SDS200 Hum Reports

[Anderegg]

My SDS200 with fix is about twice as quite hum/buzz as my TV's audio video receiver subwoofer/speakers when it is not receiving any audio...if you know what that sounds like.

Paul

 

[buddrousa]

I have 5 536 scanners and the only noise it makes is radio traffic I have 1 sds200 and the only noise it makes is radio traffic.

 

[KR7CQ]

I have 5 536 scanners and the only noise it makes is radio traffic I have 1 sds200 and the only noise it makes is radio traffic.

I don't doubt what anyone is saying. This is all making me wonder if some scanners make noises and other don't or if some people just hear frequencies that others don't hear or somehow block out of their mind. The hum I hear is minuscule, and the hash sound is of a very low volume and a non-issue to me, yet some feel that all of the units have both hum and the hash sound (a comment UPman up-voted on?), and find the noises intolerable. I know that my hearing was damaged by being exposed to too much gunfire with no protection, so maybe these sounds just don't get through to me to the point where it's an issue. I also know that the older people get the less they hear certain frequencies. I still find the whole thing puzzling though.

 

[buddrousa]

My $2000.00 mud grip tires hum going down the road I want it fixed or my money back.
Like my mother used to say some people would cry and complain if you hung them with a new rope.

 

[janetball1994]

Like my mother used to say some people would cry and complain if you hung them with a new rope.

Lovely, Budd. That's Access Hollywood material.

 

[TailGator911]

All electronics probably have a perceptible or imperceptible hum to them when the inner circuitry is initiated. Being able to hear it is most likely based on an individual's audible sensory abilities. Interesting online article shows just how complex our hearing works, and how it is possible for one person to hear the hum and another person cannot. Any minute damage to any of the fragile membranes and bones and filaments of the inner ear can and would affect one's audio perception. My ears are a wreck with tinnitus and damaged ear drums by several means, so my SDS might be humming like an AC unit and I wouldn't know it.

How hearing works; How we hear - HEARnet Online

It's obvious from some of the complaints that some folks here have never owned an old HF tube radio. My old Hammarlund sounded like a beat up Pontiac on my desk, but I could hear everything around it.. My wife says I have selective hearing, whatever that means. har-har

JD
kf4anc

 

[MisterLongwire]

I picked mine up yesterday (SDS200} and I am ever so surprised. No hum....except me humming away that I am totally stoked with this radio. Brought back memories of the day I bought my BC300. I guess I am lucky to not have issues as everyone. Very good reception even with supplied antenna. All I can say is Uniden....you kicked butt this time. I definitely don't think Whistler can top it .....wait.....I know they can't!...no way in this lifetime. Paul- you done good. Might cost more than other models.....but it's not just eye candy.....it's a whole lot more!

 

[Ubbe]

Even some amateur radios have issues with audio and even hum. Most often that is fixed by loosing the screws that hold the circuit boards and tighten them again. It's probably too invasive to do to a SDS200 and the screwdriver could slip and damage components so Uniden opted for a simpler solution that wouldn't void the warranty.

/Ubbe

 

[trentbob]

So as some of you know, I have wanted an SDS 200 from the beginning.

I have read everything I can about it and all of these posts. I also have an SDS 100.

I'm very familiar with the hum mitigation on the radio and the copper tape wedge and double-sided tape fix for the sds200.

This is how I see it. I don't think it has to do with how good your ears are, how many feet away from the radio you are, your temperament or tolerance, whether you listen in a noisy room or a quiet room, I for one have 6 radios next to the bed. The radios are on all night while I sleep in a very quiet room.

Could this Theory be true? Each SDS 200 is different. I believe Budd and JD and others when they say they have absolutely no hum. I absolutely believe that. I also believe the many people who have said the hum is so bad they sent the radio back, they have the hum when the squelch opens using the mitigation settings. The hum is so bad it annoys them and is unacceptable. Those people have a right not to deal with that, no excuses, no rationalization it's acceptable. Also people after spending $700 deserve not to have to take a screwdriver to their brand new radio to install a part if they're not comfortable with that with the hopes that it may or may not work as even that is different from radio to radio. I admit it's a very easy fix if it does fix but some people may not want to do that.

There are recent post here from people who just received the radios that have no hum and from people who do have the hum... still.

I understand that having a radio that's properly grounded without any warping in the case that doesn't make a hum at all is probably a nice sweet radio and that's the one that I want before I give my credit card number. I want a guarantee, a term used in present day consumerism, a guarantee that I will not have a hum, no excuses, no compromises, no hearing test results, no being told you just have to pack it up and return it. If you can't guarantee it doesn't have the hum then just don't ship it. That's where I'm stuck now.

I've got the money and would love to have one but I don't believe in the luck of the draw any more than I believe in winning at a casino.

Guarantee I will not have the hum and I will gladly buy the radio tomorrow morning. No excuses, no explanations, no rationalizations that this is just the way things are and we have to accept it as they are because measures were taken to solve the problem even though they didn't solve the problem in every case.

