SDS200 Hum repaired, but returned

[Joe_Blough]

If all else fails buy it from a reputable dealer with a generous return policy and if it does happen with the hum then return it promptly. Its not a crapp shot but give it a try. In my opinion the ones with the issue are the old stock, or better yet, the first in from VietNam. Something happened which isn't being talked about and it seems the problem was silently remedied

Someone on these forums bought an SDS200 from Scanner Master and received it last week. It has the hum. He bought it from a reputable dealer and it isn't old stock.

 

[Joe_Blough]

Agreed with Mr Longwire. The SDS200 owners with a noise problem all come here to complain so it only seems like a lot. Maybe 1 in 50 customers complain, others are happy campers. Buy from a reputable company (ScannerMaster) and you can't go wrong.

Someone on these forums bought an SDS200 from Scanner Master and received it last week. It has the hum. He bought it from a reputable dealer and it isn't old stock. Scanner Master probably sells more of them than anyone.

 

[Joe_Blough]

I couldn't agree more! Would you jam a Brillo Pad into your new TV or a coat hangar in your new cars computer so you could start it every day?

Next you will need to buy a 40 ton hydraulic press to exert constant pressure on the cover to reduce the hum.

 

[KevinC]

I don't own one, but I'd bet every SDS200 to susceptible to the hum issue. It just depends on humidity, temperature, manufacturing tolerances, etc...and time.

 

[Joe_Blough]

Not making good contact so added two layer of double sided copper tape to the top of the (NMP200 ) Uniden factory fix part and then reinstalled to reduced hum,

It is pretty amazing that Uniden comes out with a $700 scanner that has a defect so has to be modified, and then the fix is defective and has to be modified.

 

[Joe_Blough]

I am pretty sure if we all got together and had the right people be-able to test and figure out a ground to attach to the chasis or something we could have a fix ourselves. Since UpMan is taking care of his health condition which is the biggest priority now I think Uniden is kind of on hold for now. I just wish the HUM noise would just go away since this radio is a great radio and has the best sensitivity out on the market.

Wouldn't the fix just be to solder a ground strap between where the metal piece from Uniden touches and the inner cover that presses down on that metal piece? Shouldn't be too hard for someone to open up their SDS200 and attach a short alligator jumper wire between those two points and see if it reduces or eliminates the hum.

 

[trentbob]

Yes I have 2 co-workers who have purchased them and they are not radio types and they are not on RR. Both radios had the hum and the device installed.

I'm semi-retired and only work a few days a weak now but I still do all the radio installations and programming for everyone. I was able to reduce the hum on both radios using the procedure explained earlier but it's still there.

I sure wish we knew the exact number of people who get them without any noise whatsoever. I know they're out there because people have reported they own them.

It's hard to say just from reports here because you don't have the issue you don't have to get involved in the remedy.

We do hear from people that don't have the issue and therefore have never experienced it and then there's the rest.

 

[Joe_Blough]

My comments above were directed at using a 30 day return policy instead of the warranty.

Out of the box, absolutely take it right back.

Why would I support a small shop that more than likely charges more and has a worse return policy? The small shop owner doesn't care if I have to send a less than 30 day brand new product back at my expense and wait weeks to get it back, possibly unrepaired. The small shop owner doesn't eat the cost of returns. The manufacturer credits them.

As a consumer I am going to shop at places with the best prices, return policies, and customer service. It's not my job to provide charity to small shops who don't have those things.

 

[Joe_Blough]

I thinking my response was too wordy.

I'm saying support the small shops and don't overly burden them to take shortcut by returning when it should be a warranty repair.

If they have a return period than why not take it back to them? It isn't a warranty issue until it is past the return period, be it 10, 30, or 90 days. If a business has a return period but doesn't want their customers to use it because it overburdens them, what good is it? The only short cut is the business not wanting to deal with returns.

 

[Joe_Blough]

The idea of having the wedge in place reinforced with copper tape and the 3M tape on top right where you squeeze and see an improvement.

