SDS100/SDS200: New SDS Firmware is here!

[JoeBearcat]

There are versions specific to your region. I have no contacts within the division that handles your region and I cannot comment on non-NA (North America) firmware. You are correct that they are not interchangeable.

 

[VicradioZone]

Does anyone have any pointers on getting the latest firmware for a USDS-100 (Australian version)? Our version of Sentinel is still 2.0.2, and firmware checks show that the current version (sans Waterfall) is all we've got. From past experience, trying to run the US version of Sentinel didn't end well, which is, I believe, why there is the AU specific version and firmware...

Hey Mate,

Have to wait to see what all the relevant interested parties come up with. Uniden Australia will have to see if it is worth the investment to have it edited to suit USDS100 units, then either Uniden America or Uniden Japan (whoever holds the IP for such) have to also be willing to provide the core for such to be edited and engineered for local units, throw in a another potential interested party and it all takes time. Initial quesitons have been asked or are going to be I'm told.

Fingers crossed!

 

[wesky]

I've tried finding hacky ways of doing it and had no luck each time. I've also spoken to Joe, many moons ago, and it appears we're really on our own, despite the scanners bearing the Uniden name.

 

[Ubbe]

I's sure waterfall will come to non-US scanners but it has always been that the firmware needs to be stable and free from bugs as far as possible, there are still issues with the US firmware, as those who pay for the implementation doesn't want that to be done twice. So it will take at least another month.

Look at the webpage where you buy the upgrades for non-US scanners to see when they have prepared it with the waterfall option. Then the firmware release will not be far away.

/Ubbe

 

[JoeBearcat]

I've tried finding hacky ways of doing it and had no luck each time. I've also spoken to Joe, many moons ago, and it appears we're really on our own, despite the scanners bearing the Uniden name.

Please do not tie me with Uniden Japan or Uniden corporate. I work for Uniden North America. Uniden has multiple divisions across the globe and I have no contact info for anyone outside Uniden America and some of the UJ engineers.

You can advocate for the division in your area to establish a similar position to mine for that division.

It's not that I don't want to help. I simply have no tie to your area's division.

 

[wesky]

Please do not tie me with Uniden Japan or Uniden corporate. I work for Uniden North America. Uniden has multiple divisions across the globe and I have no contact info for anyone outside Uniden America and some of the UJ engineers.

You can advocate for the division in your area to establish a similar position to mine for that division.

It's not that I don't want to help. I simply have no tie to your area's division.

My apologies Joe - not intended to put you in bad light - I was merely saying that after our discussion in the DM chats (some time ago), it was obvious we're not privy to what other Uniden customers receive - especially so your fantastic contributions on this forum. This is in no way your fault, nor issue.

With that said, Uniden obviously have a problem with the portrayal of their identity, globally, and don't entirely make it clear that "Uniden" is in-fact NOT "Uniden". This is a problem you can't resolve and not something any of us expect you to own and challenge.

 

[wesky]

I's sure waterfall will come to non-US scanners but it has always been that the firmware needs to be stable and free from bugs as far as possible, there are still issues with the US firmware, as those who pay for the implementation doesn't want that to be done twice. So it will take at least another month.

Look at the webpage where you buy the upgrades for non-US scanners to see when they have prepared it with the waterfall option. Then the firmware release will not be far away.

/Ubbe

Cheers Ubbe,

Sadly, there hasn't been a firmware update since the initial release of the UBCDB436-PT and USDS100 (ex-American variants). As such, the consumers within such regional locales have missed out on whatever pros the firmware upgrades deliver - while essentially holding comparable hardware - but just with some minor changes to some stickers and a couple of options enabled/disabled. Thankfully, the models we use work reasonable well. It just sucks watching improvements and enhancements being made to hardware that is essentially the very same, but because we're not in the US, we're not privy to them... all the while holding a "Uniden" product, which is supposedly really not "Uniden".

 

[donc13]

My apologies Joe - not intended to put you in bad light - I was merely saying that after our discussion in the DM chats (some time ago), it was obvious we're not privy to what other Uniden customers receive - especially so your fantastic contributions on this forum. This is in no way your fault, nor issue.

With that said, Uniden obviously have a problem with the portrayal of their identity, globally, and don't entirely make it clear that "Uniden" is in-fact NOT "Uniden". This is a problem you can't resolve and not something any of us expect you to own and challenge.

Different countries have different rules so there is essentially no "universal" product, especially with electronics.

A very simple example of that is plain old electrical outlets in your home. You need a different wall wart for different areas of the world. Same for televisions, different channels and standards throughout the world.

Autos, the same thing. Metric VS SAE VS right hand or left hand driver position.

So, there is pretty much no "universal" product manufacturer, especially in electronics.

 

[wesky]

That is true. Given the 'nicheness' of a scanner product, it is fair to assume some level of universal consistency. Your example refers to hardware differences but the argument being, for example, is that if an LG branded TV receives a firmware update in Europe, because there's changes to internal apps, then that same TV in America will too receive the same update - it occurs frequently with smart TVs. Obviously, this is very simplistic and commercials regarding electronics is much more complicated. It's just disappointing not being able to receive improvements, fixes and new features for a highly comparable product.

Apologies, I've somewhat digressed the thread's topic. Regardless, I want to make it clear that I'm not on a witch hunt for Joe and I very much would love to have a pretty waterfall feature and I'm very much jealous I can't haha.

 

[JoeBearcat]

My apologies Joe - not intended to put you in bad light

I didn't take it as a 'bad light' I was just pointing out that I have no contact with non-NA divisions.

It's not that I don't want to help - it's that I can't in those cases.

 

[One13Truck]

Getting back on track. I finally did the updates on my 100 and 200 yesterday afternoon. So far so good for my needs. I’m lucky and in a pretty good location so even the 436/536 can pick up my simulcast very well so I didn’t expect any increase there.

The Unit ID decoding is what I updated for and it has been a huge improvement. I’ve only seen it fail a handful of times. All but one or two the county also had issues copying the transmissions on as well so I didn’t blame the scanner missing those. Well done!!!!

 

[gdaykoloa]

Hey Mate,

Have to wait to see what all the relevant interested parties come up with. Uniden Australia will have to see if it is worth the investment to have it edited to suit USDS100 units, then either Uniden America or Uniden Japan (whoever holds the IP for such) have to also be willing to provide the core for such to be edited and engineered for local units, throw in a another potential interested party and it all takes time. Initial quesitons have been asked or are going to be I'm told.

Fingers crossed!

For what it's worth, I did write to Uniden Australia, who (shockingly) wrote back and said they have the firmware and they were going through testing of it. That was on 24 January. Who knows, maybe it'll happen!