New Guy is Confused
- Thread starter kc8lzg
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MStep
Member
I know you will get more definitive answers here. And hopefully you will hear from some folks in your area who will give you their experiences with their own 536 units and the particular system that you want to monitor. Most folks are going to tell you that for simulcast, the SDS100 and 200 are the units designed to mitigate the effects of simulcast as much as is currently possible on any non-commercial, hobbyist type scanner radio.
I've used the 536 here in NYC and did not experience the severity of simulcast issues that some here speak about. Perhaps my modest antenna configuration lessened the number of simultaneous signals hitting my radio. The 536 is now a backup to my SDS200.
If you are planning to use the 536 primarily for base operation, then you might consider spending the extra bucks for the SDS200. I know some say the 536 has a better size and shape for the mobile mounting as opposed to the 200. Of course, if you have an offer to purchase a 536 used, then only you can decide if the difference in price is justified.
If the plan is to alternate the use of the 536 from base to mobile on a regular basis, another option would be the SDS100, the handheld sibling to the 200.
I guess it really comes down to how you plan using the receiver, but the consensus here is that to avoid silmulcast issues as much as possible, be it at home of on the road, the SDS series is worth the extra bucks.
I know I did little to help answer your question, and I think the best option is, as I mentioned earlier, to look for folks in your area with the 536 who regularly monitor the system you are interested in, and get their impressions.
TailGator911
Silent Key/KF4ANC
My 536 does not do well with simulcast here on the Ohio MARCS digital P25 Phase 1 simulcast system, and after acquiring a pair of SDS scanners I have since programmed it to monitor other local systems. I think you would find it beneficial to just cut to the chase and get an SDS to monitoryour simulcast system. Definitely worth the extra jack to be able to clearly hear what's going in your area. You won't regret it.
Definitely simulcast in your area
Your system is https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=100&siteSort=county#sites
Your site is Ottawa County Simulcast Site Details (Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS))
Lots of debate on simulcast - Uniden SDS 100/200 are the only scanners designed to handle simulcast. However, you can search around the forums around for a fair amount of tips and tricks, such as using a beam (yagi) antenna directed at the closest site, using the attenuator, physical directors (aka tin foil), etc.
Hope that helps.
Your system is https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=100&siteSort=county#sites
Your site is Ottawa County Simulcast Site Details (Michigan's Public Safety Communications System (MPSCS))
Lots of debate on simulcast - Uniden SDS 100/200 are the only scanners designed to handle simulcast. However, you can search around the forums around for a fair amount of tips and tricks, such as using a beam (yagi) antenna directed at the closest site, using the attenuator, physical directors (aka tin foil), etc.
Hope that helps.
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I live 0.8 miles from a simulcasted site. Pointing a yagi at it and trying all the tricks did not work. finally bout a SDS 200 and now things are fine. The tricks only sometimes work.
You might have this post moved to the Michigan Forum where you can ask people in the GR/Holland area their opinions. I can tell you that I have used a 325P2 handheld when I visited Saugatuck and it worked fine but I was only there for a few days and perhaps where I was in the area, Simulcast wasn't so bad.
kc8lzg
Member
Thank you. How would I get the moderator to move this post to the Michigan forum?
I bought a 436 about 2 months ago and I’m already buying a sds100. I would suggest stepping up to the sds series to start with.
I have both ws 1065 and ws 1040 that work great in Ottawa and Allegan co. Maybe I got lucky and don’t really need a 700.00 scanner.
I live in St Joseph, no simulcast here. But I go camping and ride the bike trails several times a year in your area. Because of my mobile nature the simulcast is a real problem. I have used both a Unication G5 and SDS100 in your area with very good results.
west-pac
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I'm just curious, did you try disconnecting the antenna altogether; or using a paperclip in the antenna connector?
Don't forget, sometimes simulcast distortion results in not receiving anything. While attenuation of signal might help, you never know for sure.
freqs
Member
Iam in Macomb county my County and surrounding Counties are all Simulcast Towers .
I bought my 436 before the SDS came out i hope to upgrade soon .
