SDS100 Scroll Control Knob Misbehaving
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oneadam-12
Member
Does this problem affect the SDS200 or is it only the SDS100 and for those who are having this issue how old is the radio when this problem showed up.
oneadam-12
Member
I have one of those models a 996p2. Since this is a problem perhaps Uniden needs to design a scanner without a scroll knob or find a different supplier. It is a shame that this is happening just to save some money. What is the difference with this scroll knob compare to what was used in there older models like the 780xlt 796D and the 396xt which don't have this issue.
The older models didn't have as many people discussing them online and reporting every component failure as a fatal design flaw. Mechanical components wear out, not a matter of if, but when. If this problem was widespread or common, this thread would have dozens of pages like the clock battery / LCD repair campaign thread.
palmerjrusa
Member
I bought my SDS100 a few months after it was released and have treated it with great care. I've radios that are more than 25 years old with this type of scroll control that have seen a lot of use and it's has never been an issue. My 436 and 536 have also never developed this problem.
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palmerjrusa
Member
There's wear and tear and there's bad quality components. A $650 radio should not be developing this problem literally after a few months of use. This isn't a wear and tear issue, it's a component quality issue.
Wrong. Go back and search the archives, and you'll find occasional threads about similar scroll knob problems for every model that has one. But it's not a common problem like the clock battery and display issues were in the x36 models.
palmerjrusa
Member
As I said, I own many, many radios with this type of scroll control that have seen continued use for 25 years or more and none have developed this problem. A $650 scanner should not have this issue for the simple reason that it's not remotely old enough for this problem to develop via "wear and tear". This is a poor quality component and quality control issue and nothing to do with "wear and tear" through normal use.
Just curious as to which brand/models of 25 YO Radios and which controls?
Are they by chance optical and not mechanical rotary encoders? Big difference in the quality as well as how long they can last!
palmerjrusa
Member
IC-R2, IC-R3, IC-R5, IC-R20, VR120, VR500, IC-T90A, TH-F6A, FT-60, VX-1R, VX-2R, VX-6R etc.
I rarely sell any of my gear.
In all time I've been buying gear from the "big three" (Icom, Yaesu and Kenwood) I've only had two problems; a battery issue on my IC-T90A and the display problem on my VR500 (by then the radio was so old Yaesu no longer was repairing this model).
The quality and quality control from the Japanese "big three" is second to none.
I'll add that I take great care of my stuff.
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Kruser... I think these are mechanical knobs correct? How much more of an expense would it be to use Optical encoders?
I got one of the first radios off the line and the problem developed pretty quickly so I would not call this normal wear and tear.
I like the radio over all but given all of the issues that have developed, this being one of them, do you think the problem could be solved by changing the the encoder? Is there a practical solution to solving the problem?
That to me is the best approach, because the radio is water resistant will the cleaner spray on the knob really absorb or do we need to take the radio apart to fix the problem?
I have always treated the radio with kid gloves but the problem is getting worse and like a lot of issues with the SDS radios it isn't affecting a lot of people which doesn't discount the issue for those who have it.
Thanks... Bob.
I got one of the first radios off the line and the problem developed pretty quickly so I would not call this normal wear and tear.
I like the radio over all but given all of the issues that have developed, this being one of them, do you think the problem could be solved by changing the the encoder? Is there a practical solution to solving the problem?
That to me is the best approach, because the radio is water resistant will the cleaner spray on the knob really absorb or do we need to take the radio apart to fix the problem?
I have always treated the radio with kid gloves but the problem is getting worse and like a lot of issues with the SDS radios it isn't affecting a lot of people which doesn't discount the issue for those who have it.
Thanks... Bob.
palmerjrusa
Member
The Caig DEOXIT will arrive today.
I'll report back with the results.
I'll report back with the results.
palmerjrusa
Member
Same here, after literally a few weeks use I was seeing an occasional glitch when using the scroll knob and it's got progressively worse. It's now at the point where operating the radio is becoming a real pain. I'll try to increase the volume by one unit, say to "5" or "6", and it will jump to over "10".
Your personal sample size is still far too small for you to make such generalizations validly. Yes it sucks that your scanner has a problem, but if the scroll problem was as big as you claim, there would be dozens of threads on the subject from the thousands of Uniden owners here.
palmerjrusa
Member
I could say something re my experience with MFJ gear...but I'll be diplomatic and refrain.
Yes, mechanical controls. No idea on expense. Optical encoders used to carry a pretty hefty price.
If anything, this is probably just the use of cheap components but could be a quality control issue as well from the manufacturer being as not everyone is seeing the problem.
Yes, the radio will need to be taken apart to try and get some cleaner into the controls housing. I'm still not sure how well that will work as some of these controls are fairly well sealed.
The old days of letting the cleaner run down the shaft will not work here!
I'm still cautious about spraying cleaner knowing how quickly it can damage the plastic display windows. I guess as long as people are super careful, this may work but how long will it last is another question.
My experience with control cleaners is they seem to be more or a temporary solution than anything.
I'm not positive but I kind of doubt there would be a drop in optical replacement available. I'd think switching to an optical control would also require some external supporting components to make it all work.
Good luck and definitely report back and let us know if this worked.
I'd imagine it will but only if you can manage to get some of the cleaner into the switches housing.
palmerjrusa
Member
I'm kind of hoping the scanner isn't as "water resistant" as Uniden claims since that might work in my favor...
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