SDS100/SDS200: Weird Behavior

[Dexter2]

Hello,

I believe I may be having a hardware issue. I've been experiencing some interference and/or low amount of signal bars the past two days, the radio is warm as well. I took the antenna off and the radio is still working in its current state. Usually, whenever I removed it, NOISE would go in the higher range and DATA would disappear. Have any of you experienced this?

 

[tvengr]

Did you accidentally turn on the attenuator? You will see ATT on the screen.

 

[werinshades]

Like this?

 

[Ubbe]

I took the antenna off and the radio is still working in its current state. Usually, whenever I removed it, NOISE would go in the higher range and DATA would disappear.

You are probably pulling at the circuit board when you have the antenna on. It sure sounds as a cold solder joint issue.

/Ubbe

 

[Dexter2]

No, nothing with Attenuator, I haven't used it nor has it popped up tvengr.

Not quite I don't think I could be wrong, werinshades.

Ah okay Ubbe, SDS100's definitely seem to have that issue.

Usually, the activity appears and sounds normal (DATA is present, full signal bars, NOISE is low, Squelch on 1 or 2). Then about two days ago, everything's the same but now the data bars range from zero to two (DATA still present and activity "normal"). So I figured, maybe its just some new interference coming from somewhere. Then, I begin to notice it wouldn't hold on a control channel on my best receiving system, even though signal bars would now be full. The bars and DATA would go in and out every time the frequencies would cycle through. After that I noticed, this system would start to flicker (just like `my old problem system - whenever I had squelch above 1) when activity would try to come through.

It has also been warm, so I figured maybe I've had it on the charger too long. That's when last night, I took the antenna off, and as I'm holding the radio, a full blown conversation came through and it stumped me.

After writing this, I took the antenna off again and now its showing as expected (high NOISE and signals blank).

 

[maus92]

These radios run warm. If the case or display is deforming, then I would worry about it. It sounds like the internal connection to the antenna connector has failed.