Best Digital Scanner for Simulcast?
- Thread starter W4AQX
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The most highly regarded and referred to here on RR are the Uniden SDS100 and SDS200
Agree with popnokick. I am surrounded by simulcast and the SDS100 and 200 do the job well.
The SDS scanners are the ONLY scanners designed to work with simulcast.
CanesFan95
Analog already is interoperable.
Unication G4 or G5, even though they're not technically a "scanner".
Hell I'll throw in the occasionally suggested "SDR with SDTrunk" for a mere fraction of the price of the SDS series scanners. A few notable drawbacks; you need to lug a PC around with you & you can't (at the time of this posting) do a "talkgroup hold". So yeah I'll echo the suggestions of those above me for the SDS's
I have been using a Unication G5 for almost 3 years now, and in my opinion, its performance is head and shoulders above other scanners. As with any scanner, the programming software takes some getting used to, but it's worth it. The price is comparable to the cost of the SDS-100. I have always bought from Ray's Scanners, and I highly recommend him.
Unication website Ray's Scanners website
Unication website Ray's Scanners website
I love my G5!
brndnstffrd
Member
Another vote for the Unication G5.
I also would like to mention the Bluetail Tech P25RX. While this is also technically not a scanner, it is hands down the best simulcast monitor I have used. Setup is extremely easy, and it just plain works. The logging features are also very useful. I've had one going 24/7 for over 2 years now. The only downsides are it isn't quite a portable, it requires an external power source, and has no speaker built in. It can be used standalone though however without a pc, as long as power is provided and you have a wired or Bluetooth audio device.
I also would like to mention the Bluetail Tech P25RX. While this is also technically not a scanner, it is hands down the best simulcast monitor I have used. Setup is extremely easy, and it just plain works. The logging features are also very useful. I've had one going 24/7 for over 2 years now. The only downsides are it isn't quite a portable, it requires an external power source, and has no speaker built in. It can be used standalone though however without a pc, as long as power is provided and you have a wired or Bluetooth audio device.
Correction on my link to Ray's Scanners: it should be Ray's Pager Sales.com. I guess it was getting late 
I should add that the G4 and G5 use a standard USB micro cable for charging and programming. The software is a free download from the Unication website. My G5 decodes P25 simulcast seamlessly. In a few areas where my Uniden SDS-100 doesn't even find the control channel, the G5 just works! Although I have multiple scanners, I rarely carry a Uniden or Whistler.
I should add that the G4 and G5 use a standard USB micro cable for charging and programming. The software is a free download from the Unication website. My G5 decodes P25 simulcast seamlessly. In a few areas where my Uniden SDS-100 doesn't even find the control channel, the G5 just works! Although I have multiple scanners, I rarely carry a Uniden or Whistler.
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Love my SDRs Running SDR Trunk, most of the time the are receiving better than my SDS200s/100. HOME USE ONLY, due to PC requirement,
DSD+FL, a cheap windows tablet and a 30 dollar dongle you are uptown!
CanesFan95
Analog already is interoperable.
DSD+ is does a poor job of decoding P25 audio. OP25 would be a lot better, but is hard to set up.
Sdr vs Scanner tg hold? I'll take the ability to record a bunch of talkgroups simultaneously, on more than one system, simultaneously, with sdrtrunk/trunking recorder over a 650 + radio that lets you listen to one thing at a time any day of the week. But I still love my 200.
Powerful laptop, SDRtrunk and Trunking recorder sound real nice when connected to line in or bluetooth in the car.
Reconrider
Inside the Galaxy
Are you smoking meth? DSD is legit one of the top 3 programs for p25 audio. Just because you have a crap setup doesn't mean it doesn't work for everyone else
So true. And it’s usually the people who either have a crap signal or set it up totally wrong that knock the performance of a program. My DSDPlus FastLane is crystal clear. Granted I have a good signal and a properly set ppm.
Reconrider
Inside the Galaxy
Same here. But granted I'm using the Airspy R2 and a tuned antenna that are outside.
I have someone blocked that responded but DSD+Fl is the cat's meow. works great with no problems.
I have tried Linux versions, but constant updates to the operating systems break things, DSD+FL works fine.
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