SDS-200 Speaker Noise Again like the 536HP

[KevinC]

I don't own a SDS200, but my 536 exhibits this same issue. If I have any fan, TV, computer or pretty much anything else on that makes noise I don't hear it. If my room is dead silent I do. I suspect all 536's do this as well. I also suspect that the condition of your auditory system probably has an influence on whether or not you hear this.

It's not overbearing, but it is annoying and a high quality external speaker probably makes it more noticeable.

And no, it's not external interference, power supply noise, my imagination or any other cause that would take the blame away from the unit itself...but 98% of the time I don't hear it so it's not a big deal for me most of the time.

 

[eaf1956]

Nothing was said about the speaker being in spec. It was stated the keypad lighting was in spec.

Just wait

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[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I hope folks will take time to realize that whenever you connect an amplified speaker or sound card to a modern scanner or two way radio that the speaker and headphone jacks need to be converted from balanced audio to un-balanced audio with a small audio transformer. It can be 600 ohm to 600 ohm or 600 ohm to 15K ohm (for sound cards). But it must be an actual transformer providing a magnetic coupling and electrical isolation. It can't be a cheap hum bucker from Amazon made with capacitors.

Without this you will get nasty noise and even damage your radio. Please folks think about this, especially if you are hooking up to feed Broadcastify. Most of the Broadcastify feed channels sound like crap because the operators have no clue how to isolate gear, and overdrive sound cards etc.

 

[allend]

Does it matter? It's within spec.....

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Yes it does matter. This noise of humming and pulsing is not considered within specs of a 700.00 scanner brand new radio. Just watch the video and if you think its within specs or if Uniden thinks its within specs should have their heads examined.

 

[allend]

Some people have too much time on their hands...

Actually we do not have enough time on our hands. To afford these new radios at this price we are working all day and everyday to afford this kind of equipment. But we will take this as a joke

 

[markjrenna]

I have a 536HP that is brand new, only a couple months old. I don't hear any unusual noises or hums from mine. Was this resolved by the time I bought mine or is mine doing it but I just don't notice it?

 

[TxScanner]

I just got done setting up my SDS200, and it also makes a noise while scanning even with the volume all the way down. It’s not LOUD, but still annoying


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[Markscan]

Mine has the hum issue as well. But the radio performs so very well, I can deal with a little noise.


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[letarotor]

I don't know for sure what is causing the noise on the video in the example, but this is a very common issue amongst all kinds of electronics dealing with audio and it's usually something that can be traced to the hookup or external factors.

There is really no need to even use a amplified speaker on the SDS200. I don't know if one is being used in the setup in the example or not but it sounds like it may be from some of the replies.

I'm using just an old-fashioned Motorola, unamplified speaker hooked up to my SDS200 and I have no noise and great, very loud if I turn it up audio. But even on my SDS100, plugged into a amplified 20-watt Bluetooth speaker, if I turn the scanner off I will hear some similar noise and it reminds me I need to turn off the amplified Bluetooth speaker also.

This is the same type of issue it sounds like as whenever you get feedback through speakers in a home theater system if you go to plug in headphones or something similar. Feedback may not be the proper term but I'm sure everyone has experienced what I'm referring to.

Somebody mentioned the factors they were wondering about and I'm wondering the same thing. Could it be the lamp in the video causing it, is there a problem with the speaker cable, is the speaker even turned on, is it an amplified speaker, is there an electric blanket close by, and so on.

I'm not saying that there may not be a problem with the unit in the video example. I'm just saying I think it's something that is likely easily fixable and probably not a result of the scanner being defective. I'm guessing you don't hear it whatsoever when no speaker is plugged in?

In the technical side of things with one of the other replying parties, they mentioned something about the way to fix these kinds of issues. I've recorded audio for decades straight from scanners going into computer sound cards and run across issues like this countless times. I always thought it was the mismatched impedance between the sound card and the scanner. At least this is my understanding. But I could often pull the 3.5 mm plug out of the sound card just a little bit and things would work perfect. And then other times I had to use a different set of speakers on the PC.

If you unplug the speaker in the video and you do not have the issue continuing, I can almost guarantee you that you can rest assured it's not the scanner causing the noise.

