SDS100/SDS200: Lost on SDS200

[Stroked96]

That's good. If it only had specified "shipped by" Amazon, that could have been one provided by a third party vendor. Bearcat Warehouse (using the name "Police Scanner Outlet") and Zip Scanners also sell on Amazon, with amazon providing the shipping.


The filter being referred to is not a physical filter that you install. Look at the Wiki page link RobDLG provided above. That explains filters and their settings for the SDS100 & SDS200.

The filter is a setting made in your Favorites list, For a trunked system, it's under the Site Options tab in Sentinel and on the scanner.

View attachment 203610

In your Profile in Sentinel, you can set a filter to be used on all your systems, That's why the screenshot shows as "Global", because for that site, I'm using a default filter setting. However, instead of choosing Global, I can set a different filter for one or more specific sites.

The "Global" setting, if used, is set in the Profile.
View attachment 203611

I'd still suggest, as Whiskey3 posted above, that you post your file & let one of us take a look, just in case something got overlooked. That can happen to any of us (at least the ones that aren't too shy to admit it), and sometimes a second, or third, set of eyes spot something that is out of place.

It's certainly not impossible that you got a defective unit. There haven't been a lot of "bad units" out of the box, but that's not impossible with anything electronic or mechanical.

Guys, I was kidding about the Autozone filter thing. Trying to make a little light on my situation. BUT! Stand by, we may have something here, I will post soon with positive results!

 

[Stroked96]

Yep, you need Sentinel on your Windows PC. It'll update your master database, as well as firmware. (Be sure to search in Windows for "Windows Features", and select .NET Framework 3.5 (includes 2.0 & 3.0, or it won't work.)

Yes, have done all that, Sentinel, Proscan Paid, work fine. Cool to be able to see scanner on big screen!

 

[Stroked96]

Thanks to all your replies, and Rob, you nailed it! Turning off that Global Filter has produced results! I actually heard intelligible audio on this thing. Now to set my FL to what I want to hear and skip the boring stuff and evidently play with settings that I shouldn't have to. Probably will start fresh with Sentinel, choose what I want, load it, SET FILTER OFF! Try again and will let you all know how it goes.
Thanks again to all of you. Maybe this damn near $1000.00 venture will be a keeper. Wife keeps asking what that noise is.
Some audio is still a bit weird sounding, but not garbage like it was on the 436.
Mike

 

[dmfalk]

Yes, have done all that, Sentinel, Proscan Paid, work fine. Cool to be able to see scanner on big screen!

Excellent! Sounds like you're on the right track!

 

[RobDLG]

Turning off that Global Filter has produced results! I actually heard intelligible audio on this thing.

Excellent!

Note that the filter can also be set per site. I just checked my SDS200, and I'm using "Wide Auto" on the local site for the state's P25 system.

 

[Stroked96]

Excellent!

Note that the filter can also be set per site. I just checked my SDS200, and I'm using "Wide Auto" on the local site for the state's P25 system.

So I'm not even sure how the "Site" part works. In Simulcast the sites or towers all transmit the same signal,using same control channels,no? Do I need to specify a site or has the scanner determined that for me based on location? After turning off the Global Filter it seems to be working great,thank you!
I do know I listened to Nelson Peak before they went P25. Not sure the site I'm on now.
Mike

 

[dmfalk]

Even in a simulcast situation, focusing on a single site actually can speed up the scanning process, instead of searching for sites, which would slow it down.

 

[RobDLG]

So I'm not even sure how the "Site" part works. In Simulcast the sites or towers all transmit the same signal,using same control channels,no? Do I need to specify a site or has the scanner determined that for me based on location? After turning off the Global Filter it seems to be working great,thank you!

If the Global Filter setting is working, then the Site filter should be of no concern! I just mentioned it because I saw it in the scanner's menu. My current location isn't in range of any simulcast systems, so I have no first-hand experience with them.

 

[KE0SRL]

Like I said, I get everything on MARRS, just listened to a few minutes ago the MERS talking to KCFD with the weather forecast, and Jackson Co. Sheriff, and MARCER talking to Centerpoint. Everything except KCFD. Don't get it.

 

[J-Wrock]

Ah! What do you have programmed in for the TGIDS for the KCFD? For example, A1 - Dispatch should be 33000. And that particular talkgroup is set to "Fire Dispatch?" If both of those are true, then I'm not sure why you aren't getting KCFD.

 

[KE0SRL]

There is no problem with antenna. I am up on a hill and it is on a tall mast. Last night I was listening to Buchanon Co. Jail in St. Joe. So no antenna problem.

 

[KE0SRL]

 

[KE0SRL]

 

[KE0SRL]

 

[J-Wrock]

If that's your favorites list, then your scanner should be picking up a lot of traffic on KCFD right now. Looks like the TGIDs and Control Frequencies are all there so not sure why your scanner isn't locking onto the KCFD if you are able to hear other MARRS traffic.

 

[KE0SRL]

 

[J-Wrock]

Just for my curiosity, can you post a screenshot of the "Service Types" window?

 

[KE0SRL]

 

[KE0SRL]

 

[J-Wrock]

Thanks! And can you post a picture of the entire system so it shows all the departments on the right pane?