SDS100/SDS200: Multiple Sites/ Mobile

[xusmarine1979]

Good afternoon, all. I'll feel a bit foolish so please forgive me if this question has been posted but I've tried different searches and not quite sure how to word it. So here goes...

Since the Pro 96 I've been a Radio Shack/GRE guy. One feature that those radios had was for the trunking they had a "Roam" feature. This allowed you to set the threshold to decode the best control channel as you were mobile. Most of the time, I had to attenuate the signal due to intermod and whatnot so it worked out due to the reduced signal.

However, the SDS is absolutely amazing and I can pick up so many sites now that I am not really interested in hearing while mobile but still use them when I visit those particular areas. I do have lists set up but if I just want to listen to all of MARCS here in Ohio then I either have to hold the site or create a list specifically for that site. So my question is, do these models have some way to lock onto the strongest signal without me having to do something manually?

Again, I apologize if this has been covered, I wasn't sure how to word it. Thanks in advance!

FYI... this is without GPS and strictly portable.

 

[UPMan]

No, but if you set your location (and if you are using a Favorites List set it to use location control), the sites scanned will be limited to only those within the set range.

 

[xusmarine1979]

So I don't need the GPS at all? I've programmed it that way for Ohio MARCS, in particular Stark and Summit County's systems but perhaps I didn't do it correctly. Thanks for the prompt reply!

 

[UPMan]

You might have your range set too high. 0 is the preferred range for keeping it to really just the local towers.

How it Works: Location, Location, Location

 

[xusmarine1979]

Ahhhhh, yup that would be it. I think default was 30. Thanks again, and thank you for an outstanding radio.

 

[xusmarine1979]

Okay, I've used Auto Locate. If I drive to another area and closer to another site, will the radio lock on to that other site? I work in one county and live in another.

 

[UPMan]

Zip code is probably better than auto locate (if you know it). Once you set your location, that is where the scanner thinks you are (in the case of zip code, the center of that zip code; in the case of auto locate, the location of the tower it happened to find) regardless of where you really are until you change the location setting. The only way for it to automatically update your location is by using a GPS accessory.

 

[xusmarine1979]

Okay got it. Yeah that's what I was aiming for. Thanks again for your help.

 

[UnidenSupport]

Zip code is probably better than auto locate (if you know it). Once you set your location, that is where the scanner thinks you are (in the case of zip code, the center of that zip code; in the case of auto locate, the location of the tower it happened to find) regardless of where you really are until you change the location setting. The only way for it to automatically update your location is by using a GPS accessory.

Correct me If I'm wrong, Paul, but auto-locate was mostly designed to be used in situations where you do not know the zip code, or you may be far enough away from a zip code that entering one may not give you the results you want. Those are the main situations we generally recommend people use it, and I can't think of a situation outside of those where it is all that beneficial.

 

[UPMan]

Primarily for when you don't know what zip code you are in. Actual method used is described here: US8090388B1 - Method and apparatus for determining a geographic location - Google Patents