I'm sure there are plenty of much more technically minded people who can explain what I've said in more technical terms. But from what I see in the video, I doubt that it is the scanner having the issue. Is there is any more detail that could be shared then maybe the problems could quickly be resolved. Is the speaker amplified? If so, take it out of the equation and buy a cheap on amplified speaker and I bet the sound issues would likely disappear. And check your connection on the back of the scanner where you have the 3.5 mm connector plugged in. Move it around just a little bit and see if the noise clears up.

Brian (COMMSCAN)



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[Stecomp]

My 200 just arrived at Uniden Repair in TX. If you read through my earlier posts I explained the issue and concur with allend's video of similar noise coming from internal and external speaker. On mine, besides the constant noise, there is a clicking like sound on receiving a transmission and upon ending. Connecting an unampilfied speaker to rear speaker input makes it even more noticeable as it is directly facing me. Yes connecting the same speaker to the front headphone jack it is quiet but have to crank the volume to 20+ to hear the audio at all.
Hoping it will be a minor re-solder or some shielding that fixes it, but halfway expect a 'in spec' finding.

 

[TxScanner]

Mine does it




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[allend]

I would not take any answer that Uniden say's it "within specs". This is not the reason why you sent it in for repair.

 

[Houdini7]

This humming is rather annoying.
It's not constant, rather changes as the unit scans. starts... stops....starts....stops
Audible on the internal speaker even with the volume set to 0.

 

[allend]

This humming is rather annoying.
It's not constant, rather changes as the unit scans. starts... stops....starts....stops
Audible on the internal speaker even with the volume set to 0.

Yup and more and more people are getting their radios and more and more complaints are starting to come in now. I know I was not losing my mind when people kept trying to blame my equipment or my power A/C stuff at home. It's the design flaw of the radio which is not going to be fixed with any firmware update. It's going to have to be a re-design of the motherboard in the radio. Now lets just all sit back and wait for the warden to speak out on behalf of Uniden and get a repair campaign going again and get this fixed.

 

[palmerjrusa]

Just checked my BCD536HP.

With volume=0, only with the scanner's speaker held right to my ear can I hear the clicking sound. It's the first time I've noticed it and don't at all under normal listening conditions

 

[Houdini7]

Try putting it in the menu.
Mine has a constant humming when on the menu screen. It starts / stops when scanning based on what the unit is doing.

 

[palmerjrusa]

Try putting it in the menu.
Mine has a constant humming when on the menu screen. It starts / stops when scanning based on what the unit is doing.

There's a very low humming sound on my unit and the clicking sound, turning up the volume doesn't have any effect on either. I can only hear it with the speaker held right to my ear, under normal listening conditions it's just not audible at all. Putting it in menu actually seemed to make it disappear, it came back when I exited the menu.

 

[hiegtx]

I have a 536HP that is brand new, only a couple months old. I don't hear any unusual noises or hums from mine. Was this resolved by the time I bought mine or is mine doing it but I just don't notice it?

There was a hum issue with a a certain number of early production 536HPs. The production facility (if I recall correctly) had made an incorrect substitution of a part (don't recall which, or if it was even specifically identified). Uniden identified the block of serial numbers affected by this, and initiated a repair program for it. I had one in that group, which was corrected by Uniden. This was several years ago, separate from the display and real time clock repair.

I do not have any sort of hum from my SDS200, but for those that do, I hope this can be rectified.

 

[allend]

There was a hum issue with a a certain number of early production 536HPs. The production facility (if I recall correctly) had made an incorrect substitution of a part (don't recall which, or if it was even specifically identified). Uniden identified the block of serial numbers affected by this, and initiated a repair program for it. I had one in that group, which was corrected by Uniden. This was several years ago, separate from the display and real time clock repair.

I do not have any sort of hum from my SDS200, but for those that do, I hope this can be rectified.

Hook up an external speaker and you will hear it.

 

[KevinC]

There was a hum issue with a a certain number of early production 536HPs. The production facility (if I recall correctly) had made an incorrect substitution of a part (don't recall which, or if it was even specifically identified). Uniden identified the block of serial numbers affected by this, and initiated a repair program for it. I had one in that group, which was corrected by Uniden. This was several years ago, separate from the display and real time clock repair.

I do not have any sort of hum from my SDS200, but for those that do, I hope this can be rectified.

I'm pretty sure that was using an external speaker only...but I could be wrong.