I can't wait, I've been waiting quite a while now, it's time.

 

[mule1075]

So as some of you know, I have wanted an SDS 200 from the beginning.

I have read everything I can about it and all of these posts. I also have an SDS 100.

I'm very familiar with the hum mitigation on the radio and the copper tape wedge and double-sided tape fix for the sds200.

This is how I see it. I don't think it has to do with how good your ears are, how many feet away from the radio you are, your temperament or tolerance, whether you listen in a noisy room or a quiet room, I for one have 6 radios next to the bed. The radios are on all night while I sleep in a very quiet room.

Could this Theory be true? Each SDS 200 is different. I believe Budd and JD and others when they say they have absolutely no hum. I absolutely believe that. I also believe the many people who have said the hum is so bad they sent the radio back, they have the hum when the squelch opens using the mitigation settings. The hum is so bad it annoys them and is unacceptable. Those people have a right not to deal with that, no excuses, no rationalization it's acceptable. Also people after spending $700 deserve not to have to take a screwdriver to their brand new radio to install a part if they're not comfortable with that with the hopes that it may or may not work as even that is different from radio to radio. I admit it's a very easy fix if it does fix but some people may not want to do that.

There are recent post here from people who just received the radios that have no hum and from people who do have the hum... still.

I understand that having a radio that's properly grounded without any warping in the case that doesn't make a hum at all is probably a nice sweet radio and that's the one that I want before I give my credit card number. I want a guarantee, a term used in present day consumerism, a guarantee that I will not have a hum, no excuses, no compromises, no hearing test results, no being told you just have to pack it up and return it. If you can't guarantee it doesn't have the hum then just don't ship it. That's where I'm stuck now.

I've got the money and would love to have one but I don't believe in the luck of the draw any more than I believe in winning at a casino.

Guarantee I will not have the hum and I will gladly buy the radio tomorrow morning. No excuses, no explanations, no rationalizations that this is just the way things are and we have to accept it as they are because measures were taken to solve the problem even though they didn't solve the problem in every case.

I can't wait, I've been waiting quite a while now, it's time.

At this point now the only thing you can do is buy one or not. Quit over thinking it get one if it does not come up to the expectations you can sell it or return it. In all honesty it is time for you to decide to pull the trigger and buy you have done the research now it is time to decide to buy or not. Take the leap already and get one everything to a point has been posted just buy it and take the chance. It is up to you now make the decision. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[trentbob]

At this point now the only thing you can do is buy one or not. Quit over thinking it get one if it does not come up to the expectations you can sell it or return it. In all honesty it is time for you to decide to pull the trigger and buy you have done the research now it is time to decide to buy or not. Take the leap already and get one everything to a point has been posted just buy it and take the chance. It is up to you now make the decision. Good luck in whatever you decide.

Yep, the fact that in all this time I have not done what you suggest and roll the dice is because I didn't think the odds were good enough yet. So obviously I have clearly made my decision for quite a while now.

I will always analyze completely a purchase like this. Just the inconvenience of having to pack the radio up and pay for shipping and maybe a restocking fee to mail it back is enough reason for me not to spin the roulette wheel.

I clearly have made my decision, I was just sharing it for those who can relate. Believe me they're out there, I know of several who I work with.

I think I made my point that it is not a person's hearing test results, tolerance, temperance or personality. It's not if you listen in a noisy room or a quiet room or how close you are to the radio. It's an inconsistency of the quality of the radio from radio to radio and that can be fixed, resulting in selling more radios. I can think of one right off the bat... thanks for reading and replying my to my point of view.

 

[noaim]

Yep, the fact that in all this time I have not done what you suggest and roll the dice is because I didn't think the odds were good enough yet. So obviously I have clearly made my decision for quite a while now.

I will always analyze completely a purchase like this. Just the inconvenience of having to pack the radio up and pay for shipping and maybe a restocking fee to mail it back is enough reason for me not to spin the roulette wheel.

I clearly have made my decision, I was just sharing it for those who can relate. Believe me they're out there, I know of several who I work with.

I think I made my point that it is not a person's hearing test results, tolerance, temperance or personality. It's not if you listen in a noisy room or a quiet room or how close you are to the radio. It's an inconsistency of the quality of the radio from radio to radio and that can be fixed, resulting in selling more radios. I can think of one right off the bat... thanks for reading and replying my point of view.

You also have to remember coming to a forum you are going to see more negative then positive things because people love to complain. I for one am very satisfied with the sds200 small hum no big deal. There is tons of buyers out there that are not on this forum complaining about every little detail. Forums will always bring out people who have negative thoughts and a lot of the negative thoughts are coming from the same people. By choosing because of what’s on this forum you are also giving up the ability to enjoy new products. At the end of the day I don’t care if you buy one or not just saying that the people on this forum complaining do not make up for all of the people who purchased and enjoy it.

For example your statement may already be influencing someone and you haven’t even owned the device yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[jjbond]

Even some amateur radios have issues with audio and even hum. Most often that is fixed by loosing the screws that hold the circuit boards and tighten them again. It's probably too invasive to do to a SDS200 and the screwdriver could slip and damage components so Uniden opted for a simpler solution that wouldn't void the warranty.

