SDS100/SDS200: SDS200 Sizzle

[sideshowjim]

My SDS200 has a terrible sizzle noise with any received transmission after being on for several hours, this just started in recent weeks. (if needed I can upload the audio). And the sizzle noise overpowers the recorded transmissions.

I haven't changed anything related to the roof mounted antenna, nothing different in the house, not near any computers...

Note: I do turn the SDS2OO off and back on each evening.

The sizzle noise is not heard on either of my 996's or my 780.

This morning the same sizzle noise overpowers the recordings from last night and overpowers the local NOAA WXR station broacast. That is until I turn the SDS200 off/back on and the annoying sizzle is gone, crystal clear.

I purchased this new from Uniden last September.

This sizzle noise only happens after the rig has been on for several hours, otherwise it's been working fine, this morning I was able to receive broadcasts on 6 NOAA WXR stations of the 7... (after cycling the rig off and back on).

Main: Version 1.26.01
Sub : Version 1.03.15

Any ideas? Or should I plan on sending the rig back for repairs...

Many thanks in advance!

 

[dave3825]

(if needed I can upload the audio). And the sizzle noise overpowers the recorded transmissions.

200 was known for a slight hum which they supposedly remedied . Never heard of a sizzle. I would post a clip.

 

[RandyKuff]

200 was known for a slight hum which they supposedly remedied . Never heard of a sizzle. I would post a clip.

Yeah, That was the display board grounding issue... Bought my 200 in August of 2020... Mine had that problem... Fixed it myself...

He said he bought his in September of last year... I certainly think that would have been fixed long ago...

OP, post an audio file so we can here what it's doing...

 

[richardbritt]

Might be something in the audio section breaking down. Regardless, you might want to send it to repair before the year warranty runs out.

 

[sideshowjim]

I uploaded a short video to YouTube
Here’s the link:

I did notice the sizzle was only present on analog channels… P25 digital seemed to be fine.

The environment the SDS200 hasn’t changed, the annoying sizzle started a couple weeks ago, I checked antenna and connections. Turned off nearby tablets and other scanners, tried the telescopic back of set antenna too.

The sizzle starts sometime after being on for several hours… goes completely away after turning on/off the rig.

Thanks again!

 

[BabaYaga60]

My SDS200 has a terrible sizzle noise with any received transmission after being on for several hours, this just started in recent weeks. (if needed I can upload the audio). And the sizzle noise overpowers the recorded transmissions.

I haven't changed anything related to the roof mounted antenna, nothing different in the house, not near any computers...

Note: I do turn the SDS2OO off and back on each evening.

The sizzle noise is not heard on either of my 996's or my 780.

This morning the same sizzle noise overpowers the recordings from last night and overpowers the local NOAA WXR station broacast. That is until I turn the SDS200 off/back on and the annoying sizzle is gone, crystal clear.

I purchased this new from Uniden last September.

This sizzle noise only happens after the rig has been on for several hours, otherwise it's been working fine, this morning I was able to receive broadcasts on 6 NOAA WXR stations of the 7... (after cycling the rig off and back on).

Main: Version 1.26.01
Sub : Version 1.03.15

Any ideas? Or should I plan on sending the rig back for repairs...

Many thanks in advance!

How are you powering your SDS, by a wall wart or a Regulated power supply ?

 

[sideshowjim]

How are you powering your SDS, by a wall wart or a Regulated power supply ?

Yes, the factory original... now, I am wondering... but I go back to turning the rig off and back on... the transformer would still be warm.

 

[BabaYaga60]

Yes, the factory original... now, I am wondering... but I go back to turning the rig off and back on... the transformer would still be warm.

IF you have a Regulated DC power supply, set that for 13.8 vdc and see if you still hear it ? Dirty voltage or interference is what I'm thinking ... unless it's being generated by a appliance in your house. Or try listening to it from your vehicle with the engine off.

 

[W8KIC]

I wonder if there’s a possibility that a transformer from your utility provider might be arcing? Had any recent severe storm activity lately where it’s affected any appliances or consumer electronic devices in your home? Yea, I know. It’s a long shot but WTH. It’s worth looking into. Good luck!

 

[sideshowjim]

Just and update... I removed the original Uniden supplied AC power supply. its been plugged in for months, wasn't even warm and no apparent signs of damage to the cord.

