Happy with SDS-100, thinking about a Unication G5

[whooey]

I am happy with my SDS-100. With that said, as a hobbyist I am always looking for something else to scan on. Looking at the Unication G5 for use on my my local P25 (phase 1) system.

From what research I've done, the Unication G5:

- receives at least as good as the SDS, sometimes better
-cannot hold on a TG (one of my main issues with the G5) EDIT: You can hold a talk group now with FW 1.31
-has no delay before resuming scanning (one of my main issues with the G5)
-can only have 60 TG's programmed
-can only monitor one system at a time (non issue here)
-is more rugged than the SDS
-better battery life

I'm on the fence here, thoughts?

 

[W9WSS]

I'm "field testing" a G5, which is programmed for several talk groups. It works very well, is quite robust as many of its analog-only Motorola comparable pagers, of course, do digital trunking, which the Motorola's don't.

I'm a little hesitant bringing my SDS100 "in the field" as it's nowhere as robust as the G5. I'm afraid of damaging it by hanging off my belt or inadvertently dropping it.

 

[whooey]

I'm a little hesitant bringing my SDS100 "in the field" as it's nowhere as robust as the G5. I'm afraid of damaging it by hanging off my belt or inadvertently dropping it.

I dropped my SDS-100 on to carpet from about 3 feet and it went deaf, had to send in for repair, part of my reason for looking at Unication.

 

[w2lie]

You can hold a talk group now with FW 1.31
You can program 64 talk groups to a single scan list.
The pager can program many more talk groups than just those 64.

 

[whooey]

Nice! I did not realize that ty w2lie.

 

[W9WSS]

Just another reason why I'm hesitant to bring my SDS100 out of the house. I have a 536HP in the car for following our State trunking system (Starcom21).

 

[w2lie]

I don't recommend large scan lists because there isn't a delay time in the pager. 64 talk groups can be extremely hard to monitor if they are all active groups.

I've asked Unication to add that into their feature request list for upcoming firmware releases.

 

[whooey]

I don't recommend large scan lists because there isn't a delay time in the pager. 64 talk groups can be extremely hard to monitor if they are all active groups.

My system probably has 12 active channels, I will have about 30 programmed; a delay would be nice.

 

[pro106import]

I am happy with my SDS-100. With that said, as a hobbyist I am always looking for something else to scan on. Looking at the Unication G5 for use on my my local P25 (phase 1) system.

- receives at least as good as the SDS, sometimes better


I'm on the fence here, thoughts?

In short, the G5 receives multiple fold over my SDS100 and other Whistler and Uniden scanners. Especially when using a higher gain duck besides the short stubby that is supplied with it. I can go into detail of my elaborate antenna system and the systems I can hear with the G5 compared to the SDS, but no need. Take my word for it. As good or better than my Motorola or Kenwood professional radios. My batteries last 12-15 hours under 50% audio and 100% backlight on.

 

[whooey]

Nice man good to hear, may order today!

 

[whooey]

Is there a headphone jack on the Unication?

 

[mitbr]

Is there a headphone jack on the Unication?

There is no headphone jack on the Unication. One thing to note about durability is I have dropped my Unication from the hip height onto concrete multiple times with only a scuff on it that cleans off. The form factor is another main advantage to other radios it fits easily into my shirt pocket.
To listen to the Unication it uses Bluetooth.I would recommend Rays pagers when you buy one outstanding service!
Tim

 

[whooey]

Ray is my man, ty. Dang no headphone, I listen to headphones 70% of the time. Pros and Cons lol.

 

[pro106import]

Ray is my man, ty. Dang no headphone, I listen to headphones 70% of the time. Pros and Cons lol.

But the amplified charger has a speaker out jack that you can probably plug in headphones to. Correct me if I'm wrong Phil? I never tried it.

 

[mitbr]

But the amplified charger has a speaker out jack that you can probably plug in headphones to. Correct me if I'm wrong Phil? I never tried it.

This is true! just to ad ...if you thinking about a Unication and understand its limitations you cant go wrong. The Unication pagers are the best product on the market in their price range for p25 simulcast period.
Tim

 

[whooey]

Ty for the help fellas, I gotta think about it. The no headphone thing is holding me back. When I'm home I generally have my SDS on my hip with a ear bud.

 

[whooey]

Order placed with Ray, worse case I can sell it for a little less than I paid!

 

[jonwienke]

If you're only interested in monitoring a single system, the Unication is a great choice. It definitely has a more sensitive receiver, although it's crippled in the VHF and UHF bands by Unication's bizarre choice to go with an internal antenna instead of using the SMA antenna port. On 7/800, the Unication does much better than the SDS100 when both are connected to a common antenna. But on VHF, the SDS100 wearing a RH77CA does better than the internal VHF antenna on the G5.

The SDS100 covers more bands than the Unication, and is far better at programming and monitoring multiple systems. The Unication has better hardware, but it's software and firmware and pps were not designed for scanning, and it clearly shows.

 

[bob550]

The Unication has better hardware, but it's software and firmware and pps were not designed for scanning, and it clearly shows.

Very true. In the past two years I've owned my G5, however, Unication has made multiple improvements to both the firmware and PPS software to make them more user friendly for scanner owners. The addition of the RR import, hold, and block (avoid/lockout) features have enhanced it's value and improved usability. Since many users were clamoring for these features, it shows Unication does listen.

 

[jonwienke]

Agreed. But they still have a lot of work to do to catch up.