SDS100/SDS200: suddenly low signal on SDS100

[Atlanta97]

I own two SDS100s
I just got the second from amazon a week ago.

The new one is getting -80 through -100dBm all the sudden since last night. It’s been working fine all week. [ Using Remtronix 700-800mHz antenna].

The old one is getting -40 — -50dBm (repeater is a block away). [using standard antenna]

Radio never dropped

Antenna never bent


I tried turning repeater find on and off

I reinstalled the connector and antenna

Gently blew around the receiver

Attenuator is off

Unless I’m missing something, I can’t seem to find a fix.

My local site

Biddeford Municipal Trunk Trunking System, Biddeford, Maine

Biddeford Municipal Trunk Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

 

[dmfalk]

Cold solder joint.

 

[buddrousa]

Sounds like it needs returned as defective or sent to Uniden for repair to get it repaired under warranty you will need to send a copy of the receipt to show when it was purchased.

 

[tvengr]

A symptom of the cold solder joint problem is a RRSI value of -40 dbm.

 

[buddrousa]

Not always it starts with loss of range and a -110 or worse signal where it should be -60 or so.

 

[Atlanta97]

Sounds like it needs returned as defective or sent to Uniden for repair to get it repaired under warranty you will need to send a copy of the receipt to show when it was purchased.

These radios are $680 and each one I have ordered or been given has been defective….. Uniden refuses to fix anything and just keeps telling me they work to factory standards. I’ll just ship it back to amazon and replace it with another defective one and hope the issue isn’t noticeable. LOL.

 

[buddrousa]

I have never had issues with Uniden and Repairs under Warranty or after the Warranty expires.
Buying from Amazon is never a good idea you never know what the Scanner history is. The seller is only going to resale the scanner you ship back to the next person with a Debit Card or Credit Card and we will hear from that buyer how sorry Uniden is.

 

[Atlanta97]

I have never had issues with Uniden and Repairs under Warranty or after the Warranty expires.
Buying from Amazon is never a good idea you never know what the Scanner history is. The seller is only going to resale the scanner you ship back to the next person with a Debit Card or Credit Card and we will hear from that buyer how sorry Uniden is.

This is my first time using amazon to get this unit. I was originally using uniden.com

However, I’m just now noticing something different on the boot up screen.

My older unit by one year on the first screen just says ‘uniden Bearcat’.

My new unit shows

‘Uniden of America’

‘Bearcat’

‘Dynamic trunking’

‘Dynamic scannning’

Both running same DB and firmware versions

 

[ofd8001]

Wonder if the "New" Unit is really new as opposed to someone who had a problem with it, sent it back and hoping the issue wasn't noticeable, while they were laughing out loud.

 

[dmfalk]

Wonder if the "New" Unit is really new as opposed to someone who had a problem with it, sent it back and hoping the issue wasn't noticeable, while they were laughing out loud.

Considering the apparent boot text modification, I'm inclined to agree....

 

[Ubbe]

A symptom of the cold solder joint problem is a RRSI value of -40 dbm.

There's two issues with an misaligned circuit board in SDS100. It pulls on the J401 connector between the CPU and RF boards but also pulls on the antenna connectors soldering at the circuit board and when the solder cracks it functions as a low value capacitor and looses signal strength.

There's also two amplifier transistors in the scanner that are sensitive to high RF levels and gets easily damaged.

/Ubbe

 

[donc13]

This is my first time using amazon to get this unit. I was originally using uniden.com

However, I’m just now noticing something different on the boot up screen.

My older unit by one year on the first screen just says ‘uniden Bearcat’.

My new unit shows

‘Uniden of America’

‘Bearcat’

‘Dynamic trunking’

‘Dynamic scannning’

Both running same DB and firmware versions

Send it back to Amazon for a replacement unit.

No other option is reasonable, besides which, it's free to do so.

 

[Atlanta97]

Send it back to Amazon for a replacement unit.

No other option is reasonable, besides which, it's free to do so.

I’m thinking sending it back to Amazon and when they give me my money back, ordering it again thru uniden.

 

[Overwatch6]

This is my first time using amazon to get this unit. I was originally using uniden.com

However, I’m just now noticing something different on the boot up screen.

My older unit by one year on the first screen just says ‘uniden Bearcat’.

My new unit shows

‘Uniden of America’

‘Bearcat’

‘Dynamic trunking’

‘Dynamic scannning’

Both running same DB and firmware versions

This exact thing happened to me. I have 2 SDS100's. One from Amazon, other from a reputable source online. Confirmed DB and FW were identical. I can't see a difference performance-wise though. Always wondered why the boot screen had different text.