SDS200 initial reviews

[ColdnFrosty]

I've attached an audio file that records the hum and CPU interference while the SDS200 is running. This begins at power on until power off, but as another user pointed out, it does not happen while in USB mode. It's definitely not normal for an audio or radio device to generate noise through its speaker. It cannot be amplified using the volume control, so I suspect poor shielding of the CPU.

UpMan, can you kindly comment? Thanks.

I have not detected any such noise when using headphones.

 

[weathermedic]

Just got it via UPS late this afternoon. Only had time to unbox it and power it up. I used the zip code option to tune in frequencies near me (Brooklyn NY) while hooking it to a rooftop antenna. One thing I noticed immediately, was the intermod on the UHF analog NYPD channels. Hopefully when I get home later tonight and use the computer, I can use the filter setting function. What setting do you guys recommend for this problem?
P.S. the keypad backlight is not bright, but it is on par with the brightness of my SDS100.

 

[03msc]

I have not detected any such noise when using headphones.

So it sounds like (no pun intended) it is in the speaker circuitry, then?

 

[ColdnFrosty]

So it sounds like (no pun intended) it is in the speaker circuitry, then?

Well, it appears to be. When I plug in headphones, the noise stops on the internal speaker and does not occur in the headphones.

 

[03msc]

Well, it appears to be. When I plug in headphones, the noise stops on the internal speaker and does not occur in the headphones.

That's good to know...hopefully @UPMan and crew are aware and investigating.

 

[simiv]

Received my SDS200 today from Bearcat Warehouse. First thing I noticed when I powered it on is the awful humming noise from the speaker. And yes, it goes away when I plug in headphones. My keypad is also extremely dim. Even in a pitch black room I can barely make out what the keys say. They might as well not even be back lit. If it wasn't for these issues, I would be thrilled with this scanner. I will be returning mine.

 

[Tryton]

Oh no, I hope this isn't a wide spread issue. What's the SN on your unit having the issues?

 

[jharr465]

FTPing to the IP address of the RJ-45 connector shows you the SD card.

 

[ColdnFrosty]

I purchased a cat 6 right angle RJ45 cable from Amazon. It has a cable diameter of about 1/8" which helps a lot to keep it out of the way.

Once I plugged in a CAT6 cable on the LAN socket on the front panel, there was no way to remove it without a pair of needle nose pliers. This is due to the proximity of the squelch control to the clip on the CAT6. It is impossible to get a finger in there to squeeze the clip to remove the cable. It would have been smarter to put the clip side facing down, or put it on the back panel!

 

[ArtU]

Does the hum/noise go away if you use an external speaker? What about an external speaker pluged into the headphone jack? Waiting for mine to arrive and this sounds like a hardware issue that a patch wont fix. I am already bothered by low frequency hums in my life and had to work a lot in my shack too get rid of them.

Does this have BlueTooth audio to use in a vehicle? If so does it happen over that audio chain as well?

 

[phyberoptics]

Does this have BlueTooth audio to use in a vehicle? If so does it happen over that audio chain as well?

It does not.

 

[gillham]

Does the hum/noise go away if you use an external speaker? What about an external speaker pluged into the headphone jack? Waiting for mine to arrive and this sounds like a hardware issue that a patch wont fix. I am already bothered by low frequency hums in my life and had to work a lot in my shack too get rid of them.

Does this have BlueTooth audio to use in a vehicle? If so does it happen over that audio chain as well?

You, and others posting about the audio hum might be interested in this on-going thread.

Re: Bluetooth - it doesn’t have Bluetooth

http://forums.radioreference.com/threads/sds-200-speaker-noise-again-like-the-536hp.383186/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ColdnFrosty]

Unfortunately, the noise is there with an external speaker as well. More noticeable since the external speaker is facing me!

Does the hum/noise go away if you use an external speaker? What about an external speaker pluged into the headphone jack? Waiting for mine to arrive and this sounds like a hardware issue that a patch wont fix. I am already bothered by low frequency hums in my life and had to work a lot in my shack too get rid of them.

Does this have BlueTooth audio to use in a vehicle? If so does it happen over that audio chain as well?

 

[mancow]

So far the performance is great. Simulcast systems are absolutely perfect. The display is amazing. Receive sensitivity is excellent and I haven't noticed a single issue with intermod despite having a high power vhf page nearby.

The build quality and finish is excellent. It reminds me of a high end communications receiver.

Ethernet is a world of difference better than the wifi solution in terms of stability.

I am beyond satisfied.

