Uniden SDS 200 loss of favorites

[Woodman75]

My power went off due to a 42 mile an hour wind. Power was restored in 8 hour. When I turn on the SDS200 I no longer had my favorites on the scanner and only had full dada base. I went on Sential on my computer and entered my favorites list, however I cannot get any list on the scanner. Scanner shows no favorites list. I have to use full data base to monitor the radio. What am I doing wrong? I am 77 and not to savoy on programing. Any help would be appriciated.. Thanks Art

 

[phyberoptics]

I would format the SD card, and write it again. If that doesn't work, consider replacing the card.

 

[nessnet]

My power went off due to a 42 mile an hour wind. Power was restored in 8 hour. When I turn on the SDS200 I no longer had my favorites on the scanner and only had full dada base. I went on Sential on my computer and entered my favorites list, however I cannot get any list on the scanner. Scanner shows no favorites list. I have to use full data base to monitor the radio. What am I doing wrong? I am 77 and not to savoy on programing. Any help would be appriciated.. Thanks Art

Art,
Does your computer / Sentinel properly 'see' the radio when you connect it to your computer (you get the press "." or "E" screen?
If yes, try writing to the radio again.
FIRST, be sure to check that all of your favorites are both monitor and download on in profile editor.
Second, be sure to check both erase favorites lists and Force write are checked.

If no (the SD card won't mount", you have a bad card and it needs to be replaced.

I would seriously consider getting a new card anyway - always good to have a spare/back-up.

 

[KK4JUG]

I would format the SD card, and write it again. If that doesn't work, consider replacing the card.

Do two cards instead. That way, you'll have a backup.

 

[Ubbe]

When I turn on the SDS200 I no longer had my favorites on the scanner

One thing to remember with Unidens SD card scanners are that any changes you do will only be stored in the scanners memory and when you turn off the scanner it will keep the power going while it stores those settings to the SD card. At a power outage the settings you have done will be gone and at next power on it will use the settings you had on the SD card when the last proper manual power off where done.

You probably have your favorites still on the SD card but they are not enabled. Go into the scanners menu and select "Set Scan Selection" and then "Select List to Monitor" and enable the favorite lists you would want to scan.

When you have everything setup as you want it to, then read the scanner and change the name when it starts to read to something like "Backup" to be used the next time you have any problems. Just write that backup back to the scanner. Having one extra SD card and program that at the same time as the scanner are also a good way to keep a backup. Turn off the scanner after programming it and switch SD card and program it again and continue to use that. Rotate the use of SD cards and always keep the extra one handy, maybe glue a plastic pocket on the scanner to hold the SD card.

/Ubbe

 

[ofd8001]

Often, when power goes out in my area due to weather, there is an initial drop. Then the power comes back, in hopes the issue cleared itself. If there is still a problem, it goes out for good.

If your system is like mine, your scanner may be trying to do a read/write "thing" only to not complete. This could lead to card corruption.

As noted above, trying a reformat might help - certainly no harm. If not a new card is needed and the advice of getting two is excellent. Spares are good things.

 

[buddrousa]

This is why my scanners are on a UPS

 

[Woodman75]

In a earlier post I had the current go off from a wind storm several days ago. The current came back 8 hrs later. When I turned my SDS 200 on I no longer had my favorite list. I tried to reload the favorite list from Sentiel without any luck. All I have is full data base. I contacted Bearcat Wharehouse and they said I need a need cd card from them. They will provide a new card with my four county favorites for the cost of $150.00. I do not know how to format my existing card. As I said in the earlier post I am 77 and by no means a electronic person. Is this a fair price for the card and if so is all iI have to to do is insert in the scanner to have it back to normal operation. Sorry to bother everyone. Thanks Art PS Bearcat wharehouse stated that I could not use the old card.

 

[tvengr]

Which counties do you want to monitor besides Montgomery? I may have favorites lists for them.

 

[Woodman75]

Frederick,Carroll,Howard and Frederick Counties in Maryland. Thanks

 

[tvengr]

I have files for all of those counties. Do you know how to use quick keys?

 

[Woodman75]

Sorry no

 

[Woodman75]

I have not experminted with the radio since I had it. When I received it I turned in and my four counties have work great until the current went off. I am like a woman with a car. I know how to the radio ojn and off, other than that I did not want to mess anything up from the factory settings. Thanks

 

[Woodman75]

Bearcat told be all I had to do was insert the card when I get and turn the radio on and it would work like when I first received it.

 

[Woodman75]

I read the manual but you have to be a Phildelia lawer to understand it.

 

[tvengr]

Do you know how to use Uniden Sentinel programming software? I'll remove the quick keys from the files so you will not be confused. I have some things to take care of. I will get back to you later today.

 

[Woodman75]

I used it once since I have had the radio. Wanted to change colors but was not sure of the operation so I left it alone. Thanks

 

[donc13]

$150 seems a bit steep. You can buy a good 32GB SD-card for under $10 at places like Best Buy, Amazon, Office Depot and the like. I would *guess* you could work out a deal with @tvengr to get the files you need all ready to go.

 

[doctordialtone]

I agree with @donc13 .

SD cards are inexpensive and the database is already here on RR.

Good luck!

 

[MStep]

In a earlier post I had the current go off from a wind storm several days ago. The current came back 8 hrs later. When I turned my SDS 200 on I no longer had my favorite list. I tried to reload the favorite list from Sentiel without any luck. All I have is full data base. I contacted Bearcat Wharehouse and they said I need a need cd card from them. They will provide a new card with my four county favorites for the cost of $150.00. I do not know how to format my existing card. As I said in the earlier post I am 77 and by no means a electronic person. Is this a fair price for the card and if so is all iI have to to do is insert in the scanner to have it back to normal operation. Sorry to bother everyone. Thanks Art PS Bearcat wharehouse stated that I could not use the old card.

A few words on encouragement.

I would suggest you learn the method for formatting your cards. 150 dollars is pure rip-off to provide a preprogrammed card, unless you happen to be a government entity. Are you sure they did not mean $15.00 ? That seems much more within reason.

Almost all cards that have failed on me have been either resuscitated or resurrected. The SDS200 (and likely the 100 as well) is very sensitive to read or write errors to the card and will cause the radio the balk. Some "read" errors got fixed by simply turning the radio off and then on again.

You certainly can attempt to use your old card--- I had one that failed 2 weeks out of the gate and after doing several of the "long" formats, that particular card has been working flawlessly for the past six months.

Having a spare card available should be the rule and not the exception, but even better, having a friend nearby with either the 100 or 200 can be even more helpful. I'm pushing up there is years as well, and yes, things that seemed easy now seem a bit more complicated.

Best of luck in your endeavors fellow old-timer.