Just a Thought - SDS200 - No - Unication Yes !!

[rvacs]

I know this will probably never make it to through....

Love the looks of the SDS-200 model by Uniden. But if its just a SDS-100 in a mobile then not interested.
Why because when I put the SDS-100 next to my G5...the SDS-100 missed lots of comms on our simulcast system vs. the G5.

OH OH how I would love a mobile/base version of the G5 !!!

 

[eorange]

I've been reading the SDS200 thread. Other than the Ethernet port which opens up some cool possibilities...I can't see how the SDS200 would perform any differently than the SDS100. So you kinda know what you're probably in for either way.

Meanwhile my G4 continues to perform spectacularly, even mobile in the cupholder.

 

[Jimco]

On the Fort Worth Regional Radio System where I am, the SDS100 performs close to the G5 on the Layer 2 TGIDs. However, Site 3 (which is the NETCOM site) is worse on the SDS100 than the G5. If I had to choose one radio, it would have to be the G5. I am an admin for a large public safety reporting site in our area, and when I needed a second radio, I debated strongly on getting the SDS vs. a second G5. The only reason I chose the SDS is because I sometimes need to monitor frequencies other than P25 systems.

I like the SDS, but it's bulkier than the G5 and the battery performance is TERRIBLE compared to the G5. It takes the battery about 10 hours to charge fully, and with a full charge, it only lasts about 6-7 hours. (This is the big battery.) That's just awful! It's the thing I hate the most about the SDS.

Jim

 

[KevinC]

I know this will probably never make it to through....

Love the looks of the SDS-200 model by Uniden. But if its just a SDS-100 in a mobile then not interested.
Why because when I put the SDS-100 next to my G5...the SDS-100 missed lots of comms on our simulcast system vs. the G5.

OH OH how I would love a mobile/base version of the G5 !!!

Fortunately for you Uniden hasn't paid me this year to delete any negative posts about them so you're good.

 

[wmlovell]

Meanwhile my G4 continues to perform spectacularly, even mobile in the cupholder.

That's not a cupholder, it's a G4/G5 Mobile Mount! My car came with one, too!

 

[eorange]

That's what I meant. In fact, I have multiple G4/G5 Mobile Mounts!

 

[mule1075]

I know this will probably never make it to through..

Why would it not? That being said until they come out with a 150/450 dual band some of us are out of luck.

 

[gcopter1]

Been using Unidens all my life. I've also owned, briefly, a TRX-1, a Harris P7100 and 2 G4's.
I liked the TRX-1 memory architecture, individual talkgroup recordings and scanlist selection. However, P25 reception sucked compared to the Uniden436/536.

The Harris was a great rig, I could make a scanlist on the fly and hold onto any tg. Battery life was good. However, heavy to carry around and I couldn't program it (had to send it out to someone else).

The G4's I sold because I used to listen to a very large system, no matter how I looked at it, couldn't find a way to program it "creatively" and achieve satisfying results, I always found myself wanting a tg hold, nuissance skip and a wired earphone. Despite repeated pleas from scanner users for them (Unication) to consider putting in scanner like features, nothing was forthcoming. I get it, we are not their target customer, I accept that.

Now, an encryption skip feature is in "beta". Whenever they do release it successfully, I'll open up the wallet again.

Not to bash the SDS100, I really want to like it but the battery life doesn't cut it for me.
The videos that I've seen online side by side with a Unication, seems to give the edge to the Unication.
Every now and then I can hear in these videos the SDS100 gurgle when receiving simulcast.


I moved to another area where I can monitor a smaller amount of tg's and the G4 seems to fit the bill.

 

[ChrisABQ]

Hmmmm... an $800 scanner that is brand new and will have tons of issues for several years, or for bit more coin, a professional radio that has a proven track record. There really is no choice, Unication.

 

[maus92]

Why would it not? That being said until they come out with a 150/450 dual band some of us are out of luck.

Or SmartZone capable.

 

[belvdr]

The deciding factors for me were a headphone jack and the ability to receive across a wide range.

To each their own and I'm glad there are plenty of options to fit everyone's needs. We shouldn't care what others buy.

