SDS100/SDS200: Not receving everything when using zip code search full database

[bdp278]

Been using my SDS100 w/ FL since I purchased it, but getting ready to go on a trip, so decided to update the db thru Sentinel version 2.02 Rev 1, into my SDS100 w/ new firmware 1.10, making sure taget model in Sentinel was SDS100, checking the force database write check box. Update when smooth, shows current db as of 05/12, so decided to try the zip code search, setting the range to 10, and the service types I wanted to hear (Fire, PD, EMS). The unit scans in full db mode fine, shows various sites & locking on local control channels w/ full bars as it roll thru, but with very few hits on talk groups. It appears the zip code search using full db on only receives some PD & EMS, but no FD's at all. I have a SDS200 w/ same FL scanning nearby, so everything that is local that the full db should hit on is OK on both my SDS200, and also when I scan my FL w/ all my local TG's, but even on a 30 second fire dispatch, when it rolls thru the full database search, nothing. Same with local PD channels which constantly talk, hear them on both my SDS200, and also on the SDS100 when it scans thru my FL, but as it scans thru the full db, nothing. Amy suggestions??

 

[mule1075]

Been using my SDS100 w/ FL since I purchased it, but getting ready to go on a trip, so decided to update the db thru Sentinel version 2.02 Rev 1, into my SDS100 w/ new firmware 1.10, making sure taget model in Sentinel was SDS100, checking the force database write check box. Update when smooth, shows current db as of 05/12, so decided to try the zip code search, setting the range to 10, and the service types I wanted to hear (Fire, PD, EMS). The unit scans in full db mode fine, shows various sites & locking on local control channels w/ full bars as it roll thru, but with very few hits on talk groups. It appears the zip code search using full db on only receives some PD & EMS, but no FD's at all. I have a SDS200 w/ same FL scanning nearby, so everything that is local that the full db should hit on is OK on both my SDS200, and also when I scan my FL w/ all my local TG's, but even on a 30 second fire dispatch, when it rolls thru the full database search, nothing. Same with local PD channels which constantly talk, hear them on both my SDS200, and also on the SDS100 when it scans thru my FL, but as it scans thru the full db, nothing. Amy suggestions??

Double check and make sure you have all the service types enabled you want to monitor.

 

[bdp278]

Yes have FD, PD, EMS all turned on. Any other settings I may be missing when using zip code search?

 

[ofd8001]

You might try "going big" then work your way down to a sweet spot.

By that I mean setting the Range to 50.0 and turn on all Service Types. You can start backing off on the Service Types when you are satisfied that something of interest that you think would be assigned to one Service Type, but actually is on another.

Then you can lower the Range values incrementally. Talkgroups are assigned to Departments which are based on the jurisdiction. So a very small city could have a Range of 2.0. If you are 13 miles away, you won't hear them if your Range is 10.0 - you'll miss them by a mile.

You probably are getting that city because you entered them in a Favorites List and are not using Location Control for the Favorites List.

 

[bdp278]

I actually went the opposite, started at 5 miles just to catch the local LWIN system within our city. I could get the LWIN system to scan & catch the control channels, but I know there are at least 14 FD's, 3 PD's, & 4 EMS sets of TG's that work within this area, only a handful would hit on the talk groups, very hit & miss. I'm thinking there must be something either w/ the SD card is partially corrupted, or may there's another problem w/ Sentenial in sending over the entire database to the scanner, I kind of remember hearing of a similiar problem with Sentinel only sending over trunked systems & not conventional systems in a previous thread.

 

[omlbed]

Yes have FD, PD, EMS all turned on. Any other settings I may be missing when using zip code search?

those don't look like Service Types. Service types have names like "Law Dispatch", "Law-Tac", "Law Talk", etc. They are a frequent source of frustration for new users. Take a look at pages 47-48 of the manual for a complete list.

