Is it worth the investment?

[YMS_1975]

Hello,

I'm retired now & from the Niagara (ON) Region. I had a scanner years ago but it was for a very specific purpose and no, I no longer have any of my old equipment. I was just wondering, if there's much to listen to out there in my area (Niagara, ON Region).

I was thinking about buying the Uniden SDS100 Digital Handheld Scanner. I'm looking to buy something that has a full range of features (which I will slowly learn about). Because I'm retired, I have time to learn. I just want to scan the frequencies, and see what's out there (anywhere).

So can someone from my area tell me if this would be a good model for me?

 

[EJB]

If you have enough money for a SDS100, get it. Niagara Region has a listenable system for fire. Across the river there are things to monitor. FleetNet isn't dead yet. It works great on air traffic.

 

[OntFF221]

Scanning in Niagara can be a little difficult; as the regional system (Niagara Fire, St. Kitts Fire, West Lincoln Grimsby fire) is a P25 Ph2 simulcast system - some scanners have difficulty with that, and you get audio distortion... I had to switch to an SDR dongle running OP25 on a Pi to get clean audio... How well the SDS does with simulcast, I don't know, so I can't speak about that specific scanner.

NRPS is on the same system, but they're running full encryption; so they're a non-issue.

Welland, NOTL, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Thorold and Wainfleet Fire are all currently on conventional systems; although Welland is working on a new system that should be rolling out around the end of the year, from what I gather.

FleetNet has lots of OPP & EMS activity.

 

[NS9710]

SDS100 does GREAT with simulcast. That's one of it's primary functions

Scanning in Niagara can be a little difficult; as the regional system (Niagara Fire, St. Kitts Fire, West Lincoln Grimsby fire) is a P25 Ph2 simulcast system - some scanners have difficulty with that, and you get audio distortion... I had to switch to an SDR dongle running OP25 on a Pi to get clean audio... How well the SDS does with simulcast, I don't know, so I can't speak about that specific scanner.

NRPS is on the same system, but they're running full encryption; so they're a non-issue.

Welland, NOTL, Fort Erie, Port Colborne, Thorold and Wainfleet Fire are all currently on conventional systems; although Welland is working on a new system that should be rolling out around the end of the year, from what I gather.

FleetNet has lots of OPP & EMS activity.