SDS100/SDS200: Having trouble !! Want to pull my hair out!!!

[Bama17]

I just purchased a Uniden SDS100 for Christmas and I ordered it programed for my area ( Lowndes County, Mississippi ) . It will not pick up my sheriffs frequencies or any thing for that matter. Well, it will picks up my police frequencies but it is garbled. You can't understand what they are saying. Please help!!!!!!

 

[nessnet]

First, have you installed Sentinel?
If not, do it.
(IMO, it was a waste of money on pre-programming when the radio comes with free access to the RR database.)
Then look at your county and compare it to what is programmed into the scanner.

Now, briefly looking at MSWIN, it is P25 Phase II.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4879
P25 is digital.
I also see some very recent changes, which probably didn't get pre-programmed, if applicable to your area.
I also see that there is some encryption, which your scanner (and any commercial scanner) will not be able to receive.

OK: On analog, you get static when the signal is weak.
With digital, it is garbled when you are not getting the best signal.
Or, it's encrypted - then you are SOL.

It sounds like you are either in a weak signal area or you have interference of some kind - or encryption.
Cell tower close, Wifi, you name it can cause interference.
Get up on the highest hill.
Does it improve?

 

[mule1075]

First, have you installed Sentinel?
If not, do it.
(IMO, it was a waste of money on pre-programming when the radio comes with free access to the RR database.)
Then look at your county and compare it to what is programmed into the scanner.

Now, briefly looking at MSWIN, it is P25 Phase II.
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4879
P25 is digital.
I also see some very recent changes, which probably didn't get pre-programmed, if applicable to your area.
I also see that there is some encryption, which your scanner (and any commercial scanner) will not be able to receive.

OK: On analog, you get static when the signal is weak.
With digital, it is garbled when you are not getting the best signal.
Or, it's encrypted - then you are SOL.

It sounds like you are either in a weak signal area or you have interference of some kind - or encryption.
Cell tower close, Wifi, you name it can cause interference.
Get up on the highest hill.
Does it improve?

The OP's Sheriff's office shows as digital not encrypted.

 

[Bama17]

I have installed Sentinel. I've even driven around in my truck and still the same. I am not to savvy with these new scanners.

 

[nessnet]

Yes, I see not in Lowndes, but there is encryption on MSWIN, which may have not gotten into RR yet?

Lowndes Co Sheriff:

Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
460.25000 WNNL962 RM 565 DPL LC SO Disp Lowndes Sheriff Dispatch/Operations FMN Law Dispatch
460.02500 WNNL962 RM LC SO Tac Lowndes Sheriff Tactical FMN Law Tac

Columbus:
Frequency License Type Tone Alpha Tag Description Mode Tag
460.50000 WNNT734 RM 654 DPL CPD Disp Columbus Police Dispatch FMN Law Dispatch
460.45000 WNNT734 RM 654 DPL CPD Tac Columbus Police Tactical FMN Law Tac

On MSWIN:
MHP - Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol - District 5 Talkgroups

District 5: Troop G serves Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Lowndes, Monroe, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, and Webster counties. It is dispatched from Starkville.

DEC HEX Mode Alpha Tag Description Tag
13031 32e7 T MHP D5 DISP District 5 - Troop G Dispatch Law Dispatch
13033 32e9 T MHP D5 C2C District 5 - Troop G Car to Car Law Talk

Lowndes County (44) Talkgroups

DEC HEX Mode Alpha Tag Description Tag
44328 ad28 D 44 SO DISP Sheriff - Dispatch Law Dispatch

 

[nessnet]

Here in my area, the State Patrol is P25.
It sometimes is a ***** receiving them - or shall I say understanding them.

It is just what P25 digital sounds like when you don't have a good signal.

Better antenna is an option.
Sometimes, that isn't enough.
Just the nature of P25 when you are not under ideal circumstances.

And, it is not the SDS100.
This is just a fact of life with P25

 

[maus92]

Here in my area, the State Patrol is P25.
It sometimes is a ***** receiving them - or shall I say understanding them.

It is just what P25 digital sounds like when you don't have a good signal.

Better antenna is an option.
Sometimes, that isn't enough.
Just the nature of P25 when you are not under ideal circumstances.

