SDS100/SDS200: 1st Impessions

[Ensnared]

Ok, I am impressed with the performance of this radio on trunked radio. I like the overall feel of the radio. The audio is loud enough; however, there is a major difference in using the following earphones. I have used this brand of stereo earphone for many years on my 436HP. It worked wonderful. In fact, it was so loud my wife complained of my late-night listening. In the car, this brand of earphone is fair. Over the Earphone (Stereo Plug)

Using this earphone on the SDS is God-awful. These splatter when they are put at maximum volume with extremely poor clarity. However, when I plugged in a cheap set of Sony ear buds (I hate these things), it was very loud and clear. I am going to need to hardwire my Uniden amplified speaker. That will help sound quality in a Toyota.

I would appreciate any suggestions for decent-sounding headphones. The silicone part of some earbuds come off too easily. Then, they are lost in the black hole beneath the seat.

I have never ever understood why a mono radio needs to be in stereo. You can make an electric guitar stereo, but why radios?

This puppy locks onto digital like a Pit Bull on Steroids. There is some linear simulcast distortion in Wacko, Texas. I can surely tell a difference when portable radios are transmitting.

The scanning speed is a bit slower than my 436HP. But, I have not adjusted the filters and put the trunking NACs in yet. If you know how to program the 436HP, it is a breeze.

I love it!

 

[GregOH]

I use a Bluetooth transmitter to a Bluetooth speaker sometimes and I think the scanner's internal speaker sounds much better. The Bluetooth speaker I'm using sounds great when paired with a phone, mp3 player or a radio. I think the reduced volume output of the headphone jack makes a difference with what I'm doing.

 

[natedawg1604]

It may be a tad more than you were planning to pay, but I love these guys, you have a get a custom impression from your local audiologist first (really cheap) but it's totally worth it.

 

[Ensnared]

It may be a tad more than you were planning to pay, but I love these guys, you have a get a custom impression from your local audiologist first (really cheap) but it's totally worth it.

This is quite impressive. Someone gave me a headphone with a little spiral clear cord, the ones some folks in law enforcement use. When I wore this, it began to irritate my skin and cause itching. I noticed the balm you can buy with these. I guess this is common. The silicone insert went deep into my ear. It was very loud and rich in tone.

If I owned this nice pair, I would have it wrapped around everything in my car. When I buy cheaper earphones, I don't have to worry about losing them, which I do all of the time. If I don't lose them, I invariably shut the door on them or trip over them in the store. I am going to consider this option. I have already leveled most of the high frequency hair cells in my ears by listening to very loud music, 1969 to date. My "guitar shredding" nephew finally told me how to save my hearing, much too late. He said that if you want it loud, to give yourself a break every 30 minutes.

 

[Ensnared]

I use a Bluetooth transmitter to a Bluetooth speaker sometimes and I think the scanner's internal speaker sounds much better. The Bluetooth speaker I'm using sounds great when paired with a phone, mp3 player or a radio. I think the reduced volume output of the headphone jack makes a difference with what I'm doing.

I saw the ones that the Scanner guys were selling and seriously considered using this setup. Somewhere, I have a Plantronics Bluetooth ear decoration. The problem I had when I bought a Bluetooth adapter was pairing. Do you have any suggestions for a decent Bluetooth adapter? I would like one without a lead wire, but I don't think that is an option based on what I've seen.

I watched a video about a Taotronics Bluetooth. It was rather impressive. The fellow in this video indicated that this is a great setup for stationary listening. However, the dangling device would not work well on a bicycle. He suggested putting the adapter in the belt clip. The belt clip is the first thing I remove from my radios. I use the hard leather case. I am strongly considering this setup. I might use it at home or in the car.

Thank you.

 

[GregOH]

I saw the ones that the Scanner guys were selling and seriously considered using this setup. Somewhere, I have a Plantronics Bluetooth ear decoration. The problem I had when I bought a Bluetooth adapter was pairing. Do you have any suggestions for a decent Bluetooth adapter? I would like one without a lead wire, but I don't think that is an option based on what I've seen.

I watched a video about a Taotronics Bluetooth. It was rather impressive. The fellow in this video indicated that this is a great setup for stationary listening. However, the dangling device would not work well on a bicycle. He suggested putting the adapter in the belt clip. The belt clip is the first thing I remove from my radios. I use the hard leather case. I am strongly considering this setup. I might use it at home or in the car.

Thank you.

I have a pair of BT headphones around here somewhere and need to find them and try them out.
Below is an image of my scanner with a Sonru 5.0 receiver/transmitter . I used a male to male bullet adapter with it rather than a cable.

 

[Ensnared]

I have a pair of BT headphones around here somewhere and need to find them and try them out.
Below is an image of my scanner with a Sonru 5.0 receiver/transmitter . I used a male to male bullet adapter with it rather than a cable.
View attachment 113800

I like this! The bullet adapter would be a better solution unless it fell over, God forbid. I prefer this as opposed to the dangling cord. Thanks.

 

[GregOH]

I like this! The bullet adapter would be a better solution unless it fell over, God forbid. I prefer this as opposed to the dangling cord. Thanks.

It is nice. Let's say for example, you're doing something in the garage and have the scanner with you and want to use your car stereo for the audio, you could put another BT receiver in the stereo auxiliary jack, pair them and you're golden.
I could pair my scanner to my home theater system and hear it next door if I wanted to lol.
I don't think the scanner falling over would be an issue if you're using an antenna on the scanner.

 

[GregOH]

If you're worried about it falling over and the adapter hitting something, some people here use this one that's flexible.

 

[rcool101]

If you're worried about it falling over and the adapter hitting something, some people here use this one that's flexible.

