Digital scanners

[USSENTERPRISE]

Morning I’m looking to buy a SDS100 digital scanner. Can you tell me if it will work in my area. I live in Billerica MA (01821). My police department just went over to digital transmissions. I was listening on my old BC125AT scanner until the switch.

I would appreciate your help.
Thank you

 

[W1KNE]

Yes, it will work fine. It is a good choice if the town is using LSM, and should handle when MSP goes to Phase II.
It's a very good scanner. I have been very happy with mine. You can replay audio nicely as well. The display is crazy nice too.

A step down is the 536HP, which has the same replay features and good digital audio, I find the P25 audio better on the SDS.

Someone will undoubtedly suggest the 996P2, however as nice of a scanner as this is, it does not handle simulcast distortion well, and the P25 and P25 audio doesn't sound a nice as the SDS

 

[USSENTERPRISE]

Thank you so very much. I appreciate all the information. I’m a newbie in this area. Again thank you.

Frank Hertler

 

[USSENTERPRISE]

Thank you so very much. I appreciate all the information. I’m a newbie in this area. Again thank you.

Frank Hertler

I also will go with the SD100 because I figure since it’s the newest it will last.

 

[Nascar18]

ScannerMaster online or Ham Radio Outlet in Salem, NH are local places to purchase the SDS 100.

 

[USSENTERPRISE]

Thank you. Are they cheaper than going straight to Uniden? I believe it’s $695.00 at Uniden.

 

[StoliRaz]

$650

Uniden Bearcat SDS100 Police Scanner | ScannerMaster.com

A revolutionary new SDR Based scanner that reduces simulcast interference with a completely customizable display. With the easy to use ZIP Code programming it is set up in minutes.

www.scannermaster.com

Same price as Uniden

SDS100 True I/Q™ Digital Handheld Scanner

Uniden creates another first with the SDS100 True I/Q™ Scanner and Digital TrunkTracker communications receiver that incorporates the HomePatrol database of all known radio systems in the USA and Canada. Programming it can be as simple as entering your zip code.

uniden.com

Amazon and Walmart are also $650. I'd choose whoever you feel has the best return policy.

 

[fxdscon]

Thank you. Are they cheaper than going straight to Uniden? I believe it’s $695.00 at Uniden.

Some other choices at these links:

UNIDEN SDS-100

True I/Q Scanner Incorporating Software Defined Radio Technology

www.hamradio.com

Uniden SDS100 Digital Police Scanner

The Uniden SDS100 Police Scanner is another first for Uniden. Free shipping, lifetime support, programming, best price guarantee, easy returns, Uniden full line of scanners

bearcatwarehouse.com

Uniden Bearcat SDS100 Police Scanner | ScannerMaster.com

A revolutionary new SDR Based scanner that reduces simulcast interference with a completely customizable display. With the easy to use ZIP Code programming it is set up in minutes.

www.scannermaster.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DK26FDN?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_ZHPW6F7EACZMDSSAMTYD

 

[fxdscon]

Thank you. Are they cheaper than going straight to Uniden? I believe it’s $695.00 at Uniden.

Also... If you decide that you want any of the paid upgrades for DMR, NXDN, or ProVoice (not much of that in use any more), don't pay the dealer to install them at the time of purchase. You can buy the upgrade keys direct from Uniden for a much better price, and do the very simple upgrade process yourself, at home, anytime after purchase.

The upgrade cost directly from Uniden is:

DMR = $60
NXDN = $50
ProVoice = $50

Dealers charge $75 or more for those same upgrades.

 

[W1KNE]

DMR = $60
NXDN = $50
ProVoice = $50

Don't even bother with ProVoice. Nothing around here uses it, except for the MBTA trunk and that's going to end sometime in the not too distant future. Outside of some commercial trunks, NXDN isn't used much around here either. DMR is heavily used, and even with one town's PD (Ayer) and another's FD (Holyoke).

