My SDS100 is not picking up all traffic

[wk5h]

I have an older SDS100 - a co-worker just bought one last week, and he wanted me to program his just like I have mine programmed. I did, and I started noticing something that I always wondered about - mine is slow to pick up transmissions, or to even pick them up at all.

Both scanners are at the newest firmware, same squelch, and scanning the exact same 5 frequencies. His newer scanner, is nearly always picking up the transmission before mine is, and in some cases, mine's not even picking them up at all.

While testing them, I have them sitting about 6" apart, and both plugged in.

What's the deal? Are the newer SDS100's just that much better than the first ones that were released?

 

[wk5h]

I managed to snag some videos of this occurring. The SDS100 on the left is my older one, and the SDS100 on the right is my co-worker's brand new one.

Again, both are only scanning 5 frequencies.

very obvious that the one on the left is missing transmissions

it eventually picked it up, but, it missed a good bit of it

More lagging behind the new one

 

[TailGator911]

Some quick comparisons to make.
Check that the scanners' programming is an exact clone of the other, i.e., that all services are checked, that all favorites are 'downloaded' and 'monitoring', that location parameters are the same, etc. One little difference in these settings can render the scanner to go mute. Also update firmware on each and look into your filter settings. This is a more recent setting that, if enabled./disabled can also have a lot to do with reception. Just some things off the top of my head that I would check first and foremost.

JD
kf4anc

 

[trentbob]

As with these situations we have no idea what differences there are between each individual radio off the line.

If I can make you a couple of suggestions... just to try. Go into the system that you're missing transmissions on and set the system hold time to 2 seconds.

You are already using normal filter as a default on global. Go into each site that you have enabled and try inverted... If that doesn't work try wide normal or wide invert.

If it's 1 System that's important to you put it on one favorites list all alone before making the above modifications.

Before anybody jumps on me. The system hold time is under system options, it has nothing to do with the two second hold time on each object. Give it a shot. Good luck.

 

[jfr454]

It appears that you are having the same issue I have with my local PD, conventional P25, either doesn't receive at all or receives the transmission late. Often missing a quick response. It occurs even when held on the frequency instead of scanning. Latest firmware and filters tested. I have a first run SDS100 from late May 2018. My 796D, 996P2, 396XT, 325P2 and PSR600 don't miss a beat.

 

[trentbob]

If I might clarify... I wasn't saying hold like hold on the Channel. I was talking about system hold on systems. It corrects missed Transmissions, clipped Transmissions and scanning through Transmissions a common problem people had within days of release of the first radios in May... by the way, if I remember, I was able to get my radio working well when it didn't at all... by suggestions from other members and reading everything I could, including from upman how to make my radio work better. When the first update came out with the original filters oh, that was it. The radio now keeps right up with my apx 7000. I'm not a Uniden fan and I don't think I will ever buy an SDS 200 for the obvious reasons but I am happy with my sds100 and as I always say, I put it in my top pocket and it doesn't pull my pants down.

 

[DSC45]

As with these situations we have no idea what differences there are between each individual radio off the line.

If I can make you a couple of suggestions... just to try. Go into the system that you're missing transmissions on and set the system hold time to 2 seconds.

You are already using normal filter as a default on global. Go into each site that you have enabled and try inverted... If that doesn't work try wide normal or wide invert.

“trentbob”. If I can ask a question? I just tried your suggestion for system hold time 2 sec. can this be set thru Sentinel Profile?

 

[wk5h]

I actually saved the profile from Sentinel of my scanner, to his radio. Everything, including favorites, settings, etc. are exactly the same as mine. The only differences are going to be that mine has the Provoice and DMR/MotoTRBO - but, none of the channels in the system and dept that I have scanning, are Provoice or TRBO.

 

[hiegtx]

“trentbob”. If I can ask a question? I just tried your suggestion for system hold time 2 sec. can this be set thru Sentinel Profile?

Not in the profile. It's set at the System Options level in the Favorites list. (In the Editor, click on the system name, not departments or sites. You'll see tabs at that level for Departments, Sites, Options, Quick Keys, and UIDs. Click the Option tab to set a hold on the system.)

 

[jfr454]

trentbob, I agree with the hold time statement when scanning but it should be elevated by holding on the channel.

 

[DSC45]

Not in the profile. It's set at the System Options level in the Favorites list. (In the Editor, click on the system name, not departments or sites. You'll see tabs at that level for Departments, Sites, Options, Quick Keys, and UIDs. Click the Option tab to set a hold on the system.)

Hiegtx, thank you very much for this valuable information, really appreciate it!

