New To Scanning, What Scanner Do You Recommend?

[Jeremy1873]

RCS (Regional Communications System) Nextgen is the COUNTYWIDE radio network for police and fire and other agencies. It is an 800MHz Phase 2 capable trunking system. The other main system in SD County is the SD City 700MHz Phase 1 system. The old SD City 800 system is being decommissioned.

Besides the RCS and SD City trunking systems, the next most useful public safety things to add to favorites lists are the San Diego XSD VHF conventional brush fire commands. Additional brush fire stuff would be Calfire Monte Vista MVU2 frequency, and CHP Border Orange and Tan frequencies. The XSD stuff is on the main San Diego County area, and Calfire and CHP are on the California section. By area and section I mean the Radio Reference Database, Sentinel software and in the radio database menu.

I can send you a quick "get-me-started" Favorites list so you can start playing with the scanner when it arrives while you figure out how to program it and work the Sentinel software

Paul

Just ordered my scanner. Would the Phase 1 and Phase 2 work with the SDS100? I see the XSD frequencies, but can’t find the MVU Area. I would appreciate the list

 

[hiegtx]

Just ordered my scanner. Would the Phase 1 and Phase 2 work with the SDS100? I see the XSD frequencies, but can’t find the MVU Area. I would appreciate the list

"Out of the box", the SDS100 will handle P25 Phase I & Phase II.

If, at some "future"date, you find that you need DMR or NXDN, those upgrades can be purchased directly from Uniden.

 

[mshumeyk]

I just ordered my SDS100 off bearwarehouse, I’ll research the sentinel software. What does RCS mean?

Enjoy your SDS100! I spent a week out there at the Marriott by the Convention Center a couple of years ago. I used my 325P2 as it performs a bit better than the SDS100 on VHF and I was listening to the marine traffic. Did fine on the 800 analog San Diego trunked system. But for Simulcast you definitely need the SDS100. Also, for someone new to scanning the large screen with more detail will definitely be helpful. Enjoy!

 

[Jeremy1873]

"Out of the box", the SDS100 will handle P25 Phase I & Phase II.

If, at some "future"date, you find that you need DMR or NXDN, those upgrades can be purchased directly from Uniden.

I see thanks!

 

[Jeremy1873]

I

Enjoy your SDS100! I spent a week out there at the Marriott by the Convention Center a couple of years ago. I used my 325P2 as it performs a bit better than the SDS100 on VHF and I was listening to the marine traffic. Did fine on the 800 analog San Diego trunked system. But for Simulcast you definitely need the SDS100. Also, for someone new to scanning the large screen with more detail will definitely be helpful. Enjoy!

I really appreciate your insight and thank you!

 

[SteveSimpkin]

I just ordered my SDS100 off bearwarehouse, I’ll research the sentinel software. What does RCS mean?

A reminder that while your SDS100 will work right out of the box by entering your Zip Code, choosing the service types you want to listen to and optionally changing the range, the database it comes with is likely very old. The firmware version in the scanner may also be old. You will need to download and install the Uniden Sentinel software to update the database and firmware versions. You can also use this software to easily create custom Favorite lists to listen to just the agencies you want instead of the entire database.
See the following wiki for the download link and more information on Sentinel. This version of Sentinel is used on the BCD436HP / BCD536HP / SDS100 / SDS200 models.

Sentinel for the BCD436HP/BCD536HP/SDS100/SDS200 - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

 

[shadow925]

Also depends on how you plan to use your radio. I purchased a G5 for San Diego Police/Fire and couldn't be happier. It's very small with a short antenna but receives signals extremely well. Battery life is very good and it has Bluetooth. You'll usually find me with the G5 in my front pants pocket discreetly listening through a tiny Bluetooth earbud. I actually stood right next to a police officer talking to him during the BLM riots and he had no idea I was monitoring his transmissions.