SDS100/SDS200: Is Their A Problem With My SDS100 - Poor reception?

[lightninhopkins]

Hi @JoeBearcat

I previously called the support team but was unable to reach the technical staff directly. Instead, my concerns were relayed through the operator (made it a bit tough to explain in detail). I'll try calling again today to speak directly with the tech team.

Regarding my SDS100, I've noticed an interesting issue with P25 transmissions. Randomly, I receive decode errors near 100, but when I re-scan and reacquire the same channel during the same broadcast (even within 500ms), the errors disappear. I mentioned this earlier, but I wanted to bring it to your attention. Thank you.

 

[Ubbe]

Start a debug log that covers the time when the errors have built up and to the time you switch frequencies and come back to the same channel and the errors are gone. It will help Uniden to analyze the cause of this bug, or at least let them try to repeat the scenario by themselves.

/Ubbe

 

[tzukows]

I posted recent experiences in another thread, so i won't duplicate all the here.

But, for me it seemed to be filter and locations.

Tried stock antenna, Remtronix 920, Comet telescopic antenna, and a Larsen mobile tri-band.

Best result for my SDS100 so far has been setting Global Filter to Wide Inverted on my Larsen tri-band LMO mobile antenna on magneticneric base.

For me wide inverted opend signal reception more than anything else.

 

[n1chu]

For myself, concerning filter settings (with the understanding that simulcast distortion is highly dependent upon my location at any given time), I first turned off the Global Filter setting and then each and every independant Filter setting I found within each entry (agency) in my programming. That was my starting point. I wanted to start without ANY Filter settings, and then, if I found any troublesome systems, try various Filter settings to see if I could improve on my reception. The only trouble with that was twofold… I have two SDS200’s, one mobile and one base station at home. The mobile was going to be impossible to learn if any Filter setting would work in my area as simulcast distortion varies depending upon location, which is constantly changing as I drive. The home base also could be affected because I use a directional antenna with a rotator (the slightest movement of the antenna could bring me into a dead spot, as even a movement in inches has been known to improve or make worse my reception). Luckily for me I don’t seem to experience simulcast distortion, or to a degree where I makes a difference at home. So, I left ALL Filter settings turned off. The mobile is another story altogether as it is impossible to determine when and if I might benefit from the use of Filters… I’m always moving, changing my location. But again, the agencies I monitor are either strong enough to not need any corrective action through the use of Filters or I am fortunate that simulcast distortion isn’t an issue in the areas I roam. In any case, determining if Filters are beneficial involves a lengthy process of trial and error, something I found was not necessary. But, as the simulcast systems grow in size. (I have one that is a statewide system, available for all state agencies. It also allows for towns and cities to join. As additions come on board the infrastructure could change whereby distortion could raise its ugly head and have me searching for relief through the use of filters. It’s then I will need to determine which Filter works best for my home location, a task I don’t look forward to!)

 

[tzukows]

I posted recent experiences in another thread, so i won't duplicate all the here.

But, for me it seemed to be filter and locations.

Tried stock antenna, Remtronix 920, Comet telescopic antenna, and a Larsen mobile tri-band.

Best result for my SDS100 so far has been setting Global Filter to Wide Inverted on my Larsen tri-band LMO mobile antenna on magneticneric base.

For me wide inverted opend signal reception more than anything else.

Still learning. Still experimenting.

Here is what I found so far...

SDS100 at home. Back to Remtronix 920S with Global Filter of Wide Normal and a few individual overrides to Wide Inverted (some 154-156 mhz channels).

SDS200 in work vehicle. Global Filter is Normal. Most of of the channels that were not coming in on my SDS100 without being filtered to Wide Inverted come in fine on the Normal filter in the car. That said, I was not getting much on air traffic control frequencies until I switched over to Wide Normal for those air control centers in my area. Now I get tower and aircraft!

Will be a long process to sort out, but as I find setting that improve different channels I will make note and keep those settings in my ProScan channel settings.

