BCD436HP or SDS100...?

[scannersnstuff]

my thoughts are the 536 and 436 are the best however based on my research, I chose them because I wanted a model that takes AA batteries and a base station, the SDS 100 or 200 are not real radios there sdr so I choose the 436 and 536 on my needs, to me I don't want to buy an SDS 100 then get to be told later in life they cannot provide me with any new extra or extended or basic SDS 100 batteries so I choose the units that would best serve me for my location, if I travel it might be a problem but so far I think it will be good for a long long time.

This is not a bash.You are entitled to your opinion. For me, the sds100 would be the ideal handheld,especially if the conventional side could be "tamed" with the filter trick's described in this thread. I mean, what the heck could they possibly add ? . This radio is basically future proof. Yes, I think they could have incorporated some of the great bcd396xt features into this radio, as discussed before. Bottom line though, if you need simulcast following, it's this or the Unication.

 

[R0am3r]

the SDS 100 or 200 are not real radios there sdr

@Akuriko - Why do you believe that SDRs aren't real radios. Have you ever compared a SDS200 to the BCD536HP while receiving a P25 simulcast transmission? Hint - there is no comparison. The SDS200 works while the BCD536HP often fails. Or better yet, compare a $30 RTL-SDR to a "real radio" (like that BCD536HP) while receiving that same simulcast signal. Again, there is no comparison. Your "real radio" fails. Happy New Year and welcome to the 21st century.

 

[iMONITOR]

You may not have simulcast currently in your area, but the odds are you will at some point in the future.

Yes, the SDS are a far more flexible receiver than "traditional" superhetrodyne radios and that is specifically to cope with things like simulcast.

SDR/Hybrid is the best of both worlds.

 

[fantasma25]

I would say that if they can just increase the scanning speed, then it would be an awesome radio!!

 

[werinshades]

I would say that if they can just increase the scanning speed, then it would be an awesome radio!!

We've gone through this many times over, but more likely than not it's a programming issue (not eliminating sites not in range, not utilizing Quick keys), to name a few. Plus, the SDS scanners actually decode sites, so it takes a few seconds to check for activity on those sites in range. Analog reception is resolvable too, and yes, it's been covered.

 

[trentbob]

I would say that if they can just increase the scanning speed, then it would be an awesome radio!!

That's high on the extensively long wish list that's been gathered by Uniden over the past 2 years but my understanding is this is as good as it's going to get due to the quality of the SDR chip used.

 

[trentbob]

We've gone through this many times over, but more likely than not it's a programming issue (not eliminating sites not in range), not utilizing Quick keys), to name a few. Plus, the SDS scanners actually decode sites, so it takes a few seconds to check for activity on those sites in range. Analog reception is resolvable too, and yes, it's been covered.

Yes there are steps you can take to speed up scanning. As described above.

 

[Ubbe]

That's high on the extensively long wish list that's been gathered by Uniden over the past 2 years but my understanding is this is as good as it's going to get due to the quality of the SDR chip used.

It's the CPU used that are not powerful enough. When using a SDR chip based dongle on a powerful PC you can scan at a 1000ch/s rate and monitor a big chunk of frequency range for instant detection of a signal and even record that whole chunk for later analyze of very short transmit blips.

What we could hope for are an external powerful box that connects to the unused USB port that makes use of the 2MHz wide frequency signal that are feed to the DSP connected to that port.

/Ubbe

 

[scannersnstuff]

Again - not a bash,but I believe that among other things, the passing of the late great Paul Opitz and the dreaded "E" have basically dead ended this great hobby. The price point of the sds's,especially with all the add on updates has left many high and dry. I spent many bucks on the bcd436hp. That soon got Trumped <pardon the pun> by the sds100. Then Uniden somewhat called the bcd series trash. Again, what more can they come up with ? . I don't think that either Uniden, or Whistler even have the talent anymore. Just my own humble opinion. This brings to mind the thread "the joy's of using a basic scanner". Things used to be so easy on us hobbyists.

 

[trentbob]

It's the CPU used that are not powerful enough. When using a SDR chip based dongle on a powerful PC you can scan at a 1000ch/s rate and monitor a big chunk of frequency range for instant detection of a signal and even record that whole chunk for later analyze of very short transmit blips.

What we could hope for are an external powerful box that connects to the unused USB port that makes use of the 2MHz wide frequency signal that are feed to the DSP connected to that port.

/Ubbe

Yep that makes sense, I remember you explaining that once before but you still deal with the problem of battery life and the CPU is the big draw on the battery? The reason that we can't use AA batteries.. so this box would have its own power supply to supplement the radio?

What do you think the chances are that we would get that powerful box that attaches to the extra USB port that we would hope for, given that we have not had any real firmware updates addressing even the most basic wish list requests since April of 2019?

 

[Ubbe]

What do you think the chances are that we would get that powerful box that attaches to the extra USB port that we would hope for, given that we have not had any real firmware updates addressing even the most basic wish list requests since April of 2019?

Uniden management would not be interested in doing bug fixes or add-on features for free, as long as scanners continue to sell in the numbers they do now. Making a hardware box to sell and make profit from would be more plausible. There's a huge SDS user base that could be potential buyers.

