Compare G4/G5 to SDS100

[IAmSixNine]

Interesting. I find my 2 SDS100 to be comparable to my several G4 units. But I had to put a better antenna on the SDS100 and adjust the filters. A stock SDS100 is not nearly as good as an adjusted SDS100. But frankly its an apples to oranges comparison. Both have strengths and weaknesses. So that's why I have both.

 

[03msc]

Interesting. I find my 2 SDS100 to be comparable to my several G4 units. But I had to put a better antenna on the SDS100 and adjust the filters. A stock SDS100 is not nearly as good as an adjusted SDS100. But frankly its an apples to oranges comparison. Both have strengths and weaknesses. So that's why I have both.

Would definitely be curious as to your adjustments made on your SDS100.

 

[tweiss3]

I have both. The Unication software is annoying, but not exceedingly difficult. I've had the SDS100 the longest, and its great for close call and trips to other places of the state that I'm not exactly sure or prepared to listen to. Paired with the GPS, it take a ton of thinking out of the equation. I like the G4 better for most of my around the house/office/commute. Sound is comparable, but more clear out of the G4. G4 is significantly smaller, and battery life is a "day" for me. SDS100 stays in the truck, plugged in, with GPS all the time. G4 goes with me, and gets tossed on the cradle at the end of the day.

 

[2wayfreq]

I know the ADP/ARC4 world only applies to the G4/G5. But, I can tell you its cruddy. Often, the beginning of a decrypted receive turns to (grinding glass) garbage but then stabilizes. I hope there will be a fix in the future.

 

[Solidjake]

I use my G5 every time I go to work from Cherry Hill, NJ to NYC for NJSP and it's been great. I did testing against an SDS100 and preferred the G5.

As stated, each one has its pros and cons and are different radios.

 

[tglendye]

Interesting. I find my 2 SDS100 to be comparable to my several G4 units. But I had to put a better antenna on the SDS100 and adjust the filters. A stock SDS100 is not nearly as good as an adjusted SDS100. But frankly its an apples to oranges comparison. Both have strengths and weaknesses. So that's why I have both.

I’ve tried adjusting my filters and haven’t really noticed any improvement, but I could probably spend more time playing around with the settings. I should have mentioned the system I’m comparing my sds100 to my G5 is in my home area and is a Harris P25 phase 2 system- so maybe that makes a difference. I’ve only listened to a couple of other systems so far (I haven’t really traveled since the purchase), and I believe they did sound better than on the Harris system. Our statewide radio system recently went to total encryption just before I purchased the 100, so I was never able to hear that on the 100. And I believe my bcd436hp sounds as good, if not slightly better than the 100 does on the Harris system.

 

[IAmSixNine]

Would definitely be curious as to your adjustments made on your SDS100.

I have 2 different antennas I use. 1 is the old RadioShack bnc 800 antenna and a Radioddity RD-331 SMA Male high gain dual band antenna I got off ebay. I find that it also works well on 700/800.

The 2nd thing I did was adjust filters on a per site or per system basis. Takes some tweaking but I am happy with the outcome. I have 2 SDS100 and a few G4.