 

[andyadler]

Well, as a fellow NOLA-ite who's toying with the idea of getting either a SDS100 or 200 (currently use a BCD436 for most listening), I'm following your progress with considerable interest.

 

[ofd8001]

If you are concerned about SD card issues, just try taking the card from the SDS 200 and put it into the SDS 100 and see what happens. There are no problems to do this.

That said, do both scanners have the same zip code entered and have the same Range setting? If so, they should receive close to the same things, bearing in mind squelch settings and antennas could make a difference.

Lastly, a trap that new "Location Based" users can fall into is the "I set my Range for 5 miles, so I should hear everything within 5 miles and nothing else."

It is still best to start big and work you way down. Sort of like cutting a piece of wood trim - you can cut it shorter, but you can't cut it longer.

 

[bdp278]

those don't look like Service Types. Service types have names like "Law Dispatch", "Law-Tac", "Law Talk", etc. They are a frequent source of frustration for new users. Take a look at pages 47-48 of the manual for a complete list.

I've owned 436, 536, HP 1, HP 2, so I'm familiar with service types, I used the FD, EMS, PD just to save typing, but do have the Fire Dispatch, Fire Tac, etc, etc, all tuned on.


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[bdp278]

Well, as a fellow NOLA-ite who's toying with the idea of getting either a SDS100 or 200 (currently use a BCD436 for most listening), I'm following your progress with considerable interest.

The scanner works great using Favorite List whereas each talk group you wish to monitor is programmed in, it's just there is something going on using the full database search feature.


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[sparklehorse]

It could be inaccurate location data in the RR database for the agencies you are expecting to hear. This is a common problem with the database, and your scanner obviously needs good location data to work properly when Zip Code scanning. What are a couple of the Talkgroups you are not receiving? On what system? And what is your Zip Code? With these bits of info we can do a deep dive into the database and see what's what. Also can you tell if the scanner is scanning the sites you expect it to? Maybe the location data for the sites is inaccurate.
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[bdp278]

Zip code 70058, LWIN p25 trunking system. Range 15 miles. All fire, law, ems service types on. Appears to be scanning all the sites, with the local in range sites hitting on control channels. However don’t hear many of the local law talk groups, only a few of the New Orleans Pd. Very few of the fire talk groups, some of the New Orleans fd, but none of any of the 14 plus fd’s just in this area that I receive ok on my favorite lists. New Orleans ems is ok, but nothing on east Jefferson ems. Very hit & miss, some tg’s will come thru one minute, then the same tg’s get missed. I’m comparing to a unication g5 that I know receives correctly. If I turn on my FL all the tg’s that I have setup hit all the time properly. I should be receiving on a zip code search all the tg’s I have setup in my FL and many more, especially law dispatch for sure, as this is a large metro area & only a very few law agencies use encryption, but very little comes thru.


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[sparklehorse]

Zip code 70058, LWIN p25 trunking system. Range 15 miles. All fire, law, ems service types on. Appears to be scanning all the sites, with the local in range sites hitting on control channels. However don’t hear many of the local law talk groups, only a few of the New Orleans Pd. Very few of the fire talk groups, some of the New Orleans fd, but none of any of the 14 plus fd’s just in this area that I receive ok on my favorite lists. New Orleans ems is ok, but nothing on east Jefferson ems. Very hit & miss, some tg’s will come thru one minute, then the same tg’s get missed. I’m comparing to a unication g5 that I know receives correctly. If I turn on my FL all the tg’s that I have setup hit all the time properly. I should be receiving on a zip code search all the tg’s I have setup in my FL and many more, especially law dispatch for sure, as this is a large metro area & only a very few law agencies use encryption, but very little comes thru.