And, it is not the SDS100.
This is just a fact of life with P25

Much depends on the system design, and the location of the radio wrt to transmit sites. My local P25P2 simulcast system provides pristine audio when using the SDS100 or G5.

I would suggest that the OP make sure MSWIN is in his programming, and only enables the MSWIN sites in and surrounding his county, and make sure TG 44328 is the only TG enabled. Once that is working, he could then start enabling other TGs he would like to hear.

 

[Ensnared]

First of all, many folks have trouble learning how to operate a digital scanner. It took me two years to figure out my 436HP. The same Sentinel software is used to program both.

So, let's start by reviewing things.

In order for you to hear the things in your area, you need to be mindful of various sites within your area that transmit the system in question. At the top of the page, above all of the frequencies, you will find, "RR locations" Make sure you enlarge the following screen to find the towers within your county. https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?action=siteMap&sid=4879&type=rr

I am seeing only two sites in your county. Make sure these are the ones you select when downloading the system in question. Ignore all other talk groups that are outside of your listening area. You might add some later. But, for right now, let's concentrate on your local area.

Next, in Profiles, make sure you have selected all of the associated service types. Since you are not able to hear your local police, I am suspecting that "Law Dispatch" has not been checked.

In the menu on the radio, go to "set scan selection", click, and then rotate knob to "select lists to monitor." Click on that. Turn off "full database."

By the way, if you don't see what you have programned within this window, you have not completed your Profile. You have to tell the radio to "download" and "monitor" the Favorites you've selected.

If you like, I would be happy to program your immediate area with associated talk groups. In doing so, I would set up the radio to operate like an old Banked scanner from way back. Let me know. If you accept my offer, please, PM your email address so that I can send you the various Favorites.

Since I don't own a SDS 100, you will have to add the bells and whistles later. Please, remember one thing. The more eye candy you put on the active display, the more battery depletion.

Let me know.

 

[Blackink]

I want to commend those that are helping the OP with his dilemma.
What a great bunch of people we have in these forums.

Top shelf service at a low cost price!

 

[iMONITOR]

Did your dealer update the firmware when he programmed the scanner. If not make sure you do.

 

[nessnet]

[QUOTE = Please, remember one thing. The more eye candy you put on the active display, the more battery depletion. [/QUOTE]

Just one correction
The backlight of the display is what eats power.
What is ON the display does not.

 

[acecducec]

I never could get the sentinel software to work i had to use the ARC536 Basic software. Also you only need the 1 broadcast channel on P25....I think thats what its called. Its the channel that tells the system that someone has keyed up to talk.

 

[darkness975]

I have Sentinal for my HP2 , I assumed it was working even though it hasn't had any updates to the database since forever. I have not downloaded the version for my SDS100 yet since I have not had a chance to actually play with it.

 

[mule1075]

Please, remember one thing. The more eye candy you put on the active display, the more battery depletion

Umm no it does not. But since you don't own one you would not know that.

 

[Ensnared]

Umm no it does not. But since you don't own one you would not know that.

I don't agree, but extrapolation is something I can do on occasion. However, I will check informed sources about why the battery life has been a problem for some. Thank you for your response.

 

[Ensnared]

[QUOTE = Please, remember one thing. The more eye candy you put on the active display, the more battery depletion.

Just one correction
The backlight of the display is what eats power.
What is ON the display does not.[/QUOTE]

Let me be more specific, "things that light up on the display, including the back light. I recall the "stealth mode" on my GRE PSR 500. When I would engage this feature, my battery life would be significantly extended when the back light and LED were turned off. The be quite honest, I don't know why Uniden did not include a rotating disco light (CB reference) on top. LOL.

 

[mule1075]

I don't agree, but extrapolation is something I can do on occasion. However, I will check informed sources about why the battery life has been a problem for some. Thank you for your response.

You don't have to agree. I have tested mine on both simple and detailed display and the difference was less than 15-20 seconds before the battery warning sounded.

 

[Ensnared]

You don't have to agree. I have tested mine on both simple and detailed display and the difference was less than 15-20 seconds before the battery warning sounded.

Noted.