thats terrible! Yes i agree that this shouldnt happen.
SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 Stopped picking up any signal
- Status
Uniden needs to step up and replace these defective units as soon as they are received and checked out rather than making us wait for weeks and making us pay for shipping. We did not cause the problems. Feels as if we are being punished for their mistakes.
Scanners are not "checked out" when they are received. A tech does not see the unit or repair notes until it is in front of him to be worked on. That could take a day or several weeks, depending on how many items are currently in the repair queue.
Ok, well how about simply prioritizing units that have been shipped for repair multiple times via RMA or serial numbers? There should be a sense of urgency on Uniden's part to resolve these problems as soon as possible in a matter of days rather than weeks.
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- Feb 22, 2007
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- 6,175
I'm not going to quote anybody here because I don't want my post to be censored along with that quote.
Except for a handful of people I think everybody pretty much sees what's going on, to be able to afford thousands of dollars for a hobby or employment we are pretty smart people.
I have an SDS 100 that was problem-free except that it did not pick up my local system without many missed Transmissions. I was in shock when the latest update changed that and now I use the radio every day but I do have to admit I am worried that any minute something is going to happen and I will be forced to send it in for repair. This of course should not be the state of mind I'm in with my radio.
For those making some pretty harsh comments I am no fan of Uniden and although I won't do it here because it's off topic I have been very critical of the obvious. You have to admit, they can run their company anyway they want even if it's not the way I would do it and they have NO competition except for a company that sells very obsolete radios and no radios that can handle LSM. If they handle things the way I would I don't know what would cost them more money, my way or the loss in sales of scanners. Either way it's expensive not only monetarily but reputation wise also.
I have not experienced the problem the o p has identified but I realize that later today I could have the same exact thing happened to mine. Plus a score of other things could happen and that doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I think there are more 100 and 200 models being returned for repair than there are BC - 250s, they should all be priorities.
I'm glad to see the SDS 100 have less problems than the 200 but this new one worries me.
I'm sorry to see the o p having this kind of problem with his radio.
Except for a handful of people I think everybody pretty much sees what's going on, to be able to afford thousands of dollars for a hobby or employment we are pretty smart people.
I have an SDS 100 that was problem-free except that it did not pick up my local system without many missed Transmissions. I was in shock when the latest update changed that and now I use the radio every day but I do have to admit I am worried that any minute something is going to happen and I will be forced to send it in for repair. This of course should not be the state of mind I'm in with my radio.
For those making some pretty harsh comments I am no fan of Uniden and although I won't do it here because it's off topic I have been very critical of the obvious. You have to admit, they can run their company anyway they want even if it's not the way I would do it and they have NO competition except for a company that sells very obsolete radios and no radios that can handle LSM. If they handle things the way I would I don't know what would cost them more money, my way or the loss in sales of scanners. Either way it's expensive not only monetarily but reputation wise also.
I have not experienced the problem the o p has identified but I realize that later today I could have the same exact thing happened to mine. Plus a score of other things could happen and that doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside.
I think there are more 100 and 200 models being returned for repair than there are BC - 250s, they should all be priorities.
I'm glad to see the SDS 100 have less problems than the 200 but this new one worries me.
I'm sorry to see the o p having this kind of problem with his radio.
trentbob, I agree, this is where I'm at with the new Unidens. I'm getting my second SDS200 today and keeping my fingers crossed that it's going to be trouble free. Even with that being said, I know that it might be printing off a repair ticket at ant time.
I'm happy to see that UPMan and Uniden are working hard to remedy the existing problems. I have my screwdriver and copper tape ready to go.
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
There is nothing manufactured in our world that guarantees you perfection. In this day and age of lazy entitlement and irate employees, who knows what you're getting off the production line. I knew a guy who worked at Delphi (GM) who was a brake pad inspector who slept on the job and let countless brakes leave the plant with NO inspections. How a fatal accident investigation never came back to him I'll never know. My point is this - general quality control is nothing like it used to be. But, at least our hobby is a safe one and nobody is dying as a result of a faulty part or mechanism.
JD
kf4anc
JD
kf4anc
I have owned many Uniden scanners over the past decades including the 396t, HP1, HP2, BCD436, BCD536 and now the SDS100. I have always purchased all of the available optional upgrades. I guess I could be considered a "Scanner Junkie". My experience with the SDS100 has been quite sobering. Even when I get it back from repair in a few weeks (hopefully) there is know way I can feel confident using it knowing that at any moment it will suddenly become non-functional. The chances of me purchasing an SDS200 have gone from 50-50 to 0. My 536 works fine and as the old saying goes "...if it ain't broke.....".
In January I was thinking how lucky I was that my SDS100 was still working after six months (serial 15xx) . The next morning I heard sirens and turned it on to listed to a nearby accident. I shut it down and went back to it in the afternoon but when I turned it on it just made the infamous cha cha cha sound on every channel and showed -35db everywhere. Ugh, I guess my previous though was more of a premonition. I ended up sending it in and just got it back last week. Uniden received it 1/22/19 and shipped it back 2/19/19. There were zero updates on the status page till the day it was returned with the fix simply saying "Cold solder joint".
