SDS200 Hum repaired, but returned

[15plus1]

Seems like another rush to production...

 

[kruser]

Seems like another rush to production...

I'd tend to say poor design or engineering knowing models that have been sold for years now also have poor grounding.
Proper grounding is something that should just be done as it's part of common or good design but if the Uniden design or Engineering team's have been using the same technique for years with little or no problems, I can see it being overlooked.

As long as the 536 has been manufactured, nobody picked up the fact the SD card and front panel board was not properly grounded until the SDS200 fix was tried on that model. The 536 models had a distinct data noise even with volume at zero that could be heard with the internal speaker and really heard well with amplified external speakers.
Cleaning a spot on the 536 front panel board down to copper also appears to fix the data noise in that model according to a test done by tumegpc who tested the fix.

 

[iMONITOR]

Same thing goes on in the auto industry year after year.

 

[15plus1]

Same thing goes on in the auto industry year after year.

But at least they issue recalls or TSBs ...

 

[iMONITOR]

But at least they issue recalls or TSBs ...

This is very true. That is why I don't understand Uniden's apathy regarding the problems with the SDS200. They may have a monopoly in the market but it can still hurt them badly.

 

[radio3353]

This is very true. That is why I don't understand Uniden's apathy regarding the problems with the SDS200. They may have a monopoly in the market but it can still hurt them badly.

You just hit the nail on the head...what incentive does Uniden have to continue spending money on a fix (or design a real fix) when customers can't go anywhere else? Say what you will, but without competition we all lose. Let's hope the Uniden monopoly goes away real soon.

 

[allend]

Sorry but my edit time ran out.. Here is the full version of the above post:

Here are my 2 cents on this hum issue..

In the beginning I reported that I could not hear the hum. Well if I have the audio time off setting to infinite and have ear plugs in I can tell it is there but not terrible. Very, very low with internal speaker and could not hear it with an external speaker unless it (like the ear plugs) is up against my ear. So NO, as far as I am concerned there isn't any hum from my radio.

Regardless...

I took the cover off and I do have a factory installed NMP200 so I removed it.. The hum did get much more noticeable!

So I took it all apart to see what, if anything could be done and here are my findings at this time:..

The NMP200 simply connects the "screen ground" of the display to the chassis.. That is it!! (which explains why, over time, people start hearing the hum return - loose fitting part and oxidation.)
So on further inspection I see that the "screen ground" is in fact soldered to the front board's ground plane pretty well. I also saw (the main issue I am about to explain a fix to) is the four mounting screws that hold the front board to the chassis ARE NOT CONNECTING the front boards ground plane to the chassis! Which in fact is EXACTLY WHAT THE NMP200 DOES. Simple fix really... without soldering! (or voiding your warranty ~ just a disclaimer for the warranty police on the forum so they will finally STFU already!)

The tools I used:

No. 1 & No. 2 Phillips screwdriver
Small flat jewelers screwdriver
X-Key tool
Credit card (or similar to not mar the faceplate or knobs upon removal)
X-acto or utility blade
To help removal of the wire plugs that connect the front to the main boards I used curved hemostats
If your eyes are going (like mine are) some type of magnification

Once you have the radio taken apart (explained elsewhere on the forum) and have the front panel in your hand, display towards you, you will see four (No. 1) screws towards the corners of the front board (notice the green lacquer all over and under the screw heads?). One at a time remove the screws and CAREFULLY scrape the lacquer from under the screw heads but DO NOT SCRAPE AS HARD THAT YOU REMOVE THE COPPER FROM UNDER THE LACQUER!! and replace the screw. Now to make sure you have good contact, tighten, loosen, tighten, loosen and tighten the screw a few times.
Now carefully put the scanner together without the NMP200 and test..
I hope your results are as satisfying as mine..

If you do anything I have explained here, you will not hold me responsible for anything that may happen, what-so-ever. You will assume full responsibilities for your own actions (which you should always do... period!). This includes but not limited to the leakage of liquids from your body due to the misuse of sharp objects!

Normal scanning may now resume...

Well I just lost more of my eye sight figuring out this fix. You can't do this fix without an X Key Tool. It was not an easy task getting this fix taken care but it worked like a charm. No mitigation part or no tinfoil now. The HUM IS COMPLETELY GONE FOR GOOD>

My external speaker also does not have absolutely NO HUM Noise now. This is the perm fix.

Also, I do not have the "Set Audio Off time" set to 100ms. I can keep it set to Infinite.

Now I finally have a solid radio now

Thanks

 

[tumegpc]

Well I just lost more of my eye sight figuring out this fix. You can't do this fix without an X Key Tool. It was not an easy task getting this fix taken care but it worked like a charm. No mitigation part or no tinfoil now. The HUM IS COMPLETELY GONE FOR GOOD>

My external speaker also does not have absolutely NO HUM Noise now. This is the perm fix.

