As for a review, I will tell you what I can, but encourage you to read the loads of reviews on the SDS 100 as I did before any purchase as there are many pro/cons to be considered. Here is what I have found. First, it feels so much better to grip than any other handheld I have owned. One main fault is that none of your owned SMA antennas will work because of the design of the connector port which has a lip for weatherproofing, but the sma-to-because lets you use any bench connector antennas you may have. (Example, I had a Radio Shack 800 MHz antenna bnc and a Remtronics sma so I can use the Radio Shack one). Obviously, as with most other Unidentifiable scanners, the stock antenna isn’t the best, but it did work for me, even on P25 transmissions, but nothing like the 800mhz antenna. Next, battery - we’ll a topic of many as it isn’t the best life since it comes with a smaller one that will be replaced with a larger one (and new battery door, but you must register at myuniden.com to get it). I am getting around 5-6 hours on the smaller one for now. You can elect to run of ac included USB power adapter, charge while powered, or charge with the unit off. To charge while unit on you must elect that option in settings otherwise it defaults to charge off when powered by ac. I could write a book on the customization, and that is really one of my favorite features (before I get to reception). Speaker a bit thinner in sound than my previous BCD436hp, but I think it sounds much crisper, at least to me. Also, one irritant for me is I want to be able to charge outside the unit with a spare battery to have on hand at all times. Right now that is not possible, but Unidentifiable is supposed to come out with both spare batteries and an external charger (so they say) before the end of the year. That will be a welcomed expense to me.
Now I know you want to know about reception, and unfortunately, I am normally monitoring just police and fire, and for now that is all I have tested. I may try some other services soon, but I mainly only use the scanner as I said for police and fire. Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk is my usual cities to monitor and they are all coming in with little or no issues. Norfolk is my weakest, but I haven’t spent much time tweaking settings for that bank. I dominantly listen to Chesapeake and Suffolk, given my location. I notice a distinct difference and improvement in Chesapeake reception. Suffolk has always been flawless for me and Portsmouth as well. Now, I cannot say Chesapeake is flawless, but before I packaged up my 436hp to advertise for selling, I ran them side by side and the SDS100 was definitely catching so much more and no clipping that I sometimes get with the 436hp. Can I say the quantum leap in price was worth it - well for the most part yes, but I should really use the scanner for exploring many more services to get its total worth. All in all though, I am comfortable and feel I made the right move and expense. That will have to be a personal decision, because unless we live in the exact same location and set our radios up the same, there will be different experiences in use.
So you asked and there is my two cents (or maybe a lot more than that).
