Uniden SDS150 vs SDS100

[NS9710]

I know there's half a million posts of the new SDS150.
One thing I've not got a clear cut answer on is, does the SDS150 out of the box vs the 100 out of the box do any better on VHF [primarily the railroad] conventional, or is it still about the same?
I've owned two SDS100s, never was really impressed with the performance, but I loved the customizable screen and color display.

I know different antennas and so forth can help with the reception, but I'm talking stock out of the box with the supplied antenna and programmed the same way.

 

[J-Wrock]

In my humble opinion, yes. When my 150 arrived I put the stock antenna on the 150 and the original stock antenna back on the 100 and tuned in my local air traffic. The 150 does sound better.

Edit: just noticed you mentioned railroad specifically. I have not compared the two side by side on rail but the 150 sounds better than I remember the 100 sounding.

 

[NS9710]

I was referring to range

In my humble opinion, yes. When my 150 arrived I put the stock antenna on the 150 and the original stock antenna back on the 100 and tuned in my local air traffic. The 150 does sound better.

Edit: just noticed you mentioned railroad specifically. I have not compared the two side by side on rail but the 150 sounds better than I remember the 100 sounding.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

I was referring to range

Ugg this discussion again...

 

[Trucker700]

My SDS150 works just fine on railroad frequencies with the stock antenna. But, using my Diamond RH77CA improves reception. Just as connecting it to the tri-band antenna mounted on the luggage rack rail of my car improves reception. ( and range) Of course, this all depends on where you are located and how far you are from active railroad traffic.
James

 

[NS9710]

I was asking without having to use after market material, would you knock it off. I know that after market adds to increased range.

Ugg this discussion again...

 

[jasonhouk]

I know there's half a million posts of the new SDS150.
One thing I've not got a clear cut answer on is, does the SDS150 out of the box vs the 100 out of the box do any better on VHF [primarily the railroad] conventional, or is it still about the same?
I've owned two SDS100s, never was really impressed with the performance, but I loved the customizable screen and color display.

I know different antennas and so forth can help with the reception, but I'm talking stock out of the box with the supplied antenna and programmed the same way.

VHF propagation is fundamentally line-of-sight, meaning the maximum theoretical reception distance is limited by the Earth's curvature and antenna heights rather than just the scanner's capabilities.

With that said, based on user reports and comparisons, the SDS150 does perform noticeably better out of the box on VHF conventional frequencies compared to the SDS100, particularly with weak signals using the stock antenna.

 

[ratboy]

The SDS150, side by side with a known good SDS100, is the clear winner on VHF/Air/Railband. I even took my SDS200 out mobile to see what it did, and even with it on a magmount VHF antenna, it was slightly worse than the 150 was on the stock duck. Is the 150 great? No, but its OK. Compared to my BC125AT, it's a loser, as it is against any of my other handhelds, but it's not totally deaf like the 100 and my 200 are for railband. I sit and watch trains near a defect detector (Holland, Oh MP 297 on the NS Chicago line), and on the 100 and 200, the detector is clear most of the time, but if you move the radios around, you can find spots where it gets staticy. On the 150, it's rock solid regardless of positon. I can hear the detector on the 150 leaving work, about 2.5 miles away, the 100 hears nothing until youget about halfway there, and it's really weak. On airband, very little comes out of the 200, even with the magmount antenna being used. The 125AT is much busier, stock duck, big duck, or mag mount. the 100 is similar.

My best railband radios: Yaesu VX-170. Pretty sensitive and loud audio. Radtel RT-950Pro good audio and the triple watch is pretty great for train watching the NS Chicago line. Gone but not forgotten:Icom IC2300 mobile 2 meter. Great VHF reception and audio. It got stolen when my car did. Maybe I should look for one or the replacement model...

 

[NS9710]

Thanks. I know VHF is relatively see it hear it, but the SDS100 was more so geared towards simulcast P25 over conventional, and yes, there are antennas to improve, there are different settings in programming, and such that will help with it.
However, Uniden dropped the ball in a sense of speaking with the SDS100 outside of simulcast trunking.
Thank you, the answer I been looking for.
Now will all SDS100 accessories fit the SDS150 (antennas, and the such)?

VHF propagation is fundamentally line-of-sight, meaning the maximum theoretical reception distance is limited by the Earth's curvature and antenna heights rather than just the scanner's capabilities.

With that said, based on user reports and comparisons, the SDS150 does perform noticeably better out of the box on VHF conventional frequencies compared to the SDS100, particularly with weak signals using the stock antenna.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Now will all SDS100 accessories fit the SDS150 (antennas, and the such)?

Yes

 

[jtwalker]

Thanks. I know VHF is relatively see it hear it, but the SDS100 was more so geared towards simulcast P25 over conventional, and yes, there are antennas to improve, there are different settings in programming, and such that will help with it.
However, Uniden dropped the ball in a sense of speaking with the SDS100 outside of simulcast trunking.
Thank you, the answer I been looking for.
Now will all SDS100 accessories fit the SDS150 (antennas, and the such)?

Antenna, yes. Can't think of any other accessory that will work from 100 to 150, so ask specifics if you want a definite answer.
Battery - no.
Case - no.
External charger - no.

 

[dmfalk]

The 150 uses a different USB connector than the 100. (USB-C & mini-USB, respectively.)

 

[kc2asb]

Thanks. I know VHF is relatively see it hear it, but the SDS100 was more so geared towards simulcast P25 over conventional, and yes, there are antennas to improve, there are different settings in programming, and such that will help with it.
However, Uniden dropped the ball in a sense of speaking with the SDS100 outside of simulcast trunking.
Thank you, the answer I been looking for.
Now will all SDS100 accessories fit the SDS150 (antennas, and the such)?

Looking forwad to reading your review of the SDS-150. It would be a good addition to this thread:

SDS150: - SDS150 Review

I am an excited new owner of an SDS150! I just had it on a couple hours, but here's a very preliminary review. -P25 ONLY RECEPTION - Improved over SDS100 - That's a huge deal for me! I live within 2 miles of an antenna for a 700mhz P25 system. On the SDS100 this system would interfere with...

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