Future SDS Firmware to include waterfall option .

[CorwinScansNM]

Which site are you having issues with? What is a general location of where you're at in NM? I'll take a look at your state system a little closer tomorrow because that shouldn't be happening and no amplifier should be necessary if you're using the closest site only and you're within range, and no obstructions. Ever try using the back of the set antenna without all the amplifier? I would troubleshoot it down to the bare basics, and work from there. That's not normal behavior for these scanners.

werinshades, I have Private Messages you on RR on this.

 

[Ubbe]

As you can see, the 200's fail to lock on with squelch set at 2 while the 536, 996T and HP1 work fine.

It seems to just barely open squelch on the control channel 855.2125 and indicates 0 in bit error but no RSSI. It's when it goes to a voice channel 857.6375 and 857.4375 that it completely looses reception. Your other scanners have at the same time more or less full signal bars. That's typical for a SDS scanner when it encounters high power signals in the frequency band as it then reduces its automatic RF gain, something that your other scanners do not have or even needs. You can try FM instead of NFM to get a better squelch action.

I can see that you have tried IFX and all filter settings and the attenuator setting are probably too much and then what are left are to try and find what frequency that are too strong for the SDS scanner and use a notch filter for it. It's probably a frequency closer to the 860Mhz range and needs a spectrum view to find it, using a cheap SDR dongle.

When trying things you can program a voice channel or two in quick save memory and in analog mode. Then listen with squelch at 0 and when another scanner indicates that the channel are in use you try different things to try and hear the data signalling more clearly, filters, IFX, amplifier and amplifier with the scanners attenuator on.

What signal amplifier are you using and have you enough attenuators in line to not overload the SDS scanners?

/Ubbe

 

[4436time]

I find IFX to not be very effective and looking at the brief video, it appears to be causing havoc with the control channel decoding. Turn off IFX, turn off all filters and run the scanner without the computer. Do you have the site set to Global Filter and the global setting set to normal or is the site set to Normal filter?

IFX doesn't seem to have a noticeable effect. Here are the results making one change at a time with IFX disabled:

Global (Normal) - no difference
Global (Off) - no difference
Site explicitly set to Normal - no difference
Site explicitly set to Off - no difference
All other filter options - no difference

NAC Search disabled and site ID explicitly set - no difference

Have tried both antennas below as well as none, stock, RS 800Mhz, and a couple others, connected directly, as well as different cables to the multicoupler.
Antenna 1 - Omni X (3dB gain) / LMR400 (20ft) w/FM Trap (all digital radios currently connected here)
Antenna 2 - D130J / RG8X (25ft) w/FM Trap (all conv radios currently here)

I set the attenuator in case the SDS's might've been overloaded and it makes no difference. As mentioned, it's as if they are out of range but not.

Squelch 1 or 0 success
Squelch 2 no success

I have rebooted the multicouplers but not cleared user data through Sentinel since all other systems are fine.

Appreciate all input.

 

[buddrousa]

Just a simple question.
How far are you from the transmitter site?

 

[4436time]

Just a simple question.
How far are you from the transmitter site?

20 miles +/-

I haven't calculated the actual distance using GPS coordinates, but I'm guessing it's close. Older scanners work fine so it "should be" within range.

 

[4436time]

It seems to just barely open squelch on the control channel 855.2125 and indicates 0 in bit error but no RSSI. It's when it goes to a voice channel 857.6375 and 857.4375 that it completely looses reception. Your other scanners have at the same time more or less full signal bars. That's typical for a SDS scanner when it encounters high power signals in the frequency band as it then reduces its automatic RF gain, something that your other scanners do not have or even needs. You can try FM instead of NFM to get a better squelch action.

I can see that you have tried IFX and all filter settings and the attenuator setting are probably too much and then what are left are to try and find what frequency that are too strong for the SDS scanner and use a notch filter for it. It's probably a frequency closer to the 860Mhz range and needs a spectrum view to find it, using a cheap SDR dongle.

When trying things you can program a voice channel or two in quick save memory and in analog mode. Then listen with squelch at 0 and when another scanner indicates that the channel are in use you try different things to try and hear the data signalling more clearly, filters, IFX, amplifier and amplifier with the scanners attenuator on.

What signal amplifier are you using and have you enough attenuators in line to not overload the SDS scanners?

/Ubbe

Working.

Not currently using any amplifiers or attenuators - I haven't purchased the components we discussed last year since what I have is "working." But the list is ready should a multicoupler go down. Was actually looking at it again the other day.

I only posted the video because Joe Bearcat was here last night and I was hoping he might see it and respond. No luck, though, and hopefully the updates will be released soon.

