To Buy or Not to Buy?

[KN4EHX]

Hello Uniden Gurus,

I realize the SDS 100 and 200 have been on the market for a hot day or two now and I’m a little late coming to the party.

So before I decide on buying either of the above, is there any reason to wait? Anything coming down the pipeline in the near future or another brand that I should consider?

DMR, P25 I and II, simulcast, NXDN, and analog are all used within 25 miles of me. Luckily not a whole lot of E.

Thank you!

 

[doctordialtone]

My SDS 200 is a poor receiver compared to my other Unidens.

Other than that, if you have simulcast in your area, you have no other option

Read the forums and you'll see similar reports.

Good luck!

Also the scanner has been out since 2019.

I doubt anything is due out in the near future.

 

[hiegtx]

Hello Uniden Gurus,

I realize the SDS 100 and 200 have been on the market for a hot day or two now and I’m a little late coming to the party.

So before I decide on buying either of the above, is there any reason to wait? Anything coming down the pipeline in the near future or another brand that I should consider?

DMR, P25 I and II, simulcast, NXDN, and analog are all used within 25 miles of me. Luckily not a whole lot of E.

Thank you!

Uniden does not announce new products well in advance, While they are almost always working on new products, I doubt that a release of a replacement product for the SDS series is imminent. While, certainly, there are a few features that certain forum members would like to see added, improved, or bugs corrected, I currently do not see a large "hole" in the market that is begging to be filled.

As Doc's noted, if simulcast is prevalent in your area, your choices are limited. Either an SDS series scanner, a Unication pager (or the semi-announced Unication 'scanner'), The BlueTail receiver, or using your PC &, an SDR dongle and software are your only workable options.

I would not realistically expect anything new from Whistler. At one point, they announced they were working on two new scanners, TRX-100 & TRX-200, to deal with Simulcast systems. But they dropped that project after letting it hang out there for a number of months, and nothing new has been seen in quite a while. I have my doubts that they are capable of such a new type of design, and seem content to try to milk as much of the market as possible with their current models based on the old GRE designs.

 

[KN4EHX]

I’m not in a major metro area, but if I travel simulcast is in the equation. Knoxville. Johnson City and Bristol both simulcast, but I’m not close enough to receive either.

 

[trentbob]

What Doc and Steve said LOL... I have had good success with reception in my location with the SDS series but it takes a lot of adjustment with filters. As has been said, only option for simulcast distortion secondary to LSM. You always have the option of a receive only non-affiliated commercial grade radio or a unication pager which is not exactly a scanner.

The SDS series is a steep learning curve but there's plenty of information on this site.

 

[hiegtx]

I’m not in a major metro area, but if I travel simulcast is in the equation. Knoxville. Johnson City and Bristol both simulcast, but I’m not close enough to receive either.

Yeah, if you travel at all, for any distance, either to (or pass through) a larger urban area, you can just about guarantee the simulcast vultures will be circling in the area.

 

[KN4EHX]

Yeah, if you travel at all, for any distance, either to (or pass through) a larger urban area, you can just about guarantee the simulcast vultures will be circling in the area.

That’s a very good way to describe it. Haven’t heard that one before. I’ll probably use it but I’ll at least cite you.

 

[MTScannerNut]

The only reason to consider the SDS series is if you encounter simulcast. I don't own one, but from everything I've read on this forum just about any other scanner is superior otherwise.

 

[donc13]

Hello Uniden Gurus,

I realize the SDS 100 and 200 have been on the market for a hot day or two now and I’m a little late coming to the party.

So before I decide on buying either of the above, is there any reason to wait? Anything coming down the pipeline in the near future or another brand that I should consider?

DMR, P25 I and II, simulcast, NXDN, and analog are all used within 25 miles of me. Luckily not a whole lot of E.

Thank you!

Plain and simple, you have simulcast, the SDS series is the only choice in a hobby class scanner.

Yes, it's not perfect, it scans a bit slower that some other scanners and it takes a while to "learn" the radio. I prefer (and own) an SDS200. I use it at home and on the road in my RV.

If you are going to use it only at home and not while driving around, you don't need a GPS with it. Otherwise, a GPS is a huge benefit.

There won't be any new radios fron Uniden for about 3 years.

 

[StoliRaz]

If you have no simulcast in your area, there's no need to get an SDS unless you really want one. The SDS-100 has had a fair share of issues reported as well (look up cold solder joint). And just a personal preference, I detest proprietary battery packs. Of course, your experience may vary but all this and the crazy pricetag was enough to keep me away.

That said, a Uniden 436HP or 325P2 would be a more cost effective option.

 

[MStep]

I have to agree with most other posts--- the SDS series (I'm using my SDS200 as an example), does not have the "hottest" (best) sensitivity of many of the other scanners and receivers that I have owned. They are however the most versatile scanners in terms of programming options and features. If you live in or very near a major metropolitan area (I'm in the heart of NYC), you will definitely get your money's worth.

Not to underestimate the SDS receivers, but I kind of think of them as "close-call" units, even when they are in regular mode.

 

[CanesFan95]

Plain and simple, you have simulcast, the SDS series is the only choice in a hobby class scanner.

Yes, it's not perfect, it scans a bit slower that some other scanners and it takes a while to "learn" the radio. I prefer (and own) an SDS200. I use it at home and on the road in my RV.

If you are going to use it only at home and not while driving around, you don't need a GPS with it. Otherwise, a GPS is a huge benefit.

There won't be any new radios fron Uniden for about 3 years.

How do we know there won't be any new radios from Uniden for about 3 years?

 

[donc13]

How do we know there won't be any new radios from Uniden for about 3 years?

Because their representative here, @JoeBearcat posted a strong hint saying that.

But, even if a new model came out next year, does it really matter? If the current SDS radios do what you want, why wait?

 

[darkness975]

Hello Uniden Gurus,

I realize the SDS 100 and 200 have been on the market for a hot day or two now and I’m a little late coming to the party.

So before I decide on buying either of the above, is there any reason to wait? Anything coming down the pipeline in the near future or another brand that I should consider?

DMR, P25 I and II, simulcast, NXDN, and analog are all used within 25 miles of me. Luckily not a whole lot of E.

Thank you!

I am glad I have mine. Nothing else would work from my apartment.