SDS100 - Backlight Issues

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W2SJW

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Wondering what others have their backlight settings set for, as I'm having a minor issue with my new SDS100:


Short transmissions will often fail to illuminate the backlight, or cause it to flicker for a split-second & then go out while the transmission continues.


I'm using 'open squelch' for the backlight time & '15 seconds' for the key activation time.
 

W2SJW

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Ok, I'm going.to go ahead and claim this as a firmware-based bug.

I've been listening for 1.5 hours now, and there has been constant split-second backlight flickering & then it not coming on at all once the squelch opens & people start talking.

It's doing it constantly on P25 & half the time on the State Type-II system. I'm going to test analog conventional right now.
 

jonwienke

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There is a related bug, if you have the squelch setting on Open Squelch, and the screen set to turn on when plugged in to USB power, and key set to infinite, the first transmission will turn the screen on and it will stay on until you tap the power button. That will shut the screen off, but only until the next transmission. Which turns it on again indefinitely.
 

Jake68111

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I have mine set up similar to yours and yes, there are times where the light doesn't come on during transmissions. I'd say it has happened less than 5% of the time and I've spent all of today and a few hours last night listening. I have not experienced the backlight flicker you have mentioned.

I'm sure it can be corrected by a firmware tweak..
 

W2SJW

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Just to confirm now, scanning analog conventional does not display this behavior at all.

Squelch is '2'
Backlight is 'open squelch'
Key time is '15'
Backlight when plugged in is 'Yes'

Definitely not a show-stopper, totally agree this can probably be fixed in firmware.
 

W2SJW

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This video is courtesy of NY admin GTR8000 (his friend just got the SDS100 as well).

This clearly shows the backlight bug in action (and he probably took a much better video than I would have!) on the Rockland County P25 system:

https://youtu.be/diYbwcmWuc0
 

racing1

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@UPMan do you know about this issue?

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
 

W2SJW

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A quick follow-up with another video, this time with my own SDS100 (displaying the same behavior):


https://youtu.be/MvFLgdeJHAs


UPMan - can you at least confirm you are aware of this and will turn it over to the engineers? Thanks!
 

escortz28

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Just received my SDS-100 this afternoon. Noticed the exact same issue as the OP while monitoring P25 P1 system - thought the new scanner was malfunctioning. Unfortunately mine occurs very frequently.
 

dhmann1811

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Unfortunately, I am also experiencing the same issue as others have posted here. Utilizing the battery, the screen will go black/blank on and off. It does not appear to happen while connected to power.
 

divison200

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Read the manuel

There nothing wrong with your radio, take your time, read the booklet and re do your settings for the backlight. This radio may take a little more time to set up.
 

divison200

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Like a new car, there is a learning curve. My S100 did the same thing. I re read the Manuel ,reset the display settings and my screen stays lit, when you start up the scanner.
 

W2SJW

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There nothing wrong with your radio, take your time, read the booklet and re do your settings for the backlight. This radio may take a little more time to set up.


...and that's been SOLIDLY disproved already, with video to back it up.
 

W2SJW

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Like a new car, there is a learning curve. My S100 did the same thing. I re read the Manuel ,reset the display settings and my screen stays lit, when you start up the scanner.


The majority of us don't want the screen illuminated when the unit is not receiving traffic to maximize battery longevity.


I'm going to go out on a limb & say the vast majority of owners plan to use that operations mode when running solely on battery power. On cable, that's a totally different story...
 

jonwienke

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There's an option to keep the screen on all the time when plugged into USB power.
 

W2SJW

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Oh, I know. I set that feature straight-away when I unpacked the unit & dumped my custom profile into it.

I'm just standing behind my previous troubleshooting and discovery steps that led to the realization of this problem.

Now that others are chiming in as well with the exact same issue, I don't feel so bad!
 

dhmann1811

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Like a new car, there is a learning curve. My S100 did the same thing. I re read the Manuel ,reset the display settings and my screen stays lit, when you start up the scanner.

I’ve read the manual and own a 436 so I’m pretty use to the features on the scanner. I don’t think it is normal for the screen to start flashing and going in and out even while talking. However, since you are an expert, I’d appreciate you telling what I need to do to fix the issue that myself and others are experiencing.
 

Nasby

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Oh, I know. I set that feature straight-away when I unpacked the unit & dumped my custom profile into it.

I'm just standing behind my previous troubleshooting and discovery steps that led to the realization of this problem.

Now that others are chiming in as well with the exact same issue, I don't feel so bad!

You are correct. Definitely an issue. Mine exhibits the exact same behavior.
I know the Uniden backlight settings like the back of my hand and something ain't quite right.
 
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