SDS100/SDS200: SDS-100 not picking up anything digital

[Atlanta97]

Program what you're having trouble scanning into a favorites list. Uniden Sentinel makes this easy. Then if you still have trouble you can export your Sentinel .hpe file, zip it up and post it as an attachment, directions here so others can take a look at your programming

i hope this works. on my end, there is nothing visible since i made it into a zip file...

 

[tvengr]

i hope this works. on my end, there is nothing visible since i made it into a zip file...

I don't see a programming problem. You didn't answer my question if you are using the same profile for both scanners.

 

[Atlanta97]

I don't see a programming problem. You didn't answer my question if you are using the same profile for both scanners.

My bad, I thought I did.

I’m assuming by ‘same profile’ you mean same programming?

Neither of them were programmed originally.

Now the unit having the problems is programmed. The older remains non-programmed

Shall I input the same programming into the other?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Shall I input the same programming into the other?

Personally I wouldn't touch the other unit if it works...

 

[Ubbe]

For the working scanner, copy its whole SD card, from the BCDx36HP folder to your harddrive. Then copy that from the harddrive to the non working SD card and chose to overwrite all. It will then be identical and you can test drive it and see if it makes any difference.

What does the signal strength value says from both scanners, in dBm values? Is it the same or the non working scanner are still not having full sensitivity?

/Ubbe

 

[kc2asb]

For the working scanner, copy its whole SD card, from the BCDx36HP folder to your harddrive. Then copy that from the harddrive to the non working SD card and chose to overwrite all. It will then be identical and you can test drive it and see if it makes any difference.

What does the signal strength value says from both scanners, in dBm values? Is it the same or the non working scanner are still not having full sensitivity?

/Ubbe

From post #33:

SDS100/SDS200: - SDS-100 not picking up anything digital

My older sds100 was chattering away on my local FD channel and this newer one was silent. I updated support and they passed along everything So you have a working SDS100 and a non-working one? INSIDE OF A HOUSE/BUILDING OR IN CITY IT CANT PICK UP ANYTHING DIGITAL BUT ANOLOG IS PERFECTLY...

forums.radioreference.com

So, using the SD card from the working radio made no difference?

Unfortunately no, there was no change. I’m gonna contact support and ask what exactly was done. The repair slip only said ‘the following repairs or actions were done’ “Q2 and Q3 ” i’ll take a pic if needed when I get home.

 

[Atlanta97]

For the working scanner, copy its whole SD card, from the BCDx36HP folder to your harddrive. Then copy that from the harddrive to the non working SD card and chose to overwrite all. It will then be identical and you can test drive it and see if it makes any difference.

What does the signal strength value says from both scanners, in dBm values? Is it the same or the non working scanner are still not having full sensitivity?

/Ubbe

I will attempt that

The control channel is putting out between -87 and -92 on both units

Transmits are going up to 98-101dBm on the working unit (SQ5)
and the other is roughly the same but isn’t happy with squelch going higher than 0. even on zero is still struggling. And I’m seeing about -110 and -119 for the very few times it picks something up.

 

[tvengr]

I do not own 2 of the same antenna types so I’m taking them on and off to switch and mostly comparing 820 and 920.

Did you swap antennas between the 2 radios?

 

[Atlanta97]

Did you swap antennas between the 2 radios?

Yes.

 

[RMason]

Neither of them were programmed originally.

It sounds like you are scanning the Full Database rather than programming a Favorites List. Did you update the database in the scanner using Sentinel? What version of the database does the scanner show (on both scanners)? The sds100 leaves the factory with an outdated version of the database.

On the SDS100:

Menu -> Manage Full Database -> Information​

This should show the date of the database loaded in the scanner.

 

[Atlanta97]

It sounds like you are scanning the Full Database rather than programming a Favorites List. Did you update the database in the scanner using Sentinel? What version of the database does the scanner show (on both scanners)? The sds100 leaves the factory with an outdated version of the database.

On the SDS100:

Menu -> Manage Full Database -> Information​

This should show the date of the database loaded in the scanner.

Main version: 1.23.15
Sub version: 1.03.06. For both

 

[jtwalker]

Main version: 1.23.15
Sub version: 1.03.06. For both

This is firmware version, not database version (date).

 

[Atlanta97]

This is firmware version, not database version (date).

3/30/25 for both

 

[Atlanta97]

For the working scanner, copy its whole SD card, from the BCDx36HP folder to your harddrive. Then copy that from the harddrive to the non working SD card and chose to overwrite all. It will then be identical and you can test drive it and see if it makes any difference.

Copying working units SD card and overwriting the other unfortunately didn’t do anything either.

 

[buddrousa]

Then you need to send it back to Uniden with a good note explaining the problem just as you have here.

 

[Atlanta97]

Then you need to send it back to Uniden with a good note explaining the problem just as you have here.

That’s what I was thinking. I have shipped it back explaining whats going on and including the identical programming and everything else.

Thanks for the help, everyone!

 

[buddrousa]

Let us know the results when it gets back.

 

[ryolsen8]

gosh sorry…

#1 Portland (P25) Trunking System, Portland, Maine

#2 Northern York County Maine

#3 there’s quite a few communications tower near my area. Closest is just a block away. Its the repeater for my own towns trunking system.

#4 neither of my scanners have been programmed. I only update the firmware and database. Unless there’s another form of programming you are requesting?

#5 I could make a YouTube account and post something there.

Are you programming the scanners via Sentinel manually, or just using the "Full Database?"

 

[OpenSquelch]

From post #33:

SDS100/SDS200: - SDS-100 not picking up anything digital

My older sds100 was chattering away on my local FD channel and this newer one was silent. I updated support and they passed along everything So you have a working SDS100 and a non-working one? INSIDE OF A HOUSE/BUILDING OR IN CITY IT CANT PICK UP ANYTHING DIGITAL BUT ANOLOG IS PERFECTLY...

forums.radioreference.com

Unfortunately no, there was no change. I’m gonna contact support and ask what exactly was done. The repair slip only said ‘the following repairs or actions were done’ “Q2 and Q3 ” i’ll take a pic if needed when I get home.

As far as I remember, the q2 and q3 are referencing two transistor replacements.

 

[Atlanta97]

UPDATE:
I just received the unit back.

Entire unit was replaced. They also still replaced the transistors as well.

Older unit still is having a decent gain. However, newer model picks right up, no delay.

No complaints thus far.