SDS100: Uniden sds100 not receiving weather alerts

[Clats97]

I have a 436hp and a sds100. Both are programmed with the exact same file, so they're both on the exact same page.

We have received 8 weather alerts in the last week. 8 of them came through to my 436hp, none of them came through to my SDS100.

I double checked the settings, and everything is the same on the 436 Vs the 100.

Wx priority is set to ON for both scanners, and the same/fips codes are properly programmed as well. But only the 436 receives weather alerts.

Any ideas?

 

[nessnet]

Stock antennas?

 

[mc48]

The 436 and SDS models have separate profiles. You may not actually have both profiles set properly and when you download one correctly, the other may be incorrect. Change the target model and verify both profiles are identical.

 

[tvengr]

Are both scanners receiving the same weather frequency? Do both scanners have squelch set at 2?

 

[Clats97]

Stock antennas?

No. Comet W100RX on both.

 

[Clats97]

The 436 and SDS models have separate profiles. You may not actually have both profiles set properly and when you download one correctly, the other may be incorrect. Change the target model and verify both profiles are identical.

I have. I checked Sentenial and I checked on the scanner settings itself, they are identical.

 

[Clats97]

Are both scanners receiving the same weather frequency? Do both scanners have squelch set at 2?

Yes & yes. Both scanners are programmed exactly the same. And they both receive fine while scanning, so not like it's a physical problem like a bad solder on the board....they both work fine except for this bizzare weather alert caveat

 

[tvengr]

Are you able to hear weather while holding on it on both scanners?

 

[Clats97]

Are you able to hear weather while holding on it on both scanners?

Yes

 

[KB3KBR]

I have a 436hp and a sds100. Both are programmed with the exact same file, so they're both on the exact same page.

We have received 8 weather alerts in the last week. 8 of them came through to my 436hp, none of them came through to my SDS100.

I double checked the settings, and everything is the same on the 436 Vs the 100.

Wx priority is set to ON for both scanners, and the same/fips codes are properly programmed as well. But only the 436 receives weather alerts.

Any ideas?

If the 100 and 436 are like the older models, WX pri will not decode the SAME code only the 1000hz tone. If you are in weather standby then it will alert off the codes. There could also be a chance that a different priority channel is holding and the wx pri is not checking in time for the tone alert.

 

[Clats97]

If the 100 and 436 are like the older models, WX pri will not decode the SAME code only the 1000hz tone. If you are in weather standby then it will alert off the codes. There could also be a chance that a different priority channel is holding and the wx pri is not checking in time for the tone alert.

So weather alert doesn't bloody work on a high end scanner? What the hell is the point of putting in my FIPS codes and stuff if it's not gonna give me the alert

 

[hiegtx]

So weather alert doesn't bloody work on a high end scanner? What the hell is the point of putting in my FIPS codes and stuff if it's not gonna give me the alert

For the FIPS codes to activate the scanner, it needs to be in Weather mode, with the list of FIPS codes selected.

If you chose Alert Only, then you are setting Weather Priority mode, which will periodically check receivable Weatherradio frequencies for the alert tone broadcasted after the FIPS codes, but before the audio of the actual warning.

If you select one of your lists of FIPS for the areas near you, then the scanner will remain parked, holding on the weatherradio frequency, so that it will catch those codes. It cannot scan both the FIPS codes, as well as normal scanning. If it was scanning normally, then periodically checking the weather frequency, it might well miss one or more of the codes. In Weather Priority, it is only looking for the audio tone, which normally sounds for several seconds, enabling the scanner to catch a weather alert on the frequency, while still scanning normal channels. If it receives the tone, then the scanner will hold on the weather channel that issued the tone, so that you can hear the details. Since it is only focusing on the tone, you may get alerts that do not concern you, for areas covered by one of the receivable frequencies.

 

[Clats97]

For the FIPS codes to activate the scanner, it needs to be in Weather mode, with the list of FIPS codes selected.
View attachment 145788
If you chose Alert Only, then you are setting Weather Priority mode, which will periodically check receivable Weatherradio frequencies for the alert tone broadcasted after the FIPS codes, but before the audio of the actual warning.

