SDS200 Hum repaired, but returned

[trentbob]

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

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.

This is all very interesting, of course this is not a repair the average owner can do. Even if they have the skills, I don't know about the eyes, steady hand and patience.

I don't know if we can assume there will be a clock/display Style repair campaign. I would be pleased to see it corrected in the manufacturing process at least, similar to what was done with the 436.

Hats off to the talent here on RR.

 

[GTR8000]

Whistler put pressure on Uniden with a vaporware product so Uniden hastily rushed a product to market.

Uniden announces the SDS-100 on March 19, 2018: SDS100 Coming Soon

Whistler announces development of the (vaporware) TRX-100/200 on May 17, 2018: Whistler to Launch New LSM Capable Scanners

Last time I checked, March comes before May...but hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story?

 

[Citywide173]

Uniden announces the SDS-100 on March 19, 2018: SDS100 Coming Soon

Whistler announces development of the (vaporware) TRX-100/200 on May 17, 2018: Whistler to Launch New LSM Capable Scanners

Last time I checked, March comes before May...but hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story?

The reference is that the SDS-200 was rushed upon Whistler's announcement

 

[GTR8000]

The reference is that the SDS-200 was rushed upon Whistler's announcement

If you believe that Uniden wasn't already working on a mobile version of the SDS-100 even by that point, then you may not understand how planning and development of these products takes place. And by the way, the SDS-200 was announced in January of 2019, a full 8 months after Whistler's varporware announcement. I'm not sure in what universe any logical person would consider nearly 3/4 of a year later "rushed".

 

[werinshades]

My question is why the lacquer was put on during production? Does it have a purpose? What would be the long term affects of this modification if any? I would much prefer Uniden engineering either gives this a or a ...no offense to those electronic gurus...

 

[TailGator911]

My hat, also, is off to the tech whiz guys here on RR who have remedied the hum problem, but I also cringe at the inevitable disaster that will befall an inexperienced someone attempting this procedure on their own not knowing their way around the chassis of an electronic component. I remember the first time I attempted a mod that I read about (Pro-2006 brighter display board) and I did it step-by-step reading from a PDF instruction file. Up until then I had only soldered and wired PL259 fittings. The 2006 mod worked like a charm and I was so proud - but, if I remember right I was simply unplugging one thing and plugging in another after the front panel disassembly. I can't even remember if I had to solder anything. But, I fumbled through it, and I hope and pray that anyone who decides to do this repair on their own takes their time and gets it right. Patience, grasshoppers. That seems to be the key here, as it is for all electronic surgeries.

If this has not already been done, one of you guys who has already performed this procedure (preferably StaticDischarge) should write out a step-by-step instructional how-to DIY sticky (or better yet, a vid on YouTube) and make it available for those who are gung-ho to do it. Might just save someone's scanner. Just sayin...

JD
kf4anc

 

[frazpo]

If this has not already been done, one of you guys who has already performed this procedure (preferably StaticDischarge) should write out a step-by-step instructional how-to DIY sticky (or better yet, a vid on YouTube) and make it available for those who are gung-ho to do it. Might just save someone's scanner. Just sayin...

JD
kf4anc

BOOM! This has been my EXACT thought for the last three days. It should happen.

 

[Citywide173]

If you believe that Uniden wasn't already working on a mobile version of the SDS-100 even by that point, then you may not understand how planning and development of these products takes place. And by the way, the SDS-200 was announced in January of 2019, a full 8 months after Whistler's varporware announcement. I'm not sure in what universe any logical person would consider nearly 3/4 of a year later "rushed".

EVERY Uniden released prior to the SDS had the mobile and portable released simultaneously. The SDS100 was rushed due to the Universal leak (and you will never convince me otherwise) but they chose to keep the SDS200 close to the vest, I agree that it was in R&D/pre-production at the time, but the Whistler announcement of a Q4 Base AND mobile pushed them into a spot where they thought they were going to have to release in the same timeframe to avoid loss of sales. In hindsight, we all realize that was a farce. The fact is they could have beta tested longer if it weren't for that pressure, and they may have caught this CCR level mistake.

 

[GTR8000]

EVERY Uniden released prior to the SDS had the mobile and portable released simultaneously.

That's not accurate, but whatever.

 

[trentbob]

Not to get bogged down here but... We are in the tavern and this has turned out to be one terrific thread!

The universal leak... I think that was a factor here, just saying... I also thought at the time of whistler's announcement that there was no way, no how they were going to stuff a LSM capable radio in the carcass of a psr-800 or 900 with a keyboard. Or should I say a radio capable of simulcast distortion reception secondary to LSM. I'm sure it took Whistler a couple of minutes to figure that out but... they certainly stretched it out as long as they could. There was no way they were going to make a whole new radio, being reality-based here.

So now we see where Uniden goes from here but they are the only company out there with a consumer scanner that keeps right up with professional radios and pagers.

