Finally upgraded

[Phoenix805]

After enjoying my GRE 500 for 10 years I finally broke down and bought a Uniden SDS100. I've only had it about a week, not enough time yet to give it a real review. So far I've got mixed feelings. On one hand it does everything except wash the dishes, so that's good. Of course that also means more things to learn. I do like the display. Haven't made up my mind on programming yet, I was used to the old software. This looks like it could be easier once I get used to it. I have some basic things programmed in and will be making more adjustments (adding and removing) as time goes on.

I'm not crazy about the reception, I think it's mostly the cheap rubber ducky antenna. I'm getting a LOT more static and white noise than I used to get. I'll probably upgrade to a better antenna. RWC dispatch always came in crystal clear and now they're weak and noisy. And the speaker sounds...... tinny(?) compared to my 500 but I'll probably get used to that. And I do like the 5v USB charging. Not sure how long the batteries hold a charge, but a charger should always be available in the house, in the car, at a friends house, etc.

Back to playing with the new toy.

 

[bravo14]

I have had the sds100 when it first came out. I had one of the early bird scanner. I like it I have bought 2 extra large batteries and external chargers. It does take a little of time to get use the display and so on. When the sds200 comes in if I get time I'll try to compare both side by side.

 

[N5XTC]

I have had the sds100 when it first came out. I had one of the early bird scanner. I like it I have bought 2 extra large batteries and external chargers. It does take a little of time to get use the display and so on. When the sds200 comes in if I get time I'll try to compare both side by side.

what is your opinion on the speaker for the 100? if you can, can you compare it to the 436 speaker and sound? anyone?

 

[sibbley]

IMHO, the audio from the SDS100 is more tinny than the 436.

 

[Ravenfalls]

Hearing Mesa simulcast site from New River- inside over 40 miles away using Invert setting, firmware 1.07.02. Several mountain ranges between me & Mesa simulcast. PSR800 could never pickup simulcast, only hear Thompson PK which only carries fire dispatch. Also picking up DPS D6 Pinal PK from same area using Remtronix antenna. Gives you idea on how well the SDS100 really works!
Squelch set 0 or 1 =No scanning conventional with squelch that low. Trunked no issues with squelch set 0 or 1.

The 700/800 SDS100 sensitivity is very close to Motorola APX. No need for Unication G5 with SDS this sensitive. Time for 2nd SDS actually.
Audio wise using x3 volume SDS sounds great!

 

[Phoenix805]

Doesn't sound as tinny as it did, I guess I'm getting used to the speaker. I can't vouch for reception yet, haven't really done any testing to speak of, mostly sitting on my desk so far.

I think Ohio this summer will be the real test, had trouble with just about everything there with the GRE 500.

 

[KB7MIB]

I wish I had the money to spare for an SDS-100. My PSR-500 can't decode any of the simulcast sites. The IR sites are no problem. Conventional is no problem.

I just want to receive Simulcast G at this point, so I can hear Glendale PD, El Mirage PD, Phoenix PD 900A & B, Phoenix FD K-and L-decks (Towers Mtn only carries K-1 and K-6), and the interoperability PSAP TG's and G- and Ocean decks which don't seem to be carried on the IR sites much anymore.

And of course, as systems go to Phase II, I'll be locked out of more and more.

John
Peoria

 

[mule1075]

After enjoying my GRE 500 for 10 years I finally broke down and bought a Uniden SDS100. I've only had it about a week, not enough time yet to give it a real review. So far I've got mixed feelings. On one hand it does everything except wash the dishes, so that's good. Of course that also means more things to learn. I do like the display. Haven't made up my mind on programming yet, I was used to the old software. This looks like it could be easier once I get used to it. I have some basic things programmed in and will be making more adjustments (adding and removing) as time goes on.

I'm not crazy about the reception, I think it's mostly the cheap rubber ducky antenna. I'm getting a LOT more static and white noise than I used to get. I'll probably upgrade to a better antenna. RWC dispatch always came in crystal clear and now they're weak and noisy. And the speaker sounds...... tinny(?) compared to my 500 but I'll probably get used to that. And I do like the 5v USB charging. Not sure how long the batteries hold a charge, but a charger should always be available in the house, in the car, at a friends house, etc.

Back to playing with the new toy.

Might want to check out the recent firmware update in reference to the static and white noise.

 

[Phoenix805]

Hmmm, I'll have to look into that. Thanks.

 

[Phoenix805]

I wish I had the money to spare for an SDS-100. My PSR-500 can't decode any of the simulcast sites. The IR sites are no problem. Conventional is no problem.

I just want to receive Simulcast G at this point, so I can hear Glendale PD, El Mirage PD, Phoenix PD 900A & B, Phoenix FD K-and L-decks (Towers Mtn only carries K-1 and K-6), and the interoperability PSAP TG's and G- and Ocean decks which don't seem to be carried on the IR sites much anymore.

And of course, as systems go to Phase II, I'll be locked out of more and more.

