Hola, buenos días. Tengo serias dudas sobre comprar un escáner. Estaba pensando en comprar el UNIDEN SDS200E o el UNIDEN UBCD 260DN. ¿El modelo SDS200 tiene activado el protocolo DMR + NXDN? Creo que el UBCD 260 solo lo trae preinstalado. ¿Es difícil activarlo? Me dicen que ambos son muy difíciles de usar y no los recomiendan. Entre estos dos modelos, ¿el UBCD 260, de menor calidad, capta peor las señales o son muy similares? ¿El UBCD260 viene listo para usar desde el primer momento o necesito programarlo? Muchas gracias.
BCD260DN or SDS200?
- Thread starter Osiris007
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The SDS200 CAN have the DMR and NXDN protocols added but they cost extra ($50 or $60 USD each).
The SDS200 handles trunking systems while the BCD260DN does not.
The SDS200 handles P25, the BCD260DN does not.
The SDS200 works well with digital simulcast trunking systems.
The SDS200 also has a full color, customizable display.
If you need trunking, especially if simulcast or P25 the SDS200 is the obvious choice. If you do not need those then the BCD260 might be a lower cost option for you.
I was able to discern your in Spain, Correct? If so, looking at the database here -
I will say the database outside of the U.S./Canada at times we tend to not get as much local info. I see it's been several years since last update on the public safety ones.
Saving you a lot of Euro's-
The ONLY DMR listed is a taxi channel. Otherwise solely based on the info we have listed, you could get a BC125AT preferred since you can put in display text. Also you can program it free via software. https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BC125AT
If text isnt a big deal, the BC75XLT would work too and also can program it via software https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BC75XLT
Now if your looking to get United States Department of Defense: Spain Trunking System, Cadiz, Countrywide then you would need just a BCD325P2 or BCD996P2. I see its listed as De which means its in the clear and encrypted. How much is in the clear, unknown. If its mostly encrypted, then you cant hear it.
You can program as well free via software with Freescan. FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki
RRDB | Spain/Countrywide Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference
Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Spain/Countrywide (ES)
www.radioreference.com
Saving you a lot of Euro's-
The ONLY DMR listed is a taxi channel. Otherwise solely based on the info we have listed, you could get a BC125AT preferred since you can put in display text. Also you can program it free via software. https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BC125AT
If text isnt a big deal, the BC75XLT would work too and also can program it via software https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/BC75XLT
Now if your looking to get United States Department of Defense: Spain Trunking System, Cadiz, Countrywide then you would need just a BCD325P2 or BCD996P2. I see its listed as De which means its in the clear and encrypted. How much is in the clear, unknown. If its mostly encrypted, then you cant hear it.
You can program as well free via software with Freescan. FreeScan User Guide - The RadioReference Wiki
Desktops - 996P2 for digital, analog BCT15X can use Freescan or BC365CRS - no software since it lacks programming with a computer.
All these and the above I listed you would need to program them.
Easiest for a novice would be the 175XLT, 125AT or 365CRS.
All these and the above I listed you would need to program them.
Easiest for a novice would be the 175XLT, 125AT or 365CRS.
The 200 is more complicated, more functional and more expensive. If the 260 (given its limits) does what you need it to do, it is about half the cost of a 200 and simpler to program (in the US).
You can’t fairly compare the two unless you also consider your specific use case.
You can’t fairly compare the two unless you also consider your specific use case.
Trunking Basics - The RadioReference Wiki
what a mess, I don't know which of the two devices to buy, I would like to buy the one with the greatest capacity to capture signals, although according to what I've read, the SDS200E model doesn't capture weak signals very well and the UBCD260DN model seems to capture them much better, but it has fewer protocols, in short... what device do you recommend, considering that the SDS 200E must be very complex to use. Thanks.
I'm just trying to save you plenty of euros based on the current database, with the caveat of how accurate it is in the database for what is being used currently. If its still true that they still are for what we have, my suggestions are valid.
As far as... dont know which of the two devices to buy... you mention wanting to listen to ham and airplanes. I go back to what I wrote above, 125AT, 75XLT, 356CRS maybe a 996P2(trunking capability) will do the job for you on those.
No scanner will be able to decode D-Star or YSF format for ham radio as listed in the database.
The 260DN/SDS200 are costing you more euros, especially the SDS200 and is way overkill based on what we show in the database as there is no trunked system showing. It has been brought up in the forums on how the SDS models dont do as well in the airplane frequencies. So the much less euro ones I mention would work.