Also, I do not have the "Set Audio Off time" set to 100ms. I can keep it set to Infinite.

Now I finally have a solid radio now

Thanks

Glad to see that you got it fixed! The X-Key tool was the "Key" for me too.

 

[Firekite]

What tool? Something like this? How does it come into play?

Amazon.com: AOER Silver X-Key Repair Tool Destuffing for Two-Way Radio Walkie Talkie Motorola GP-300 GP-88 GP-328 GP-328plus Puxing PX777(PX-777) PX-777plus PX-328 Baofeng UV-5R WOUXUN HYT TYT PUXING Radio: Home Audio & Theater

Amazon.com: AOER Silver X-Key Repair Tool Destuffing for Two-Way Radio Walkie Talkie Motorola GP-300 GP-88 GP-328 GP-328plus Puxing PX777(PX-777) PX-777plus PX-328 Baofeng UV-5R WOUXUN HYT TYT PUXING Radio: Home Audio & Theater

www.amazon.com

 

[StaticDischarge]

What tool? Something like this? How does it come into play?

Amazon.com: AOER Silver X-Key Repair Tool Destuffing for Two-Way Radio Walkie Talkie Motorola GP-300 GP-88 GP-328 GP-328plus Puxing PX777(PX-777) PX-777plus PX-328 Baofeng UV-5R WOUXUN HYT TYT PUXING Radio: Home Audio & Theater

Amazon.com: AOER Silver X-Key Repair Tool Destuffing for Two-Way Radio Walkie Talkie Motorola GP-300 GP-88 GP-328 GP-328plus Puxing PX777(PX-777) PX-777plus PX-328 Baofeng UV-5R WOUXUN HYT TYT PUXING Radio: Home Audio & Theater

www.amazon.com

It allows you to take the nuts off of the volume, squelch and function potentiometers to separate the face plate from the front board with ease.

 

[Firekite]

It allows you to take the nuts off of the volume, squelch and function potentiometers to separate the face plate from the front board with ease.

Perfect, so...something like what I linked? Would that one work?

 

[frazpo]

Well I just lost more of my eye sight figuring out this fix. You can't do this fix without an X Key Tool. It was not an easy task getting this fix taken care but it worked like a charm. No mitigation part or no tinfoil now. The HUM IS COMPLETELY GONE FOR GOOD>

My external speaker also does not have absolutely NO HUM Noise now. This is the perm fix.

Also, I do not have the "Set Audio Off time" set to 100ms. I can keep it set to Infinite.

Now I finally have a solid radio now

Thanks

It's like getting the Christmas morning feeling you were hoping for when you first turned it on. Just a little delayed. Lol.

 

[frazpo]

Perfect, so...something like what I linked? Would that one work?

Yes that's it

 

[allend]

Here are some pictures of how its done. I used just a straight edge razor blade and took my time. Time is key. Do not hurry this process. Scrap a little at a time until the copper shows for all 4 screws. Once I was done and before putting the face plate back together I took a micro fiber cloth and cleaned the LCD since you get small lint particles all over the screen and the protective face plate screen cover.

 

[frazpo]

Here are some pictures of how its done. I used just a straight edge razor blade and took my time. Time is key. Do not hurry this process. Scrap a little at a time until the copper shows for all 4 screws. Once I was done and before putting the face plate back together I took a micro fiber cloth and cleaned the LCD since you get small lint particles all over the screen and the protective face plate screen cover.

Well done. Any pics will further help and encourage those that may be hesitant to do it. It's not difficult it just takes a steady hand and patience to not hurry.

 

[15plus1]

This is something Uniden should be doing. I think it's unreasonable to have owners disassemble the radio like this.

 

[frazpo]

This is something Uniden should be doing. I think it's unreasonable to have owners disassemble the radio like this.

Your right, it is. But to verify no one is having anyone do anything. All voluntary.
Uniden hasn't commented as far as I know

 

[allend]

I agree but for me I did not want to wait another six months or so once a plan was put into place to get involved with a repair campaign again and then ship the radio and have it gone for weeks. I am glad I was able to figure it out and follow instructions. I am a happy camper now.

Absolutely NO HUM. Gone and Gone.

 

[markjrenna]

This is very true. That is why I don't understand Uniden's apathy regarding the problems with the SDS200. They may have a monopoly in the market but it can still hurt them badly.

Exactly why they have apathy and berate people that raise issues and concerns like many do here. Never taking any responsibility. Really unprofessional and immature.

 

[markjrenna]

Whistler put pressure on Uniden with a vaporware product so Uniden hastily rushed a product to market. Here are the consequences from that rush. Even if we overlook this. It is how it's ultimately handled. Months later we need a consumer to show us how to fix the product. Unbelievable incompetence! I want an SDS200 and have waited. Now I have to open it up and scrape lacquer to resolve a hum. Uniden... Really?