SDS100/SDS200: MY SDS100 RECEPTION OVERALL HAS SUNK TO UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS (AGAIN).

[tampatracker]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to throw this out there. My SDS100 which is a replacement unit as of 11/19 has gotten gradually more deaf very gradually over time, so much so that even the short to medium range systems I used to hear clear as a bell are not receivable, some even using a Diamond D130 Super Discone on a mast 30 ft. up with no obstructions. An example is a P25 phase 1 simulcast system with the closest tower 30 miles away used to come in fine using the Radio Shack 800 rubber duck antenna while indoors. Now even the Discone can't pull it in. Same with EDACK, conventional Motorola trunked, and conventional freq's. So off to Uniden it went yesterday, I'll wait and see what happens.

 

[darkness975]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to throw this out there. My SDS100 which is a replacement unit as of 11/19 has gotten gradually more deaf very gradually over time, so much so that even the short to medium range systems I used to hear clear as a bell are not receivable, some even using a Diamond D130 Super Discone on a mast 30 ft. up with no obstructions. An example is a P25 phase 1 simulcast system with the closest tower 30 miles away used to come in fine using the Radio Shack 800 rubber duck antenna while indoors. Now even the Discone can't pull it in. Same with EDACK, conventional Motorola trunked, and conventional freq's. So off to Uniden it went yesterday, I'll wait and see what happens.

Unfortunate =[

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Please keep us posted

 

[tampatracker]

Yes a Unication unit will be something I'll be taking a look at, I am unfamiliar with them. Thanks dcr for the link. And I will update the situation as it unfolds, my hats off to you guys who have had one of these units the whole time and not had anything go wrong with it.

 

[W5ATX]

i'm seeing more and more sds100/sds200 issues threads but i need to ask , I had a 436 and i remember way more issues with that scanner than the SDS, am i wrong? as a scanner listener and radio operator for 40 years i can think of other equipment out there that's WAY more junk (i wont mention any names, but it rhymes with MFJ).

 

[Diddley]

All I can say is that I've owned a -436 for three years now and it's been a SOLID performer.

Now, reading all these issues/problems people are having with the -100 makes me glad I didn't take the plunge after all. There is something inherently flawed with that radio which Uniden needs to acknowledge.

 

[Drkatzjr45]

I have experienced excellent results with both my SDS100 and 200.

However, I am partial to my BCD325P2.

It really seems like a very solid, well built, radio to me, as if Uniden really put a lot into the 325P2.

 

[W5ATX]

I have experienced excellent results with both my SDS100 and 200.

However, I am partial to my BCD325P2.

It really seems like a very solid, well built, radio to me, as if Uniden really put a lot into the 325P2.

yeah i've seen and heard one of those in action, felt and sounded good. i should have pounced on the open box at frys for $160, this was years ago.

 

[mikegilbert]

My SDS100 just started the infamous deafness of doom. Now I can barely hear an LAPD channel in my own neighborhood.

Reception has gone from mediocre to downright nonexistent. Ridiculous.

 

[ratboy]

My friend's SDS100 has gone back twice for deafness issues. It didn't work for too long after it came back the first time. When I have scanners that are over 30 years old and still work OK, this is pretty sad.

 

[darkness975]

Is this bacause of the software nature of it? As in new hardware ?

 

[jonwienke]

Cold solder joint is a hardware problem, not software.

 

[policefreak]

Hello everyone, I just wanted to throw this out there. My SDS100 which is a replacement unit as of 11/19 has gotten gradually more deaf very gradually over time, so much so that even the short to medium range systems I used to hear clear as a bell are not receivable, some even using a Diamond D130 Super Discone on a mast 30 ft. up with no obstructions. An example is a P25 phase 1 simulcast system with the closest tower 30 miles away used to come in fine using the Radio Shack 800 rubber duck antenna while indoors. Now even the Discone can't pull it in. Same with EDACK, conventional Motorola trunked, and conventional freq's. So off to Uniden it went yesterday, I'll wait and see what happens.

That stinks! Sorry to hear. So far my SDS100 has been ok but I use it daily and switch antennas frequently. Can you tell us a little more about your listening area? Are you near cell towers or other very strong signals nearby in the same bands? Have you tried all the filters and going between FM and NFM? Have you tried IFX to the frequencies that are troublesome?

 

[tampatracker]

I live in a fairly urban area with the usual amount of cell towers etc. I've been experimenting pretty constantly with different filters for different systems ever since Uniden rolled them out with that update. Yes, NFM, FM, IFX, none of which helps with this issue I'm having.

 

[Bob1955]

All I can say is that I've owned a -436 for three years now and it's been a SOLID performer.

Now, reading all these issues/problems people are having with the -100 makes me glad I didn't take the plunge after all. There is something inherently flawed with that radio which Uniden needs to acknowledge.

The Bearcat BCD-996P2 is PROBLEM FREE since I purchased it new the first week in August of 2019. No need for additional features/benefits and SD cards that fail.
Diddley, you made the "right" move not purchasing that over-priced joke of a handheld scanner. The BCD-436 is fine. Who needs a color screen, really?

 

[jonwienke]

The Bearcat BCD-996P2 is PROBLEM FREE since I purchased it new the first week in August of 2019. No need for additional features/benefits and SD cards that fail.
Diddley, you made the "right" move not purchasing that over-priced joke of a handheld scanner. The BCD-436 is fine. Who needs a color screen, really?

Have you ever heard of simulcast? Or tried to receive it with any non-SDS scanner? Go look through the archives, and you'll find hundreds of posts from people complaining about simulcast reception problems with their 996.

If you wear out a card from recording transmissions, replacing the card takes less than a minute. If you don't record, the card doesn't wear out, and card problems don't happen.

 

[KK4JUG]

Cold solder joint is a hardware problem, not software.

The difference in hardware and software: Hardware you can kick. Software you can only cuss at.

 

[darkness975]

Have you ever heard of simulcast? Or tried to receive it with any non-SDS scanner? Go look through the archives, and you'll find hundreds of posts from people complaining about simulcast reception problems with their 996.

If you wear out a card from recording transmissions, replacing the card takes less than a minute. If you don't record, the card doesn't wear out, and card problems don't happen.

I record on my HPII almost daily. Still has the stock card. Not saying it wont fail but it's been solid so far. I assume the cards in the sds series are probably the same so I'm not overly concerned.

However I do back up any saved transmissions on my PC so they wont disappear in the event the card fails one day.

I should get a few cards to have as backups on hand though. What do you recommend Jon?

 

[buddrousa]

If it were not for TECHNOLOGY we would all still be using ROYAL TYPEWRITERS and spending 50 cents to mail letters to each other and we would all be lost and have to depend on LOCALS or buckle down and learn it ourselves.

 

[buddrousa]

I record on my HPII almost daily. Still has the stock card. Not saying it wont fail but it's been solid so far. I assume the cards in the sds series are probably the same so I'm not overly concerned.

However I do back up any saved transmissions on my PC so they wont disappear in the event the card fails one day.

I should get a few cards to have as backups on hand though. What do you recommend Jon?

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