SDS200 background noise finally resolved by UNIDEN?

[nessnet]

Well "Joe", since you can't seem to get any sort of an answer, all we can do is approximate when the "design change" was done. Since I own 4, and 3 of them are silent when no activity is present, I could give a pretty good educated guess, which seems a tad better that what you're being told.

You see "Joe", people are asking a very good question and being dismissive doesn't seem to restore confidence. So.."chasing our tails" seems to be the only attempt to answer the question.

While we're at it, how's that new firmware going? Seems to be a alot of inferences on the Scanner Master You Tube show to a Home Patrol 3. Maybe all this "helping you help us" was all for a new model? What's going on "Joe"? Time to level with the Radio Reference folks

A word of advice......
Instead of snark towards Joe, be thankful he is trying to be as open as he can be.

He works for a big corporation. Corporations do not always communicate efficiently internally - sometimes bureaucracy, sometimes because of what is considered proprietary info. Or, there is always the legal department.

Chill..... (don't bite the hand that feeds you...)

 

[werinshades]

Kind of not sure he speaks Vietnamese and/or Japanese. And that is where the "real answer" is.

How do you nail down a "issue" by having distributor return product, especially since not all units before/after some serial number have an issue?

Answer to Question 1:
How did UPMan speak to them, was he fluent in those languages?

Answer to Question 2:

Good question, but the first issue has to be determined. If "Joe" could get an answer to the burning question, an email could go out to the distributors and they could check inventory and determine if they have any of these scanners in stock. If they do, a reply could be sent saying "We have x number of units in our inventory". "Joe" could send the distributor the same amount of units that have been corrected, and in return the distributor could return the affected units. Uniden could then use this returned stock as replacement units to for non-warranty items that are unrepairable. Distributors can now sell them as "hum-free" or whatever marketing tool works.

Uniden could put out a "recall notification" to those customers with affected units to be determined by your serial number at a later time, so not to back log Uniden repair and returned to the customer with the modification performed by Uniden repair with a 90 day warranty as with other repairs.

 

[werinshades]

A word of advice......
Instead of snark towards Joe, be thankful he is trying to be as open as he can be.

He works for a big corporation. Corporations do not always communicate efficiently internally - sometimes bureaucracy, sometimes because of what is considered proprietary info. Or, there is always the legal department.

Chill..... (don't bite the hand that feeds you...)

The only thing being fed to us is.........

 

[trentbob]

Sorry if I missed this but if a permanent fix has been made on the production line wouldn't that mean that the mitigation device would not be necessary, it would be moot. No need to waste the effort on the line to put it in?

We could just ask active members to take a look and maybe they can see that there is no mitigation device or they'll be able to see that the fix has been made. If folks were able to take a quick look and then record the serial number on this thread we may start to see a pattern show. Even current owners of more recent models could take a look to see if the fix was made. Again they wouldn't put an unnecessary part on the assembly line if it wasn't needed so wouldn't the mitigation device be gone? You can't go by it not having a hum. One of my sds200s made in 2020 had no home whatsoever but it did show up 3 months later.

One thing is for sure, Uniden is not going to reveal the serial number cut off for units that have been permanently fixed, it's never going to happen because it would be a marketing nightmare, especially for the vendors. People will only want to buy the fixed unit.

 

[werinshades]

Sorry if I missed this but if a permanent fix has been made on the production line wouldn't that mean that the mitigation device would not be necessary, it would be moot. No need to waste the effort on the line to put it in?

We could just ask active members to take a look and maybe they can see that there is no mitigation device or they'll be able to see that the fix has been made. If folks were able to take a quick look and then record the serial number on this thread we may start to see a pattern show. Even current owners of more recent models could take a look to see if the fix was made. Again they wouldn't put an unnecessary part on the assembly line if it wasn't needed so wouldn't the mitigation device be gone? You can't go by it not having a hum. One of my sds200s made in 2020 had no home whatsoever but it did show up 3 months later.

One thing is for sure, Uniden is not going to reveal the serial number cut off for units that have been permanently fixed, it's never going to happen because it would be a marketing nightmare, especially for the vendors. People will only want to buy the fixed unit.

We were told by doing so that it was "chasing our tails" by "Joe".

That's why I suggest my method of replacing them. "we started modifying units on (this day), serial number 38426Zxxxxx was manufactured on those dates. "Hey (name your scanner dealer), it was determined that this serial number started the Uniden modification, check your stock and let me know how many you still have, we'll send you replacement units". Then, "hey SDS200 owners, if you're serial number is from 38426xxxxx to 38426xxxx you qualify for this recall. Please send to Uniden repair and we'll repair it free of charge". Something like this?

