Simulcast

[Whospoonbill]

Is the 325 or 436 good in manor Texas or do I need to spend $600 on the sds100

 

[hiegtx]

Is the 325 or 436 good in manor Texas or do I need to spend $600 on the sds100

Hopefully, someone in the Austin area can give you more specific information on any simulcast issues in Travis County. That being said, while the 325P2 is a good scanner, simulcast is it's Achilles heel. The 436HP is marginally better, but if you are in a severe simulcast area, the SDS series scanners, the Blue Tail Receiver, the Unication pagers, or (if you are in a fixed location, not planning to go mobile) use a PC with a couple of SDR dongles to receive GATRRS are better choices if simulcast problems are present.

Simulcast Distortion - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Here's a map of the tower locations for Simulcast 1:



That site near Daffan might be close enough to you to ward off interference from the more distant sites. Or, maybe not. If you try to go ahead with the 325P2, or 436HP, I would suggest buying from a dealer that does not penalize you severely for returms with a healthy restocking fee.

 

[Whospoonbill]

Anyone from the Austin area

 

[cmjonesinc]

Post #3 in your previous thread has the answer.

436hp atx simulcast question

Does anybody live in Austin Texas that can tell me if they get good signal on a simulcast In the area with the bcd436hp i live in Austin teas and I hear I should get a sds100 but I wanna see how but the 436hp is on handle simulcast in Austin Texas

forums.radioreference.com

It's one of those things you just have to try and see. For some people simulcast isn't an issue in one spot but you can move 5 feet away and it's a problem. If you're going to be using the scanner in a mobile environment I can almost guarantee you will be disappointed with a 325 or 436. As others have said you can buy one and see how it works for you. Just make sure you get it from somewhere that isn't going to be a hassle with returns.

 

[Wes]

You want the SDS 100. I had the 436 and the SDS 100 is a huge difference.

 

[paulb]

Or a Unication G4 or G5…

 

[Whospoonbill]

What about these reviews I’m reading I heard the sds100 after 2 weeks of operation it just stops working know I’m begging to think it it’s even worth it

 

[hiegtx]

What about these reviews I’m reading I heard the sds100 after 2 weeks of operation it just stops working know I’m begging to think it it’s even worth it

There's no way anyone can positively guarantee that you'll never have a problem with any electronic device. (That applies to vehicles as well. Recalls are a fact of life at your local auto dealer.) Have there been issues with the SDS series scanners? Yes. But the problems, however many, or few, that there are, are what gets exposure, not the ones that work correctly. My SDS100 & SDS200 were among the first units sold and shipped. To date, I have no issues with either. No hum, no loss of reception due to the infamous cold solder joints, no display issues, nothing. That's due, partly, to PDL, not any skill & control on my part. If I decided I needed to add yet another scanner, I'd have no qualms about buying an another SDS series scanner.

Your options, if simulcast really is a problem at your location, remain the same as I noted in post #2.
Get an SDS series scanner
Get a Unication pager
Get a Blue Tail receiver
Or get a couple of SDRs, download the free software, and utilize your PC.

 

[Whospoonbill]

There's no way anyone can positively guarantee that you'll never have a problem with any electronic device. (That applies to vehicles as well. Recalls are a fact of life at your local auto dealer.) Have there been issues with the SDS series scanners? Yes. But the problems, however many, or few, that there are, are what gets exposure, not the ones that work correctly. My SDS100 & SDS200 were among the first units sold and shipped. To date, I have no issues with either. No hum, no loss of reception due to the infamous cold solder joints, no display issues, nothing. That's due, partly, to PDL, not any skill & control on my part. If I decided I needed to add yet another scanner, I'd have no qualms about buying an another SDS series scanner.

Your options, if simulcast really is a problem at your location, remain the same as I noted in post #2.
Get an SDS series scanner
Get a Unication pager
Get a Blue Tail receiver
Or get a couple of SDRs, download the free software, and utilize your PC.

So what’s the best place to get my sds100 from is amazon good zip scanners bearcat warehouse website

 

[cmjonesinc]

Amazon has a pretty good return policy. Can't speak for the others.