 

[StaticDischarge]

My hat, also, is off to the tech whiz guys here on RR who have remedied the hum problem, but I also cringe at the inevitable disaster that will befall an inexperienced someone attempting this procedure on their own not knowing their way around the chassis of an electronic component. I remember the first time I attempted a mod that I read about (Pro-2006 brighter display board) and I did it step-by-step reading from a PDF instruction file. Up until then I had only soldered and wired PL259 fittings. The 2006 mod worked like a charm and I was so proud - but, if I remember right I was simply unplugging one thing and plugging in another after the front panel disassembly. I can't even remember if I had to solder anything. But, I fumbled through it, and I hope and pray that anyone who decides to do this repair on their own takes their time and gets it right. Patience, grasshoppers. That seems to be the key here, as it is for all electronic surgeries.

If this has not already been done, one of you guys who has already performed this procedure (preferably StaticDischarge) should write out a step-by-step instructional how-to DIY sticky (or better yet, a vid on YouTube) and make it available for those who are gung-ho to do it. Might just save someone's scanner. Just sayin...

JD
kf4anc

It is not up to me to make my post a sticky and I wrote it out as well as I am going to. If you think you need better instruction or a video then may I highly suggest either have someone else who has performed the fix do it (if you can find them) or send it in to Uniden.
In this way I am helping someone NOT mess up their scanner. Just informing them there is a fix that works and so that those who are familiar with electronics repair will have the ability to fix their own scanners. This is in no way insinuating that you don't know how to do the repair as only you know that answer.

Normal scanning may now resume...

 

[StaticDischarge]

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

You are 100% correct! But me being me and having said scanner and reading these posts made me want to figure it out as it's been around for a while. So I did...
I have been into radio communication for most of my life, not necessary to mention but back in my younger years I owned and operated an electronic repair shop for 15 years so it was actually very easy for me to figure out and give that knowledge to this community and help those that can help themselves.

Normal scanning may now resume...

 

[allend]

Yup and I can see the soldering issues too when opening the radio. It looks sloppy too in some spots on the SDS-200 radio. Heh at least it works nice now. But looks like it was really rushed. Made me blink twice when looking into the guts of the radio

 

[radio3353]

My question is why the lacquer was put on during production?...

Big engineering error. Mounting points connected to the groud plane in a circuit board should not be solder masked. PC board design 101. This should have been caught in a design review by engineering. I would be embarrassed if my name was on that design review sign-off sheet. Upman...did you sign off on that?

 

[werinshades]

Big engineering error. Mounting points connected to the groud plane in a circuit board should not be solder masked. PC board design 101. This should have been caught in a design review by engineering. I would be embarrassed if my name was on that design review sign-off sheet. Upman...did you sign off on that?

Was it a mistake or by design or overlooked? Or...will anyone really know? So here's another question or point...since this hum/noise/processor noise is either non-existent/not as loud in some SDS 200's, is the same issues mentioned evident in those scanners? If not...makes me wonder even more. Happy for those that had a problem and are now able to enjoy the scanner like I and many others do. Could everyone be on to something as to matching the serial numbers to where it was manufactured?

 

[buddrousa]

You are 100% correct! But me being me and having said scanner and reading these posts made me want to figure it out as it's been around for a while. So I did...
I have been into radio communication for most of my life, not necessary to mention but back in my younger years I owned and operated an electronic repair shop for 15 years so it was actually very easy for me to figure out and give that knowledge to this community and help those that can help themselves.

Normal scanning may now resume...

Just think you could have kept this to yourself and charged $50 plus shipping and made a killing. Just Saying

 

[trentbob]

Just think you could have kept this to yourself and charged $50 plus shipping and made a killing. Just Saying

That would be a bargain!!!

 

[TailGator911]

Sorry, I was only thinking of those who may insist upon doing so and not knowing what they are doing. Your point is clear. I suppose if Uniden sees your fix as a viable solution it would, indeed, be their responsibility to post instructions or otherwise . Didn't mean to call you out there. I do hope no one ruins their radios due to misplaced confidence.

JD
kf4anc

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Was it a mistake or by design or overlooked? Or...will anyone really know?

I would say it had it be a mistake. If they wanted the PCB "ground plane" mounting points connected to the chassis they would not have placed the solder mask over the mounting holes. If they had intended to insulate the ground under the mounting holes from the chassis, they would not have extended the ground plane to the mounting holes in the first place and then *hope* that the solder mask would provide a reliable insulation. You do one or the other, not both. That is a mistake.

 

[iMONITOR]

Was it a mistake or by design or overlooked? Or...will anyone really know? So here's another question or point...since this hum/noise/processor noise is either non-existent/not as loud in some SDS 200's, is the same issues mentioned evident in those scanners? If not...makes me wonder even more. Happy for those that had a problem and are now able to enjoy the scanner like I and many others do. Could everyone be on to something as to matching the serial numbers to where it was manufactured?

I think they're manufactured in Vietnam.