 

[trentbob]

So it seems that Higetx by the like has you covered here. By the way holding on the channel or object, it's not the same as holding on the system as I tried to clarify before. I personally make all these changes on the radio itself, it's so much easier. When I eventually go on Sentinel the first thing I do is transfer all the information from the radio to Sentinel.

Looks like you're getting information elsewhere so good luck!

 

[DSC45]

So it seems that Higetx by the like has you covered here. By the way holding on the channel or object, it's not the same as holding on the system as I tried to clarify before. I personally make all these changes on the radio itself, it's so much easier. When I eventually go on Sentinel the first thing I do is transfer all the information from the radio to Sentinel.

Looks like you're getting information elsewhere so good luck!

Thanks for the great information!

 

[KR7CQ]

Removing all programming differences is of course the first step.

However, I can tell you without any doubt whatsoever, that my new-production SDS100 is turning in a performance head and shoulders above my pre-order SDS100 that got returned. I believe that it's possible that there were a few "bad apples" in the first run. I know mention has been made of possible adjustments in soldering temperature among other things, unknown on what other factors might have changed.

Also remember that parts of transmissions are missed during "housekeeping" cycles. To eliminate this issue (mostly), clone systems to be tested and call them the same name with "hold" at the end...and on these cloned systems change the system hold time to 255. That way you can eliminate any drops because of "housekeeping"....at least for 255 second periods.

 

[trentbob]

Removing all programming differences is of course the first step.

However, I can tell you without any doubt whatsoever, that my new-production SDS100 is turning in a performance head and shoulders above my pre-order SDS100 that got returned. I believe that it's possible that there were a few "bad apples" in the first run. I know mention has been made of possible adjustments in soldering temperature among other things, unknown on what other factors might have changed.

Also remember that parts of transmissions are missed during "housekeeping" cycles. To eliminate this issue (mostly), clone systems to be tested and call them the same name with "hold" at the end...and on these cloned systems change the system hold time to 255. That way you can eliminate any drops because of "housekeeping"....at least for 255 second periods.

Yes as I had suggested reprogram a new favorites list keep the system you're having a problem with alone on that list then go in and permanent delete the sites you don't need. When I first got my sds100 and it did not work at all on my system skipping Transmissions clipping and scanning through Transmissions I put a system hold time of 255 seconds. That meant that the radio held on that Tower I was listening to until it blinked after over 4 minutes then it reacquired, it worked. Of course however, I couldn't scan anything else.

The solutions I came up with here were from my own experiences.

The new filters on the 1st update completely solved my problem and I was able to scan other things at the same time as listening to my system with only a two second system hold.

It's not just poor quality control and inconsistency from unit to unit, it's also lack of user understanding of the radio itself.

 

[rcool101]

I managed to snag some videos of this occurring. The SDS100 on the left is my older one, and the SDS100 on the right is my co-worker's brand new one.

Again, both are only scanning 5 frequencies.

very obvious that the one on the left is missing transmissions

it eventually picked it up, but, it missed a good bit of it

More lagging behind the new one

Switch the radio's position....Don't laugh,,, I've seen 2 inches in my location make a difference....Insert joke now

 

[marksmith]

Switch the radio's position....Don't laugh,,, I've seen 2 inches in my location make a difference....Insert joke now

Nobody should laugh, especially if 700-800 mz is involved. Seems less of an impact on this radio than many, but still a fair impact, especially if system RSSI is over 80.

Mark
SDS100&200/536/436/WS1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

 

[jfr454]

Tested with the system hold set at 0sec, 2sec and 5 sec. Radio scanning and also held on the channel. My SDS100 continues to miss transmissions as well as receive partial comms. I do not believe that a debug file alone will be enough to help diagnose. Thoughts?

 

[trentbob]

One of the things we never did here was to actually find out what system you're trying to pick up and then examining it in the database but...

I read it off your video. Unusual that a system hold time is not helping you so I have one more suggestion that might help. Going to menu then settings and scroll down to ignore NAC. The wrong NAC may have been programmed by the database. The reason they added this option was only this radio requires the NAC because of the nature of the kind of radio it is.

You will know it's working if you have improved reception but you will also see a new NAC number come up with each transmission which will be the correct one. Just a shot in the dark.

 

[jfr454]

Thank you for the response and idea but I am not the OP and those are not my videos. I commented because I have had a similar problem on a single conventional 800mhz frequency using P25 voice. The frequency and NAC are correct. My SDS100 has from day 1, missed transmissions and picks up late into the conversation. This happens even if it is the only item programmed into the scanner. Filters have improved clarity but have had no effect with this issue. I guess I need to make a video along with a debug log for Uniden.