/Ubbe

The hum I heard was not a vibrating style hum but was in the audio chain, thus being able to be partially fixed with a firmware fix but I hear ya, I have an Astron power supply that's like that, you'd think the house was falling in till you tightened a screw on the cover.

 

[trentbob]

You also have to remember coming to a forum you are going to see more negative then positive things because people love to complain. I for one am very satisfied with the sds200 small hum no big deal. There is tons of buyers out there that are not on this forum complaining about every little detail. Forums will always bring out people who have negative thoughts and a lot of the negative thoughts are coming from the same people. By choosing because of what’s on this forum you are also giving up the ability to enjoy new products. At the end of the day I don’t care if you buy one or not just saying that the people on this forum complaining do not make up for all of the people who purchased and enjoy it.

For example your statement may already be influencing someone and you haven’t even owned the device yet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Thanks for your reply, at this point with the number of posts regarding this problem my opinion is not influencing anybody.

It's happens the community I work in with many news photographers and reporters in a large metropolitan area I have seen the sds200 in action numerous times. I've seen them without the hum and I've seen them before they were returned with the hum. Unfortunately no person or agency that has one without the hum will sell it to me LOL.

It's all a personal choice, if you use yours on the desktop at work or something and you have a slight hum that doesn't bother you then as a consumer you are satisfied.

I use my radios by my bedside in addition to the Motorola's we carry on the job. Every application is different.

 

[noaim]

Thanks for your reply, at this point with the number of posts regarding this problem my opinion is not influencing anybody.

It's happens the community I work in with many news photographers and reporters in a large metropolitan area I have seen the sds200 in action numerous times. I've seen them without the hum and I've seen them before they were returned with the hum. Unfortunately no person or agency that has one without the hum will sell it to me LOL.

It's all a personal choice, if you use yours on the desktop at work or something and you have a slight hum that doesn't bother you then as a consumer you are satisfied.

I use my radios by my bedside in addition to the Motorola's we carry on the job. Every application is different.

I use it bedside and the hum is so minimal imo I don’t use it at work I have 4 scanners bedside and the sds200 is fantastic


Also your opinion was gathered by others comments what makes you think that your opinion doesn’t matter to someone

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[iMONITOR]

If there are in fact some that do not hum at all, then none of them should hum. To still have the hum after the fix is concerning. None of my other scanners hum at all, not even faintly. Does the hum sound like a 60hz hum like you hear from AC lines, or is it something else?

 

[trentbob]

The hum I heard was not a vibrating style hum but was in the audio chain, thus being able to be partially fixed with a firmware fix but I hear ya, I have an Astron power supply that's like that, you'd think the house was falling in till you tightened a screw on the cover.

Yes as described in these forms there are two different types of issue. Oddly enough I have a 536 by my bed that has the noise that you were describing as it Cycles through scanning. Not noticeable at all and I believe the sds200 has that also, not an issue.

Not to rehash over and over again but the sound I'm talking about was found very early on to be mitigated by unscrewing the outer and inner cover and shifting and adjusting the inner cover pressing down on the center top by applying double sided 3M tape sticky on the bottom only pressing and tighten the screws did reduce the hum.

That was before the wedge came out and in a noisy Newsroom was acceptable.

 

[trentbob]

I use it bedside and the hum is so minimal imo I don’t use it at work I have 4 scanners bedside and the sds200 is fantastic


Also your opinion was gathered by others comments what makes you think that your opinion doesn’t matter to someone

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

I only meant that this far into the game so much has been said and we have hashed this problem over ad nauseam that I don't think many new people are being influenced by what's being said just by me today.

I'm glad you are satisfied with your radio and your opinion is just as important as anybody else's and people are seeing it. Your comments are not unlike many others here.

Uniden has addressed the issue, irregardless if it is satisfactory for everybody, it's been addressed and they have moved on to other issues.

Now it comes down to a personal choice and decision. The RR community is a pretty smart bunch of people as a whole.

My opinions are formed by not only using this radio at work but believing and taking stock in all the comments and opinions made on this forum... Including yours.

 

[noaim]

I only meant that this far into the game so much has been said and we have hashed this problem over ad nauseam that I don't think many new people are being influenced by what's being said just by me today.

I'm glad you are satisfied with your radio and your opinion is just as important as anybody else's and people are seeing it. Your comments are not unlike many others here.

Uniden has addressed the issue, irregardless if it is satisfactory for everybody, it's been addressed and they have moved on to other issues.

Now it comes down to a personal choice and decision. The RR community is a pretty smart bunch of people as a whole.

My opinions are formed by not only using this radio at work but believing and taking stock in all the comments and opinions made on this forum... Including yours.

For the record not trying to be offensive in anyway. I just want people to get the Same enjoyment as I am.



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[trentbob]

For the record not trying to be offensive in anyway. I just want people to get the Same enjoyment as I am.



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I know.