 

[hiegtx]

So what’s the best place to get my sds100 from is amazon good zip scanners bearcat warehouse website

Amazon has one of the most 'buyer friendly' return policies, no restock fees. However, at this time, the only seller at the "normal" price for the SDS100 indicates that there are only 3 in stock. There are two other sellers listed, but both have inflated prices.

Dealer Webtron-x has had several good comments in the forums, but is currently not in stock.

Bearcat Warehouse generally does a good job. They have several different "bundles" or "combo's" in addition to just the scanner. These packages may have some mix of accessories (like cases, antennas, external battery charger) at varying costs. They also promote their setup & 'programming'.

Don't opt for setup or programming from any dealer. You can do all that yourself, even if you initially "program" the scanner by updating the database then use location, range, & service types to begin scanning. There's lots of help here on the forums, in the Wiki, as well as YouTube videos illustrating how to create and add to Favorites lists.

ScannerMaster, of course, is an option.

I would avoid Zip Scanners. Members experiences with them have been all over the board. Some transactions, & customer experience have been all over the board. At times, members have reported smooth & seamless ordering & customer service handling, while others have been a seemingly endless nightmare of problem after problem, with late, or no response, from Zip in regard to handling issues.

Main Trading has also had generally spotless reviews, smooth & easy sales transactions. Occasionally, this dealer will post a "store demo" for a nicely discounted price. They currently show as out of stock. Note, however, that MTC is in Paris TX, so if you purchase there, you would be subject to Texas' 8.25% sales tax (that might also be the case with Amazon, but you can check that after you add a product to your shopping cart).

Another option to consider is Remtronix. Wile these are not "new" scanners, they are checked out & refurbed by Uniden, not a third party. The warranty is only 90 days, but for most electronics, the common issues generally come up fairly quickly. Their cost is $549.99, which is $100 off the 'normal' price at most dealers. They also include one of their 800MHz antennas made for the SDS100 (~$25 at most dealers), and for a 'limited time, their REM-842S tri-band antenna (about $30 from most retailers). I use the 842 antenna on my SDS100.

If you were going to only use the scanner at home, I might suggest getting a 436HP from Amazon, then returning it if simulcast can't be tamed with one of the suggestions on the Simulcast Distortion Wiki page. But since you are looking for a handheld, you probably want to be able to take it with you there in the Austin area, If you did that, you will run into the simulcast wall after you leave the house.

Other than the SDS100, your only other practical choice might be the Blue Tail receiver. It apparently handles simulcast well, and you can program more than one system and/or site. Currently, supplies are limited, but it is a good bit less expensive than the SDS scanners. However, it's not a traditional scanner. You would need to provide external power for it when mobile. I don't have this device, but comments are generally good. There is a forum set up for that radio. Read some of the comments, and ask questions, if you are considering one of these.

The Unication pager, which you see mentioned in multiple threads, does deal with simulcast well. But you are restricted to monitoring only one system (or a single site on a system such as GATRRS), and 64 talkgroups at a time. More can be programmed. You can change what you are listening to via a scroll knob, but only the limited number of talkgroups & the single site (at a time) can actually be monitored.

 

[KevinC]

To add to this, in my many travels to the Austin area you definitely want a receiver purpose made to receive LSM/CQPSK (simulcast). Steve has given you good choices. I have both the SDS100 and Unication G5 and they both perform great on the Austin area simulcast sites, my 436 not so much.

 

[Russell]

Ditto. Austin has horrendous simulcast issues. It may not be so bad in Manor. BC435HD is the minimum for outside Austin/Williamson. SDS100/200 is the best solution scanner wise.

 

[Whospoonbill]

My only fear is I don’t want a scanner that gonna break down I had still have my 125at and I’ve dropped it, it’s been snowed, rained on, anything you can think of and it still works I heard the sds100 works with water proof but idk I’m not worried about dropping it it’s in a Motorola case xts but I want it to last long just like my 125at and the orange screen is starting getting old I’m sure this scanner I have rn will last another 10 years or so there been some batteries issue but I fix it I want to get the 436 but I don’t have a vehicle to send it back if it doesn’t work the main thing is if the scanner I get is tuff enough to because be treated like a actually police radio

 

[hiegtx]

