SDS100/SDS200: sds100 distorted audio help

[kaitlyn4589]

so im having an odd issue with my SDS100 most of my signals come in clear i can hear the calls nice and loud. but sometimes a call comes in on the scanner and the audio seems to pop or get distorted. example a call will come in from local ems and during the conversation the audio sometimes seems distorted its hard to explain sounds kinda similar to an audio cd skipping during music playback thats the best way i can describe it i can make out the words they are speaking but it cuts out for like half a second or so then come back again idk how to describe it just trying to figure out what might be causing this before i consider sending it in for repair the issue is intermittent comes and goes doesnt happen all the time

 

[jtwalker]

Need more info to give any useful advice.

What specific systems are you talking about? When you get distortion, is it always one system or does it jump around and could be any of them? Where exactly are you located in relationship to the towers (distance, geography in between)? Are these systems digital or analog?

So for some generic, not so useful, advice, have you tried adjusting the filter for any of these systems, or the global filter setting? On first pass, this doesn't sound like anything that needs to go back for repair.

 

[MStep]

so im having an odd issue with my SDS100 most of my signals come in clear i can hear the calls nice and loud. but sometimes a call comes in on the scanner and the audio seems to pop or get distorted. example a call will come in from local ems and during the conversation the audio sometimes seems distorted its hard to explain sounds kinda similar to an audio cd skipping during music playback thats the best way i can describe it i can make out the words they are speaking but it cuts out for like half a second or so then come back again idk how to describe it just trying to figure out what might be causing this before i consider sending it in for repair the issue is intermittent comes and goes doesnt happen all the time

As jtwalker points out, more information is necessary, but for some digital systems, this is sometimes the rule rather than the exception, at least on the SDS100 and SDS200 series that I own. Perhaps you can also post some samples of the audio that you are descibing.

 

[kaitlyn4589]

@jtwalker @MStep im monitoring PCWIN here in tucson arizona also spoke a uniden rep on the phone they are recommending i send it in stand by for an example

 

[nessnet]

1st, punctuation, etc. is your friend when asking for advice........

Analog: When a signal gets weak, static becomes more and more until you don't hear anything.

Digital: the receiving radio is decoding stream of 1s and 0s and when the signal gets weak, you get what has been called 'underwater' sound. Or, what you are experiencing.

Then, there are issues such as simulcast, P25 II, etc, etc......

 

[kaitlyn4589]

@jtwalker @MStep @nessnet my issue sounds similar to the one in this video only the static isnt as loud this was the best example i could find notice how in this video some of the audio cuts out or sounds garbles mine do this exact same thing on some channels except theres hardly any static

 

[kaitlyn4589]

in my issue some of the audio cuts out or skips so sometimes i dont get the whole convo or the convo will cut out before the person is finished talking

 

[MStep]

@jtwalker @MStep @nessnet my issue sounds similar to the one in this video only the static isnt as loud this was the best example i could find notice how in this video some of the audio cuts out or sounds garbles mine do this exact same thing on some channels except theres hardly any static

You state that most of your signals come in clear. But if you are receiving a percentage of digital signals that sound like that, you might perhaps need an external antenna to pull in signals more efficiently, or accept the fact that these are hobbyist devices and not professional communications tools. A lot of the systems I listen to are in areas that are "marginal" to my antenna setup. Sounds pretty much like "par for the course". Keep in mind, the SDS series are wide-band, multi-mode receivers costing about $700 USD each--- a dedicated Motorola handi-talkie for any particular system can cost thousands of dollars.

 

[kaitlyn4589]

@MStep the problem is i have had the same stock antenna since i bought the scanner early this year and have never had this issue before

 

[jtwalker]

Do you have any priority set on, or close call? Is PCWIN the only system you monitor? What signal strength do you have on PCWIN? Which site(s) are you using?

 

[DudleyG]

You recently posted that you dropped your scanner on the floor and now have dirt behind the screen. Did this audio problem start after you dropped the scanner? The antenna connection is one of the weak points on the scanner and could have been damaged.

 

[AB5ID]

Maybe worth a try to turn on your attenuator or take the radio to a different location and see if the situation improves.

 

[kaitlyn4589]

@AB5ID how do i turn on my attenuator?

 

[kaitlyn4589]

@DudleyG problem started after

 

[kaitlyn4589]

Do you have any priority set on, or close call? Is PCWIN the only system you monitor? What signal strength do you have on PCWIN? Which site(s) are you using?

close call and priority are off filters is set to global and im assuming im using All the sites my location offers altho im not sure

 

[jtwalker]

Dropping the scanner and having problems start after that event is an important detail to leave out. Yeah, you probably need to send it to Uniden for repair.

 

[kaitlyn4589]

@jtwalker ya sorry mate for leaving it out it didnt occur to me at the time i will send it in for repair then

 

[nessnet]

@jtwalker @MStep @nessnet my issue sounds similar to the one in this video only the static isnt as loud this was the best example i could find notice how in this video some of the audio cuts out or sounds garbles mine do this exact same thing on some channels except theres hardly any static

Future note - it is A LOT easier for us to help if you PLEASE use punctuation and caps when you post.

I'm not trying to be a grammar cop here. But, when trying to discern what a certain problem is to help, having the request for help also hard to read does NOT help.

 

[radio3353]

Future note - it is A LOT easier for us to help if you PLEASE use punctuation and caps when you post.

I'm not trying to be a grammar cop here. But, when trying to discern what a certain problem is to help, having the request for help also hard to read does NOT help.

Unfortunately, you are talking to the wall. Thanks to social media and texting, English is now a third language for many Americans. So sad adults have regressed to this. Plenty of examples here on RR forums.

By the way, the last time I made a grammar comment here I got slapped by a moderator. Looks like you fared better

 

[trentbob]

Eh... when there is an issue with communication, lack of appropriate reaction or acknowledgement I simply cut off any future communication... Happening more and more with the newbies. No big deal, they will learn as people ignore them.