SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 filter failure

[Anderegg]

Have 3 SDS100's, all programmed identically. One of them just up and decided it would not receive or even see/lock the control channel for one specific trunking site. Reprogrammed a few times, swapped SD cards, swapped antennas all with the working units, but to no avail. All the other sites and systems work fine.

While troubleshooting, removing all but the current CC which didn't work, I eventually toggled off the filter setting, and all of a sudden it receives. Filter on, no RX. Filter off, RX. The scanner worked flawlessly priviously, and is a month or two old. The programming is the same as the other scanners, same firmware, complete with the filter setting. This is baffling me. I am telling the owner of the scanner to send it in for warranty repairs, but wanted to check here if anyone else has observed such odd behavior. I am not sure how the SDR stuff works, or if the filtering is handled simply by softeware or if there is some sort of chip it runs through?

Paul

 

[n1chu]

Isn’t there profiles settings that are not written to the SD card? A setting that’s different on one radio?

 

[buddrousa]

I wonder if it could be a firmware issue? Would be nice if UPMan was still here where you could be given a copy of the current firmware to recopy into the scanner like in the old days.
@JoeBearcat

 

[trentbob]

Just to clarify on the radios was the filter applied through Global filtering in settings which would affect every object on the radio or was it applied specifically to one particular site or sites in one particular system in manage favorites as it should be?

When setting filters directly to sites of a system it should be done on the radio itself so as to hear real-time results of reception indicators. After the filter has been applied to the site or sites of a system you then go and hook up to Sentinel and transfer the data card to your profile first thing. If you just change the global filter to a better filter in settings that helps one particular system then it applies that one filter to every object on the radio which very well might compromise reception on everything else that worked better on normal filter which is default on global.

It sounds very odd, I've never experienced anything like that and at one time owned 2 100s and 2 200s all programmed identically from the same profile.

 

[Ubbe]

or if the filtering is handled simply by softeware or if there is some sort of chip it runs through?

It's both. The filter settings are all software, if changes the oscillators frequencies. It's two mechanical SAW filters in the scanner and which one that are used depends on the received frequency and the IFX setting. Filters can go bad, they are fragile, so try and enable IFX and see if the other filter works ok using the same filter setting.

/Ubbe

 

[jtwalker]

I wonder if it could be a firmware issue? Would be nice if UPMan was still here where you could be given a copy of the current firmware to recopy into the scanner like in the old days.
@JoeBearcat

Can’t you put firmware on a new (never been in scanner) SD card using Sentinel, and it will update FW when you put card in scanner? Even if it’s same FW version.

 

[kirkco]

For what it is worth (not much probably). I had/have same problem with two cloned SDS200 scanners and found that when I separate them (like across the room) then they both start to work. When I bring them back together, then one will not receive constantly (all on same frequency). It's like moving them across the room resets...something internally. So, I just brushed it off to some sort of internal interference and generally have each set to different (not competitive) favorites when on the same desk.

 

[trentbob]

Can’t you put firmware on a new (never been in scanner) SD card using Sentinel, and it will update FW when you put card in scanner? Even if it’s same FW version.

Interesting question, I thought you update the radio itself not the data card??? For example if you remove the data card and stick it in the computer you can update the database, that will work, but if you want to update firmware it won't do it just with the card inserted, the radio has to be connected with the data card in it. I could be wrong.

 

[Ubbe]

I could be wrong.

No, you are correct. It checks the scanners firmware version and compares to what can be found on Unidens server. But it will load whatever firmware files that are found in the SD cards firmware folder, even older versions. There was a OneDrive account by a russian guy who had all the different firmware versions that then could be downloaded and tested, to check when a certain dysfunction or bug appeared and was a great help. Sadly the OneDrive are no longer available.

/Ubbe

 

[nosoup4u]

I do have some of the firmware versions

https://www.hunterdonskywarn.info/scanner_files/Uniden%20Files/

 

[Anderegg]

I will give the f/w musical chairs option a try. The scanner is still exhibiting the problem after several more programming cycles.

The scanner in question was just bought brand new and exhibits other issues such as the lower edge section of LED backlighting being 3-4x brighter than the other parts of the screen, and the multi-function knob is extremely hard to press down, sometimes unable to press it down after 10 seconds of trying. I am urging the owner to have it returned under warranty. I think they sent her a used RMA return they didn't bother to have repaired.

Paul

 

[fxdscon]

Interesting question, I thought you update the radio itself not the data card??? For example if you remove the data card and stick it in the computer you can update the database, that will work, but if you want to update firmware it won't do it just with the card inserted, the radio has to be connected with the data card in it. I could be wrong.

You can always get a stand-alone copy of whatever firmware is available through Sentinel at the time. Put a blank, formatted card in a card reader (one that has not been in the scanner since it was formatted) and "clear user data", and then "update firmware".

Since the card hasn't been indexed to a scanner yet, Sentinel doesn't know if you have the latest firmware in the scanner or not, so you won't get the "This version in the scanner is the current version" message. The firmware files will be downloaded to the card in the card reader. You can then archive the files from there or copy them to the card in the scanner and reboot the scanner to re-load the current firmware.

If you take a working card out of the scanner and put it in a card reader, it won't download the firmware files. Since that card has been in the scanner, the firmware version in the scanner is indexed on the card (just the version numbers, not the actual files), and Sentinel will see that (same as if that card was still in the scanner). You will then get the "This version in the scanner is the current version", and the firmware will not download.

 

[MStep]

I will give the f/w musical chairs option a try. The scanner is still exhibiting the problem after several more programming cycles.

The scanner in question was just bought brand new and exhibits other issues such as the lower edge section of LED backlighting being 3-4x brighter than the other parts of the screen, and the multi-function knob is extremely hard to press down, sometimes unable to press it down after 10 seconds of trying. I am urging the owner to have it returned under warranty. I think they sent her a used RMA return they didn't bother to have repaired.

Pau),

A multi-functioning knob that is physically difficult to press down (as opposed to intermittently none-responsive), would not be related to the firmware. Certainly indicates a hardware issue. If the radio is, as you described, "just bought" and brand new, I would return it to the dealer for a refund.

If it is past the time you have to return or exchange it, it should be shipped in for warranty repair.