SDS100/SDS200: Is Their A Problem With My SDS100 - Poor reception?

[Ubbe]

So, why do we hear the radio described as “mediocre” on the VHF/UHF bands so many times? Maybe it’s more susceptible to one or more variables I mention.

A 150MHz signal will be 15dB stronger than a 900MHz signal transmitted with the same power. In the 150MHz band it can be some high powered pager transmitters or any of those NOAA transmitters.

As soon as the received signal in a SDS scanner gets stronger than -60dBm it will create intermod signals inside its receiver chip and generate interference that could make the monitored signal distorted or totally disappear. If a received signal inside a 10MHz bandwidth are too strong, like -40dBm or stronger it will desense a SDS scanner. Intermod and desense at these levels are not happening to other scanners. If you have RF issues at your location then it will be a SDS scanner that will notice it first.

Attenuation can be individually set to conventional frequencies and trunked sites and will help if your monitored signal are always -80dBm or stronger.

/Ubbe

 

[sfb88]

Just an idea. Check if there are any local ham radio clubs that you could attend. Maybe someone there will have a signal generator and would be willing to inject signals at various frequencies and strengths into your scanner to determine if the receiver is working independent of any antenna issues.