SDS100/SDS200: 1st Impessions

[Ensnared]

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?

Yes, I hold by my first statement about a pit bull dog on steroids. This happened when the 436HP was catching talk groups on the Bell trunking system. The SDS 100 and 436HP were hitting and holding on different talk groups.

I used two sites on the Bell System. No, I did not go out of range. I never employ manual programming. Yes, I use Sentinel, exclusively.

The only I changed from the day I likened reception to a pit bull: a) set the profile and site filters to "normal" and b) putting the exact NAC for both sites in Bell County.

I might add, when I first made the statement about the reception of the SDS 100, I did not have a side-by-side setup. Today, I will do some more monitoring, but not in Bell County. I will see if there is a pronounced lag time between the radio on the HOTRRS system in McLennan County.

I did not realize this radio had to be fine tuned for optimal performance. I suspect the filter settings are affecting SDS 100 in an adverse manner. However, I am just learning, still looking under the hood.

 

[werinshades]

Yes, I hold by my first statement about a pit bull dog on steroids. This happened when the 436HP was catching talk groups on the Bell trunking system. The SDS 100 and 436HP were hitting and holding on different talk groups.

I used two sites on the Bell System. No, I did not go out of range. I never employ manual programming. Yes, I use Sentinel, exclusively.

The only I changed from the day I likened reception to a pit bull: a) set the profile and site filters to "normal" and b) putting the exact NAC for both sites in Bell County.

I might add, when I first made the statement about the reception of the SDS 100, I did not have a side-by-side setup. Today, I will do some more monitoring, but not in Bell County. I will see if there is a pronounced lag time between the radios.

I did not realize this radio had to be fine tuned for optimal performance. I suspect the filter settings are affecting SDS 100 in an adverse manner. However, I am just learning, still looking under the hood.

Filters are frequently ignored by some users and suffer from reception issues. The SDS100 is very sensitive as you know, so you're on the right path. I use Wide Invert and if I'm closer to site, I apply the Attenuator to that site. As any scanner, it all depends on range of course.

Were you having simulcast issues and replaced the 436 with the 100?

 

[Ensnared]

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

I am "attempting" to understand what you are saying. I changed the trunked settings to included "digital error count." I will start monitoring with this setting.

 

[Ubbe]

I am going to try and find this "bit error" in the drop down menus, I guess.

The bit error shows how many errors are received in the digital reception and will vary depending of signal strength and interferencies. Too many errors and the audio gets distorted. The SDS100 needs to have it's display edited to show Digital Error Count. Not all positions in the display can be edited to show that, so pick CTCSS/DCS/NAC, or some field that have that choice, as a temporary change while testing. There are also different displays to edit, Simple and Detailed, so choose the one you are actually using.

/Ubbe

 

[IAmSixNine]

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.

Or you could make a holder for your scanner. My dad me me 2 of these.. 1 for my home and one for my office. I call it my tiny little chair for my SDS100

 

[IAmSixNine]

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

OH i bet that would work great with my Noxgear 39. 39g - Ultralight Premium Personal Speaker - Noxgear I got it for my G4 but when im driving id like to have it on my SDS. So i may get my self one of those BT audio adapters.

 

[Ensnared]

I put the 436HP right beside the SDS 100, same reception. The 436HP is catching the talk groups while the SDS 100 remains mute. When I looked at the bit error for the 436HP I see a 0. The SDS 100 is showing 0, 5, 10. 21, up to 27 depending on the agency and who is talking, dispatch or unit. I went back and set the the site and global filters to auto. I also put NAC on search for NAC in the profile.

When I stop both radios on the same talk group, they will generally show a bit error of 0 when dispatch comes on. The 435HP tends to stabilize on zero. On the same talk group, the SDS 100 will start at 0 and jump as high as 25.

In other words, the 436HP is Mike Tyson in the ring right now. The SDS 100 ear was bitten off. I have the Texas DPS statewide plan on these radios. The SDS 100 will spend an unusually long time on this Favorite. When I turned the DPS Favorite off, the SDS 100 was no longer missing as many transmissions. So, I wonder how do I need to set up the filters for DPS conventional P25. It is on Global now. I believe this setting is screwing things up, but I don't know where to set this damn thing.

 

[Ensnared]

Wow. When I went into my conventional channels, and turned the filter to off, the problem was solved. It does not hang up like before. The P25 conventional reception dwarfs the 436HP. Previously, I could not hear Coryell SO from Temple, now I can, like gangbusters. I put the NAC back into the trunking systems. Now, I will see whether this combinations of settings helps out.

