KB2GOM
Active Member
About three hours ago, the SDS200 arrived. If you want the executive summary of my impressions, here it is: Wow!
Now for the details.
I'm basically a scanner newb, a total greenhorn. I currently own a BCD396T and a BC125AT. In my view, the BCD396T is a nightmare to program, even with computer software and it is waaaaay too easy to invoke some action or function that (apparently) requires a total reset to get it to stop. The 125AT is much user-friendlier, easier to program, easier to use, but it is analog only. Right now, I use the 125 to monitor New York State Police frequencies and the 396 to monitor New York State Thruway frequencies while I am running the Commuter Assistance Net on two meter ham radio to assist commuters in the Capital District of New York State.
But I wanted something that would easily track local public safety, most of which is APCO 25 Phase I. Yeah, I know that the 396 is supposed to do that, and it probably does, but I find it to be user-hostile.
After agonizing quite a bit, I ordered the SDS200 from an outfit that has a generous return policy, in case I didn't like it or didn't think it was worth the money, etc.
After plugging it in, I attached the telescopic antenna, attached the PC cord, booted the Sentinel software and powered up the SDS200. I uploaded the latest firmware and the latest version of the database. After everything updated, I punched up the ZIP function and entered my zip code.
There was a short pause for processing, the magic happened. The first thing that struck me was how good the audio was. Crisp, clear, with even a touch of base. What a change from my handheld scanners! And it was happily scanning lots of useful stuff from my local area, including a couple of adjacent counties that I could not hear before . . . with, and you gotta love this -- full IDS, so I know who is talking, on a high-contrast color display that is easy to read.
Just as valuable, if I press the Function button and the ZIP function again, I get a list of types of scanning targets -- schools, aircraft, fire dispatch, and lots, lots more -- that I can easily turn on or off as needed. Waaay cool!
The one area where I need some help is with regard to Favorites lists. I have created them in Sentinel. I think I uploaded them, but I when I press the quickkey for a particular favorite list, I get a screen that shows the quickkey number with nothing attached to it. So maybe I haven't uploaded the favorites list. I will figure it out, I'm pretty sure.
Even so, I am really happy with this scanner so far. Yeah, it's a potload of money, but my judgement so far is that you get a potload of performance in return.
Now for the details.
I'm basically a scanner newb, a total greenhorn. I currently own a BCD396T and a BC125AT. In my view, the BCD396T is a nightmare to program, even with computer software and it is waaaaay too easy to invoke some action or function that (apparently) requires a total reset to get it to stop. The 125AT is much user-friendlier, easier to program, easier to use, but it is analog only. Right now, I use the 125 to monitor New York State Police frequencies and the 396 to monitor New York State Thruway frequencies while I am running the Commuter Assistance Net on two meter ham radio to assist commuters in the Capital District of New York State.
But I wanted something that would easily track local public safety, most of which is APCO 25 Phase I. Yeah, I know that the 396 is supposed to do that, and it probably does, but I find it to be user-hostile.
After agonizing quite a bit, I ordered the SDS200 from an outfit that has a generous return policy, in case I didn't like it or didn't think it was worth the money, etc.
After plugging it in, I attached the telescopic antenna, attached the PC cord, booted the Sentinel software and powered up the SDS200. I uploaded the latest firmware and the latest version of the database. After everything updated, I punched up the ZIP function and entered my zip code.
There was a short pause for processing, the magic happened. The first thing that struck me was how good the audio was. Crisp, clear, with even a touch of base. What a change from my handheld scanners! And it was happily scanning lots of useful stuff from my local area, including a couple of adjacent counties that I could not hear before . . . with, and you gotta love this -- full IDS, so I know who is talking, on a high-contrast color display that is easy to read.
Just as valuable, if I press the Function button and the ZIP function again, I get a list of types of scanning targets -- schools, aircraft, fire dispatch, and lots, lots more -- that I can easily turn on or off as needed. Waaay cool!
The one area where I need some help is with regard to Favorites lists. I have created them in Sentinel. I think I uploaded them, but I when I press the quickkey for a particular favorite list, I get a screen that shows the quickkey number with nothing attached to it. So maybe I haven't uploaded the favorites list. I will figure it out, I'm pretty sure.
Even so, I am really happy with this scanner so far. Yeah, it's a potload of money, but my judgement so far is that you get a potload of performance in return.