 

[ipfd320]

Our Very Own NY Database Admin W2LIE is Going Live Tonite at 9pm on YouTube for the Unboxing of his New 200 & More
Here is the Link

 

[iMONITOR]

Hi is it just me the BNC to SMA adapter on my SDS100 won't let me lock my BNC antenna?
Now I have the SDS200 and the same problem the included BNC antenna won't lock on to the antenna connector on the back, it will only twist half way and I don't want to force it and break it. I have never had this problem with any other Uniden scanner I own.

I bought some of those adapters from Ebay when I was playing with SDR's. They're made in China (junk). It's the adapter, not your scanner's antenna BNC connection.

 

[iMONITOR]

What's the audio quality like on the SDS200?
Audio on the SDS100 is mediocre.

Where is the speaker located?

 

[ColdnFrosty]

Where is the speaker located?

On the bottom.

 

[jasonhouk]

I received my SDS200 last Saturday and a big thank you to Jeff at Ham Station. I gave a preliminary observation prior to the registration and DMR/NXDN keys being upgraded. Series ends in 1012.

From the other posts on the "humming noise" being evident, I also noticed this coming through my external speaker. The "dim key pad" is also evident, but don't know if that was be design or a true flaw? Either one is a not a deal breaker or "I have to send it back today" moment. That's just my opinion as i'm very tolerant of these minor skirmishes.

So onward...performance. Background is 40 plus years of scanning...from crystal days to present day technology. Owned a 10 channel Regency crystal scanner, 210XL, 785, 796D, 996T, 996XL, 996P2, 396T, 396XL, 325P2, 536hp, 436hp, SDS100, and now SDS200. So I have some experience under my belt and a large monitoring base...analog, analog trunking, DMR, MotoTRBO, NXDN One frequency and NXDN Trunking.

My SDS 200 is using an external speaker and outdoor antenna. No Pro Voice close, but all other systems available. It takes a little getting used to with the different positions of buttons and knobs, but like the others I managed to figure it out. The simulcast performance is good, but it was better as I noted in this thread I posted:

https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/digital-decode-issue-on-1-07-04-1-02-00.383103/

As I mentioned on the SDS100, the beta firmware 1.06/1.01.05 has performed better on Starcom P25/Phase 1 simulcast system. My unscientific opinion is the ERR was corrected a little faster and resulted in far less "choppy" transmissions. It's workable and better than the x36hp series, but seems to have degraded with the firmware and or Sub CPU firmware changes. I'm hoping something is in the works.

Another issue I previously reported involved the programming of a 454Mhz. 3.125 khz. frequency system:

https://forums.radioreference.com/threads/sds100-454mhz-programming.380785/

After doing some additional work around's on this including filter adjustments, attenuator adjustments this is still problematic. The ERR rate on my SDS 200 is 0-10 on the control channel, but the scanner is not stopping on any transmissions. It "jumps" across talk groups. Both SDS's do accept the entire frequencies, but appears to be a decode issue....possibly related to the 3.125khz frequencies?

Another old issue I saw on both x36hp and SDS scanners is still occurring. This involved NXDN One channel programming:

https://forums.radioreference.com/t...ency-vs-conventional-nxdn-programming.379908/

On the SDS series of scanners, I have been able to properly decode and monitor a NXDN One frequency system on UHF (461.64375, 452.23125), but unable to do so on a VHF frequency (161.205). As I alluded to on the original post, maybe the TGID of 0 is being ignored? On One Frequency DMR systems that i've programmed, TGID's usually start with 1 and never have seen them "ignored" like NXDN One Frequency systems?

The scanner itself is performing very well on all bands. As I expected, the sensitivity has to be adjusted at times via the filter settings. I was not able to do so with the 536 or 436. This is a plus. Tracking of One Channel DMR CAP+, CON+ and NXDN Trunking Systems has been very good. No complaints as far as those systems go. Air Band needed some tweaking per channel, as I wish I had that on other scanners but have it working very well.

I know UPMan and UnidenSupport monitor these forums and giving some comprehensive findings usually result in future firmware update corrections. I like the size and display and would like to see a modification for UID Name as it's being cut off by the position of Avoid on Simple Trunk. If the Avoid indicator could be moved, this would result in UID names being allowed in it's entirety or close to it.

A good solid unit that is sitting very nicely on my desk..well done!

Here is the debug file you submitted to me attached of the 3.125 spacing issue for engineering. View attachment 454 Mhz. Trunking Issue.zip

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

[iMONITOR]

On the bottom.

Considering the majority of SDS-200's will be used as a base, I'm surprised Uniden didn't mount the speaker in the top. I would have liked to see a wider form factor to allow for a front mounted speaker.