 

[tglendye]

I really like my G5. If... they would add some functions such as lockout and manual, I believe it would be a perfect radio. The reception on my local and state system is unbelievably good for a radio that is not affiliated with the system- and sounds the same as a system radio. There is also an issue that needs to be addressed with Harris P25 systems regarding the two-tone paging that Unication is aware of. If they find a solution for both of these, it would be the perfect "pager/ scanner". I know they market these radios as pagers, but I believe if they make these adjustments they could market it as both and sell more units. As of now, the paging does not work for my system and the "scanning" is a little lacking without the options that I like.

 

[Citywide173]

Competition is good. Unication (Taiwan-not US-the US guys are awesome) needs to see the forest through the trees though, they have the architecture in place and I'm sure it would only be minor R&D to develop a scanner for marketing in the US that would blow anything else out of the water. The G4 and G5 are great, and my G5 has become my preferred monitoring radio, but there is so much more available that they just don't seem to want to release in the US. Check out the feature chart at: G2 / G3 / G4 / G5 SERIES VOICE PAGERS They have a VHF/UHF unit, they have DMR, they have TETRA, they have Single band VHF and Single band UHF, they have bluetooth 4.0, but for some reason don't want to release them here. They could be a powerhouse, but for some reason, choose not to be.

 

[Jimco]

Not to bash the SDS100, I really want to like it but the battery life doesn't cut it for me.
The videos that I've seen online side by side with a Unication, seems to give the edge to the Unication.
Every now and then I can hear in these videos the SDS100 gurgle when receiving simulcast.

This is EXACTLY the performance I get. I get 19+ hours of battery life out of my G5 and about 6-7 on the SDS100. Strangely, the G5 battery charges fully in about 4-5 hours, but the SDS100 takes well over 9 hours to charge fully.

 

[W8RMH]

Competition is good. Unication (Taiwan-not US-the US guys are awesome) needs to see the forest through the trees though, they have the architecture in place and I'm sure it would only be minor R&D to develop a scanner for marketing in the US that would blow anything else out of the water. The G4 and G5 are great, and my G5 has become my preferred monitoring radio, but there is so much more available that they just don't seem to want to release in the US. Check out the feature chart at: G2 / G3 / G4 / G5 SERIES VOICE PAGERS They have a VHF/UHF unit, they have DMR, they have TETRA, they have Single band VHF and Single band UHF, they have bluetooth 4.0, but for some reason don't want to release them here. They could be a powerhouse, but for some reason, choose not to be.

I read somewhere that the G2 and/or G3 could not get FCC approval. My G4 does the job for me. I listen to 99.9% P25 700/800. DMR would be nice but it is only used for businesses here. I may buy a G5, and an amplifier and use that and my G4 for my feed. The one thing holding me back is the lack of a 3 second delay. My local LSM system is hard to receive correctly and I am not going to pay $750 for a new Uniden.

 

[cryppie]

I read somewhere that the G2 and/or G3 could not get FCC approval. My G4 does the job for me. I listen to 99.9% P25 700/800. DMR would be nice but it is only used for businesses here. I may buy a G5, and an amplifier and use that and my G4 for my feed. The one thing holding me back is the lack of a 3 second delay. My local LSM system is hard to receive correctly and I am not going to pay $750 for a new Uniden.

If you're buying for your feed then figure out how you will get the audio in before you buy. The G4 and G5 are not the best choice for a feed. I wrote about this here. I would wait to see how the SDS200 does if your primary reason for purchase is the feed.

 

[Uni1]

I read somewhere that the G2 and/or G3 could not get FCC approval.

Not true. G2 / G3 was waiting for the new firmware V1.2. We will be selling the G2 in UHF or VHF and the G3 UHF/VHF dual band soon.

 

[b1100mac]

I just listed my 2 G-5’s and the amp charger in classifieds. Moved to montana which is all repeated VHF analog. Will be anxously awaiting a VHF g-2 if the units external antenna is VHF,,,mac

 

[W8RMH]

I must have been thinking of another type of radio. I thought it transmitted as well.

What is the difference between the G2, 3, 4 and 5s? They all look the same.

 

[W8RMH]

If you're buying for your feed then figure out how you will get the audio in before you buy. The G4 and G5 are not the best choice for a feed. I wrote about this here. I would wait to see how the SDS200 does if your primary reason for purchase is the feed.

I was considering a G5 for DMR and UHF anyway, and was going retire my G4 plus the amplifier/charger for the feed. I am aware of the delay issue. I read that a ground loop isolator will eliminate the pops. Just thinking about it at this point.