SDS150: SDS150 new firmware 3-27-26

[AngWay]

Improved
Active channel reception for DMR Capacity Plus. This is great news as it now will actually monitor an active channel and not skip it.
Display of TGIDs for RAS enabled DMR. A more reliable decoding of data, that's also good.

Updated
DMR RAS information detection, control, and management. Finally!

Fixed
Reception issue when a voice frame was present in another slot on the DMR control channel. I take this as a result of the improvement of the other two issues as it shows itself as a bad decode quality.

Hopefully we will automatically also get this in SDS100/200 and BCD436/536/3600.

One day maybe even the conventional discovery function of comparing to database will also be fixed.

/Ubbe

So do u think you are getting better reception after the update?

 

[pro106import]

There's a preamplifier in the scanner that have something like a 10dB gain. Then there's a programmable attenuator that are used when the attenuator feature are used but it also reduce the signal from the 10dB amplifier to a level where it is not overloading the receiver chip. That level have been set after numerous beta testing to a value that fits most user. If the receiver in SDS150 use better filters, and perhaps a different receiver, it might be able to handle a higher level of signal and the attenuator level can be reduced.

I would like to see that attenuator level to be user selectable. As the filter settings are already in the firmware it would be easy to instead label them Off for full 10dB gain and Normal and Invert to 3 and 6 dB attenuation and one of the remaining settings to give a 9dB attenuation. Then VHF and UHF and different bands within them can be set with different gain to optimize reception.

/Ubbe

@jasonhouk , this would be a great addition for the 150. User adjustable attenuation. Honestly, I purchased the 150 after reading all of the reviews on how much better the receive sensitivity is, Well, I only find it to be a -2 db improvement on UHF over my SDS-100. 800 mhz. slightly better. I had my 100 optimized well, and I am not in an RF rich environment where I get overload, so I could use that extra 10db that is being attenuated. My $50 Chinese radios receive the same signals with a -10db improvement over the SDS-150. I'm talking actual over the air receive signal environments, not using a Service Monitor or TinySA. I have 60 days to return it to Amazon. I'm not sure if the slight difference is worth $950. Hopefully the next firmware update can include this feature.

 

[jasonhouk]

@jasonhouk , this would be a great addition for the 150. User adjustable attenuation. Honestly, I purchased the 150 after reading all of the reviews on how much better the receive sensitivity is, Well, I only find it to be a -2 db improvement on UHF over my SDS-100. 800 mhz. slightly better. I had my 100 optimized well, and I am not in an RF rich environment where I get overload, so I could use that extra 10db that is being attenuated. My $50 Chinese radios receive the same signals with a -10db improvement over the SDS-150. I'm talking actual over the air receive signal environments, not using a Service Monitor or TinySA. I have 60 days to return it to Amazon. I'm not sure if the slight difference is worth $950. Hopefully the next firmware update can include this feature.)

The feature you requested regarding user-adjustable attenuation, along with user-adjustable gain similar to the waterfall feature, has been added to our wish list.

 

[pro106import]

The feature you requested regarding user-adjustable attenuation, along with user-adjustable gain similar to the waterfall feature, has been added to our wish list.

That's great news Jason, Thank You! Please keep us updated.

 

[woodpecker]

@jasonhouk Is there any chance of an option to auto move to next channel or frequency for DMR if there is no voice.
Its frustrating it can hang forever on Cap+ beaconing signals or Tier3 control channels. Most other scanners that support DMR seem to have this function by default.

 

[jasonhouk]

@jasonhouk Is there any chance of an option to auto move to next channel or frequency for DMR if there is no voice.
Its frustrating it can hang forever on Cap+ beaconing signals or Tier3 control channels. Most other scanners that support DMR seem to have this function by default.

Currently, no scanner I am aware of has a user-selectable “if no voice, automatically leave the channel” feature specifically designed for DMR control/rest channels. The challenge lies in the fact that Capacity+, Capacity Max, Tier III, XPT, and other DMR trunking formats continuously transmit valid data, making the signal appear active even in the absence of voice. A Tier III control channel or Cap+ rest channel is technically fulfilling its intended purpose.

The appropriate solution is to program these systems as trunked systems rather than monitoring them as conventional DMR frequencies. When programmed correctly, the scanner will follow voice grants instead of remaining on the control/rest channel. .

 

[woodpecker]

Currently, no scanner I am aware of has a user-selectable “if no voice, automatically leave the channel” feature specifically designed for DMR control/rest channels. The challenge lies in the fact that Capacity+, Capacity Max, Tier III, XPT, and other DMR trunking formats continuously transmit valid data, making the signal appear active even in the absence of voice. A Tier III control channel or Cap+ rest channel is technically fulfilling its intended purpose.

The appropriate solution is to program these systems as trunked systems rather than monitoring them as conventional DMR frequencies. When programmed correctly, the scanner will follow voice grants instead of remaining on the control/rest channel. .