I have set up the rig with a clean 10amp power supply. I will leave the rig running and monitor the "monitor"... worth trying anyway.

For more "TMI" my indoor monitoring station is way away from any town, all utilities are buried in the ground, the power company's transformer is about 200 feet away.

I am using a home brewed dual band copper J-pole antenna, same antenna I have had set up with the 996's and 780 for several years, I checked/tested the antenna with a VHF and UHF transceivers and had 1.1 to 1.5 SWR on the bands I monitor, and no visual signs of damage to the antenna or the 25ft of coax... I am confident the antenna and coax are not the problem, especially when the sizzling occurs with the telescopic back of set antenna too.

I've been around "radio" for more than 50 years and I certainly understand, the noise or interference could be caused by a variety sources and could be introduced through the power feed, the rigs electronics or antenna port... that said, I go back to the randomness anytime day or night...

The filter setting is off, been off for sometime. I only had an "intermod" problem with one channel/frequency, I resolved it by attenuate the channel/frequency. And as mentioned, I routinely turn the rig off/on each evening... only because I understand the rig to be a "computer" and like computers, need to be restarted periodically.

They annoying sizzle seems to be from the rig itself to me, simply because when I cycle the rig off/on the sizzle goes away completely, only to return hours later after the rig has been on.

Thanks again

 

[richardbritt]

Almost sounds like a digital signal like a data signal from the way it dropped off. Maybe something interfering. What happens if you take your scanner in your car down from your location? Does the interference go away?

 

[tvengr]

Does the noise occur all day or only certain times? If you or a neighbor have solar panels, they can generate noise. That is also true of LED lights. Use the 12v cigarette lighter adapter cable that comes with the scanner and power the scanner in your vehicle to see if that clears up the noise. If not, the problem is not your AC adapter, which uses a switching power supply and can generate noise.

 

[sideshowjim]

All good questions and comments... however, maybe I need to clarify the problem, the sizzle noise is heard only with the received radio transmissions. The noise goes completely away when I turn the SDS200 off and back on, after the radio has loaded the FL and resumes scanning, the noise is completely gone.

There is no noise while the radio is scanning.

The "environment" the SDS200 is in, hasn't changed.

When the noise presented itself this morning, I tested with the local NOAA WXR Broadcast, the noise was so bad it drowned the NOAA audio out, I tried a few other NOAA channels all with the same sizzle noise.

I did notice this morning the sizzle noise is only on the analog transmissions received, the P25 digital transmissions received are clear as they normally are. (There is far more analog PS transmissions around these parts, and PS is what I listen to most).

All I can do now is wait... Either later this evening or by tomorrow morning the sizzle should be back, if not... the Uniden supplied AC power supply may have been the culprit...

If the noise presents itself, I am thinking about changing out the SD card, I do have a backup SD card to try. After the SD card, I have a 12v battery I can run the radio on, for several days if needed.

I don't want to try more than one thing at a time, otherwise I wont know what the culprit is...

Thanks again!!

 

[werinshades]

I wouldn't describe that as a "sizzle", but some sort of digital interference. I see the filter is off, try the different filters first. Modem near by, anything new in the house that could be emitting a signal like that?

 

[rcool101]

Send it on vacation to TX. before warranty ends

 

[sideshowjim]

I wouldn't describe that as a "sizzle", but some sort of digital interference. I see the filter is off, try the different filters first. Modem near by, anything new in the house that could be emitting a signal like that?

Duly noted… I will refer to the sizzle noise as “digital hash” type noise…

 

[tvengr]

I agree that it sounds like some type of digital interference. Try turning on close call to see if anything triggers it.

 

[sideshowjim]

2 hours later… the digital hash type noise is back, only on the analog channels/frequencies. So, the AC power supply was not the culprit.

Will try swapping out the SD Card…

 

[dmfalk]

Look around you. Do you have any digital/computerized devices nearby? If near a wall, how about what's on the other side of it?

What you might need are cords (USB/power/audio) that have an RF choke on their lines, as well as moving the scanner away from a PC, tablet or phone, or some other device that might be generating the noise, like a power company's meter or a cable tv/internet box. Even a WiFi router would cause such inteerference.

Here's a trick: if you have an old pocket/portable AM radio handy, tune to an empty channel, especially a lower frequency, and wander around with it. You'll hear the RFI.

 

[blueline_308]

Move it to another location either in home or elsewhere and see if noise persists.