Many are asking the same questions, and don't want a unit with issues. While that can never be a guarantee, I think this potentially could restore confidence, and increase sales?

 

[donc13]

Answer to Question 1:
How did UPMan speak to them, was he fluent in those languages?

Answer to Question 2:

Good question, but the first issue has to be determined. If "Joe" could get an answer to the burning question, an email could go out to the distributors and they could check inventory and determine if they have any of these scanners in stock. If they do, a reply could be sent saying "We have x number of units in our inventory". "Joe" could send the distributor the same amount of units that have been corrected, and in return the distributor could return the affected units. Uniden could then use this returned stock as replacement units to for non-warranty items that are unrepairable. Distributors can now sell them as "hum-free" or whatever marketing tool works.

Uniden could put out a "recall notification" to those customers with affected units to be determined by your serial number at a later time, so not to back log Uniden repair and returned to the customer with the modification performed by Uniden repair with a 90 day warranty as with other repairs.

I have no idea if UPMan had access to that information and I was a beta tester for him in the mid-2000s.

Does Joe have the ability to "order" recalls from distributors and then provide them with replacement units? I think not.

But, this discussion has gone along far enough. You won't convince me and I won't convince you. I guess we agree to disagree.

So nuff said.

 

[trentbob]

We were told by doing so that it was "chasing our tails" by "Joe".

That's why I suggest my method of replacing them. "we started modifying units on (this day), serial number 38426Zxxxxx was manufactured on those dates. "Hey (name your scanner dealer), it was determined that this serial number started the Uniden modification, check your stock and let me know how many you still have, we'll send you replacement units". Then, "hey SDS200 owners, if you're serial number is from 38426xxxxx to 38426xxxx you qualify for this recall. Please send to Uniden repair and we'll repair it free of charge". Something like this?

Many are asking the same questions, and don't want a unit with issues. While that can never be a guarantee, I think this potentially could restore confidence, and increase sales?

That almost sounds like a reverse repair campaign that would cost Uniden a lot more money.

It would make more sense that if you have the issue no matter how long you've had the radio you would register at an email address, they would send you a shipping label, repair it with the permanent fix and mail it back to you for free. It doesn't make sense to return every radio prior to that cut off serial number when some might have the problem and some might not and we will always disagree on how many have the problem. Some people have bought 6 without a hum and some people have bought 6 and they all have the hum, so that's arbitrary.

I would think just a simple repair campaign. If the problem is that rare it shouldn't cost them anyting.

 

[werinshades]

That almost sounds like a reverse repair campaign that would cost Uniden a lot more money.

It would make more sense that if you have the issue no matter how long you've had the radio you would register at an email address, they would send you a shipping label, repair it with the permanent fix and mail it back to you for free. It doesn't make sense to return every radio prior to that cut off serial number when some might have the problem and some might not and we will always disagree on how many have the problem. Some people have bought 6 without a hum and some people have bought 6 and they all have the hum, so that's arbitrary. I would think just a simple repair campaign. If the problem is that rare it shouldn't cost them anyting.

Sounds reasonable too.

 

[MStep]

I continue to advocate that they just issue a three-year warranty on the flagship SDS series, starting from date of purchase. Folks would not be hesitant to buy a radio knowing that if it fails in 2 months or 2 years, Uniden will repair it for free. Great for public relations and really a no-brainer. Instills confidence in Uniden.

As trentbob so aptly points out, if the problem is that rare, it shouldn't cost them anything. And to Uniden's credit, units that I have purchased in the past year (about a dozen) to program and provide to commercial accounts have all been clean and "hum-free".

 

[trentbob]

I continue to advocate that they just issue a three-year warranty on the flagship SDS series, starting from date of purchase. Folks would not be hesitant to buy a radio knowing that if it fails in 2 months or 2 years, Uniden will repair it for free. Great for public relations and really a no-brainer. Instills confidence in Uniden.

As trentbob so aptly points out, if the problem is that rare, it shouldn't cost them anything. And to Uniden's credit, units that I have purchased in the past year (about a dozen) to program and provide to commercial accounts have all been clean and "hum-free".

So the big question is, prior to the permanent fix, just how rare was it?

That's immaterial now, it doesn't matter. A honest, earnest repair campaign is very effective as was shown with the x36, no matter how late........... it really was.

 

[KevinC]

So the big question is, prior to the permanent fix, just how rare was it?