 

[StoliRaz]

Don't even bother with ProVoice. Nothing around here uses it, except for the MBTA trunk and that's going to end sometime in the not too distant future. Outside of some commercial trunks, NXDN isn't used much around here either. DMR is heavily used, and even with one town's PD (Ayer) and another's FD (Holyoke).

I'll add that even those few commercial NXDN trunks are pretty dead. IMO, you're not missing anything without it. It's not worth the upgrade unless the MBTA moves to NXDN with their new system. DMR is a must have though.

 

[garys]

I expect that the T is moving to a P25 Phase 2 system. Since they have a long history with Harris due to the current system, they could go with a Harris system.

Of course, way back when the system was being build no one could quite figure out why they didn't go with a Motorola system.

I'll add that even those few commercial NXDN trunks are pretty dead. IMO, you're not missing anything without it. It's not worth the upgrade unless the MBTA moves to NXDN with their new system. DMR is a must have though.

 

[USSENTERPRISE]

Thank you. Are they cheaper than going straight to Uniden? I believe it’s $695.00 at Uniden.

I want to thank everyone for their support and help. I bought the SDS100. I had to borrow my daughter’s laptop because I have a iMac. Unidens site will not talk to my iMac. I finally downloaded sentinel and programmed the SDS100. It works great now.
Again thank you.

 

[wltrsf]

Don't even bother with ProVoice. Nothing around here uses it, except for the MBTA trunk and that's going to end sometime in the not too distant future. Outside of some commercial trunks, NXDN isn't used much around here either. DMR is heavily used, and even with one town's PD (Ayer) and another's FD (Holyoke).

As of 18:45 tonight Ayer PD is still on 158.895 NAC 895 P25, as they have been for a long time, no DMR.

 

[garys]

Stow PD is DMR, but that's about it for DMR public safety in this area.

 

[W1KNE]

As of 18:45 tonight Ayer PD is still on 158.895 NAC 895 P25, as they have been for a long time, no DMR.

Sorry I misspoke. I meant Stow not Ayer. My apologies.

 

[Citywide173]

With where you are, a trip up to Ham Radio Outlet is probably your best bet. If purchased online, you'll be charged MA state sales tax.

 

[Tergar4]

Not to hijack this thread, but I’m in a similar boat. I’d like to listen to Ayer PD and have been shopping for an SDS100 on eBay. Ayer switched maybe a year or two ago and haven’t gone to encryption, but I noticed a few have. Seeing as Ayer just switched is it unlikely they’d add encryption at this point? I’ve seen more departments closer to Boston go that way but I guess I’m curious if p25 seems to be a midpoint before encryption or if most towns that go encrypted do it during the initial switch over to digital.

Just don’t wanna buy a $600 doorstop.

 

[StoliRaz]

Not to hijack this thread, but I’m in a similar boat. I’d like to listen to Ayer PD and have been shopping for an SDS100 on eBay. Ayer switched maybe a year or two ago and haven’t gone to encryption, but I noticed a few have. Seeing as Ayer just switched is it unlikely they’d add encryption at this point? I’ve seen more departments closer to Boston go that way but I guess I’m curious if p25 seems to be a midpoint before encryption or if most towns that go encrypted do it during the initial switch over to digital.

Just don’t wanna buy a $600 doorstop.

Ayer is straight P25 in the clear according to the database, if they're all you want to listen to then an SDS is overkill. You can get an older digital scanner on Ebay for far less money that will receive them. My PSR-500 was only a hundred bucks in barely used like new condition. I sold my well used PSR-300 to recoup more than half of that money back for a dirt cheap upgrade to digital.

 

[N1EXA]

Ayer is straight P25 in the clear according to the database, if they're all you want to listen to then an SDS is overkill. You can get an older digital scanner on Ebay for far less money that will receive them. My PSR-500 was only a hundred bucks in barely used like new condition. I sold my well used PSR-300 to recoup more than half of that money back for a dirt cheap upgrade to digital.

Totally Agree - its Just P25 no Mystery here !
Bought A 396T for $70 on Ebay With a broken charging port.
Just bought an external charger or just run it on AA Alk's from Market Basket

Pete N1EXA