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I can't spend much time on this right now, but what I can say is that to me it doesn't look like there is much Law Enforcement in the N.O. area that is NOT encrypted. Everything on this page that has a DE under the Mode column is encrypted and you will not hear it:

https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=4347

As far as sites, when you're using Zip Code scan you only want to be scanning a few nearby sites, like Bridge City, Pan Am, North Simulcast, maybe Superdome. Setting your range to 15 miles means you're probably making the scanner look at a number of sites that are beyond your actual reception range. Try setting your Range to Zero (as un-intuitive as that might seem). Remember the Unication G5 only receives one site at a time. What happens when you avoid all the other sites except the one your G5 is using? It's not an apples to apples comparison when your SDS is trying to scan many more sites than the G5. For instance if the G5 is on N Simulcast and you hear a certain Fire Talkgroup, your SDS will not receive that transmission if it's busy checking for a signal it can't receive on a site that is 25 miles away, or maybe it's on a closer site but one that is not carrying traffic for that particular Talkgroup. Make sense?
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[bdp278]

I see what you're saying, but here's a particular instance whereas New Orleans FD had a 30 second dispatch & the SDS100 went completely thru the entire db scan cycle, locked on the Pam am site showing control Channel catch with 5 bars thru it's entire scan of that site, never hit on the NOFD dispatch, while the G5 got it on the same site straight thru. Never had this problem a few months ago when I first received the scanner, and was using the data base that originally came with the scanner, it just began when I did a db update to the scanner last week. Also for reference, New Orleans PD & state PD, causeway PD, all not encrypted, as well as Tulane university PD, so still a fair amount of PD to listen to. All I have setup in my FL & receive just fine, try to catch them in dB search, and very few tg's hit.


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[tvengr]

If the problem just occurred with the database update, there could be a mistake in the update. Try going to Settings and Site NAC operation. Set to Ignore Site NAC. I would also make sure that the control channel and alternate frequencies are correct in the sites you are using. It could also be that the NOFD Dispatch TGID was changed in the update. Just trying to cover all of the bases.

 

[sparklehorse]

Just speculating, I wonder if something is hosed with that database update. I know a few months back an update came out that had problems that Uniden had to subsequently fix. Once they fixed the problem folks were able to download a fresh DB to their radios and all was well again. I would expect to hear more complaints by now though as your 5/12 DB has been out for a while. If there’s a newer DB available you could try updating. Can’t make the problem worse, right?

Here’s that thread from back in January:

https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/database-problem.382776/
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[tvengr]

My newest database is 5/19. Try updating your database and see what happens.

 

[bdp278]

I did a zip code search on my 200 & 536 which were recently updated with the same data base, both are exhibiting the same lack of tg's being heard as my 100, So the problem transfers to my other scanners also using the same 05/12 database, and same Sentenial program. Will try to update to 05/19 database this weekend & report back. Many thanks to all that have replied.


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[WB9YBM]

Been using my SDS100 w/ FL since I purchased it, but getting ready to go on a trip, so decided to update the db thru Sentinel version 2.02 Rev 1, into my SDS100 w/ new firmware 1.10, making sure taget model in Sentinel was SDS100, checking the force database write check box. Update when smooth, shows current db as of 05/12, so decided to try the zip code search, setting the range to 10, and the service types I wanted to hear (Fire, PD, EMS). The unit scans in full db mode fine, shows various sites & locking on local control channels w/ full bars as it roll thru, but with very few hits on talk groups. It appears the zip code search using full db on only receives some PD & EMS, but no FD's at all. I have a SDS200 w/ same FL scanning nearby, so everything that is local that the full db should hit on is OK on both my SDS200, and also when I scan my FL w/ all my local TG's, but even on a 30 second fire dispatch, when it rolls thru the full database search, nothing. Same with local PD channels which constantly talk, hear them on both my SDS200, and also on the SDS100 when it scans thru my FL, but as it scans thru the full db, nothing. Amy suggestions??

One thing I noticed back in the day when Radio Shack used to sell hard-copy directories is that the licenses are issued based on where the service I want to monitor is located (some main office) which may or may not coincide with the actual location of where the radio system is used, which might be at least part of the problem.