UPman had some intentions in mind for that USB connector that management must have approved when deciding for the design of SDS scanners as it is an additional manufacturing cost to add one additional port. But as it is still a shortage of components and scanner sales are still good they do not have to rush it to come out with something new.

/Ubbe

 

[fantasma25]

We've gone through this many times over, but more likely than not it's a programming issue (not eliminating sites not in range, not utilizing Quick keys), to name a few. Plus, the SDS scanners actually decode sites, so it takes a few seconds to check for activity on those sites in range. Analog reception is resolvable too, and yes, it's been covered.

Agreed, but it is something that has not been and most likely will not be fixed. For the price of this scanner it should perform above the specs of the previous scanners. This is is something that potential owners should know.

 

[werinshades]

Agreed, but it is something that has not been and most likely will not be fixed. For the price of this scanner it should perform above the specs of the previous scanners. This is is something that potential owners should know.

What they should also know is many of these issues that are all over these forums are due to programming, more than performance. When you append all the sites in a statewide system, or try to monitor other systems where sites are out of range, failure to understand or experiment with filter settings, IFX, analog modulation settings, is only a true fair assessment then. Those that refuse to take the time are usually the unhappy ones. I think potential buyers should be aware of these previous or current users complaints too. I don't think it changes many minds, because the minute the SDS scanners are reported "out of stock", these forums are filled with potential buyers asking "when will it be back in stock/when? I owned a 436 that needed the copper on the battery compartment to monitor the 460Mhz band, but some claim that it's been fixed? I don't know about that, and don't want to take that chance ever again, just to be fair.

 

[JethrowJohnson]

I owned a 436 that needed the copper on the battery compartment to monitor the 460Mhz band, but some claim that it's been fixed? I don't know about that, and don't want to take that chance ever again, just to be fair.

I haven't heard of that, but mine works just fine on UHF including 460.3 MHz, 460.025 MHz, 460.15 MHz, and other frequencies in that range in my county.

 

[werinshades]

I haven't heard of that, but mine works just fine on UHF including 460.3 MHz, 460.025 MHz, 460.15 MHz, and other frequencies in that range in my county.

BCD436HP/BCD536HP: - Terrible UHF reception and emitting RFI

I purchased a new BCD436HP on Amazon and got it yesterday. What I was disappointed is that the uhf performance really bad with portable handheld antenna. Also, I notice it was emitting RFI that similar to my SDS100 as state in my previous post. SDS100: - Noise floor very high when using...

forums.radioreference.com

Many years ago, threads and posts were all over this forum on the how-to. People were selling them, swearing by their 996P2's, 396XT's. We go through this pattern all the time. So, needless to say, I won't ever go back due to a bad experience with my 436hp, and the simulcast and analog reception kinda blows chunks....to be fair of course

 

[jgorman21]

What they should also know is many of these issues that are all over these forums are due to programming, more than performance. When you append all the sites in a statewide system, or try to monitor other systems where sites are out of range, failure to understand or experiment with filter settings, IFX, analog modulation settings, is only a true fair assessment then. Those that refuse to take the time are usually the unhappy ones. I think potential buyers should be aware of these previous or current users complaints too. I don't think it changes many minds, because the minute the SDS scanners are reported "out of stock", these forums are filled with potential buyers asking "when will it be back in stock/when? I owned a 436 that needed the copper on the battery compartment to monitor the 460Mhz band, but some claim that it's been fixed? I don't know about that, and don't want to take that chance ever again, just to be fair.

I’d agree that programming errors and lack of understanding (of this “radio”)really hampered me with the SDS 100 Initially. As I’ve said before, I received a lot of patient guidance and support from several different people on here. I put a lot of time in and right around a year into it, got the help I needed and started to somewhat understand it better!I am very grateful. It is working much better!

Is the SDS 100 terrific? IMHO Not really. At least now I can say that the SDR 100 is a “servicable” radio for me.

 

[scannersnstuff]

BCD436HP/BCD536HP: - Terrible UHF reception and emitting RFI

I purchased a new BCD436HP on Amazon and got it yesterday. What I was disappointed is that the uhf performance really bad with portable handheld antenna. Also, I notice it was emitting RFI that similar to my SDS100 as state in my previous post. SDS100: - Noise floor very high when using...

forums.radioreference.com

Many years ago, threads and posts were all over this forum on the how-to. People were selling them, swearing by their 996P2's, 396XT's. We go through this pattern all the time. So, needless to say, I won't ever go back due to a bad experience with my 436hp, and the simulcast and analog reception kinda blows chunks....to be fair of course

I think I have a later addition of the bcd436hp. They supposedly fixed the uhf issue. There really is not too much uhf around me. My problem, again on me, is I really never took the time to figure it out. I'm pretty sure that if I got a sds100, I'd be in the same boat. The 436 is the only sd card scanner that I have. On the flip side, my bcd325p2 is pretty easy to use. I just wish they had incorporated the long battery life,multiple screen light's,and bigger screen of the bcd396xt into it. Hopefully the last time I'll say this. Not !