They also didn't even bothering updating the firmware so when I got it back I updated to the latest and it's a night and day difference with the new filter settings.
Good luck to anyone who send theirs in. Also if you call for status you'll most likely get someone on eastern part of the US. The scanner went to Texas but when I called to check the status I was told they didn't know anything other than the repair shop was really backed up.
They also didn't even bothering updating the firmware so when I got it back I updated to the latest and it's a night and day difference with the new filter settings.
Good luck to anyone who send theirs in. Also if you call for status you'll most likely get someone on eastern part of the US. The scanner went to Texas but when I called to check the status I was told they didn't know anything other than the repair shop was really backed up.
My serial # ends in 00xx. I had the Cold Solder Joint repair done in November. It took a total of about 5 weeks. Also no updates until it was repaired.
I hope they just replace it this time. I asked the support agent if they would. He responded that he had no control over it. It would be at the repair technician's discretion.
I hope they just replace it this time. I asked the support agent if they would. He responded that he had no control over it. It would be at the repair technician's discretion.
vikingegfd
Member
Mine is on second trip to Texas for same thing.
SS number ends 10xx.
Haven’t had any problems but the more I read this thread the bigger the knot gets in my throat.
Having to send it back once would get my goat,but twice;would infuriate me.
Haven’t shut mine off since I bought it beginning of June.
Been swinging from dental floss this long no need to change my ways I suppose.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Haven’t had any problems but the more I read this thread the bigger the knot gets in my throat.
Having to send it back once would get my goat,but twice;would infuriate me.
Haven’t shut mine off since I bought it beginning of June.
Been swinging from dental floss this long no need to change my ways I suppose.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As someone who just recently bought a new 100, I hope they got this issue sorted before my production. No way I’d wait 5 weeks. I’d call Amex and have this back to merchant via overnight.
Now, let’s hope it stays working just the same as it’s been wonderful so far.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Now, let’s hope it stays working just the same as it’s been wonderful so far.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I want one , but its things like this that have me reconsidering , I wish they would say how many units sold & how many have had problems & that they have identified causes & are making corrections ,..I just dont feel confident buying yet , I have scanners that have been abused & lasted well over 20 years ,..how long is this thing going to last ?
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- Feb 22, 2007
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- 6,175
I agree with you. This new cold solder joint issue that's coming to light, it's like a time-bomb that could go off at any time including after the warranty is up. I remember people talking about it in the beginning but now with more people owning the radio I think we're going to hear more about it.
That goes for the 200 also between the hum which varies from Radio to radio (we will see how the fix works) and the flickering screen and the dimmer than dim keyboard on some units. Both the SDS 100 and 200 are more of a crapshoot than a confident purchase.
Too many variables, too many uncertainties. Too big of a ticket price. My radios are right next to my bed and I use external speakers and I leave them on all night. I've been doing that for many years.
This has got to be hurting potential sales for Uniden. It's got to be. We all need to feel like we can buy with confidence. That would be a very costly undertaking so I guess they have to weigh that cost to the cost of reduced scanner sales. They have to depend on their loyal fans rationalizing the problems away and this new fix and hope that carries the day.
I am jumping on the comments band wagon also as my interest started in 1961
Scanners are a nitch product. The new owners of uniden May have a different thought on profit vs development fortunately there is UP man who is monitoring and active in coordinating resolution. Maybe best to not purchase the first round of any product
Look at the autos being recalled for all sorts of reasons and the thought of not buying the first year of a design change. But I too wish for the latest and greatest
Scanners are a nitch product. The new owners of uniden May have a different thought on profit vs development fortunately there is UP man who is monitoring and active in coordinating resolution. Maybe best to not purchase the first round of any product
Look at the autos being recalled for all sorts of reasons and the thought of not buying the first year of a design change. But I too wish for the latest and greatest
The average turnaround time for repair is 20 working days. They don't work on weekends.
20 working days is (roughly 4 weeks) is about right. We also have to add additional 3-4 days each way for shipping plus another 2-3 days that it takes from the time the scanner is delivered to Uniden until it reaches the repair location and is checked in.
I have still have some scanners I bought in the late 70's and early 80's that are still working fine. The SDS100 is only scanner that is currently not working in the attached photo of my portables collection.
The other scary thought is what happens when the 1 year manufacturer's warranty runs out? We will be charged full price everytime our units stop working. When I called Uniden repair yesterday and reported that my SDS100 had failed again after being repaired in Nov.2018 the first question the support rep. asked was what was the date of the repair. He said "...looks like you're just outside of the 90 day repair warranty window...". I asked him what about the 1 year warranty from the date of purchase. He put me on hold, spoke to a supervisor and responded "..you're right, it is covered." I then asked about receiving a new scanner rather than repeatedly repairing my original. That's when he replied that it would be at the discretion of the repair technician.
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