I am finding out that what is good for most is not good for all.
There may be one particular setting that really makes a difference in being able to bring in a particular channel.

Don't give up!

The SDS100 and SDS200 really are quite impressive!!! I wish there was one-button tuning that could optimize reception across the board, but there is not.

It is more operator learning curve than what I have been used to in old scanners I have owned, but these units can do a LOT and very well...

 

[garys]

After experimenting for some years while living in MA I found that having the filter set to OFF worked for most systems and frequencies. The one exception as I recall was the ICE 900Mhz MotoTrbo trunk system. To a lesser extent that was true of the Commtronics/Bearcomm 900 system, but I believe that connected to unmonitorable technology so it's moot.

 

[tzukows]

After experimenting for some years while living in MA I found that having the filter set to OFF worked for most systems and frequencies. The one exception as I recall was the ICE 900Mhz MotoTrbo trunk system. To a lesser extent that was true of the Commtronics/Bearcomm 900 system, but I believe that connected to unmonitorable technology so it's moot.

East or west? I am in west. I turned mine off, but I was no picking up any comms from towns right next door to me. On the SDS200, Normal works best on most (currently my Global Filter) I was missing a lot with filter set to OFF.

On the SDS 100, as I have it now... Seems like I was missing more until I flipped Global Filter from the default setting to Wide Normal and a few missing so far seem to like Wide Inverted. Normal and Off seemed to be missing a lot with that unit and antenna.

From what I have read online, the SDS100 and SDS200 can get overwhelmed by junk signals, interference and other stuff very easily. The various filters seem to cut through the noise. I have seen great improvement on the air band. Before, I was getting weak crackly from traffic control, but no air to ATC at all. The SDS200 in the car really came alive when filter for that group was set to Wide Inverted. Very clear and both sides received now.

On the SDS100, I was not receiving towns next door (Agawam, Westfield, Chicopee) until I switched from default filter to Global Filter of Wide Normal. Some distant public safety channels on the 153-156 mhz were not coming in at all flipped over to Wide Inverted. Now I get towns next door very clear and I am now able to pull in a few as far away as Amherst, Belchertown and Ware...

If you were in the eastern part of MA, there may have been different things causing noise and interference at different frequency ranges. If so, you may have needed different filters than I do her in the west.

If you were in the west too, then maybe just enough differences between your location and mine to require different filter settings.

 

[n1chu]

Since the filters are all about location, location, location, I’ve set my mobile SDS200 to off for ALL filter settings, global and otherwise. My vehicle is moving, and the filter settings needed for any one particular spot will change with it. A change in location as little a a few inches will make a big difference when using the filters. If I were to use the filters at all it would be with my other SDS200 connected to an outside antenna at home. But since I’m not bothered by simulcast distortion, that radio is also set to no filters necessary.

 

[tvengr]

Aircraft band is silent unless sitting 5 feet from an airport perimeter fence.

A 24" length of wire in the antenna connector will be an excellent antenna for VHF aircraft band.

 

[tzukows]

Since the filters are all about location, location, location, I’ve set my mobile SDS200 to off for ALL filter settings, global and otherwise. My vehicle is moving, and the filter settings needed for any one particular spot will change with it. A change in location as little a a few inches will make a big difference when using the filters. If I were to use the filters at all it would be with my other SDS200 connected to an outside antenna at home. But since I’m not bothered by simulcast distortion, that radio is also set to no filters necessary.

I am surrounded by all kinds of things... Major radio, TV and public safety transmitters close by and in every direction!
One site was so powerful, my Trimble GPS went completely out when I was within 100 feet of the towers. There are simulcast to the north, south, east and west of me. Plus, three airports, a couple power plants. Its is just a giant bowl of interference sources here.

Experimentation and adjustments will be ongoing. Just tweaking what I think I should be getting signals on and finding which setting works best on a particular site/channel in most places. I was just pleasantly surprised when one filter or another actually made the difference of getting clear and strong signal where I was previously getting nothing.

This is where the universal "Your results may vary..." disclaimer comes in.