If you select one of your lists of FIPS for the areas near you, then the scanner will remain parked, holding on the weatherradio frequency, so that it will catch those codes. It cannot scan both the FIPS codes, as well as normal scanning. If it was scanning normally, then periodically checking the weather frequency, it might well miss one or more of the codes. In Weather Priority, it is only looking for the audio tone, which normally sounds for several seconds, enabling the scanner to catch a weather alert on the frequency, while still scanning normal channels. If it receives the tone, then the scanner will hold on the weather channel that issued the tone, so that you can hear the details. Since it is only focusing on the tone, you may get alerts that do not concern you, for areas covered by one of the receivable frequencies.

Thank you for the details. I did do everything you said, but I have no confidence it's fixed. First of all, when I select my FIPS code in weather settings, when I come back later into the settings, it's on "alert only" and no longer highlights the FIPS code I selected. It seems to revert back to alert only all the time. I just don't understand why 2 scanners programmed identically, standing side by side, don't receive the same weather alerts. I have never ever seen a weather alert on my SDS100. I have only seen weather alerts on my HP2 and 436

 

[Ensnared]

My RS Pro-42, SDS 100, and 436HP all stopped picking up NOAA. For some odd reason, the site is down for McLennan County in Texas. I was a bit worried, but I felt better when the other radios did not work. However, I'd just dropped the SDS 100 the day before. Whew.

 

[codewize]

For the FIPS codes to activate the scanner, it needs to be in Weather mode, with the list of FIPS codes selected.
View attachment 145788
If you chose Alert Only, then you are setting Weather Priority mode, which will periodically check receivable Weatherradio frequencies for the alert tone broadcasted after the FIPS codes, but before the audio of the actual warning.

If you select one of your lists of FIPS for the areas near you, then the scanner will remain parked, holding on the weatherradio frequency, so that it will catch those codes. It cannot scan both the FIPS codes, as well as normal scanning. If it was scanning normally, then periodically checking the weather frequency, it might well miss one or more of the codes. In Weather Priority, it is only looking for the audio tone, which normally sounds for several seconds, enabling the scanner to catch a weather alert on the frequency, while still scanning normal channels. If it receives the tone, then the scanner will hold on the weather channel that issued the tone, so that you can hear the details. Since it is only focusing on the tone, you may get alerts that do not concern you, for areas covered by one of the receivable frequencies.

To clarify, If I do nothing else but programs FIPS codes into say, SAME 1, I should receive alerts for those areas regardless of priority mode set or not. I try to keep WX priority off because of the audio interruption during normal operation

 

[JoeBearcat]

To clarify, If I do nothing else but programs FIPS codes into say, SAME 1, I should receive alerts for those areas regardless of priority mode set or not. I try to keep WX priority off because of the audio interruption during normal operation

SAME only applies to the dedicated WX Alert mode, so priority has nothing to do with FIPS/SAME and vice versa.

The Priority WX Alert mode uses the 1050 Hz alert tone to alert.

 

[hiegtx]

To clarify, If I do nothing else but programs FIPS codes into say, SAME 1, I should receive alerts for those areas regardless of priority mode set or not. I try to keep WX priority off because of the audio interruption during normal operation

Programming the SAME codes is only part of the puzzle.

The scanner cannot scan systems normally as well as monitor for activity on the FIPS codes. If you program your codes, then select the list that contains them, then the scanner will focus on monitoring the active frequency for specific alerts. It will not monitor other radio traffic, only wait on the weatherradio frequency for an alert that includes one of your selected locations. The individual FIPS codes are each a brief transmission, so if the scanner was doing other things, but only checking occasionally for the codes, it almost certainly will miss some (if not all), possibly the one that directly affects you.

If you use Weather Priority, it will scan normally, but periodically check for the 1050Hz alert tone. That tone continues for several seconds, so the scanner will still be able to check back every few seconds, and if no tone, continue normal operation scanning for other activity.

While I do have the FIPS codes programmed as part of my programming profile in all of my radios, I mostly use a dedicated weatherradio instead of a scanner for weather events. Why tie up a high-end, several hundred dollar scanner, for something that a $30 monitor can do, without impacting normal scanning.

The exception is if I am away from home, visiting friends in a county some distance west of my metro area. Occasionally, severe weather has developed while I was there. Since I normally take at least two scanners with me on that trip, I set one of them up in SAME mode, until I get back home, The other scanner monitors public safety in that area, & is also programmed with the related Skywarn channels for the area. (These are in a separate list, only activated when there is a weather event in the area.)

 

[codewize]

Thank you for the detail explanation. Now that I understand how it works, I agree with your statements.