I have that one. Its Red. Works good...Us older farts have Bluetooth hearing aids. I listen to my feed on my smartphone when I'm out or thru my truck speakers as my radio is Bluetooth

 

[Ensnared]

Does anyone have a chart of the color-variances chart and/or formula to obtain the true colors? I made my visual and used one of the reds. The red looked like a washed-out coral. The yellow green was a pale yellow. I found some suitable colors for contrast, but they were not the same colors. Does other software have the correct color matches? The default colors in Sentinel matched fairly well, but I changed two. I replaced all but the yellow using Blue and Hot Pink. Both of these tones matched the screen on the radio and spectrum chart.

The GRE PSR had the capability of letting you click on a color spectrum like what is used in Photo-editing. Affinity Photo has assigned numerical values for each color. Why not Uniden?

I was in the vehicle reaching for the SMA-BNC adapter than came with my 436HP, but I soon discovered it would not fit. I emailed my scanner buddy and he told me to really look through the packing. Bingo, there it was.

Yesterday, I tested the radio out driving on IH35 from Temple to Waco using the REM-842S. I started picking up HOTRRS around mile marker 306. The 436HP never picked HOTRRS from that far away. For right now, I found a pair of JVC earphones with the clip that goes over the ear. I am going to use Gorilla Glue on those damn silicone tips.

The audio is the closest thing I've heard to the GRE PSR 500. Tones are rich and full.

This is a fine ride!

 

[Ensnared]

I was getting ready to plug my 436HP GPS into my SDS 100. Ah, I don't see the serial port. I guess I will need to buy another one. Or, I will wait until the warranty runs out and have an internal GPS installed. I do not like hooking too many wires up to this bad boy. I am so happy I bought the external charger. I can see that I am going to need at least three of these batteries. I like to keep one charging. The alternative is also wonderful, using one of those power chargers for phones.

 

[GregOH]

I was getting ready to plug my 436HP GPS into my SDS 100. Ah, I don't see the serial port. I guess I will need to buy another one. Or, I will wait until the warranty runs out and have an internal GPS installed. I do not like hooking too many wires up to this bad boy. I am so happy I bought the external charger. I can see that I am going to need at least three of these batteries. I like to keep one charging. The alternative is also wonderful, using one of those power chargers for phones.

The power banks are great! Wish I knew what the grandkids did with mine

 

[hiegtx]

I was getting ready to plug my 436HP GPS into my SDS 100. Ah, I don't see the serial port. I guess I will need to buy another one. Or, I will wait until the warranty runs out and have an internal GPS installed. I do not like hooking too many wires up to this bad boy. I am so happy I bought the external charger. I can see that I am going to need at least three of these batteries. I like to keep one charging. The alternative is also wonderful, using one of those power chargers for phones.

Which GPS do you have?

 

[Ensnared]

Uniden, for 456HP.

 

[hiegtx]

Uniden, for 456HP.

Does the GPS unit itself look like this?

(That's a GPS from Amazon, but the looks & connector are identical to the older Uniden GPS that I have.)

If I'm correct, on the GPS unit, get this cable:

Amazon.com

Using that cable, plug the USB connector into a 12V lighter adapter that will supply 5Volts at 2 amps or more. Connect the GPS with the screw on connector, and the USB mini part of the cable goes to the SDS100. With a good power supply, this cable powers both the scanner and the GPS, & connects the GPS to the scanner.

 

[Ensnared]

I believe that is the one. I know it was round.

 

[Ensnared]

I wondered how my 436HP would perform against the SDS100 on the Bell County P25 system in Texas. The two radios were separated at an approximate distance of three feet. I might add, this was the day I attempted to put the NAC on both sites. For most of the hits, the SDS 100 failed to respond while the 436HP kept performing quite well.

The SDS was unable to find KPD OCU. But the 436HP did, fast. I kept waiting on the SDS 100 to respond while listening to the continued chatter on KPD OCU. When I manually placed the SDS 100 on KPD OCU, it started picking up transmission the 436HP was missing.

The SDS is very slow when compared with the 436HP.

Today, I will put them side by side here in Waco. I will report what I hear or don't hear.

 

[werinshades]

I wondered how my 436HP would perform against the SDS100 on the Bell County P25 system in Texas. The two radios were separated at an approximate distance of three feet. I might add, this was the day I attempted to put the NAC on both sites. For most of the hits, the SDS 100 failed to respond while the 436HP kept performing quite well.

The SDS was unable to find KPD OCU. But the 436HP did, fast. I kept waiting on the SDS 100 to respond while listening to the continued chatter on KPD OCU. When I manually placed the SDS 100 on KPD OCU, it started picking up transmission the 436HP was missing.

The SDS is very slow when compared with the 436HP.

Today, I will put them side by side here in Waco. I will report what I hear or don't hear.

From Saturday where you reported "it locks on to digital like a pit bull on steroids", is now not locking on to the system? Did you append all the sites on the system and trying to monitor sites not in range? Did you manually program using database information via Sentinel? Did you try filter settings? So...is it good or bad now?

 

[Ubbe]

Today, I will put them side by side here in Waco. I will report what I hear or don't hear.

When comparing, lock both to the system so they don't scan a lot of other things. Then it would be a hit or miss depending of where the scanner was in the scan cycle. Set the SDS100 display to indicate bit error to show when the scanners reception are compromised from interference. If the bit error goes above 3 you could try different filter settings and IFX. If the sites have stronger signals than -70dBm you can enable the attenuator to lower the risk of interferences.

If you do Fn-VolumeClick-Fn-VolumeClick on the 436 you get the bit error display to compare with the SDS100's.

/Ubbe