My only fear is I don’t want a scanner that gonna break down I had still have my 125at and I’ve dropped it, it’s been snowed, rained on, anything you can think of and it still works I heard the sds100 works with water proof but idk I’m not worried about dropping it it’s in a Motorola case xts but I want it to last long just like my 125at and the orange screen is starting getting old I’m sure this scanner I have rn will last another 10 years or so there been some batteries issue but I fix it I want to get the 436 but I don’t have a vehicle to send it back if it doesn’t work the main thing is if the scanner I get is tuff enough to because be treated like a actually police radio

Unless you plan to only use the 436HP (or the base/mobile version, 536HP) at home, where you can possibly rig an antenna setup to counter simulcast, you would be disappointed with either of those scanners if out & about driving around the Austin area. Simulcast will definitely cause you issues hearing the system.

If your concern regarding the SDS100 is mostly about damage from an accidental drop, ScannerMaster does sell a hard leather case. (I don't have one, but that should ease your concern about an accidental drop.)

SDS100 - Uniden Hard Leather Case/Swivel Belt Clip | Scanner Master

SDS100 - Uniden Hard Leather Case/Swivel Belt Clip

www.scannermaster.com

I can't speak for the durability of the Blue Tail P25RX. It is a good bit less expensive than an SDS100. Direct questions about it to the Blue Tail forum. Blue Tail Technologies

 

[ScannerMikeinTexas]

In Leander, Simulcast 1 site too far away for good reception, Honeycomb and Williamson come in perfect Whistler Trx1.. Also listen to airband my main interests..using longwire antenna directly connected to bnc..Try Trx1..

 

[IAmSixNine]

What about these reviews I’m reading I heard the sds100 after 2 weeks of operation it just stops working know I’m begging to think it it’s even worth it

You have to take those reviews with a grain of salt. I purchased a used SDS100 and its been working great for over a year plus however long the previous owner had it.
If only a handful of reviews stopped working after a few weeks think of how many are still working. Plus did they do something to cause it to stop working? Perhaps they could not figure out filters or were lazy and didnt want to learn it so hey it dont work send it back excuse.

 

[KK4JUG]

Uniden's SDS series are the only SCANNERS that can handle simulcast. Others either aren't scanners or they can't handle simulcast. The problems with Uniden scanners are coming from a very vocal minority. Most work quite well. If you peruse this forum, you'll find they've all had some kind of problems. Buy the scanner from a reputable dealer whose return policy you can live with

 

[hiegtx]

In Leander, Simulcast 1 site too far away for good reception, Honeycomb and Williamson come in perfect Whistler Trx1.. Also listen to airband my main interests..using longwire antenna directly connected to bnc..Try Trx1..

Leander is farther away from central Austin (and Simulcast 1) than Manor is. While I have a TRX-1, it is generally useless on the simulcast systems that dot the DFW area, unless I'm far enough away to let it pick up only one tower location.

Honeycomb is a single site, "Intellirepeater", and is used to fill in coverage in a specific area. It only carries talkgroups that are out of range of their 'preferred' site.

In Leander, which straddles the Williamson/Travis County border, you are near one of the transmit sites for the Williamson County Simulcast site. The nearby, strong, signal may wash out signals from other sub-sites.



If, instead, you were in Williamson County near Granger or Walburg, simulcast would likely be a serious issue.

As has been noted in the forums many times, Simulcast is extremely location specific. If you are close to a tower, the strong signal may override the out of sync signals from other transmitters, Or, you may be shielded, by terrain or a cluster of tall buildings, which block the other signals enough that you can monitor. In some cases, moving your scanner around a few feet in your house can lead you to a sweet spot, with conflicting signals being attenuated by metallic siding, foil-backed insulation in the walls, or something else in your house, like the refrigerator in your kitchen.

But those 'blocking' features (terrain, buildings, etc) are not effective when you are out & about with your scanner. Once mobile, simulcast will rear it's ugly head, with very little you can do to deal with it other than having a receiver capable of handling the situation.

 

[mastercylinder]

I have a 436 a sds100 and a sds200
The 436 would not pick up a p25 trunked system 35 miles away I got the 100 and it would get most of that system I ended up getting a 750mhz to 950mhz yagi antenna and now all of my radios pick up that system