Buying a new SDS200 or not!

[eaf1956]

I just purchased my 2nd SDS200 in addition to having an SDS100 as well. They have been amazing for me. The only thing that sucks is that I am absolutely surrounded by multiple different simulcast systems, hence Scannmaster and Uniden getting more of my money.

Another Buddrousa in the making...lol

 

[Brales60]

I just purchased my 2nd SDS200 in addition to having an SDS100 as well. They have been amazing for me. The only thing that sucks is that I am absolutely surrounded by multiple different simulcast systems, hence Scannmaster and Uniden getting more of my money.

Same over on my side. Love my SDS200.

 

[trp2525]

...I'm lost, want to re-purchase a SDS200...I've looked for a good clean used one, but pickings Arne't great

What should I do??? Please give me your opinion.

I would purchase a BRAND-NEW SDS200 right now from Main Trading Company for $665.00. Their regular price is $699.99 (like just about every other seller out there) but if you use the coupon code "hamfest2023" during checkout, it will bring the price down to $665.00. That price also includes FREE shipping and no sales tax is charged unless you are located in Texas (where their brick-and-mortar store is located).

Also, if you have a credit card that doubles the manufacturer's warranty, you can get an additional 1-year warranty added on to the 1-year Uniden warranty (for a total of 2 years) for FREE from your credit card. Many Amex cards offer this perk as well as various MasterCard and Visa cards. Check with your card issuer beforehand to see if you have this FREE benefit available to you. FWIW

 

[donc13]

I would purchase a BRAND-NEW SDS200 right now from Main Trading Company for $665.00. Their regular price is $699.99 (like just about every other seller out there) but if you use the coupon code "hamfest2023" during checkout, it will bring the price down to $665.00. That price also includes FREE shipping and no sales tax is charged unless you are located in Texas (where their brick-and-mortar store is located).

Also, if you have a credit card that doubles the manufacturer's warranty, you can get an additional 1-year warranty added on to the 1-year Uniden warranty (for a total of 2 years) for FREE from your credit card. Many Amex cards offer this perk as well as various MasterCard and Visa cards. Check with your card issuer beforehand to see if you have this FREE benefit available to you. FWIW

Only some credit cards double the.mfgr warranty. So it's not always true that if you pay by credit card you double the mfgr's warranty.

Yes, you mentioned it in your last sentence but it should be emphasized. 😊

 

[trp2525]

As an update to my post #23 above, it looks like Main Trading Company has apparently sold out of their current stock of the SDS200 scanner. It was probably due to the "Radio Reference effect" of posting their sale price of $665.00.

As of right now, 08-23-2023 at 07:30 EDT, they are still offering the following sale prices on other in-stock Uniden scanners/accessories by using their "hamfest2023" coupon code at checkout:

SDS100 handheld for $617.50
BCD536HP base/mobile for $470.25
BCD996P2 base/mobile for $351.50
BC-SGPS universal GPS kit for $84.55
EBC100 battery and charger for SDS100 for $76.00

 

[raisindot]

For what it's worth, after owning a 436HP for years I decided to take advantage of one of Amazon's "Get $150 off your purchase when you open a credit card" offer to splurge for an SDS200. Six months ago I bought a used SDS100 locally which had an diagnosed cold solder issue and would for long periods unable to receive anything, so the seller honorably refunded my money.

My area (eastern Massachusetts) doesn't have a lot of P25 Phase II simulcasts yet. With my 436HP and SDS200 I can receive transmissions from one system around 30 miles away with no problem. Comparing the 436 to the SDS200, I would say that both "receive" fairly equally on both trunked and non-trunked systems using the same portable antennas. The SDS200 has much better audio quality, particularly on trunked transmissions, and is able to pick up transmissions from another simulcast system that my 436HP can't. I wouldn't say performance on the SDS200 is light years better than the 436 (and my ancient Pro-162 picks up non-trunked VHF and UFH signals better than both of them), but it's a fun splurge toy.

 

[W8WCA]

I'm lost, want to re-purchase a SDS200 but have had a couple people here on RadioReference warn that this is a bad time to order a new one, and that being the supply shortage, and the SDS200 is not what it use to be. I'm confused by that statement. I've looked for a good clean used one, but pickings Arne't great

What should I do??? Please give me your opinion.

Thank you
Dave

I must have missed those I did not hear about any recent quality issues. I know early on there were some that had cold solder joints as I recall

I purchs=ased one a few months ago and it has been running 24/7 since then no problems

 

[icemantim8]

I must have missed those I did not hear about any recent quality issues. I know early on there were some that had cold solder joints as I recall

I purchs=ased one a few months ago and it has been running 24/7 since then no problems

I just received (2) brand new SDS200's from Scanner Master. No issues