Uniden SDS200 Stopped Receiving Traffic

[FireLt111]

Hello Gang!

Ok, we have an issue that began this morning. Our radio station is located in Ashland, Kentucky (Boyd County) and the 911 system utilizes the P25 system. Our newsroom scanner...SDS200 just stopped receiving traffic. The traffic will open then stop. Yes, our squelch is on 2. It is picking up VHF...such as the NWS without issues. We have another scanner....Whistler WS1065 scanning the same system and it is picking up traffic without issues.

We cleared the data to factory settings and reloaded the freqs. The issues continue. Do you guys have any suggestions on what we can do? We basically have a 770.00 useless radio at this point.

Our News Director is having a fit...

Thanks,
Tim Granger

 

[doctordialtone]

Hello Gang!

Ok, we have an issue that began this morning. Our radio station is located in Ashland, Kentucky (Boyd County) and the 911 system utilizes the P25 system. Our newsroom scanner...SDS200 just stopped receiving traffic. The traffic will open then stop. Yes, our squelch is on 2. It is picking up VHF...such as the NWS without issues. We have another scanner....Whistler WS1065 scanning the same system and it is picking up traffic without issues.

We cleared the data to factory settings and reloaded the freqs. The issues continue. Do you guys have any suggestions on what we can do? We basically have a 770.00 useless radio at this point.

Our News Director is having a fit...

Thanks,
Tim Granger

The first thing I would try is another SD card.

A bad card can cause all kinds of odd symptoms.

Good luck!

👍

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

What P25 system? I'm only seeing P25 conventional frequencies listed for Boyd County. Is this what you're having trouble with? Make sure "Law Dispatch" & "Law Talk" service types are turned on

154.96500	WPWD536	RM	107 NAC	Boyd Law F1	Law Enforcement Dispatch	P25	Law Dispatch
155.67000	WQU505	RM	107 NAC	Boyd Law F2	Law Enforcement 2	P25	Law Talk
155.71500	WPJY719	RM	107 NAC	Boyd Law F3	Law Enforcement 3	P25	Law Talk

 

[FireLt111]

Thanks, guys for the replies. I would have never thought the SD card could be the issue. I do have several, but they are 32G, I guess that would work.

To John, we're having issues with the entire P25 system.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

To John, we're having issues with the entire P25 system.

Again, what system? I'm only seeing those 3 P25 conventionals listed for your county. Are the service types I mentioned turned on?

 

[doctordialtone]

Thanks, guys for the replies. I would have never thought the SD card could be the issue. I do have several, but they are 32G, I guess that would work.

To John, we're having issues with the entire P25 system.

Yes. The 32G card will work.

 

[FireLt111]

The scanner is NOT finding the SD Card.....UGH. It says to use Sentinel to "clear User data" but it is not showing up when I click to clear...the window is empty....Sorry gang...

 

[FireLt111]

Again, what system? I'm only seeing those 3 P25 conventionals listed for your county. Are the service types I mentioned turned on?

I am assuming they are. If we are doing something wrong...would you care to share your time and walk us through on how to make sure they are, please?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

...would you care to share your time and walk us through on how to make sure they are, please?

From the link I provided in post #3:

 

[FireLt111]

Ok gang...all the suggestions were applied and NOTHING. Hmm. The scanner will NOT clear the new SD Card...it can't find it I guess.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Try formatting the card via Uniden Sentinel:

Reformatting the Micro SD Card​

SD cards should only be formatted using the special SD Card Formatter. Cards up to 32GB are supported. After formatting, the scanner may not be automatically detected (since it is wiped clean), so you may need to uncheck "Hide empty drives" in (Windows 7) Tools>Folder Options>View before doing the next "Clear User Data" step. Then, you need to "Clear User Data" and check "Display all drives" using Sentinel to restore all files and directories to the card. You will also need to "Write to Scanner" in the "Scanner" menu to restore your Favorites Lists.

 

[doctordialtone]

Ok gang...all the suggestions were applied and NOTHING. Hmm. The scanner will NOT clear the new SD Card...it can't find it I guess.

You need to format the SD card

 

[werinshades]

The scanner is NOT finding the SD Card.....UGH. It says to use Sentinel to "clear User data" but it is not showing up when I click to clear...the window is empty....Sorry gang...

Check the box that says "Display all Drives" once you Clear User Data.

 

[FireLt111]

Ok guys, here's an update. After taking all your outstanding advice, we are still in the same boat and this time the scanner took our motor away. I have the FULL database running PLUS some VERY active freqs and it's as quiet as a monk in church. We can't seem to figure this one out.

Looks like we will have to send the unit off for repair or replacement. $800 scanner...just a mere $200 from one thousand dollars sitting here just sitting in the newsroom doing nothing. Oh, it's scanning but that's all it's doing.

If you guys have any other suggestions, we are all ears and ready to try anything.

For this to be one of the most powerful scanners on the market...it sure is showing its colors!

Thanks to everyone who took a moment out of their day to assist us!

-Pamela Lee
News & Weather Director

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Before sending the unit out for repair (wouldn't see a reason to if other frequencies can be received fine) I'd recommend exporting your Uniden Sentinel hpe file, see directions here then creating a zip file from the hpe export so it can be posted as an attachment on this thread. Perhaps someone else with an SDS200 can check your programming for errors...

 

[FireLt111]

As requested...these are the .hpe files of our current favorites lists for your inspection and consideration.

 

[tvengr]

In Sentinel, go to the Edit tab, Edit Profile, and the Service Types tab. Looking at Boyd County, You need the following service types enabled: EMS Dispatch, EMS Tac, EMS Talk, Fire Dispatch, Fire Tac, Fire Talk, Hospital, Law Dispatch, Law Tac, and Law Talk. I suggest that you also enable Emergency Ops, Interop, Multi Dispatch, Multi Tac, and Multi Talk. Under the Scan Selection tab, both Download and Monitor must be On for any favorites list you want to Write to the Scanner.

 

[FireLt111]

In Sentinel, go to the Edit tab, Edit Profile, and the Service Types tab. Looking at Boyd County, You need the following service types enabled: EMS Dispatch, EMS Tac, EMS Talk, Fire Dispatch, Fire Tac, Fire Talk, Hospital, Law Dispatch, Law Tac, and Law Talk. I suggest that you also enable Emergency Ops, Interop, Multi Dispatch, Multi Tac, and Multi Talk. Under the Scan Selection tab, both Download and Monitor must be On for any favorites list you want to Write to the Scanner.

Ok...your suggestions have been completed...fingers crossed! Let's hope this works.

I wish to thank you for your assistance. Greatly appreciated

-Pamela Lee

 

[FireLt111]

Here's an update:

The scanner picks up on a call and about 2 seconds into the call...it drops the signal completely and will not pick up on it again...even though our Whistler scanner on the other side of the newsroom is going to town uninterrupted!

Now figure that one? We are confused as heck. I know you guys are really doing your best in helping us and its greatly appreciated!

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

The scanner picks up on a call and about 2 seconds into the call...it drops the signal completely and will not pick up on it again

Make sure all priority scan and close call modes are turned off, see here for guidance

I know you guys are really doing your best in helping us and its greatly appreciated!

That's why we're here. Always a pleasure to help our fellow scanning enthusiasts