SDS-200 Speaker Noise Again like the 536HP

[allend]

Just a friendly reminder to watch this video again. More to come tomorrow night.

 

[maus92]

Might be interesting to add external filter capacitors outside the unit to see if the hum goes away. Probably 1 250uf 50v electrolytic capacitor from the center of the ac adapter jack to the ground would eliminate the hum.

Interesting experiment for someone to try. When I did my test, the AC adapter was connected to the coaxial port, and the power supply was connected to the 12v power cable that uses the 3 pin liner connector.

 

[dfw1193]

Just like my boss says, dont bring me issues without a way to resolve them, bring me the issue and a solution and the when I approve it just fix it, I dont care whos fault it was, fix it.

 

[dfw1193]

Wait a minute its making noise in the audio circuit before the unit is even turned on according to the video posted! This indicates some sort of no isolation between the incoming dc voltage and the audio circuitry, this is not 60 hz ac hum this is more like lack of audio isolation in the design of the unit or failure of coupling capacitors to the input of the audio amp, unless its a filter capacitor in the audio circuit, this is not due to the ac adapter, this is an issue in the audio amp circuit which explains why its not present in all units, just may be a group of bad audio amp chips from the chip supplier which was installed in a production run which should be able to be narrowed down and identified. The units will require return and chip replacement to remedy in my opinion, however I have been wrong before, but was mistaken.

 

[dfw1193]

That also explains why when using the headphone jack there is no noise since the audio amp is not used when driving the headphones connected to the headphone jack. So temp fix use the headphone jack output to provide audio to an external audio amp or uniden amplified speaker plugged into the headphones jack and your good to go until uniden comes up with a fix, at least thats what I would do, see Im not so unreasonable after all.

 

[tkowalik]

You mean like the Unication firmware update expected last August that has yet to see public release?

It takes guts for Uniden to keep releasing products knowing full well the complainers will be shouting from the rooftops with every perceived imperfection.

First -- I don't own anything unication (although I am very interested).

Second -- I do not mean to derail the thread of an apparent legitimate issue.

My point is products are often released to the public and defects are inherent. It isn't intentional. Consumers do not FORGIVE defects. We argue, gripe, threaten, and in extreme cases sue. My only point is that products have problems. I have a Samsung fridge that has a messed up ice maker. I paid $1300 and I consider it a 'necessity'. I am not dogging the product; I found the fix online. I bought a $52K GMC that had recall notices piled up in my mailbox. I am not dogging the product; they fix them.

I'm not a cheerleader for Uniden. I'm not a cheerlearder for Samsung. I'm not a cheerleader for GMC. I am simply a consumer and I recognize that defects/faults/etc. happen.

Let's not get the thread off track about the legitmate issue. If the moderators want to remove these posts; perfect to me.

 

[tkowalik]

Crazy is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. I am not crazy, I will vote, or not vote with my dollars, and if issues are not resolved I have no qualms about filing complaints with the texas attorney generals office and the FTC when the governments not shut down.

Let me know how your complaint with the TAG goes. Do you also report every recall on vehicles with the Texas Attorney General?

Moderators, delete this troll's post.

 

[dfw1193]

The videos and interactions such as here help save uniden time and money identifying the issues consumers are having and assisting them to find a fix, the squeaky wheel gets the grease if you dont squeak it will never be fixed and they lose customers, so this helps get them on the same page and its win win for everyone.

 

[dfw1193]

Let me know how your complaint with the TAG goes. Do you also report every recall on vehicles with the Texas Attorney General?

Moderators, delete this troll's post.

Of course not, I just dont take the vehicle in for the recall unless its safety related.

 

[dfw1193]

Of course not, I just dont take the vehicle in for the recall unless its safety related.

Please try to stay on topic helping uniden to resolve identified issues.

 

[seth21w]

My old 536 did this same sound while scanning, everyone do this one thing for me turn replay to off and see if it stops it i cant remember if it helped it or not and i no longer have my 536 but it made the exact same noise when scanning through the departments. It drove me insane it made that squeaking noise all the time but i want to say it may have been the replay was storing memory constantly and making noise as well turn it off and unplug external speaker and just use the built in one and listen and report back.

 

[mikewazowski]

I noticed the issue started happening for me when I swapped out SD cards with a different one. Mine seems to have that random speaker noise when it's writing to the micro SD card

I found that with my 536HP as well. Swapping the SD card solved the problem.

 

[edweirdFL]

I heard my new SDS200 making the constant noise when I moved it from next to my computer (where there is ambient fan noise) to beside my bed, which was quiet and close to my head. Depending on what I was scanning, sometimes there is a chuff chuff noise as well. This is even with the volume at 0. The constant noise has a higher pitch than AC buzz.

 

[hardware1197]

If it were me and forgive me if you've tried:

• Try a different 8 ohm Speaker
• Move the rig to a different room / power source to see if this is environmental to other equipment in the room
• Consider a surge suppressor w/ noise filter

good luck

-Dave

 

[KB4MSZ]

At this price point and owing to it being so sophisticated of a radio, I would turn off everything else in the shack (including light sources, other power adapters to non-related devices, computers, etc.) and then power the radio up with a battery. If it still has the self generated noise issue I would like to know about it.

 

[maus92]

Adding that the "hum" that I hear is very similar to the sidetone you might hear in the background during airliner radio calls and sometimes over the PA systems (but not as loud.) For me, it is almost unnoticeable - I have to pick the radio up and place it by my ear to hear it. Overall it's not a particularly huge deal breaker for me - I doubt anyone would hear it in a mobile installation - tire / wind noise would easily drown it out (at least in my vehicle.) But if Uniden decides to do a repair or replacement campaign, I would take advantage of it. I'm deciding if I should open a case / ticket. In the meantime, I'll take it out to the Jeep and run it off the battery, and do some record-out experiments.

 

[UPMan]

The noise as described by maus92 is normal for the SDS200.

 

[garys]

mikewazowski mentioned that swapping out the SD card fixed the problem for him. That's interesting. I over wrote the OEM SD card and I don't even know what brand it is.

I put the SDS200 in my truck and ran it with the engine running for about 10 minutes. The audio on the existing external speaker is pretty crisp and clear with much greater volume than the 536HP had.

 

[maus92]

As I expected, the "hum / ring / sidetoney" noise is still present when running off battery power. I took the radio for a ride, and you cannot hear the noise either when the vehicle is switched off, or running, or driving at any volume setting using the internal speaker. And this radio has plenty of audio power to overcome road / tire / wind noise (my SDS100 could not.) Unfortunately for me, the radio is too large to fit into the center console without major surgery (2018 Jeep Wrangler JLS 4 dr.,) so it will stay in my office for the time being.

 

[dfw1193]

Maybe thats why the description says Mobile Scanner, so you wont hear the hum that is exhibited. Maybe a base scanner is in the future without the free featured hum for use inside the house like the size of the bc898t. I ordered a Uniden bc23a off amazon which is an 8 watt amplified speaker since it was said here that the hum is non existant when using the headphone jack. I will have mine tomorrow night and report my observations.