That's immaterial now, it doesn't matter. A honest, earnest repair campaign is very effective as was shown with the x36, no matter how late........... it really was.

I'm going to bet every single unit prior to the alleged fix had the potential to have the noise, but different humidity levels, jostling, people's hearing and numerous other factors affect it being detected. I remember one member here insisted his didn't have the hum, them later on admitted it did but it was slight.

I wonder if people in coastal (or high humidity for some other reason) areas experience it more????

 

[WRQS621]

Just remove the lacquer around the screws on the display board, and be done with it. You guys are worse than hams.

 

[trentbob]

I'm going to bet every single unit prior to the alleged fix had the potential to have the noise, but different humidity levels, jostling, people's hearing and numerous other factors affect it being detected. I remember one member here insisted his didn't have the hum, them later on admitted it did but it was slight.

I wonder if people in coastal (or high humidity for some other reason) areas experience it more????

So when was the last time Kevin that you got a love reaction from me?. I think you're right on the money and I thought that way from the beginning, might have a lot to do with those who didn't have a problem when they got the radio but it reared its ugly head in the next season or those who never got it at all. People who simply had better hearing or... jostling, that just compromised that shaky grounding.

I definitely agree with this.

 

[trentbob]

Just remove the lacquer around the screws on the display board, and be done with it. You guys are worse than hams.

Yes I agree with you, but this discussion is gone a lot deeper over the years and calls for some kind of closure with or without Uniden.

Your permanent fix was done by a member with hours and hours of consultation on these forums. Uniden had absolutely nothing to do with it.

 

[MStep]

Folks with new units have to remember that once there is evidence of "tampering" inside the unit, Uniden can void your warranty if anything else occurs, related or not.

 

[Hit_Factor]

Folks with new units have to remember that once there is evidence of "tampering" inside the unit, Uniden can void your warranty if anything else occurs, related or not.

I don't think that's correct, they have to show it caused a problem. IIRC, other post even bear this out. A unit was sent in with one of the GPS mods, the mod was removed and scanner repaired.

Checkout the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

Worst case is paying the flat rate fee for repair.

 

[Ubbe]

Folks with new units have to remember that once there is evidence of "tampering" inside the unit, Uniden can void your warranty if anything else occurs, related or not.

If you do not use the proper ESD protections and tools you could damage some components from a static discharge, totally unrelated to the components you're tampering with, and that might not be evident at first but after some time the component will deteriorate more and more and not perform at a 100%. It's a ticking time bomb you have set off and that's why most companies will void warranty if anyone have been inside their products.

/Ubbe

 

[MStep]

I don't think that's correct, they have to show it caused a problem. IIRC, other post even bear this out. A unit was sent in with one of the GPS mods, the mod was removed and scanner repaired.

Checkout the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

Worst case is paying the flat rate fee for repair.

One should be guided by the invalidation clauses in the Warranty Information (page 55 in the SDS200 book), which clearly gives reasons for invalidation of warranties under the "Warranty Duration" section, they give a complete A-F paragraph description of each factor which will lead to invalidation. I'm sure all models have the same or similar warranty conditions.

Another point that you make is the the mod you likely paid to install was also removed from the unit. The point of my post was to give a heads-up to owners of new, in-warranty units, that even the most insignificant of "modifications" (removing lacquer from screws, etc), can trigger a warranty breach.

It may be entirely true that Uniden handles this on a case-by-case basis. WIth the exceptions that Ubbe has also pointed out in the above post, perhaps the worst that can happen is that you pay for the repair. I would just as soon send it in the Uniden if it is under warranty.

Not to belabor the point, nor go into the nuances of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, here is a cut & paste of the Uniden warranty page. Those planning on doing modifications during the warranty period should be aware of the possible consequences.

 

[MStep]

If you do not use the proper ESD protections and tools you could damage some components from a static discharge, totally unrelated to the components you're tampering with, and that might not be evident at first but after some time the component will deteriorate more and more and not perform at a 100%. It's a ticking time bomb you have set off and that's why most companies will void warranty if anyone have been inside their products.

/Ubbe

In essence, you've got to have the right equipment and the exact parts to know what your are doing. And you have to do it so well, that should the unit ever be returned for repair, the manufacturer can't even tell that you did anything. Some here are skilled enough and have the proper equipment and parts to be able to pull that off. But I would believe that for the majority, that would not be the case. Well said Ubbe.

 

[MStep]

Incidentally, the entire SDS200 Instruction Manual, which includes the above Warranty Information, can be accessed freely from the Uniden website:

https://www.uniden.info/download/ompdf/SDS200om.pdf