SDS 100: Inferior Design, Materials and Support

[Ubbe]

That happens all the time. When companies test their products in every possible way they are satisfied with the design and are about to release it when they change something in the last minute. They don't realize that it will have negative effects on the product or just don't care as changing something, perhaps in a plastic mold machine, will cost too much and will also delay the release.

A battery lock where designed and tested with a small battery and when a battery with twice the weight are used, that never where considered in the design stage, the lock should have been changed to be able to support that extra strain on it. There's never that perfect product that a company sets out to do, it's always something wrong with them.

/Ubbe

 

[goodmore]

I heard an add on the radio yesterday. For about 8.50 a month you can buy insurance on your cell phone against breaking it from a drop. It seems that cell phone companies won't replace your glass for free after dropping it. Oh the horror!

 

[bob550]

I heard an add on the radio yesterday. For about 8.50 a month you can buy insurance on your cell phone against breaking it from a drop. It seems that cell phone companies won't replace your glass for free after dropping it. Oh the horror!

LOL! Any product you use by primarily holding it in your hand is subject to being accidentally dropped. Some posters pointed out that the larger battery corrupts the original design to a degree. I subscribe to that theory, and would also add that the scanner was probably not extensively tested with the large battery. End users are now performing that testing. However, regardless of how a product is designed and drop-tested (if it even is), the stress your device may be subjected to in a fall may vary from the original testing. I also recognize that the OP is venting his frustration at having dropped a $650 radio. I'm sure that, had he had it to do all over again, he would have held that scanner with all the care of a heart surgeon performing a transplant.

 

[captainmax1]

I use a case on my SDS100 and all my handhelds. When I drop my SDS100 with big battery, I have no problems. Common sense to me.

 

[scannersnstuff]

I am a little hesitant in taking the gospel from someone with 6 post's. They have not even responded to the original post.

 

[Tramagod]

I am a little hesitant in taking the gospel from someone with 6 post's. They have not even responded to the original post.

Yep, either out of lack of knowledge or shame for his original rant.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jpm]

UNICATION it!!!!

Get a professional radio, Unication G4/5, no need to tweek it and it works out of the box after programming it. These Unimouse units are in the same category as my tv remotes cheap. And the inability to not put a scanning bank on hold does not impede my following a single talk group I just quickly change to the hold channel. I pick up my STARCOM 21 Lake county tower at work right across the street from the airport in Rosemont Unimouse doesn't even pick up the control channel from their unit. UNICATE and the hobby will be much better. You actually pick up all conversations not partial like the TV REMOTE. Oh don't bother replying cause I don't follow after I post. So god bless with your weak replies.

 

[IAmSixNine]

Good day to you too.

As you say, the OP admitted to dropping the radio so he or she accepts some of the responsibility through that statement. From two feet which, as previously mentioned, should not have broken a properly designed consumer product. The OP feels the heavier battery design contributed to the failure. That is not an unreasonable conclusion. And, if that is true, then Uniden does share some responsibility. That is what it comes down to.

Unfortunately the wording of the OP does not sound like he is taking any responsibility for him dropping the device.
The title alone of Inferior Design, Materials and Support lead me to believe that he is not taking any responsibility for the drop.
Had he posted / worded it a bit differently, as you have worded it, then i would probably have more belief in what he is saying. Is it plausible that the larger battery / weight of the new battery has some affect on how the battery latch could handle a short drop. Sure it is. But starting out like he did versus how your saying it are two different things.

 

[denrodg]

Good day to you too.

As you say, the OP admitted to dropping the radio so he or she accepts some of the responsibility through that statement. From two feet which, as previously mentioned, should not have broken a properly designed consumer product. The OP feels the heavier battery design contributed to the failure. That is not an unreasonable conclusion. And, if that is true, then Uniden does share some responsibility. That is what it comes down to.

how can the larger battery be the problem? when I purchased mine it came with the larger battery and it makes it much easier to hold on to than if it would have been slimmed down, man this country, entitlement and lazy.. not proud to be an American if this is all we do is sit around and complain about our own clumsy mistakes and then blame the company.

 

[UnidenSupport]

That seems pretty simple, if Uniden sells them. But - and this might be a big butt - looking at mine it seems that you would have to remove the top face of the radio body to install the new retention clip on the anchor pin? And, if that is the case, would that void the warranty?

Something to think about, and probably why Uniden insists on sending it in for their tech evaluation.

JD
kf4anc

That is exactly correct.

 

[phask]

Actually, you can loosen the 4 screws (visible with the battery removed) and remove the pin, no need to remove the screws or the front.

