SDS100/SDS200: SDS100/SDS200 New Public Release Sub CPU 1.03.05

[a727469]

Wow, strange bunch of messages…anyway, as we know, everyone can and will have different experiences based on system type, location, maybe missing a changed item in sentinel etc etc…As I stated above, my p25 phase 1 appears improved..I have no phase 2 to compare.

Please take the following comments as mine alone and are NOT directed at anyone specifically since I have seen a number of people getting somewhat overboard on their comments…at least uniden is doing something after a long time of inactivity and it may take a bit of time for all of this to work out…reports as to good or bad are very important, but we can’t take all of this too seriously….its a complex RADIO SCANNER and a HOBBY and should be FUN! If we are using these for anything else where reception is critical (public safety, business etc) professional equipment should be purchased. I know since I have owned a business and have also been in public safety. Enjoy the listening and experimentation or if this gets me frustrated and unhappy I can always sell the scanners and maybe find another hobby. 🏄‍♀️🚣🎳🚵‍♀️. I am not ready to do that myself!!

 

[mc48]

The RSSI values were adjusted to more accurately indicate the actual values. This adjustment has no impact on the signal that is received or the ability of the signal to be decoded.

From the firmware update page.

• Improved accuracy of the reading for RSSI and the number of signal bars. The current readings are more accurate than previously were across all bands. The firmware update that implements the Waterfall Feature did not affect the sensitivity of the radio. In some cases, the new RSSI and signal bar readings may be very different than they used to be, creating the erroneous impression that the scanner is not performing as well as it did previously.

 

[KAZ7ED]

New firmware as of Jan 19. Fixed a couple things, messed up some things. The waterfall is no longer in motion, meaning it doesn't refresh now.

 

[Enforcer52]

So we can better understand what folks are reporting on the latest firmware updates, please indicate if you have even purchased the waterfall upgrade and installed it. And if your reports on reception are on regular scan mode or in waterfall mode.

I for one am getting confused on what folks are reporting on, regular scan vs waterfall mode.

I have not purchased the waterfall upgrade, so all my observations are only with the latest firmwares installed.

Overall the audio quality has improved on both conventional and trunking systems. Even on my San Jacinto County VFD which has a very old and horrible 154-155 mhz system. Voices have a smoother quality and very seldom choppy.

RSSI: on my local (within 25 miles) conventional systems was running -50dbm before upgrade, after running -60 dbm. Trunking systems within 25 miles are seeing a -0 to -5 dbm improvement.

Noise: levels at no RX are running between 200-32000 levels, before updates they would run up to 45000, when receiving a transmission noise level never above 600

D-Error: rates before would sometimes reach 30 or more, with updates haven't seen above a 10 and most transmissions 0

Don't know about other areas, but in the eastern half of Texas there is no trunking system that has more than a 30 mile transmission range, and most only do 15-20 miles. So when we talk about fringe areas, please indicate the distance to said fringe areas.

In other words a little more detail in posting may help others to understand what a member is talking about.

 

[mc48]

The Waterfall is operating as it always has, nothing has been changed.

 

[Brales60]

Did the updates, more clear for sure. Maybe a tad slower to decode the stuff? I have all P25 stuff, all 700-800. No analog right now. I have the airport and stuff off.

 

[ctiller]

So we can better understand what folks are reporting on the latest firmware updates, please indicate if you have even purchased the waterfall upgrade and installed it. And if your reports on reception are on regular scan mode or in waterfall mode.

I for one am getting confused on what folks are reporting on, regular scan vs waterfall mode.

I have not purchased the waterfall upgrade, so all my observations are only with the latest firmwares installed.

Overall the audio quality has improved on both conventional and trunking systems. Even on my San Jacinto County VFD which has a very old and horrible 154-155 mhz system. Voices have a smoother quality and very seldom choppy.

RSSI: on my local (within 25 miles) conventional systems was running -50dbm before upgrade, after running -60 dbm. Trunking systems within 25 miles are seeing a -0 to -5 dbm improvement.

Noise: levels at no RX are running between 200-32000 levels, before updates they would run up to 45000, when receiving a transmission noise level never above 600

D-Error: rates before would sometimes reach 30 or more, with updates haven't seen above a 10 and most transmissions 0

Don't know about other areas, but in the eastern half of Texas there is no trunking system that has more than a 30 mile transmission range, and most only do 15-20 miles. So when we talk about fringe areas, please indicate the distance to said fringe areas.

In other words a little more detail in posting may help others to understand what a member is talking about.