There was a significant improvement in the scanning rate with these SDS 100 modifications. Now, it is beating the 436HP, hands down. My God, what a difference this has made.

I don't know if I said this or not, but I want to emphasize something. Waco does not have a significant problem with linear simulcast distortion. On occasion, some distortion would be experienced when portable police radios were being used by those conducting surveillance. I am very happy this little boy is working better. The audio is outstanding.

 

[buddrousa]

This thing is a monster and works best when you spend the time to fine tune this scanner to your area.
It is best to keep a x36 and or 996p2 around until you get the SDS fine tuned.
But after the fine tuning it runs circles around others around it.
I bet not may here could get a NHRA fuel car started much less keep it together for the 1/4 mile.

 

[Ensnared]

This thing is a monster and works best when you spend the time to fine tune this scanner to your area.
It is best to keep a x36 and or 996p2 around until you get the SDS fine tuned.
But after the fine tuning it runs circles around others around it.
I bet not may here could get a NHRA fuel car started much less keep it together for the 1/4 mile.

Oh, this is rich. That is exactly what went through my mind. However, I was under the impression the SDS 100 was malfunctioning. I thought that I would just make the best of it with two radios. I am very thankful for the circumstances that put this radio in my hands. My father left me some money, inheritance. This is my first Christmas without him. This is bittersweet. God bless all.

 

[buddrousa]

My thoughts are with you this year sorry to hear the news.
But back to the scanner you see why some think that the scanner does not hear and you see why some of us say it hears as good or better than older models of scanners you have to put effort into these SDS scanners they are not as simple as turn it on and it is great.

 

[Ensnared]

Or you could make a holder for your scanner. My dad me me 2 of these.. 1 for my home and one for my office. I call it my tiny little chair for my SDS100

View attachment 113999View attachment 114000

Wow, that is very nice. I am quite impressed. Happy Holidays.

 

[Ensnared]

I am also curious about another issue with this radio and Uniden in general. Most of the time, when you buy something, the owner's manual will show a diagram of the device with arrows pointing to various buttons and associated functions. I only saw one picture in the SDS 100 manual. If you have a detailed picture of the radio buttons, etc., please share.

I would like to know more about the charge/power/GPS ports and other functions.

 

[buddrousa]

The power and GPS port is where you can power the scanner and power and run a GPS at the same time.
It is the other port the Paul passed away before he disclosed its purpose.

 

[Ensnared]

I found a disappointing feature of this radio. I hooked up my Uniden powered-speaker and it was God awful. The sound was horrible. Is there an amplified speaker that can be used with this radio?

 

[GregOH]

I found a disappointing feature of this radio. I hooked up my Uniden powered-speaker and it was God awful. The sound was horrible. Is there an amplified speaker that can be used with this radio?

The Bluetooth speaker I'm using don't have bad sound quality and is plenty loud enough. I may be wrong but it seems like once you amplify the output of this radio via the headphone jack, you will hear all the little imperfections that you don't catch alot of when listening to the internal speaker of the radio.
My pro-135 analog scanner sounds better with Bluetooth than the SDS100.

 

[KevinC]

I found a disappointing feature of this radio. I hooked up my Uniden powered-speaker and it was God awful. The sound was horrible. Is there an amplified speaker that can be used with this radio?

Was the scanner connected to external power at the time? I believe it has floating ground audio so you may of had a ground loop.

 

[Ensnared]

Was the scanner connected to external power at the time? I believe it has floating ground audio so you may of had a ground loop.

No I try not to use external charging sources due to too many wires in my car. I have two of the bigger batteries and the charging package from Scanner Master which included a smaller battery and charger. I am thinking of buying a second charger and battery.

I had the same issue when I used one of those over-the-ear stereo earphone from Crane radio and a Sony Bluetooth speaker with a direct plug 3.5 plug in. Stereo headphones and ear buds are my choices now.

I don't think there is anything wrong with this new radio though.

 

[Omega-TI]

Some really cheap amplified speakers might do the trick when at home. Amazon has some nearly give away speakers, Logitech S120's for only $11.00. Maybe a little bit more if you need a mono to stereo adapter.

 

[GregOH]

I'm thinking a headphone amplifier and a powered speaker would do it. The reason I believe this is, if you use a pc speaker audio output to powered pc speakers for an example, the speaker audio out on a pc should be line level out which would be more than what the output of a headphone jack would be.

Just throwing that out there and I don't know for sure. Maybe even an external phonograph preamp that is used in audio systems with a turntable between the headphone jack and powered speaker would work, but again I don't know because I haven't tested these methods yet.