- YMMV -

 

[WILSON43]

Get a professional radio, Unication G4/5, no need to tweek it and it works out of the box after programming it. These Unimouse units are in the same category as my tv remotes cheap. And the inability to not put a scanning bank on hold does not impede my following a single talk group I just quickly change to the hold channel. I pick up my STARCOM 21 Lake county tower at work right across the street from the airport in Rosemont Unimouse doesn't even pick up the control channel from their unit. UNICATE and the hobby will be much better. You actually pick up all conversations not partial like the TV REMOTE. Oh don't bother replying cause I don't follow after I post. So god bless with your weak replies.

Smartest reply to a post I've read here in a long time. $650.00 for a Chinese, plastic toy, with a HUGE bump of a battery bottom that's laughable if not so sad. Unication G5 all the way and NEVER look back. I certainly want to know what the Uniden Engineers were drinking as they ambled over to the design table, one say to the other ..." yikes, we screwed up the design on this thing big time".... Another answers, "Yea, but they'll buy anything. .. " Let's crate a HUGE fatass battery we can stick on the bottom of this thing and call it day...another round is waiting.." As they walk away to the bar another Uniden genius is heard to say..."well, if it doesn't work they can use it to anchor their boat!"....

 

[TomTN]

The Unication is a good radio but the Uniden does so much more. They each have their place. I'm looking forward to using the mobile version with ProScan.

 

[WILSON43]

The Unication is a good radio but the Uniden does so much more. They each have their place. I'm looking forward to using the mobile version with ProScan.

Uniden products of late are short on quality control. They consistently release models before they are ready for prime time, ala the 436, 536 debacles, and now the numerous performance issues if the SDS 100. The problem IS that they are trying to do so much more, and as a result many areas of these receivers are lacking. Just the nature of the beast in the highly technical digital environment we find our favorite radio systems. Trying to cover all frequency bands at once, while loading up with every bell and whistle will ultimately diminish the quality of the receiver. Despite varying reports, apparently this SDS100 is fairly competent on P2 simulcast digital systems to the detriment of other bands such as VHF and UHF analog, which makes my point.

In their G5 model, Unication focuses on the bands most likely to be used by listeners and pager users in 2018 / 2019 and eliminates everything else resulting in commercial grade radios that actually work and receive rock solid communications.

 

[UnidenSupport]

Actually, you can loosen the 4 screws (visible with the battery removed) and remove the pin, no need to remove the screws or the front.

- YMMV -

Removing those screws separates the front of the case from the unit and would void the warranty.

 

[mikewazowski]

Gentlemen, let's play nice.

If you can't post without insulting someone, don't post.

 

[frazpo]

Get a professional radio, Unication G4/5, no need to tweek it and it works out of the box after programming it. These Unimouse units are in the same category as my tv remotes cheap. And the inability to not put a scanning bank on hold does not impede my following a single talk group I just quickly change to the hold channel. I pick up my STARCOM 21 Lake county tower at work right across the street from the airport in Rosemont Unimouse doesn't even pick up the control channel from their unit. UNICATE and the hobby will be much better. You actually pick up all conversations not partial like the TV REMOTE. Oh don't bother replying cause I don't follow after I post. So god bless with your weak replies.

**Weak reply warning**

Its not a scanner.

 

[Citywide173]

I certainly want to know what the Uniden Engineers were drinking as they ambled over to the design table, one say to the other ..." yikes, we screwed up the design on this thing big time".... Another answers, "Yea, but they'll buy anything. .. " Let's crate a HUGE fatass battery we can stick on the bottom of this thing and call it day...another round is waiting.." As they walk away to the bar another Uniden genius is heard to say..."well, if it doesn't work they can use it to anchor their boat!"....

But they didn't really amble to a design table in the traditional sense. They were probably given some pretty specific marching orders, something like:

"Hi guys, this is what you have to do. Put an SDR with all of the search functions and other bells and whistles capable of receiving LSM better than the x36 line into this;" https://www.uniden.com/shop/communi...t-class-d-floating-handheld-vhf-marine-radio/

When they were finished and beta testing brought the realization that it was underpowered, they were probably herded back into the room and told, you screwed up, fix it....cheaply.

This is the first time I'm aware of that Uniden has used another product line to house a new concept scanner. The case limitations probably played a part, as the product had to be designed around the box instead of the other way around.

 

[ipfd320]

OK and Uniden is Putting this Radio on the Market with this Warning---I can only imagine whats in the 100 radio

https://www.uniden.com/shop/communi...t-class-d-floating-handheld-vhf-marine-radio/

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

 

[SteveSimpkin]

OK and Uniden is Putting this Radio on the Market with this Warning---I can only imagine whats in the 100 radio

https://www.uniden.com/shop/communi...t-class-d-floating-handheld-vhf-marine-radio/

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

That silly Proposition 65 warning is on almost all products sold and places of business in the State of CA. It is so common that it is completely ignored. There are almost 1000 chemicals on the Proposition 65 master list and if you can't prove your product or place of business does not have even one of them in it, you are safer displaying the label. The burden of proof is on the manufacturer or business owner to verify that none of these chemicals is present. Guilty unless you can prove you are innocent.