BCD996P2 VS SDS200 on NJ Systems

[blackbelter]

In my opinion and experience, none of the current consumer grade scanners can perfectly handle the LSM better than the pro grade Unication G4/G5. At my house or car, I have not missed a key up on my G5 with its supplied antenna. I reside in a down town area with deep coverage and occasionally, I use my G5 in the amplified charger as a base scanner ( Pager) and never experienced an RF overload. My SDS 200 does a good job on the same system , however never to the same level of G5 consistency and reliability.

 

[AvidHiker]

I listen to the Union County (Site 7) on a BCD996p2 with the latest firmware and it decodes perfectly. Same result with the RadioShack PSR-800 w/ Whistler Firmware. IMO $700 on a scanner is a waste of $.

That's the system I listen to most as well, and I thought the same thing when I first bought my 436HP. Fast forward a couple months and I quickly realized how unreliable it was. If you happen to be in the perfect location (one that minimizes the simulcast distortion), then you're just lucky. Try driving around the county and see if you can follow all radio traffic on a single TG without dropped transmissions. Only the SDS scanners can manage that reliably.

 

[mshumeyk]

listen to the Union County (Site 7) on a BCD996p2 with the latest firmware and it decodes perfectly. Same result with the RadioShack PSR-800 w/ Whistler Firmware. IMO $700 on a scanner is a waste of $.

I have found that the P25 phase 2 simulcast performance of the BCD325p2 and BCD436 vary tremendously based on location in relation to the sites. Visiting Atlanta I found neither radio would even lock on to a City of Atlanta site when I was on the upper floor of a hotel but they did a reasonable job when I was on the outskirts of the city. Performance on NJICS in Cape May isn't bad as I am very close to a site, but it has been poor in areas in northern New Jersey. I no longer use either radio to monitor the NJICS because as others have stated, they do not come close to the performance of my SDS100 or Unication G5 on simulcast systems. Yes, they are expensive but they perform reliably on simulcast systems like NJICS. Nothing is as big a waste of money as buying a radio that does a poor job receiving the system for which you purchased it.

 

[HammerSolidRaw]

I have found that the P25 phase 2 simulcast performance of the BCD325p2 and BCD436 vary tremendously based on location in relation to the sites. Visiting Atlanta I found neither radio would even lock on to a City of Atlanta site when I was on the upper floor of a hotel but they did a reasonable job when I was on the outskirts of the city. Performance on NJICS in Cape May isn't bad as I am very close to a site, but it has been poor in areas in northern New Jersey. I no longer use either radio to monitor the NJICS because as others have stated, they do not come close to the performance of my SDS100 or Unication G5 on simulcast systems. Yes, they are expensive but they perform reliably on simulcast systems like NJICS. Nothing is as big a waste of money as buying a radio that does a poor job receiving the system for which you purchased it.

I meant to type PRO-668 and I have the Whistler upgrade. I can see the top of Union Co. Courthouse from my window on the second floor of my apartment.

 

[slingshot202]

I have an SDS200, the 996XT and the 996p2 and a 536.... obviiusly the XT handles them the worst. Then you have the P2 radios such as the 325 and 996p2 and they do OK. The 200 has been pretty flawless even with a lower signal at times. I do know they are moving to their own P2 system soon, so my XT will soon be a semi paper weight.