SDS100/SDS200: Sds100 antenna port turning

[n1chu]

The fact the nut had moved (from 10/4 to 12/6) doesn’t necessarily mean the entire connector has moved but it’s a possibility. And since an improper fitting antenna wasn’t used, I can only surmise the stock antenna (or any other properly fitting antenna) was torqued down way too much, causing the entire connector to move. However, my meaning here is that I agree with tvengr’s suggesting that the new position of the slotted nut does not necessarily mean the entire connector has moved. And the only way to determine exactly what has occurred is to disassemble the outer case of the radio and visually inspect the connector.

 

[Whospoonbill]

They fixed it but I’m still getting 60 dbm has before but uniden says it’s normal for the port to come lose I should worried about it when the antenna falls off than that’s a problem

 

[n1chu]

That’s ridiculous. If Uniden told me that I’d rolling on the floor laughing. The antenna connection on the radio must be secure, no looseness. But don’t try to tighten it too much… just enough to keep it from turning. Start by snugging it up and give it a try. It’s a case of too much is dangerous. Just minor adjustments until it holds and see if stays tight. If it doesn’t, try a bit more torque and hope it stays tight.

The antenna connector has a spin nut that secures the connector to the case of the radio. It must be removed in order to open the case for repair. Uniden should be able to tell you how much to tighten the spin nut because they must reassemble the radio after a repair. They probably use a torque driver that is set to the correct inch pound setting when they put that spin nut back on the connector. I’ve opened up a few of my handheld scanners in my time and first inspect the wire jumper that connects the connector to the circuit board. If it’s broken I resolder it back in place, saving me the need to send it in to Uniden repair. If you decide to have Uniden do any work expect an average of about 3-4 weeks turnaround and pay the usual repair fee they charge.

 

[Whospoonbill]

They left the antenna port like this position

 

[Whospoonbill]

Know I’m losing reception in areas that I wasn’t before but it was near those restaurants I mention on here or other forms I made so that doesn’t worry me. Should I have them put it back in the 10 o clock position

 

[Whospoonbill]

Stock antenna Streamable Video, remtronix antenna, Streamable Video

 

[Whospoonbill]

Also I have a warranty and they said they tightened down the sma connector

 

[donc13]

No! Do not put it in the 10 o'clock position.

The position of the slots on the nut make ZERO difference! What makes a difference is whether the antenna connector itself is loose.

 

[n1chu]

That slotted spin nut merely tightens the antenna connector to the case of the radio. If loose, the connector could break its solder connection to the circuit board. If loose, tighten it without getting forceful. Just snug it up and continue checking it. If it loosens up again, retighten it using just a tad more force. Continue this process until the connector stays tight.

 

[Whospoonbill]

That slotted spin nut merely tightens the antenna connector to the case of the radio. If loose, the connector could break its solder connection to the circuit board. If loose, tighten it without getting forceful. Just snug it up and continue checking it. If it loosens up again, retighten it using just a tad more force. Continue this process until the connector stays tight.

Wait so if solder connection is broken uniden can’t fix that they will half to send me another refurbished scanner. And I’m getting better reception whatever I did with it today idk maybe setting the range in the set your location made a difference idk but it’s still static but I don’t lose reception in that area anymore my phone is a different story I think that’s just a bad area but as long as I can hear things on my scanner idc about my phone

 

[n1chu]

In the case of a broken antenna connector wire jumper Uniden will repair, not replace. If I read you correctly, you now have satisfactory reception. But that doesn’t mean the connection isn’t broken… it could be an intermittent connection where sometimes the jumper is in contact and completes the circuit and sometimes not, caused by wiggling the loose connector or attached antenna.

I’m not saying you have a broken connection but you may. It’s one of the first things Uniden looks at when they get a radio in for repair. I attended an airshow last month. A fellow with a scanner approached me, recognizing me as another who monitors the show frequencies. He mentioned his reception was intermittent with his scanner but it worked just fine at airshows, so he dedicated that particular scanner for airshows. I mentioned he probably had a bad antenna connection but at an airshow he was so close to the airport tower and the planes he didn’t need much of an antenna so the scanner worked. I offered to take a look at the scanner an opened it up. Sure enough, the jumper wire had come loose from a solder joint. I didn’t have a soldering iron with me but at least he knew his scanner was still viable after he got the jumper fixed. I positioned the wire jumper where it was touching the bad solder joint and buttoned up the radio, telling him to treat it delicately until the repair was made. He left after thanking me, a happy camper!

 

[Whospoonbill]

In the case of a broken antenna connector wire jumper Uniden will repair, not replace. If I read you correctly, you now have satisfactory reception. But that doesn’t mean the connection isn’t broken… it could be an intermittent connection where sometimes the jumper is in contact and completes the circuit and sometimes not, caused by wiggling the loose connector or attached antenna.

I’m not saying you have a broken connection but you may. It’s one of the first things Uniden looks at when they get a radio in for repair. I attended an airshow last month. A fellow with a scanner approached me, recognizing me as another who monitors the show frequencies. He mentioned his reception was intermittent with his scanner but it worked just fine at airshows, so he dedicated that particular scanner for airshows. I mentioned he probably had a bad antenna connection but at an airshow he was so close to the airport tower and the planes he didn’t need much of an antenna so the scanner worked. I offered to take a look at the scanner an opened it up. Sure enough, the jumper wire had come loose from a solder joint. I didn’t have a soldering iron with me but at least he knew his scanner was still viable after he got the jumper fixed. I positioned the wire jumper where it was touching the bad solder joint and buttoned up the radio, telling him to treat it delicately until the repair was made. He left after thanking me, a happy camper!

Uniden if you look at the form they repair the sma connector. So they opened up the sds100

 

[JoeBearcat]

but uniden says it’s normal for the port to come lose

Who told you that? Are you sure they didn't say it's not uncommon for a nut to come loose? (IOW: It happens sometimes)

 

[Whospoonbill]

So before I have them close the form this is good right Streamable Video

 

[Whospoonbill]

I’m using the remtronix antenna not stock

 

[n1chu]

…yes, I believe you understand what it is we are trying to convey. A Uniden repair will cost $90 (aprox). If you can find someone that has the expertise to spend 10 minutes to open up the case and take a look, you can determine if in fact that broken connection is your problem and fix it, saving the repair cost if it’s not still under warrenty. Good luck.