If you do buy a more capable scanner, that 'might' help you have a radio capable of picking up agencies that 'might' upgrade their systems in the future. All speculation and no guarantee they will.
Unknown what you refer to, If you could expand on what you mean by "and something else", likely would help the decision process.
996P2 is similar to the the 260DN as it uses the same box and programming menu system layout.
996P2 can do trunking, but the 260DN cant, but no trunking system is listed in the database anyway. 996P2 can do DMR/NXDN with paid upgrades and the 260DN comes with those. Again we dont show in the database outside of a taxi service that uses DMR.
As far as... dont know which of the two devices to buy... you mention wanting to listen to ham and airplanes. I go back to what I wrote above, 125AT, 75XLT, 356CRS maybe a 996P2(trunking capability) will do the job for you on those.
No scanner will be able to decode D-Star or YSF format for ham radio as listed in the database.
The 260DN/SDS200 are costing you more euros, especially the SDS200 and is way overkill based on what we show in the database as there is no trunked system showing. It has been brought up in the forums on how the SDS models dont do as well in the airplane frequencies. So the much less euro ones I mention would work.
If you do buy a more capable scanner, that 'might' help you have a radio capable of picking up agencies that 'might' upgrade their systems in the future. All speculation and no guarantee they will.
Unknown what you refer to, If you could expand on what you mean by "and something else", likely would help the decision process.
The models I suggest are far less complicated especially over the SDS200 which is MUCH MORE complex and likely will be frustrating.
996P2 is similar to the the 260DN as it uses the same box and programming menu system layout.
996P2 can do trunking, but the 260DN cant, but no trunking system is listed in the database anyway. 996P2 can do DMR/NXDN with paid upgrades and the 260DN comes with those. Again we dont show in the database outside of a taxi service that uses DMR.
Hello, I mean by "and something more" to be able to listen as much as possible with equipment that is not too complicated to use, as for money, I do not mind spending a maximum of about $ 1000 on good equipment, but I repeat that it is not too difficult to use and that it captures as many signals as possible, the SDS 200 seems to be the best equipment but I think it is very very complex to use and the UBCD260DN is easier to use but is not as good, at first I would lean towards the latter with the fear that it will be very short in reception compared to the SDS200, I had read that this model does not capture weak signals very well but the UBCD260DN does capture them, I greatly appreciate your advice, I hope that with it I can resolve my doubts and be able to make a good purchase. Thank you.
Programming a trunked system is complicated. No way around this. And a scanner that doesn't need to have the structure for trunked systems will be simper to program. The 260 basically needs a frequency and a description (alpha tag), no deep hierarchy to deal with.
My SDS200 scanners receive just fine (7 different counties) for what I use them for, but I live in a low RF interference area (no tv, radio, cell towers nearby), and I live at altitude with an externally mounted antenna. I can receive vhf ok with them, but what I mainly listen to is 700/800 MHz trunked systems, and some 450 MHz trunked systems.
My SDS200 scanners receive just fine (7 different counties) for what I use them for, but I live in a low RF interference area (no tv, radio, cell towers nearby), and I live at altitude with an externally mounted antenna. I can receive vhf ok with them, but what I mainly listen to is 700/800 MHz trunked systems, and some 450 MHz trunked systems.
Ubbe
Member
If you don't have any scanner now then consider buying a used one from Ebay, a Uniden or Whistler for 75-100 euro and do band searches with it and store the result to memory to check out how much you can hear and if it is digital DMR/NXDN/P25 that can be received.
To be able to hear anything you will need an antenna and if wanting the range to be more than a few kilometers you'll need an outdoor antenna high up, above the roof line and any trees. Use RG6 coax and look at an antenna that probably will cost 100 euro. A discone could be a good first choice.
If it turns out that you can hear DMR or other digital signals then it's needed to search internet for info if it is encrypted or not so it can be monitored. Then it is time to look for a digital scanner like a BCDN260 or SDS200.
I see people in my country that buy SDS200E and think they will hear a lot with it, but there isn't much 2-way radio left, as they use mobile phone apps instead, and some that are still around are encrypted. So they sell it after a year at half price when they have got tired of it. It's mostly air and marin communication that are still active and not even HAM radios have much activity any more. I live in Scandinavias biggest city and still don't have much to listen to. In the 70's and 80's it was difficult to get a permit to use a frequency without having to share it so the frequency bands at that time where full of activity, as there where no mobile phones.