 

[Ubbe]

I only posted the video because Joe Bearcat was here last night and I was hoping he might see it and respond. No luck, though, and hopefully the updates will be released soon.

Improved decode quality wont help as you haven't got any signal to decode in the first place.

SDS scanners have a programmable preamplifier gain that if the gain setting where user adjustable could have been used to try a gain that gave the best signal quality and then saved to that site, very much like how the filter settings works. That would be a welcomed addition to the settings in SDS scanners to try and improve their performance in tricky cases like this one. It could be as simple as allow us to use service mode, to also calibrate the reference frequency if it has drifted over time.

/Ubbe

 

[garys]

I've found that on my SDS scanners 2 is the optimal squelch setting. Much higher than that and the squelch acts more like an attenuator.

Dave3825,

I just checked my Squelch Knob today from what you explained here & mine does in fact pass with starting all the way below 0 counterclockwise to then turning it clockwise slowly until it reaches just to 1. Mine was also 8 clicks to get back to Squelch 1.

 

[jasonhouk]

I find IFX to not be very effective and looking at the brief video, it appears to be causing havoc with the control channel decoding. Turn off IFX, turn off all filters and run the scanner without the computer. Do you have the site set to Global Filter and the global setting set to normal or is the site set to Normal filter?

I agree, remove all filters first, then try. If the same result disconnect from the computer try again.

 

[Ubbe]

Removing the filter function are the Off function and Normal are a low pass filter function.
Actual filter functions
What IFX do

/Ubbe

 

[4436time]

I can see that you have tried IFX and all filter settings and the attenuator setting are probably too much and then what are left are to try and find what frequency that are too strong for the SDS scanner and use a notch filter for it. It's probably a frequency closer to the 860Mhz range and needs a spectrum view to find it, using a cheap SDR dongle.

When trying things you can program a voice channel or two in quick save memory and in analog mode. Then listen with squelch at 0 and when another scanner indicates that the channel are in use you try different things to try and hear the data signalling more clearly, filters, IFX, amplifier and amplifier with the scanners attenuator on.

I will have a look this weekend and PM you.

 

[gary123]

A small possibility is that the unit is slightly off frequency. even a couple of hundred hertz is enough to cause decode issues. 700hz and more will cause almost the exact symptoms you are describing.

Back on the FW update issue. Uniden many of your in service scanners 436/536/100/200/992 are starting to show frequency drift. Its usually only 300-1000hertz. This is enough to cause decode and channel capture issues for the end user. Especially on P25 Phase II and simulcast systems Bear in mind there is nothing physically wrong with the hardware components and is NOT a warranty item. This is strictly a tuning issue caused by the natural aging of components.

What would be really useful and helpful for the whole community would be a single standalone utility for the scanners. This utility would allow the end user to net the receiver back on frequency. NOTHING else. The app should come with a disclaimer that if used Uniden is not responsible for ANY issues caused by the unit being off frequency or failing to operate properly due to frequency settings being wrong or adjusted improperly. It should also highly recommend that any unit with a frequency drift issue be sent to a authorized service center for "lab" recalibration.

HMM this may be a good topic for a stand alone thread. If the mods agree please feel free to move and edit as needed.

 

[414RadioTech]

I have now noticed in MyUniden an option to purchase a waterfall display key for $20 bucks

 

[414RadioTech]

I have now noticed in MyUniden an option to purchase a waterfall display key for $20 bucks

 

[belvdr]

I have now noticed in MyUniden an option to purchase a waterfall display key for $20 bucks

I see that too. I'm not forking over $20 when I don't have a place to enter the key though.

 

[N9JIG]

I see that too. I'm not forking over $20 when I don't have a place to enter the key though.

Once the public firmware is released to accommodate the new feature it will have a place to add the key, just like when the DMR, NXDN and ProVoice options were added to the Uniden scanners.

 

[belvdr]

Once the public firmware is released to accommodate the new feature it will have a place to add the key, just like when the DMR, NXDN and ProVoice options were added to the Uniden scanners.

Absolutely, I wasn’t implying there was never going to be a place for it. It is odd they would have that available when the firmware hasn’t been released though. Seems Uniden is rather clunky in their movements.

 

[buddrousa]

Well it is better than releasing the firmware and not having a place to buy the key like some of the other upgrades were.

 

[jtwalker]

I have now noticed in MyUniden an option to purchase a waterfall display key for $20 bucks

Nice catch 👍. Now buy it and let us know what it does 😉

 

[belvdr]

Well it is better than releasing the firmware and not having a place to buy the key like some of the other upgrades were.

Agree. Would be nice if they had their stuff together and released it all at once. As it stands, it looks like amateur hour.