Liking my new DV10 much more than my SDS-100

[Falcon9h]

$1600?! Are they fking kidding??

 

[W4KRR]

$1600?! Are they fking kidding??

I paid about half of that for mine.

 

[IC-R20]

I haven't noticed any drift with mine. Mine is a newer firmware version than the original units.

Nice to know. I been wanting one so bad from an asian radio store. That way there's no lockouts and the NXDN and Analog descramblers work.

 

[IC-R20]

So, I don't have a SDS100, but I have a SDS200 and 536HP. I have noticed that sometimes DMR traffic sounds a little weird. Even P25 traffic from time to time sounds weird. The adjective I'd choose is "warbly". Sometimes I know that its due to a low SNR signal, but it does happen for me on large SNR systems/signals as well.

The biggest improvement for me though has simply been using an external speaker for the radio instead of using the built in speaker. That really helps my ears and brain actually understand whats being said. I also pass the audio through an external audio compressor to normalize the audio level.

I'll also agree that DMR sounds best on my Motorola DMR radio(s) compared to the other options. But, each radio has their purpose, strengths, and fun points. I am glad to hear you're enjoying your AOR. I don't have a DV-1 or DV-10, but do enjoy my AR8600 for the strengths it has as a communication's receiver. I'd enjoy getting an AOR that can do DV sometime in the future I think.

even on the 396XT I've noticed that with p25. Uniden has always had worse digital audio quality than GRE did.

 

[Ensnared]

My biggest issue with the Uniden is how garbled everyone sounds. People are shocked at how different the two sound side-by-side. On the Uniden, everyone sounds like they are talking through a very badly autotuned mic. Or they sound like they are running through a voice processor to make them sound like robots. So, for me personally, it completely fails for its intended purpose.. Of course, that is only for DMR signals, which everyone around here has gone to. It sounds great for analog stuff like Air-Band or Ham bands. I do like the fact that I can take it anywhere and punch in a zip code and start listening locally, but again, the inability to understand the conversations is key.

My second biggest issue is the lack of any AGC. One transmission will be whisper quiet while the next is so loud, it sounds like it is going to damage the speaker. So I am constantly having to reach for the volume knob. It is like practicing to be a fast draw. I feel like I need to have Annie Oakley reflexes to use the thing when the airwaves are active.

I am a ham, so I had already started playing with DMR stuff before they moved to it around here, and the various DMR radios I have had are also plagued with the same volume issue. Initially, I had hoped to use a dual-band ham rig as a scanner for the local stuff, but that volume issue made it unworkable. The SDS-100 was an impulse buy at a great deal price, and I just assumed that it would have AGC. Needless to say, I was disappointed.

Is the garbled audio on the SDS-100 a me thing? Are there some settings I need to dive into that can affect the digital audio demodulation is such a way?

I don't have issues with audio on the SDS100. It is loud & clear.

On certain trunked systems I've monitored, some are clear while others are not as clear.

We have three dispatch talk groups on the local trunked system, HOTRRS. I needed to adjust the lower the volume levels on these three. Why? It is so loud it wakes the cat in bed sleeping. I don't know if these dispatches are deep-throating the microphone or screaming.

You can get a BT speaker with enough balls to wake the dead, LOL.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

$1600?! Are they fking kidding??

I paid about half of that for mine.

Ditto

 

[bearcatrp]

This is a expensive hand held receiver. But if its solid without issues, may consider it. The DV3 is on my list to watch but so far, nothing confirming coming to the USA. Hope it does and can stand toe to toe with the Icom R8600. My Icom R30 is I think the best handheld receiver on the market BUT with no DMR, get knocked down a few notches. Has anyone done a comparison between this radio and the R30?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

This is a expensive hand held receiver. But if its solid without issues, may consider it.

No radio is without issues...

 

[bearcatrp]

No radio is without issues...

True. I know my R30 is flawless besides no DMR. Owned a 8200 back in the 90's but sold that. Don't know much about AOR these day. What kind of software comes with the DV10? Am starting to look into this radio a bit more.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

What kind of software comes with the DV10?

None out of the box. DV10 Connect is free to download but I've used ARC DV1 successfully as well

 

[bearcatrp]

Thats a plus having free software.

 

[palmerjrusa]

I just picked up a DV10 via eBay, straight from Japan, and I am loving it.

My locale was slow to adopt digital, so I had been using my Pro-34 that I had modded with every Cheek upgrade available since I bought it in the early '90s.
I finally upgraded to an SDS-100 a couple of years ago, and I was unimpressed. The fact that I am constantly having to crank the volume up and down with every transmission, combined with how garbled and modulated everyone's sounds are, means I just find listening to be more of a chore than fun. So I have only been turning it on when crazy stuff was happening, and only ever able to get a basic gist of what was happening because of the issues noted above.

Well, I had always wanted to own an AOR scanner and decided to give the DV10 a try. WOW! What a difference! I am NOT having to crank the volume up and down anymore, AND I can understand what people are saying! Even my wife immediately noticed and said, "Hey, I can actually understand what they are saying."

So now the first bad, it sucks down the batteries quickly and there is no extended pack option available. Ok, so I have to keep extras around.. at least I am enjoying having it turned on. We do not have any trunking in my area, so hopefully this one will work for me for a while.

Is my experience typical? Is the SDS-100 just generally an expensive POS?

Looks like we've found someone who actually really likes their AR-DV10!😀

Have one myself and I think it, ahem, has issues.😁