SDS100/SDS200: Interesting sds200 issue

[chad_96]

Hello all,

A few days ago I got a second sds200. I hooked the new sds200 up in place of the old sds200. Updated firmware, programmed the same, and basically put it in the spot of the old one with the antenna that was on the old unit.

Problem is, the new unit was getting massive amounts of D-errors. I monitor 2 sites on the state of Colorado DTRS statewide system. The system is p25 phase 1.

Only thing noticable from before I set it up was heavy cloud cover in the area. I also touched the unit and a static electricity discharge happened when I touched the unit after setup was complete.

After awhile of messing with filters, with nothing helping out, I hooked back up the old unit to see if it was the same behaviors as the new unit. Nope. Old unit had great rssi values and no D-errors other the a few times going to 5-6 and dropping back to 0.

I'm just curious if anyone has anything they could think of or recommend to try. I personally think the unit has a defect in the components somewhere. It's under warranty and am considering sending it in and exchanging it. But maybe I'm missing something somewhere?

Thanks in advance for any ideas or advice.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Maybe try formatting a New sd card for it, and if that doesn't help then Yes, send it in.

 

[rocky28965]

I would swap out the sd card from your older radio & see how that goes.

 

[chad_96]

I will swap it today and see how it works.

 

[chad_96]

Maybe try formatting a New sd card for it, and if that doesn't help then Yes, send it in.

I have no clue how to reformat the SD card or how complicated it is. I will swap the SD card from the unit I don't have problems with and see if there's any change? Not to sure how an SD card could cause all the D errors or signal issue or whatever is happening, but I'm sure it's very possible.

If no resolution from trying that, or noticable change, I will return the unit.

Thanks for the help!

 

[ofd8001]

If you are merely swapping one SD card from Unit A to Unit B, all you are transferring is known/good programming. Formatting not needed or anything else for that matter.

Once upon a time ago, I disconnected an antenna from a scanner and got a static electricity arc. That ended up frying a diode that was in place to protect against too much coming in.

 

[donc13]

I have no clue how to reformat the SD card or how complicated it is. I will swap the SD card from the unit I don't have problems with and see if there's any change? Not to sure how an SD card could cause all the D errors or signal issue or whatever is happening, but I'm sure it's very possible.

If no resolution from trying that, or noticable change, I will return the unit.

Thanks for the help!

I would agree with other's thoughts, swap the SD card from the good unit to the weak unit. if the weak (new) unit does not improve, send it in for repair.. or exchange it at where you bought it for a new unit.

I would agree that static can harm the front end.

I also listen to Colorado's DTRS with my SDS200 and have zero issues with weak reception in the Grand Junction area.

 

[chad_96]

Thank you all for the information. I tried several things to ensure things were correctly programmed, etc.. and ensure I had everything done properly. Swapping SD cards also resulted in the exact same result. Hooked back up the previous 200 and works great still.

I contacted where I bought the unit from, and they suggested one thing I didn't think about, trying the weather to see if it was working. It did not, at all. So, I assume there was in fact an issue with the unit, beyond my control.

I sent the unit in for replacement, so hopefully things go better the next go around.

Thanks for all the advice and help from you all. Much appreciated.

 

[chad_96]

I would agree with other's thoughts, swap the SD card from the good unit to the weak unit. if the weak (new) unit does not improve, send it in for repair.. or exchange it at where you bought it for a new unit.

I would agree that static can harm the front end.

I also listen to Colorado's DTRS with my SDS200 and have zero issues with weak reception in the Grand Junction area.

I had a hard time getting a proper antenna setup going. Tries many antennas before landing on using a cheap HDTV patch style antenna that sits on the shelf.

I have 2 sites I monitor out here on the southeast plains, 1 of which is behind a mesa that I absolutely struggled to get before the current antenna setup, and was a fairly weak signal, but a very important site for monitoring.

Now that I get great signal, I have experimented with ID search lately, and I am getting great results on departments of various kinds from all over I would never imagined would be available to hear, due to their locations. 1 in particular that comes In sometimes is Sedgwick county up at the Nebraska line, approximately 190 miles north of me.

For as much as I despised the sds line at first, they sure are amazing. Hoping when I get the new 200 swapped it will perform as amazing as my other without any more issues. They do great at those weaker signals, setup appropriately!

Thanks for the help and advice!

 

[donc13]

That's the great thing about how Colorado setup DTRS. Whenever a unit from another area "associates" with 1 of the sites in your area, that tower will broadcast all calls that unit would receive in its home area.

Over here, in Grand Junction, I will occasionally get Denver & Pueblo CSP or metro area calls. Especially CSP calls when one of the Denver ot Pueblo cars is over here for training or meetings.