SDS100/SDS200: Not able to scan custom FL with manually entered conventional frequencies

[gosling1]

All -

I've spent quite a bit of time searching the Internet and browsing through the "Easier to Read" online manual, but I've got a Favorites List for my SDS100 that I created using Sentinel - consists solely of manually entered (in Sentinel) conventional frequencies - all "Aviation = simplex".

Whenever the scanner loads that particular FL, it returns the infamous "Scan mode, Nothing to scan" error message...

In the "Profile" section of Sentinel, I've got both "Download" and "Monitor" set to "ON".

I really have no idea what it could be - but, I'm guessing it's a simple user-error....

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

Daniel/K4DB

 

[03msc]

Could it be the service type is set to something that you do not have enabled in your scanner? I once added a custom list and had it set to Custom 1 but had service type Custom 1 disabled...took me awhile to figure out the issue. Just a thought!

 

[nessnet]

Check your service types.

 

[gosling1]

Check your service types.

Yes - each "channel" in this FL has "aircraft" for the "service type" - and, the scanner is set to "ON" for the "aircraft" service type.

Quite puzzling to say the least....

 

[03msc]

Yes - each "channel" in this FL has "aircraft" for the "service type" - and, the scanner is set to "ON" for the "aircraft" service type.

Quite puzzling to say the least....

OK, it was just a thought.

My dad had a similar issue the other day and it turned out that system was set to lockout somehow. Different scanner model but had me perplexed for awhile.

 

[RMason]

If you haven't already done, so, read through the information on "Nothing to Scan" from the wiki. See the section on "For the HPx, x36HP and SDS Series"

Nothing to Scan - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

The first things to check are:

1. Make sure the Favorites List is enabled
2. Make sure Quick Keys are enabled
3. Make sure Service Types are enabled
4. If Location Control is enabled, make sure your location is set properly

 

[tvengr]

Uniden Sentinel service type defaults to Custom 1 if none is entered. Butel ARC PATROL and ARC536 service type defaults to Aircraft if none is entered but can be changed to Custom 1 to match Sentinel. Go to the Setup tab and Software Options. Do you have quick keys programmed? They may be turned off.

 

[gosling1]

Uniden Sentinel service type defaults to Custom 1 if none is entered. Butel ARC PATROL and ARC536 service type defaults to Aircraft if none is entered but can be changed to Custom 1 to match Sentinel. Go to the Setup tab and Software Options. Do you have quick keys programmed? They may be turned off.

I believe so - though I've never been able to get the QKs - "startup" included, to work properly

I'll keep plugging away at it - I read the Wiki referenced above and didn't find anything amiss

 

[03msc]

QuickKeys are pretty useful and easy to use - assign one to the system and then turn it on by pressing it (e.g. 01, E to turn on QK 1). If you have it assigned to one and then that one isn't active, that might be the problem. Of course, you can get complex with department quick keys, etc., but system is the simplest level to start with.

I also had an issue once on my 536 where I somehow had a disagreement between location based being on and the GPS not being active. I don't remember the combination exactly, but I think it was that somehow I had a system set to use location but then the location on the scanner wasn't using the GPS and the location somehow was instead set to a zip code in another state. After I figured that out it started scanning that system.

Just throwing out ideas...though it seems you've checked most everything already.

 

[tvengr]

assign one to the system and then turn it on by pressing it (e.g. 01, E to turn on QK 1). If you have it assigned to one and then that one isn't active, that might be the problem.

For single digit quick keys, you do not need the leading zero. Pressing 1 and E will toggle favorites list 1 on and off. If scanning a single favorites list, you would press the decimal point, 1, and E to toggle system 1 within in the favorites list on and off.

 

[ofd8001]

Is Location Control turned On? If so, the Department will have a default value of 0/0 and thus will be off.

You are right, it will be something simple and at the end of the day when you discover it, you'll say "Ahh, I shoulda thought about that." LOL

 

[gosling1]

Well, I tried a different "tack" and got it to work..though I'm not sure how elegant the solution was.

I used Sentinel to create a new Favorite List and then added the Common Aviation "listing" into it from the Datbase. I then went back and modified the existing entries that were in the Database to reflect the local aviation frequencies instead - tested: working fine now for that particular FL. Perhaps I messed something up with the "tree structure" of the previous FL since it dealt with conventional freqs.

 

[JoeBearcat]

I believe so - though I've never been able to get the QKs - "startup" included, to work properly

I'll keep plugging away at it - I read the Wiki referenced above and didn't find anything amiss

I use Quick Keys every day, but if you don't really 'get it' yet, you are better off making sure none are programmed.

Then, later on, you can try it on a FL, then on a System, Etc.

Save Start-Up Keys for sometime after you have mastered Quick Keys and Number Tags.