So I suggest to first get a cheap scanner, even a pure analog, to check all frequency bands for active signals. There are sound examples on Internet to compare any digital signals to find out what type they are, or post a sound sample here and we can have a listen. An old analog scanner can later be used to monitor air and marine and any other analog systems while a new digital scanners can do a pure digital monitoring.
/Ubbe
To be able to hear anything you will need an antenna and if wanting the range to be more than a few kilometers you'll need an outdoor antenna high up, above the roof line and any trees. Use RG6 coax and look at an antenna that probably will cost 100 euro. A discone could be a good first choice.
If it turns out that you can hear DMR or other digital signals then it's needed to search internet for info if it is encrypted or not so it can be monitored. Then it is time to look for a digital scanner like a BCDN260 or SDS200.
I see people in my country that buy SDS200E and think they will hear a lot with it, but there isn't much 2-way radio left, as they use mobile phone apps instead, and some that are still around are encrypted. So they sell it after a year at half price when they have got tired of it. It's mostly air and marin communication that are still active and not even HAM radios have much activity any more. I live in Scandinavias biggest city and still don't have much to listen to. In the 70's and 80's it was difficult to get a permit to use a frequency without having to share it so the frequency bands at that time where full of activity, as there where no mobile phones.
So I suggest to first get a cheap scanner, even a pure analog, to check all frequency bands for active signals. There are sound examples on Internet to compare any digital signals to find out what type they are, or post a sound sample here and we can have a listen. An old analog scanner can later be used to monitor air and marine and any other analog systems while a new digital scanners can do a pure digital monitoring.
/Ubbe
To summarize and thank everyone, which of the two models do you recommend that is a good device, has good signal reception, isn't too complex to operate, and picks up weak signals better?
Do you know if they'll be releasing new scanners from brands like Yaesu, Icom, Uniden, etc. soon? Best regards.
Do you know if they'll be releasing new scanners from brands like Yaesu, Icom, Uniden, etc. soon? Best regards.
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Chris0516
Active Member
I have to disagree, but. I know, 'to each his own'. I have had serious (physical)health issues ALL MY LIFE. When I first got my 325p2, in 2016. The included manual was exasperatingly confusing.
The manuals(coupled w/ online resources) for my 436HP n' SDS100. are far easier to understand
Ubbe
Member
BCDN260 are old school, using banks and fixed channels numbers in those banks and doesn't have much features and options and will be simple to program and use. SDS200 cost twice as much but are probably 5 times more useful with all its features and functions especially for trunked systems but are way more complicated, using no banks and no fixed channel numbers but a DMA memory management that can be hard to understand if not having prior experience from DMA in a less complex Uniden scanner, like a BCT15x.
SDS200 uses a preamplifier and has good sensitivity but are also much more suspect to interference and overload than any other scanner, so will depend hugely on your RF environment if it will perform better or worse than another scanner like a BCDN260.
You really need to first investigate what systems that can be monitored in your location, and then choose the scanner to handle those systems. Perhaps a cheap analog scanner will do and add a €20 SDR dongle to a PC and decode one or two digital systems. You can then probably do remote monitoring of the PC setup from a mobile phone app while driving around in a vehicle.
What I do, and I have no database or a webpage to check what frequencies that have been given licenses, are to let a scanner search thru all possible frequency bands, and I only have systems between 68-470MHz, and store hits to memory. Programs like Proscan and ARC can do that and also save audio files. Search should be setup to continue searching after a 10 sec stop so it doesn't get hang up on a single frequency. Monitor the search for a while to be able to avoid constant signals like digital data or silent carriers. It's probably too much to search in one go and will then miss a lot of transmissions, so limit search to a more narrow range and then change range the next day.
Some systems are only active during office hours and others at night and some only on weekends, so do search whenever you are not actively listening yourself. Even if it takes 60 seconds to do a full frequency search circle it will sooner or later catch a short transmission. It helps if the correct step size can be set to not search thru frequencies where there are not supposed to be any transmitters. This can usually not be set correctly on a scanner in EU and will need Proscan, ARC or other PC programs to do the search, or create normal scan channels to a range that has the proper channel steps.
In worst case a SDR dongle can be used to setup a search range to be checked but are usually difficult due to sporadic interference and squelch or signal level detect not really functioning correctly.
/Ubbe
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