John
Peoria

I managed to tuck $100 away every month until I had enough. While I was experiencing multi-path problems, for the most part I could listen to G without too much trouble.

 

[KB7MIB]

Can you tell me what your settings are? Maybe I just haven't found the right settings.

A friend of mine has the Radio Shack equivalent model and doesn't seem to have an issue hearing the simulcasts either.

John
Peoria

 

[KR7CQ]

Can you tell me what your settings are? Maybe I just haven't found the right settings.

A friend of mine has the Radio Shack equivalent model and doesn't seem to have an issue hearing the simulcasts either.

John
Peoria

Very, very doubtful that it's a "settings" thing. I've owned many of the PSR-500/600 based scanners and as with other previously made digital scanners, it's all about your exact location when it comes to simulcast. You can get flawless reception in one spot and have terrible reception a few hundred yards (or less) away. You are either in a good spot or you aren't. I tired of playing with the "settings" on these things more than ten years ago, it makes little or no difference. The problem is that older digital scanners cannot demodulate LSM signals properly.

I had the SDS100 for two weeks before returning it and did find the sound to be "tinny", more so than previous scanners (I own or have owned them all). I definitely heard , more noise / static with the SDS100 than I had heard on my previous top-level scanners.

Regarding the performance of the SDS100 that I tested, 700 MHz reception was dismal, 800 MHz was worse, and susceptibility to "interference" was unacceptable. I met with several people for head-to-head testing and saw the same issues with their SDS100s, including when pitted against other scanners and the Unication G4/5. I very much wanted it to work as the bells and whistles and gadget factor are all great, but it wasn't meant to be at this time. I will make due with my Unication G4, BCD436HP, PSR-800, PRO-106, BCD396XT, and other digital scanners for now, and I'll be watching for the Whistler LSM scanner that is supposedly in the works (yeah, the one expected LAST year?).

I have seen a few people from the valley say they were happy with their SDS100 though, so hopefully you will end up in that camp Phoenix.

 

[Phoenix805]

Can you tell me what your settings are? Maybe I just haven't found the right settings.

A friend of mine has the Radio Shack equivalent model and doesn't seem to have an issue hearing the simulcasts either.

John
Peoria

This is what's in my scanner - don't ask me where the numbers came from.

 

[KB7MIB]

Ok, I changed the trunking tables from default to custom.

What about your settings under PGM, FUNC, F3/GLOB that would apply to P25 systems?

John
Peoria

 

[Phoenix805]

Ok, I changed the trunking tables from default to custom.

What about your settings under PGM, FUNC, F3/GLOB that would apply to P25 systems?

John
Peoria

I don't know John, You're smarter than me about most of this stuff! Actually I looked in my software and can't find any reference to any of those. I'm not even sure what they are, let alone where to look.

 

[KB7MIB]

Ok. I don't have a computer, so I have to program everything by hand, so I only know how to get to them by hand.
Thanks anyway.

John
Peoria

 

[UPMan]

If you go to your friend's location, your scanner will likely work just as well as his. Simulcast issues are very location dependent. There aren't really any settings in an FM-type receiver (like all scanners except for the SDS100 and SDS200) that solve simulcast.

You might ask if your friend is looking for a roommate.

 

[KB7MIB]

I have simulcast issues Valley-wide. I just don't understand how he can receive the simulcast sites with his Radio Shack PRO-106, but I can't with my GRE PSR-500, and they're supposed to be the same basic scanner.

Oh, well.

John
Peoria

 

[KR7CQ]

I have simulcast issues Valley-wide. I just don't understand how he can receive the simulcast sites with his Radio Shack PRO-106, but I can't with my GRE PSR-500, and they're supposed to be the same basic scanner.

Oh, well.

John
Peoria

They are the same scanner inside. It's all about being in a sweet spot, and you have to know where those are, because otherwise it's all a mess anywhere you go. For instance, I am at about 2300 West Peoria and can walk outside and visually see the North Mountain towers for Simulcast A & B, and can get 100% flawless reception on any digital scanner (except for the SDS100 which has "interference" issues and was returned).

If you get close enough to a given site where its signal is relatively far stronger than the signals coming in from other towers, you too can experience perfect reception, for as long as you sit in that spot. However if you just pick a dozen random spots to test reception, odds are that all twelve will be a garbled mess.

Trust me on this one, I've verified that this is true many, many times over the last 12 years or so since Phoenix switched over to P25 simulcast. The problem with testing in the far Northwest valley is that I don't know for sure where any Simulcast G towers are except for the one located at the Peoria fire department in downtown Peoria, where I have also proven that the same effect of good reception occurs within site of that tower.

 

[KB7MIB]

If I get too close to a tower, such as the one by the Peoria PD station at 83rd Ave and Cinnabar Ave, or at the Greenway Water Treatment Plant at 73rd Ave (or so) and Greenway Rd., my PSR-500 gets swamped and won't receive anything in the 700/800/900 MHz range.

John
Peoria