Scanner upgrade for Richmond VA?

[goodoleboy]

Hi Everyone, longtime observer and first time poster here. I'm listening to broadcasts in greater Richmond VA, primarily STARS and local police and Fire/EMS for Henrico County. I'm listening on a Radio Shack Pro-106. I have no problems with it at all and don't seem to have any simulcast reception issues. Is there any reason to consider upgrading to one of those fancy Uniden SDS 100 models? I'm wary of spending that much money, seeing as we all know there is that much less to listen to lately on the police dispatch talkgroups. But if there is something revolutionary about this Uniden scanner (other than the really nice display, of course) then I'm all ears.

 

[clbsquared]

Eventually STARS will be upgraded to Phase II P-25. While I'm sure it will support Phase I subscribers for a while, ultimately it will all be Phase II. I don't think the 106 supports Phase II. Also, there is DMR to consider. The 106 isn't DMR capable.

 

[kainixon2187]

A SDS100 is a good option as it's pretty easy to use and program. I also really like how the newer uniden scanners can listen to different digital modes and different types of trunking systems, and it comes in handy, especially when traveling. Pretty much everywhere is upgrading or has already upgraded to TDMA now too. What's neat is all you have to do is put in your zip code and it's starts scanning everything listed in your area.

 

[BAH1]

I have too many problems with SDS 100. Antenna,battery arrangement,connot see front without reading glasses , I like programming it myself ECT. Sure models, BCD325P2 ,BCD996P2. None of issues above. Simalcast issues can be worked out!

 

[zlandmedia]

I'm listening to broadcasts in greater Richmond VA, primarily STARS and local police and Fire/EMS for Henrico County.

Just curious, do you mean the Henrico Sheriff (which primarily handles the jail)? All municipal police traffic on the H/R/C system is encrypted; the only police traffic in the open is the Capitol PD and the university police departments, as well as the occasional regionwide transmissions.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

A SDS100 is a good option as it's pretty easy to use and program.

Highly debatable. Plenty of posters seek assistance with its use and programming daily on the Uniden Tech Support forum. Great scanner though & champion of simulcast distortion mitigation

 

[goodoleboy]

Just curious, do you mean the Henrico Sheriff (which primarily handles the jail)? All municipal police traffic on the H/R/C system is encrypted; the only police traffic in the open is the Capitol PD and the university police departments, as well as the occasional regionwide transmissions.

The Capitol PD and Univ. of Richmond PD and the various Regionwide talk groups are what I was implying. I haven't plugged in the sheriff talk groups. Yes, the encryption of Henrico and Richmond dispatch channels makes me not want to invest any more money into this hobby for now, hence the reason for my post. Thanks for everyone's replies and I look forward to contributing more to this forum.

 

[viggendriver]

My first scanner was a PRO-38 and I've had a lot of scanners since. The SDS-100 is the best scanner I have ever owned by far. Using the Sentinel program its pretty easy to program provided you have some understanding of how the target system is deployed. The scanner is highly capable and there are so many things you can tailor and tweak. I probably only take advantage of 50% of the features! The only real problem is that a lot of these P25 systems are statewide systems and if you are mobile, you pretty much need a GPS antenna to make it usable. Battery life sucks (~4hrs) but this really isn't a scanner, it's a computer that just happens to output audio I'm up in the DC area and everything is pretty much P25 with a few Type II.

With that being said, if your PRO-106 is working for the systems you want to monitor, I can't see the SDS being worth the extra $$. If some of those systems go Type II, then sure, upgrade. But by then Uniden might have the SDS-101 or something.

 

[clbsquared]

If some of those systems go Type II, then sure, upgrade. But by then Uniden might have the SDS-101 or something.

Phase II, not Type II. Type II refers to a smart net system. Which the 106 can handle. Phase II is P25 TDMA

 

[KC3ECJ]

Highly debatable. Plenty of posters seek assistance with its use and programming daily on the Uniden Tech Support forum. Great scanner though & champion of simulcast distortion mitigation

The button pressing procedure for holding a system is a bit convoluted.