SDS100/SDS200: New SDS Firmware is here!

[buddrousa]

It was designed to operate different and scan different systems as stated there is a reason I run over 20 scanners.

 

[werinshades]

It was designed to operate different and scan different systems as stated there is a reason I run over 20 scanners.

Yes...it actually stops on simulcast trunking systems so you can hear what is being said. I'd rather it scan few miliseconds slower if it's monitoring these pesky trunking systems.

 

[Ronnierozier2]

I've been running that firmware on 100 & 200 for about a month now, anyone that can't hear an improvement on P25 decoding either has revised hardware the firmware doesn't improve upon or should get their aging ears checked. There is much less 'gurgling through water' sound on the voice. Maybe this all depends on site & bitrates, I don't know, but its there. I didn't update both of my units at the same time, waited in between, thought I was just hearing things at first until I did the 100 in the car.

I have been running the update for a while now and I have noticed less decode errors and slightly better audio quality as well....

 

[eaf1956]

It was designed to operate different and scan different systems as stated there is a reason I run over 20 scanners.

Only 20? lol

 

[blackbelter]

Updated the Sentinel and my SDS 200 FW . My targeted monitoring P25P2 system's audio have slightly improved.

 

[One13Truck]

20 makes my 6 plus the fire pager seem like rookie numbers. 🤣

My county just switched full time to P-25 this month so other than testing earlier in the year I can’t really compare if audio is better or not. Then again all P-25 sounds terrible to me.
One thing I’d love to see as an option if it can even be done is the abilities to lock out and/or adjust volume on individual radio IDs.

Probably not possible but if we can set alert sounds and alert lights to them I’d love to be able to lock out the ones that still love playing with their radios and to be able to tweak a few that seem to have bad radios. The neighboring Truck’s volume is so low you can barely hear them. But on the opposite end our Deputy’s radio is so loud it sounds like he’s screaming & I worry it’s going to blow the speakers.

 

[n1chu]

20 makes my 6 plus the fire pager seem like rookie numbers. 🤣

??? What do you mean?

 

[n1chu]

The loud deputy radio (volume) can be throttled down if you are using a BCDX36HP or the SDS100/200… each channel or TG are capable individually of this…

 

[One13Truck]

Yes. The TG can universally. But it’s individual radios that need the volume adjusted. If I adjust for the neighboring Truck’s volume it will blast the rest. If I adjust for the Deputy’s radio nothing else will be able to be heard.

The ability to adjust volume or lock out by individual ID would be wonderful if it was able to be done.

 

[n1chu]

Understood

 

[dave3825]

The ability to adjust volume or lock out by individual ID would be wonderful if it was able to be done.

Problems with locking out / adjusting individual radios,
Fire truck radio may not always be fire truck radio. They do go for repair at times and are not always returned to the original user. So if radio id 1221 gets locked out when it was used by fd, and gets reassigned to pd, you won't hear it if it was locked out.

Same with adjusting the volume on a low sounding radio. At some point that radio may end up getting its low audio fixed and if you raise the volume to compensate, its gonna blast when its fixed.

 

[werinshades]

Problems with locking out / adjusting individual radios,
Fire truck radio may not always be fire truck radio. They do go for repair at times and are not always returned to the original user. So if radio id 1221 gets locked out when it was used by fd, and gets reassigned to pd, you won't hear it if it was locked out.

Same with adjusting the volume on a low sounding radio. At some point that radio may end up getting its low audio fixed and if you raise the volume to compensate, its gonna blast when its fixed.

Each department is different, so his plan might work in his scenario. Normally, Fire Apparatus Radios/RID's remain the same, even if it's replaced with another, the radio will be reprogrammed to match the current configuration. At that point, if the audio issue is resolved, a quick visit to the programming software, and editing will correct it.

 

[Anderegg]

On the local San Diego City system, discovered the "LOUD" radios are officers and firefighters using the "LOUD AUDIO" profile on their APX handhelds, thinking it means it will make the speaker louder, but instead it is maxing out the MIC GAIN! Should never let the option to change mic levels be left to inexperienced end users who cannot even figure out how to change zones.

I miss AGC scanner RX.

Paul

 

[donc13]

On the local San Diego City system, discovered the "LOUD" radios are officers and firefighters using the "LOUD AUDIO" profile on their APX handhelds, thinking it means it will make the speaker louder, but instead it is maxing out the MIC GAIN! Should never let the option to change mic levels be left to inexperienced end users who cannot even figure out how to change zones.

I miss AGC scanner RX.

Paul

What do you expect? San Diego is in California!

😂

 

[Ubbe]

...using the "LOUD AUDIO" profile on their APX handhelds, thinking it means it will make the speaker louder, but instead it is maxing out the MIC GAIN!

That doesn't sound right. When I program a loud profile I increase speaker audio and reduce mic gain as it is supposed to be used in a loud environment. Has their radio tech done the opposite with the mic gain?

Whisper profile has max mic gain and min loudspeaker levels.

/Ubbe

 

[Anderegg]

That doesn't sound right. When I program a loud profile I increase speaker audio and reduce mic gain as it is supposed to be used in a loud environment. Has their radio tech done the opposite with the mic gain?

Whisper profile has max mic gain and min loudspeaker levels.

/Ubbe

Apparently so. It sounds like it has the extreme side 1000000 noise reduction aggressive AGC WITH a mic gain, maybe intending to compensate for voice by boosting it while trying to lower background simultaneously. Regardless, the effect is a VU meter slamming against the end of the dial on transmit. Would work well for cops hiding outside a suspects residence while whispering, but otherwise a hot mess.

Paul

 

[n1chu]

Sounds much like what we deal with every day with agencies that use two-way radios in their work but have no idea of their capabilities. Commercial gear is not like amateur radio (ham) gear where numerous adjustments are allowed. First responders and commercial application radio is supposed to be set up correctly and then “locked”, where adjustments are not allowed by the end users. If changes are to be made, the radio lab does it, nobody else. If not, problems such as the one described here can arise. I blame the agencies that use these radios if they intended their people to be able to make the adjustments. Obviously a lack of training on how (and why) the adjustments are made. But some blame rests with the supplier also… they should have cautioned the agencies against allowing the option to be available to end users.

 

[n1chu]

It was designed to operate different and scan different systems as stated there is a reason I run over 20 scanners.

The title of this thread had me checking what ver I was running… I show the latest as 1.21.00, and that’s what I have installed in my SDS200. It’s not new, I don’t even remember installing it! But I’ve got it! The Uniden site shows a release date of mid 2022, not all that long ago but I can’t remember plugging it in-senior moment…

 

[Radio-Man]

Where do I download the latest version on Sentinel from??

 

[dave3825]

Sentinel for the BCD436HP/BCD536HP/SDS100/SDS200 - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com