Since the hum is coming back for people, pretty soon they will have to shove pillows and sofa cushions between the Uniden metal part and the inner cover. Then the hum will go away but they have to worry about the louder noise when the scanner explodes from all the pressure between the cover and the metal piece.

 

[Joe_Blough]

Beginning to wonder if the SDS 200 i bought and never took out of the box is worth what i paid for it after reading this

Maybe consider selling it on Ebay as brand new in sealed box for the price you paid.

 

[Joe_Blough]

The only answer is to buy from somebody with a 30-day return policy and hope that the hum does not occur before that time runs out.

Walmart sells the SDS200 and has a 90 day return policy but you will pay sales tax that you might not have to pay by buying online.

 

[Joe_Blough]

I know Paul still recovering I'm sure he is aware of it. I like to use a external speaker but it is crazy loud when the hum comes.

He does read the forums. Last time was on July 17.

 

[Anderegg]

Let's please try to keep this post to known sucessful methods used to mitigate the hum/buzz as much as possible using the Uniden fix-it-yo-self part.

I also do not subscribe to the returning of new SDS200's based on a prior knowledge that they can and do hum/buzz. If you want to go that route, ask the seller if they are OK with it first, since Uniden will not comp them for a defective scanner.

Paul

 

[Firekite]

Our of curiosity, will someone please confirm that this is a mechanical hum or buzz, not an electronic hum like a badly grounded speaker? I’m not sure how soldering a ground strap or whatever would address that. I’m surprised, however, that some sort of isolation (adhesive foam strips, rubber disks, whatever) would not help. But layers upon layers of copper tape make me think of the C1 issue with the first couple years of 436HP’s.

 

[Anderegg]

Our of curiosity, will someone please confirm that this is a mechanical hum or buzz, not an electronic hum like a badly grounded speaker? I’m not sure how soldering a ground strap or whatever would address that. I’m surprised, however, that some sort of isolation (adhesive foam strips, rubber disks, whatever) would not help. But layers upon layers of copper tape make me think of the C1 issue with the first couple years of 436HP’s.

It is electrical...imagine the sound a green transformer box on the side of the road makes, or maybe a cheap Chinese 12v wall wart makes...that noise, but it can become inconsistent in it's noise as it reads and writes to the SD card.

Paul

 

[Firekite]

It is electrical.

Thank you for clarifying. That makes more sense and casts doubt on bowed cases as causes and pressure-based mitigation. Is there a pool yet on how long before a C1-type fix is quietly implemented?

 

[allend]

Someone on these forums bought an SDS200 from Scanner Master and received it last week. It has the hum. He bought it from a reputable dealer and it isn't old stock.

Yup. There has been no re-design of these radios at all. Just firmware and software updates. Also, most likely they are inserting that Uniden part to shield for grounding and that's it. So when people say they don't have the HUM I really think they all have the HUM noise. But everybody has their own tolerance for noise and depending on how old they are some people cant hear the HUM due to hearing loss as we age.

Also, some people always listen to their radios in not so quiet places either. So its all hit and miss with people. But the statistics are clear that there is a design flaw or a grounding issue that needs to be fixed on Uniden factory line. Hopefully when UpMan comes back from his surgery and a safe recovery that these issues will be addressed.

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But for now just open the radio up which is easy and make sure you have the Uniden grounding shield part that is shipped for free and use some copper tape or heavy folds of some tin foil from the kitchen and get the radio to the point where its tolerable. I have to really put my ear to my Vertex MLS-100 external speaker now to hear the HUM. It's something that is not noticeable at this point.

 

[Anderegg]

If you are the type of person that is irrationally irritated by a little squeak in the dashboard of your new car, that you just cannot stop thinking about, then the hum/buzz of an SDS200 in a room that is otherwise quite will really annoy you. In a car, you would never hear it, unless you own a Bentley and park with the engine and AC/heater off.

I too am a bit mystified, and unsure of how pressure changes an electrical contact patch...I guess I am just used to antenna wire touching and passing a signal, might need to take the SDS into my engineering department and have the team figure it out for me.

#newsengineeringteamassemble!

Paul

 

[dougjgray]

If the sds100 does not hum shouldn't uniden get clue from that to solve the issue