Adding S-Meter to scanner?

[Twinstars]

I am new to scanning, but somewhat familiar with shortwave listening. That said, I am not happy with the five-bar strength indicator on my scanner. Is it possible to somehow add an external S-meter to my setup? The S-meter would be more accurate with 9 levels.

 

[marksmith]

There are no known out of the box solutions except buying a scanner with something representative of an S meter like the Uniden SDS radios that allow you to pick such a signal strength meter as a display option.

 

[mmckenna]

The radio needs to have a connection for RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator). Some do, some don't. Usually it's buried on a circuit board somewhere. Not always to get to and not usually a plug-n-play thing. Some higher end commercial radios have a connection on the accessory port for it. Consumer scanners, not always so easy.

 

[Scan125]

If one is using a PC with the scanner connected then on Uniden models one can read the RSSI value. However that value has no real definitve calculation level. In my Scan125 program one can adjust the relative sensitivity of the signal strength display.

It would be fairly easy to create just a frequency display with signal strength that would work with most Uniden scanners. That said other scanners programs probably have this anyway. Also won't help if you are using your scanner in "stand alone" mode.

 

[Ubbe]

Uniden are not too bad at settings their signal bar levels. It seems to be a 4-5dB difference between bars but S units are a 6dB difference.
S5 equals to -97dBm and S1 should be -121dBm and these where the measurements I got:

BCD536
SQ-119
1-115
2-109
3-104
4-100
5-98

SDS100
SQ-119
1-115
2-110
3-106
4-101
5-96

/Ubbe

 

[Twinstars]

Many thanks to all the responders. Lots of great knowledge out there. Ubbe, you were especially enlightening. By the way, I have a BCD260DN with an SDS200 on the way.

 

[Twinstars]

By the way Ubbe, what does "SQ-119" mean? Remember, I'm a definite newbie.

 

[Scan125]

By the way Ubbe, what does "SQ-119" mean? Remember, I'm a definite newbie.

I think the SQ-119 is the Squelch setting used so as to filter out lesser signal strengths?

 

[Twinstars]

That would correspond with SQ-19 (max) on my BCD260DN, which is obvious now.

 

[Ubbe]

By the way Ubbe, what does "SQ-119" mean? Remember, I'm a definite newbie.

It's the signal level where the squelch opens at a setting of 2.

/Ubbe

 

[Twinstars]

Thanks Ubbe, both for the information and your patience. This newbie appreciates both.
Stay cool.
--- Twinstars