Here’s mine. Installed update and noticed the radio in regular scan was not picking up much on a very busy system. The transmissions it did pick up were garbled 25% of the time I’d say. I also noticed the radio stopping on a talk group with no audio and no UID. It would just sit there for some reason. RSSI went from -50 to -60 on the old firmware to -100 to -115 or so on the new one. I know from reading the notes they changed the readings, but I didn’t even know that until reading the notes a few days ago. So I’m not basing my degraded performance on that. I’m basing it on my ears. I don’t use the waterfall feature

 

[mc48]

Check the filter settings they have changed for some applications.

From the update notes.

• Updated Filter for P25 Phase1, DMR, and NXDN.

 

[R0am3r]

My SDS200 runs with firmware Main 1.23.03A and Sub 1.03.05. I tested the [purchased] Waterfall against a local DMR Hytera XPT system. The display showed the pulsing of the XPT signals and decoded the audio properly when I moved the marker to one of the active frequencies. I also tested the scan function of the radio with these systems: Airband (VHF), Conventional NFM (VHF), P25-P1 (UHF), P25-P2 (VHF), DMR Hytera XPT (UHF), NXDN 4800 (VHF), and NXDN 9600 (UHF). All worked great.

 

[ctiller]

I will note the system I'm monitoring with the issues has this note:

"Many talk groups use Dynamic Dual Mode, which allows the talk group to automatically switch to TDMA (Phase II) when only TDMA-capable subscriber radios are active on the talk group but revert to Phase I when older radios are active on the talk group. As a result, many talk groups below shown as "D" Mode (Phase I) may intermittently become T (TDMA, Phase II) and only be monitored on a Phase II capable scanner at any time."

sometimes I see P25, sometimes I see P25 phase II, so not sure if this is affecting it

 

[blackbelter]

Upon installing the 1.23.03 and Sub 1.03.05 , my SDS 200 continues to performs well on our Simulcast P25P2 system. I have no desire to purchase the WF feature . The decoding and sounds meets my expectations however with all things being equal, it’s still behind the G5.

 

[WD6ABC]

Did a side by side video comparison on the 1.21 and 1.23.03 reception.
Digital is definitely better on decoding.

Video of 1.21 vs 1.23 comparison.

John
WD6ABC
(Remscan Products)

 

[Enforcer52]

Did a side by side video comparison on the 1.21 and 1.23.03 reception.
Digital is definitely better on decoding.

Video of 1.21 vs 1.23 comparison.

John
WD6ABC
(Remscan Products)

Thanks John for the video, very informative.

 

[dstegner]

Point of Information:

For those updating the SDS200 and you previously updated the beta Main Version 1.23.03A, Sentinel will only update the Sub CPU to 1.03.05 unless you wipe your SD card (SD Card formatter), on Sentinel, Scanner...Clear User Data (check the box to Display all Drives), then Write to Scanner (it will write your current scanner's programming), then Update Firmware and you will have the current public release 1.23.03 (No A at the end). I don't know the difference in the Main Versions, just in the event you want to have the public version in the SDS200.

This did not work for me. I still have 1.23.03A. Do you need to remove the SD card then run the SD card formatter, clear user data and then put back in the SDS200 and update?

Going to try doing a manual roll back and then Sentinel update.

 

[werinshades]

This did not work for me. I still have 1.23.03A. Do you need to remove the SD card then run the SD card formatter, clear user data and then put back in the SDS200 and update?

Going to try doing a manual roll back and then Sentinel update.

I was able to do it in a USB/SD card reader, and while it was in one of my SDS200's. I had 6 to update so the other 5 were done outside the scanner.

 

[dstegner]

I was able to do it in a USB/SD card reader, and while it was in one of my SDS200's. I had 6 to update so the other 5 were done outside the scanner.

The manual roll back and update method works as well. I have 3 but will keep the one I use for SmartZone monitoring on "A" for now.

 

[werinshades]

The manual roll back and update method works as well. I have 3 but will keep the one I use for SmartZone monitoring on "A" for now.

I don't know the difference if any, but for those that want to have the public versions up to date, it can be done

 

[WD6ABC]

Did a side by side video comparison on the 1.21 and 1.23.03 reception.
Digital is definitely better on decoding.
(This link is to a shorter video than the previous post)
Video of 1.21 vs 1.23 comparison.

John
WD6ABC
(Remscan Products)

 

[WD6ABC]

Thanks John for the video, very informative.

 

[WD6ABC]

Just found something interesting, was trying to decode a P25 signal, no NAC assigned, and it didn't decode unless I went into waterfall mode. Signal showed 15db above noise floor. Tried all filters and different digital delay times.
Any ideas??