Is this scanner really needed in Minnesota? We all thought the 436/536 was the killer scanner when they came out. You can only listen to one talking at a time with the new scanner, right? I live by St. Cloud and wonder if it’s worth it.
I have had scanners most of my life. I am 57 years old and got my first, crystal controlled scanner when I was a teenager. With that in mind, I have seen quite a few changes over the years. Like many products in life, manufacturers will add new features to get consumers to buy.
Some people find certain features more important than others. For example, when PL tone was an option with an accessory board and switch from Uniden, I bought it and loved it. It added to my understanding of two-way communication systems, too. Of course, many other people didn't see the need and kept using their older scanners.
Other changes can shut people out, if they don't keep up. For example, when some organizations went to 800 MHz around the country, you had to have that band to listen. Some older scanners were analog VHF/UHF and didn't have 800 MHz.
When some systems went to trunking and your radio didn't trunk track, you would be shut out. Some would try and follow with conventional equipment, but it was probably frustrating.
There are now various digital modulation types in use around the world. P25, DMR, NXDN, System Fusion, D Star, etc. If your radio isn't capable of decoding that type, you will be shut out.
If you're listening is AM aircraft, none of that really matters to you. You can keep listening to your service on whatever radio tunes in to that band.
Most public safety in Minnesota is on ARMER. It is a digital APCO P25, trunked, 800 MHz system. If that is what interests you and what you are using now works, don't change anything.
However, areas with simulcast can be a source of frustration for some people. Many/most consumer grade scanners can't decode it properly and the audio doesn't sound good.
The SDS100 is reported to perform much better on simulcast systems because of a change in receiver design. It also has DMR and NXDN options available.
Some people only are interested in certain services. For example, fire service is their thing and they have zero interest in anything else,
Other people like having a device that has the ability to listen to as many things as possible. They want it all.
As time goes on, it is getting more difficult to have a "Swiss Army knife" radio that will do everything AND do it well. And, if it does, to have an affordable price.
AOR makes some very solid radios. Their AR-DV1 will monitor a number of digital modes. I don't believe that they will trunk-track, however.
I apologize for the length of this response, but hopefully it is helpful. The bottom line is, if you like what you have and use. If it works, don't bother spending the money for anything else. Sort of like my 8 year old car. I have no need to update right now.
On the other hand, if you feel like your audio on the 436/536 does sound garbled sometimes, you might want to consider upgrading.
You should know, too, that the SDS-100 isn't your only choice, however. I happen to have a Unication G5 and it performs better than any consumer grade scanner I have ever used. It isn't cheap and won't listen from DC to daylight, but what it does, it does very well.