I do have all the issues i have to move it around the house to get the sweet spot for the best reception .
I did find a trick that helps but far from perfect I took and set the Digital Threshold up to 12 it seem to have less distortion
Now I live near a Tower so that may help me while mobile with it it still has distortion isues
From what ive read a the SDS units or Unication Pager works as well as an actual Radio
I bought my 436 before the SDS came out i hope to upgrade soon .
I do have all the issues i have to move it around the house to get the sweet spot for the best reception .
I did find a trick that helps but far from perfect I took and set the Digital Threshold up to 12 it seem to have less distortion
Now I live near a Tower so that may help me while mobile with it it still has distortion isues
From what ive read a the SDS units or Unication Pager works as well as an actual Radio
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BananaPepper
Member
I do not live in Ottawa County but program scanners for a customer there. He has two WS1040's. They will receive bits of the communication but do cut out during the call. He has tried a few of the tricks, the one that had effect was setting the squelch at 0. After months of doing research and reading posts on RR he has decided to go with the SDS100. We are waiting for it to arrive, it has been on back order.
I've been staying quiet on the subject for several months now. But it's time to speak out again. I'm in S.E. Michigan, Macomb County, Macomb Township, Michigan near 25 Mile & Romeo Plank Rd. I currently own one SDS200 and two BCD536HP's and they all work perfect. Side by side I can't tell the difference! Same goes for Uniden's BCD436HP, BCD996P2, and Whistler's TRX-2, and Radio Shack's PRO-197. This is from my home office using the stock-supplied antenna indoors. Now if I go mobile it's a different story. There are numerous areas that will work ok, but not while driving, only stationary.
I have two friends in Washington Township, Michigan near Van Dyke Rd and 29 Mile Rd using Whistler WS-1098 and they're completely satisfied.
So my advice is try and borrow one from a friend to try before you buy, or buy from a reputable dealer that will allow you a full-refund if you're not satisfied and can return it. If it works you'll save a couple hundred bucks. In the future if your situation/location changes you might wish you bought a SDS200.
I have two friends in Washington Township, Michigan near Van Dyke Rd and 29 Mile Rd using Whistler WS-1098 and they're completely satisfied.
So my advice is try and borrow one from a friend to try before you buy, or buy from a reputable dealer that will allow you a full-refund if you're not satisfied and can return it. If it works you'll save a couple hundred bucks. In the future if your situation/location changes you might wish you bought a SDS200.
BananaPepper
Member
I appreciate your knowledge. As I stated, I do not live in Ottawa County or a county with simulcast. The customer I have is in a "mobile" business and is travelling throughout the county. I am unsure of the simulcast reception because I have no experience with receiving it. If I were not looking for mobile capabilities I do think the SDS100 may not be needed. Again, I am not located in simulcast and my WS1040, WS1065, and PRO scanners I have out in our counties work well.
StaticDischarge
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I lived in Wayne county, Michigan for 1 1/2 years and I had three towers all within bike riding range of me that serviced three different entities. No radio that I tried, no antenna, no filter (software or otherwise) would give me anything really useful to be able to hear much of anything worthwhile. The SDS200 and an Icom discone worked pretty much flawlessly with all three entities programmed!
In Ottawa I am sure you aren't going to experience that scenario so yeah with a bunch of trying this and that you may get one of the above mentioned radios to work for you fine enough but I strongly suggest a conventional analog radio and an SDS100 or 200 to forgo anything other than simply programming and listening as the SDS series radios will do for you.
As far as the hum issue on the 200, implement my "Hum fix" and you are good to go!
Ps... you can have my SDS200 only when you think you can pry it from my cold dead hands!!!
In Ottawa I am sure you aren't going to experience that scenario so yeah with a bunch of trying this and that you may get one of the above mentioned radios to work for you fine enough but I strongly suggest a conventional analog radio and an SDS100 or 200 to forgo anything other than simply programming and listening as the SDS series radios will do for you.
As far as the hum issue on the 200, implement my "Hum fix" and you are good to go!
Ps... you can have my SDS200 only when you think you can pry it from my cold dead hands!!!
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