@jasonhouk None have it as a user selectable option but all other scanners default to that way of operating, Whistler TRX1/2, AOR DV1, DV10, Alinco DJX-100 etc all move on when no AMBE voice detected.

I know Uniden's way is more complex following and reading the control data but it is impossible to program everything with 100% accuracy, one channel programmed wrong can make it hang. Search mode is even worse.

Uniden digital scanners are impossible to just leave running and listening without user input, negative scan delay is the only option but not the answer. Uniden is missing a real trick by not having this as an option.

Would it be that difficult to have an option for the scanner to move on if no AMBE voice detected within a few seconds?

 

[fyrboy]

Newbie to SDS, specifically 150. Installed Sentinel BCDx36HP today. 150 says main firmware version is 1.01.02. Followed Uniden manual instructions to update database but 150 continues scanning and no "Mass Storage" screen appears. Green light indicates charging from computer. Does "Mass storage" screen appear only if update exists, or have I done something wrong? Thank you.

 

[buddrousa]

No the SDS x36's 996p2 325p2 when programmed correctly work like they should.

 

[RandyKuff]

Newbie to SDS, specifically 150. Installed Sentinel BCDx36HP today. 150 says main firmware version is 1.01.02. Followed Uniden manual instructions to update database but 150 continues scanning and no "Mass Storage" screen appears. Green light indicates charging from computer. Does "Mass storage" screen appear only if update exists, or have I done something wrong? Thank you.

Plug cable into scanner... Make sure the scanner is powered on... Then plug the cable into your computer...
The scanners display will prompt you what button to push to switch it to Mass Storage Mode...
Sentinel does not need to be open to do this...

 

[buddrousa]

When you get the hang of this

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sds100+nothing+to+scan

 

[woodpecker]

No the SDS x36's 996p2 325p2 when programmed correctly work like they should.

Obviously, but its never possible to have 100% correct programming when travelling.

And what about custom search mode?

 

[u2brent]

Plug cable into scanner... Make sure the scanner is powered on... Then plug the cable into your computer...
The scanners display will prompt you what button to push to switch it to Mass Storage Mode...
Sentinel does not need to be open to do this...

Have you updated the drivers. I'm sure it's covered in one of the SDS150 threads.

 

[buddrousa]

Then I say buy a scanner that will work like you want it to. Just remember TRX's work like crap on DMR Simulcast.

 

[RandyKuff]

@woodpecker

TRX's don't trunk track DMR either...
Thats why you pay for the KEY on Unidens...

 

[jasonhouk]

Would it be that difficult to have an option for the scanner to move on if no AMBE voice detected within a few seconds?

When properly programmed as a trunked system, the SDS and HP series scanners perform precisely as intended.

Currently, my SDS150 is scanning Ohio MARCS along with several OTF DMR systems continuously for several hours without any manual intervention. .

 

[fyrboy]

Plug cable into scanner... Make sure the scanner is powered on... Then plug the cable into your computer...
The scanners display will prompt you what button to push to switch it to Mass Storage Mode...
Sentinel does not need to be open to do this...

Procedure followed. 150 continues scanning.

Have you updated the drivers. I'm sure it's covered in one of the SDS150 threads.

Only explanation found refers to updating firmware and/or database, not drivers, and which Sentinel "handles automatically," but is not to say I overlooked them.

 

[u2brent]

Procedure followed. 150 continues scanning.

Only explanation found refers to updating firmware and/or database, not drivers, and which Sentinel "handles automatically," but is not to say I overlooked them.

Hold my beer..

Search results for query: SDS150 USB Driver

forums.radioreference.com

SDS150: - Sentinel won’t recognize SDS150

Brand new scanner user here and just got my SDS150…downloaded Sentinel and plugged in my scanner to try and update it but it’s not recognized in the software? Do I need to use a certain USB cable?

forums.radioreference.com

 

[woodpecker]

When properly programmed as a trunked system, the SDS and HP series scanners perform precisely as intended.

Currently, my SDS150 is scanning Ohio MARCS along with several OTF DMR systems continuously for several hours without any manual intervention. .

Then I say buy a scanner that will work like you want it to. Just remember TRX's work like crap on DMR Simulcast.

I own all these scanners but not one of them offers a working solution that will both track networks and not hang on DMR control data.

There are always cases when the programming is not 100% and custom search has no way of programming to prevent the hang except a negative delay.

The Uniden, with a bit of flexibility, could make all others redundant.

 

[Ubbe]

There are always cases when the programming is not 100% and custom search has no way of programming to prevent the hang except a negative delay.

The recording function, both the Replay and manual, detects when there is a digital conversation and creates a audio file stored on the SD card. So it would be super simple for Uniden to add a selectable function of "Digital Squelch" to make use of the already existing firmware code for its recording function that then triggers the analog squelch firmware code and then use the same delay timer functionality.

Great suggestion that should be in the wishlist. @jasonhouk

/Ubbe