Honest answer please.

[dan2125]

Would the Uniden SDS scanners give me any improvement in what I am currently hearing? Been using Pro -197 and Pro -106 for 15 years. I'm in the 55316 zip code of Hennepin county. Thanks.

 

[jason_58201]

Would the Uniden SDS scanners give me any improvement in what I am currently hearing? Been using Pro -197 and Pro -106 for 15 years. I'm in the 55316 zip code of Hennepin county. Thanks.

I don’t think they sds is worth the money period. I am not sure I’d buy another scanner. Encryption is the future it would seem.

The question is, why do you think you need to upgrade?

 

[jason_58201]

I don’t think they sds is worth the money period. I am not sure I’d buy another scanner. Encryption is the future it would seem.

The question is, why do you think you need to upgrade?

with exception to simulcast decoding the Bcd x36 is as good as the sds at almost half the price.

 

[dan2125]

I don’t think they sds is worth the money period. I am not sure I’d buy another scanner. Encryption is the future it would seem.

The question is, why do you think you need to upgrade?

Hoping for better reception, possibly hear more transmissions because of simulcast problems in my area.

 

[bearcatrp]

A better antenna may work for you. Would try that first before buying another scanner. Also, a FM filter may help too with all the radio stations around.

 

[KevinC]

with exception to simulcast decoding the Bcd x36 is as good as the sds at almost half the price.

The street price of the SDS100 is around $650 these days, where are you getting a BCD436HP for anywhere near $325?

 

[dan2125]

A better antenna may work for you. Would try that first before buying another scanner. Also, a FM filter may help too with all the radio stations around.

with exception to simulcast decoding the Bcd x36 is as good as the sds at almost half the price.

I am also using a Uniden BCD 396 XT with the radio shack 800 mhz antenna. What radio would you be referring to?

 

[dan2125]

A better antenna may work for you. Would try that first before buying another scanner. Also, a FM filter may help too with all the radio stations around.

Using a radio shack 800 mhz on all my radios.

 

[wogggieee]

I'm 100% SDR at this point, that would be the route I'd go. Cheaper and more flexible.

 

[dan2125]

I'm 100% SDR at this point, that would be the route I'd go. Cheaper and more flexible.

I have heard about that.

 

[mmtstc]

I'm 100% SDR at this point, that would be the route I'd go. Cheaper and more flexible.

and the technical skill required is not too high, especially with the tutorials freely available.
I use two SDRs and usually have three VFOs logging data and one VFO running audio which is enough chaos for me to try and keep track of.

My fixed setup is a 2017 iMac bootcamped to run Win10, two nooelec nesdr SDRs, an antenna splitter pigtail, and a nooelec RaTLsnake antenna. Computer was free, windows license was $30, SDRs were $30 each, antenna splitter was $10, USB hub was $12, and the antenna was $40. I run Unitrunker V2, which is free.
My mobile setup is a $90 HP Elitebook with 8GB RAM and a 500gb SSD that i bought used on ebay that i use the same peripherals on. I just transfer my most current unitrunker.xml file between them when i am on the road.

I'm $240 into this and I have a pretty deluxe setup IMO.
Since i started my Unitrunker.xml file in 2008 (it's kind of like a sourdough mother culture), I have 62,572 unique radios logged on ARMER.

 

[KD0NDO]

The unication pagers are absolutely the best option for decode quality next to the real thing. If you can deal with a few of its limitations its worth every penny. I bought the G4 and its not even comparable to any scanner I've ever used on ARMER.

 

[wogggieee]

and the technical skill required is not too high, especially with the tutorials freely available.
I use two SDRs and usually have three VFOs logging data and one VFO running audio which is enough chaos for me to try and keep track of.

My fixed setup is a 2017 iMac bootcamped to run Win10, two nooelec nesdr SDRs, an antenna splitter pigtail, and a nooelec RaTLsnake antenna. Computer was free, windows license was $30, SDRs were $30 each, antenna splitter was $10, USB hub was $12, and the antenna was $40. I run Unitrunker V2, which is free.
My mobile setup is a $90 HP Elitebook with 8GB RAM and a 500gb SSD that i bought used on ebay that i use the same peripherals on. I just transfer my most current unitrunker.xml file between them when i am on the road.

I'm $240 into this and I have a pretty deluxe setup IMO.
Since i started my Unitrunker.xml file in 2008 (it's kind of like a sourdough mother culture), I have 62,572 unique radios logged on ARMER

I'm using two Airspys and a small linux box I built. It uses trunk recorder to record everything (that I want) on the Ramsey and Washington county sites. Then Rdio Scanner is my front end interface I use to listen live or to any recordings. This allows me to never miss anything and to listen and control what I want to hear anywhere with an internet connection. I've got about $400 into it.

 

[ofd8001]

I've tried to listen to the ARMER system in Hennepin County on various models of Uniden scanners starting with the 796D. The only satisfactory ones were the SDS 100 and 200.

Antennas don't help, actually worsen the problem.

SDR is the best answer for those technical capable or who wish to dive in.

Unications are good for simulcast digital systems, but are challenging to program and are kind of limited on the number of things that can be scanned at the same time.

 

[tadsmith]

The unication pagers are absolutely the best option for decode quality next to the real thing. If you can deal with a few of its limitations its worth every penny. I bought the G4 and its not even comparable to any scanner I've ever used on ARMER.

I really do love the sound of the Unication. I've got a number of different SDR setups in place, but the Unication sound is far superior. There are some feature trade-offs versus a scanner, but you're getting a device that has passed most of the P25 Compliance Assessment Program requirements from the Department of Homeland Security for a receiving radio. The reception is also far superior to any of the SDR programs I've tried.

That being said, encryption is coming, and coming quickly, so you need to trade that off against the cost you're investing in a $6-700 radio.

 

[wogggieee]

I have had moderate success with a Uniden 996 if I used a yagi pointed at a single tower which aren't in the direction of another tower. It seemed to reduce simulcasting issues enough to get acceptable reception. It was an annoying method though which required some experimentation and would have to be reset if it got bumped.

 

[dave3825]

Disagree on this

Antennas don't help, actually worsen the problem.

Certain spots my 436 sounds like crap on simulcast using a remtronics antenna tuned for 800mhz. Throw a general wideband antennas or a stubby zero gain and it sounds pretty good.


Totally agree on this

SDR is the best answer for those technical capable or who wish to dive in.

Running many dongles on simulcast systems and they sound great.

 

[ofd8001]

The best reception I got on a simulcast system is when I had a broken coax on the antenna. (All non-simulcast went to heck though).

With simulcast, receiving too many sites causes the audio decode issue. So a poorer antenna may only draw in one or two. There was a thread on how some use a paper clip antenna for best simulcast decode.

 

[dave3825]

There was a thread on how some use a paper clip antenna for best simulcast decode.

I think it was @Whiskey3JMC that was using or recommending the 0 gain Comet Baby stub antennas.

 

[steve9570]

I really do love the sound of the Unication. I've got a number of different SDR setups in place, but the Unication sound is far superior. There are some feature trade-offs versus a scanner, but you're getting a device that has passed most of the P25 Compliance Assessment Program requirements from the Department of Homeland Security for a receiving radio. The reception is also far superior to any of the SDR programs I've tried.

That being said, encryption is coming, and coming quickly, so you need to trade that off against the cost you're investing in a $6-700 radio.

I agree The Unications I have sound so much better than any of my scanners even the Minitors I have work and sound great. and the small size of both make it easy to carry around in public.

Steve