Uniden SDS 200

[boone53061]

Would the SDS 200 be too much scanner for Calumet County and the surrounding counties here in Wisconsin? Would the BCD536hp be all I would need?

Haven't used a scanner in many years with my last one being the 780xlt. Things have changed with scanner abilities over the years, and I haven't kept up with the times!

 

[mws72]

If you have simulcast systems in the area, otherwise the 536HP should be ok.

 

[wirr]

All your surrounding counties operate simulcast systems, and Calumet may be simulcast, so the SDS may be a good idea.

 

[reedmschultz]

I have experience with the handheld variants of the two scanners, the SDS100 and BCD435HP in the Fox Valley area. For the surrounding area, Calumet County/Manitowoc County Sheriff uses encryption 99% of the time, so you will not be able to listen to the majority of the sheriff transmissions. Fire and EMS services within both counties are not encrypted and still operating on analog channels. Gold Cross Ambulance utilizes a DMR system, so that would require the DMR upgrade to be purchased from Uniden. Outagamie and Winnebago share the same simulcast system and only have a few encrypted channels for police and work great on both the SDS100 and BCD435HP. Brown County is a simulcast system as well, however, is in the 700mhz band and can be challenge to monitor from a distance on the BCD435HP, while my SDS100 works great. Both of them are programmed using a tool called Sentinel, plenty of YouTube videos explaining how to use it, but it's different than the old scanners of just programming in a channel and listening. I hope that helps explain a little about what you'd experience, if you have other questions, don't hesitate to post.