New SDS 200 Questions

[scnrfrq]

I use Sentinel with my 436 and 536, both using the same profile and favorite lists. If I add an SDS 200, can I use the same profile and favorite lists with it? Is it just a matter of plugging it in to my PC like I do with the others?

Also, I know the SDS 200 has lots of options for filters, etc. Are there things I should change as soon as I get it to get the best reception on our new P25 Phase II system?

 

[jonwienke]

Make a copy of your current profile, then switch the target model to SDS200. That will carry your current settings over and add the new options for the SDS200. I suggest running Normal as your global filter, and selecting Invert on specific frequencies if you have issues.

 

[n1chu]

Short answer is yes. 536 and SDS radios use the same Sentinel program with with the choice switch, selecting which radio.

 

[scnrfrq]

Make a copy of your current profile, then switch the target model to SDS200. That will carry your current settings over and add the new options for the SDS200. I suggest running Normal as your global filter, and selecting Invert on specific frequencies if you have issues.

Do you mean make a profile copy within Sentinel, or from a file on the PC? So then I'll have 2 profiles, one for x36's and one for the SDS 200?

 

[jonwienke]

In Sentinel. File \ Save as... then change the Target Model. All Favorite Lists are shared across all profiles.

And yes, you'll want to have separate profiles for your SDS and x36 scanners.

 

[nessnet]

Make a copy of your current profile, then switch the target model to SDS200. That will carry your current settings over and add the new options for the SDS200. I suggest running Normal as your global filter, and selecting Invert on specific frequencies if you have issues.

Jon, on the subject of filters...
Normal vs off?
Off being no attenuation (doesn't any of the filter settings attenuate signal somewhat)?

 

[jonwienke]

I haven't noticed any signal attenuation running Normal as my global filter option. I have a couple channels that get pager bleedover, so I use Invert on those and that seems to fix it.

 

[Robertolson]

I run P25 / Conventional on my 200 the (Invert wide) works best for me, there's a pretty big difference. Try them all for your setup.

 

[Motik]

Jon, on the subject of filters...
Normal vs off?
Off being no attenuation (doesn't any of the filter settings attenuate signal somewhat)?

The filters are meant to attenuate whatever neighbouring signals interfere with the selected frequency, not the selected frequency itself.
Depending on whether the interference comes from lower or higher frequencies you will need normal or invert. This will be different for each frequency. Off is no filter at all and will work only for frequencies with no close neighbour and no interfering image.

 

[rogress]

I would agree with the comments on filters. I had to just try them to see what works best. I have only experimented with one simulcast system, but I noticed that Wide Invert seemed to work best on it.

What I would do is use the Analyze feature on that system, and look at the S and Q levels (those little bar graphs), then I would try another filter to get a rough idea on how S and Q changed. What I would notice is that Q was at its maximum when I selected the Wide Invert filter for that particular system. It is a little tedious and unscientific, but that worked for me.

 

[baj76]

i'm lucky, off/no filters seems to work fine for me

 

[Motik]

Sounds on the contrary perfectly scientific to me, or at least empirical.

Just be aware that the needed filter might, in certain cases, vary by frequency inside a system.

 

[scnrfrq]

Thanks for the previous info. I have an SDS 200 coming in a few days, and I just wanted to confirm a couple things re Sentinel. I have my current profile for my 536 saved as Preset. So when I plug in my SDS 200 and change the target scanner in Sentinel to that scanner, will it automatically show a new profile for the SDS 200? If so, then I save that profile under a new name? So then with 2 profiles saved, the correct one will appear depending on which scanner I have plugged in?

 

[jonwienke]

No. You have to manually use the Save As menu to save a copy of the current 536 profile, then change the Target Model of the new copy to SDS200.

 

[scnrfrq]

So, if I have a 536 copy already saved as the default Preset, I then have to save it again under a different name, and then choose that one for the SDS 200? And then from that time on when I plug in one of the scanners, I have to choose which profile to use with it? Sorry for all the questions, but I just want to get this right.

 

[belvdr]

That’s correct.

 

[W4EMS]

Yep. Very minor nuisance for the efficiency of not having to build/change FL for all models.

 

[scnrfrq]

I think I've figured it out. I now have a new profile for the SDS200 set up