SDS200 Feed Question

[MayportDrone]

Not sure if this would be the correct forum. But, I just got my SDS200 programmed and it is working amazing! What a great unit they have created. I hear every single transmission as far as voice, but the main alert tone before the dispatch is only coming in sometimes. It's like I miss the alert tone and pick the audio transmission up right away. Am I missing something? Is this normal? Is there a setting? Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[jtwalker]

What happens when you hold on the channel/talkgroup? I bet you don’t miss anything on that channel.

 

[MayportDrone]

What happens when you hold on the channel/talkgroup? I bet you don’t miss anything on that channel.

That was my first diagnosis haha. I have been holding it on a channel and it does the same thing. Sometimes the alert tones come in. Sometime it goes straight to the dispatch (like thats the first thing it picked up.)

 

[MayportDrone]

What happens when you hold on the channel/talkgroup? I bet you don’t miss anything on that channel.

Sometimes the alert tone will come in "broken."

 

[Brales60]

Sounds like a reception issue. Where in FL?

 

[MayportDrone]

Sounds like a reception issue. Where in FL?

Jacksonville, FL. I pulled the antenna all the way back in. Its getting better, but from what I see. The flutter of the bars is housekeeping? Which is normal on the Unidens from what I understand. Like I said, I'm not missing any voice transmissions. Just the alert tones before the dispatch every once in a while. Well, quite a bit.

 

[jtwalker]

How many sites are you scanning on this system? Assuming it is trunked…. Maybe you are holding in a channel but still scanning several sites?

 

[MayportDrone]

How many sites are you scanning on this system? Assuming it is trunked…. Maybe you are holding in a channel but still scanning several sites?

Scanning 8 sites. I am not sure out of those 8 control sites are the dedicated ones for the channels I am trying to listen to. I see that now, it is bouncing back and forth between the sites as I'm holding the channel. How do you get it to fixate on a site? And, if you fix on one site? Will it mess up any other channels?

 

[MayportDrone]

How many sites are you scanning on this system? Assuming it is trunked…. Maybe you are holding in a channel but still scanning several sites?

I hope I worded that correctly. Here is the link to what I am scanning. Just Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.

Jacksonville City - First Coast Radio Trunking System, Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville City - First Coast Radio Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[jtwalker]

Eight sites is a lot to go through, taking roughly 1.5 to 2 seconds per site, and probably causing you to miss traffic. Are you using a favorites list?

Yes, site hold will cause your scanner to not scan sites for other systems, nor conventional frequencies. Site hold works by pressing function key and then one of the soft keys (text will change to “site” I think). I don’t use this so I might be explaining this incorrectly.

1) you could avoid the sites that you don’t want to listen to

2) you could assign site quick keys, and toggle sites off

 

[MayportDrone]

Eight sites is a lot to go through, taking roughly 1.5 to 2 seconds per site, and probably causing you to miss traffic. Are you using a favorites list?

Yes, site hold will cause your scanner to not scan sites for other systems, nor conventional frequencies. Site hold works by pressing function key and then one of the soft keys (text will change to “site” I think). I don’t use this so I might be explaining this incorrectly.

1) you could avoid the sites that you don’t want to listen to

2) you could assign site quick keys, and toggle sites off

Problem Solved! I had the Jaxsport control channels scanning at the same time. Causing the flutter and break for alert tones. Removed the Jaxport control channels and its working like a dream!