New SDS100 user - a couple of questions

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samsat

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Hi All,
I have the radio for a few days, an upgrade from my old BR330T and the 2xSDR dongle system running Unitrunker on my laptop.
I got the kit with case and remtronix antenna, reception has been excellent from my location in 92130.
I did the zip code thing which as expected loaded a huge amount of data.
I then created a favorite list consisting of a much smaller subset that loads and scans a lot quicker.

I notice that the San Diego City 800MHz system sounds a little distorted not nearly as clear as on my other analog scanners.
What is the reason for this and is there an adjustment I can make?
Seeing that San Diego City 700 MHz seems to be a duplicate of the 800Mhz system would I be losing out on anything if I avoid the 800Mhz system?
Is there any activity on the federal and military systems included that make these worth adding to my favorites?
Now just working out how to avoid some of the RCS nextgen sites which are too far away like Salton, Brawley etc.

How do most of you power the SDS100? I have been attaching it to a powerbank to keep the battery topped up but it does not deliver enough current to allow the radio to run off it.

Still a lot more to learn to get the most out of the radio.

Thanks.
 

jonwienke

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You need a power bank that can supply a higher current output, like this one:

Make sure Location Control is turned on in your favorite list, or everything will be scanned, even if it's two states away.

Make sure the database and firmware are up to date.
 

nick0909

Antenna flicker
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For PD, Fire and Lifeguards I have switched to listening on the SD 700mhz system. They are fully patched for those at least, and maybe everything (but thats all I listen to). They are moving more and more users over to the 700 and I have to imagine sometime soon they will just cut over and the 800 side will go silent, so yeah, I don't think you will miss anything by just listening on 700.
 

jmarshl

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I notice that the San Diego City 800MHz system sounds a little distorted not nearly as clear as on my other analog scanners.
What is the reason for this and is there an adjustment I can make?

Both city systems are patched together so you may be getting some digital 700 MHz sound when listening to the 800 analog system.
 

samsat

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Aug 25, 2007
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Location
San Diego
Thanks for the replies. First thing I did was update both the firmware as well as the database.
With the family out of town I have had it running non stop for hours every day.
Really enjoying it so far.
I assume that if I wanted to say monitor the air band or the marine channels etc. that I would have to set up separate favorites for this?
On my BR330T I could scan those as a separate service from a menu in the scanner.
 

jonwienke

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You could put them in a separate favorite list, but that's not required.
 

MisterLongwire

Amateur radio operator/QC tech for radio mfr.
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The 800 mhz is not going, more likely the 700 will. Too much investment involved with the 800 as of this moment, from what I was told. Towers will be improvised
 

samsat

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San Diego
I just used my USB analyzer and my power bank is in fact powering the radio. About 650mA radio off while charging and 1.20A radio on and charging and 750mA radio on and not charging.

I built this power bank using a $5 case that takes 8x18650s in parallel and has both 1A and 2A outputs. I have many 18650s and happy to share should any of you in the San Diego area wish to pick some up.


You need a power bank that can supply a higher current output, like this one:

Make sure Location Control is turned on in your favorite list, or everything will be scanned, even if it's two states away.

Make sure the database and firmware are up to date.
 

jonwienke

More Info Coming Soon!
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Jul 18, 2014
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VA
I just used my USB analyzer and my power bank is in fact powering the radio. About 650mA radio off while charging and 1.20A radio on and charging and 750mA radio on and not charging.
The exact values vary slightly depending on screen brightness, volume level, etc, but those are pretty close to my readings.

I assume that if I wanted to say monitor the air band or the marine channels etc. that I would have to set up separate favorites for this?
Everything you import from the full database is tagged with a service type. You can put the airband channels in a favorite list with everything else, and in addition to the system/department/channel holds and avoids, you can toggle them off with the Aircraft and Transportation service types in the scanner menu.
 

Anderegg

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The SDS and HP scanners ship with NFM preselected for the 800MHz band. You need to go into the favorites list, and change (modulation) the system for SD City 800 to FM instead of NFM. You could also change the default for 800MHz to FM, but then you would have to manually change the NextGen FL system to NFM. This is a common issue with the Uniden scanners and older analog 800MHz systems...easy fix though :)

SD City 700 is set to NFM out of the box, so not an issue there. You will want all your 800MHz analog repeaters and simplexes to be FM, except maybe State Parks, I can't remember if they are FM or NFM after rebanding.

Paul
 

K6CDO

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There was no narowbanding mandate under Rebanding. Should be no change for Analog / Mixed Mode systems.
 

Robertolson

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The San Diego city’s new P25 is a tuff one to monitor .....I’ve been doing some testing while making my delivery’s.... my SDS 200 tracks it great .....my 996 Struggles with it......some other posters have stated the Verizon cell Towers might be the Problem.
 

TailGator911

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Fairborn, OH
There is a lot to learn and absorb with the new SDS scanners. A real learning curve for those just moving up to digital. But, don't let it overwhelm you. Repetition is the key, the more time you spend with it the more you get accustomed to it, just like anything else. A year from now you'll be wondering how it all seemed so difficult and how you felt so confused and you'll laugh at yourself. I know I did lol.
 
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