts. Goes away if another audio transmission comes on the frequency, or scanning continues. Using 1.23.15 firmware.

 

[buddrousa]

Sounds like weak interference from some stray RF source as WIFI or LED LIGHTS ect.

 

[tvengr]

I have the same problem. P25 channel (specifically Hampton, NH PD). When the transmission stops, LINK appears and the clicking starts. Goes away if another audio transmission comes on the frequency, or scanning continues. Using 1.23.15 firmware.

In case you missed it earlier in the thread, turn off any other scanners. They can radiate oscillator signals which can cause clicking noises while scanning.

 

[ofd8001]

I found that rolling back the firmware to the previous version resolved the problem. Hopefully Uniden has seen this thread and will deal with it on some firmware update.

 

[n1chu]

Firmware/software updates are sometimes just routine “bug” fixes, where the update is a correction of a minor issue. They don’t go into specifics as to exactly what it fixes. But there’s an old saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as has been mentioned in this thread… meaning reverting back to the previous FW, where you did not see an issue exist. If the scanner was doing all that you wanted previously, the updated FW isn’t necessarily needed. And since most all updates are backwards compatible, waiting for the next one won’t cause you to miss one… the next one may even fix what was wrong with the one you experienced a problem with. Again, just because there’s a new update available it doesn’t mean you need it. That covers updates. Upgrades are different. They may contain the addition of a feature previously not available, or just set up your scanner to be able to accept an upgrade that’s in the works and expected to be released shortly. But those usually come with a subscription cost. (It’s been my experience updates don’t cost but upgrades do!) I have numerous pieces of ham gear that are eligible for updates/upgrades from time to time which get ignored because either my gear is functioning satisfactorily or it’s for something I don’t need or want.

 

[ColdnFrosty]

In case you missed it earlier in the thread, turn off any other scanners. They can radiate oscillator signals which can cause clicking noises while scanning.

None to turn off. I just installed the new update posted today for Main and Sub. Issue is still there.

 

[ColdnFrosty]

Yep, reverting to firmware 1.23.07 fixed the click.

for good things.

I did the same and it appeared to help, but today I installed the new firmware and the clicking almost seems more pronounced than the previous firmware.

 

[Ubbe]

They don’t go into specifics as to exactly what it fixes.

And because of that you do not know what you are missing. It could be a performance improvement. So I would recommend to always update to the latest version and then report any bugs you find. The more people that report in bugs the quicker it might be resolved.

/Ubbe

 

[Isinglass311]

1.23.20 Sub (10/17/2025)​

• Requires SUB V1.03.15 or later.
• Resolved an issue where NAC information was not activated in System Status mode.
• Enhanced squelch sensitivity and control for WFM/FMB modes. (with Sub)
• Fixed a bug where NAC was not displayed during P25 Phase 2 voice transmissions.
• Corrected an issue where mute was released even without a tone after receiving a Tone Out signal.
• WX Alert and SAME Decoding Performance Improved.
• Removed "Bearcat" at startup screen to align with model name consistency.

1.03.15 Sub (10/17/2025)​

• Requires Main V1.23.20 or later.
• Improved WFM/FMB Squelch Threshold Adjustment. (with Main)
• Resolved an issue where no audio was output during P25 voice decoding on P16 3600 baud systems.

As ColdnFrosty reported the clicking noise is still present.