SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 reception issues

[Budlytman22]

Hello all. Newbie to the forum and have a question. My SDS100 has stopped receiving anything. I’ve read numerous posts about my same issue. 2 years old and it quit. Always in my house so not a moisture issue. Would I be an idiot to buy another one? Repairs seem to be such a hassle. No one near me that I can find works on these. Sacramento area.

 

[iMONITOR]

If you didn't change anything, my guess would be a bad battery.

 

[KevinC]

If you didn't change anything, my guess would be a bad battery.

I would think it wouldn’t turn on or he’d have bad battery life if the battery was bad.

 

[donc13]

Why would you get another one when Uniden will repair it for a flat rate of $80 + shipping?

 

[donc13]

If you didn't change anything, my guess would be a bad battery.

He said it quit receiving, not that it wouldn't power on.

 

[62Truck]

Maybe bad solder joint on the antenna connector.

 

[Fro68]

Mine did the same. It was a bad solder joint on the antenna. Mine was repaired under warranty.

 

[iMONITOR]

I would think it wouldn’t turn on or he’d have bad battery life if the battery was bad.

Yea I see that now. I miss read "stopped receiving anything" thinking he said it stopped doing anything.

 

[werinshades]

$90 vs $650...

 

[buddrousa]

Program a vhf or uhf analog frequency with no tone into the scanner add it to a scan list and see if the scanner shows the COLD SOLDER JOINT problem.

 

[KD2BNC]

Hello all. Newbie to the forum and have a question. My SDS100 has stopped receiving anything. I’ve read numerous posts about my same issue. 2 years old and it quit. Always in my house so not a moisture issue. Would I be an idiot to buy another one? Repairs seem to be such a hassle. No one near me that I can find works on these. Sacramento area.

Sounds like a solder joint issue. I had this issue also. I sent my SDS100 in for repair in October and I had it back within a week.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Welcome to the forums Budlytman22. Some info regarding what you're trying to receive would help. Have you tuned to your local NOAA weather station & if so, any luck receiving? You've checked to ensure all applicable service types are turned on (reference "mode" column in DB) and if you've programmed in favorites lists they're set to monitor? Though you said you keep it in your house, have you tested outdoors?

 

[fredva]

Repairs seem to be such a hassle. No one near me that I can find works on these.

Most people send theirs back to the manufacturer if the radio needs repairs.

 

[hexagon_keyhole]

Program a vhf or uhf analog frequency with no tone into the scanner add it to a scan list and see if the scanner shows the COLD SOLDER JOINT problem.

NOAA Weather frequencies is a good test, too.

If you do need to send it back to Uniden for repair, it's a flat rate repair and is cheaper to repair than to replace.

 

[gmclam]

My SDS-100 radios have had no issues receiving in Sacramento 24/7 for over 2 years. It was 6/2020 when Sacramento switched off their analog systems making their P25 system it. That brought Simulcast to the forefront for me. Here we are about 2 1/2 years later and I haven't had any issues with my SDS radios. I did remove the battery from the unit I have powered externally. It's scary to see how much the battery has expanded just sitting on the desk.

 

[Budlytman22]

Welcome to the forums Budlytman22. Some info regarding what you're trying to receive would help. Have you tuned to your local NOAA weather station & if so, any luck receiving? You've checked to ensure all applicable service types are turned on (reference "mode" column in DB) and if you've programmed in favorites lists they're set to monitor? Though you said you keep it in your house, have you tested outdoors?

It was working fine. I changed no settings. I even reset all settings from the menu and reprogrammed using Sentinel and still nothing. It was picking up only conventional but now nothing.

 

[Budlytman22]

$90 vs $650...

I realize it sounds stupid but I’ve read of many people returning these to be “fixed” and then having the same issues shortly after.

 

[freqseeker]

I realize it sounds stupid but I’ve read of many people returning these to be “fixed” and then having the same issues shortly after.

I believe that was early on with the cold solder joint issue. Repair operations adapt and improve with experience. Doctors are smart enough to say they practice medicine.

 

[werinshades]

I realize it sounds stupid but I’ve read of many people returning these to be “fixed” and then having the same issues shortly after.

If that happens, you have a 90 day warranty period. Average turn around has been 2-3 weeks. Sending anything now might take a little longer with Christmas and New Years Day holidays.

 

[gmclam]

It was working fine. I changed no settings. I even reset all settings from the menu and reprogrammed using Sentinel and still nothing. It was picking up only conventional but now nothing.

From what you write it sounds like the display indicates the scanner is doing what it should. In other words, it boots and runs. Makes me wonder about your antenna (connection).