Scanner for Manatee/Sarasota public safety

[chief17]

Thinking about buying a new scanner. Located in Lakewood Ranch. Which is better for that system-BC436/536 or SDS200/200? Thanks

 

[6Paul21]

Unication, no doubt. But they have to release new Beta Hardware. Have not found any location in Sarasota or Manatee that I have not received all transmissions loud & clear.
Ed

.

 

[Bolt21]

SDS200, no contest. I have both BCD436HP and SDS100, and I can tell you that the 436 is simply not equipped for P25 simulcast. Yes, the price is much more, but the frustration that you won't be experiencing is worth it.

 

[tampabaynews]

I second the SDS models over the HP models.

I haven't personally used the Unication pagers. I heard they work very well for P25 simulcast but I know you're going to limit yourself compared to the flexibility of a scanner.

 

[sjlamb]

Make that THREE votes for SDS series. Simply put, nothing else compares to the performance of the SDS100 and SDS200 series of scanners on the Sarasota-Manatee P25 system. Memory size, programming ease and flexibility, massive color display size and customization, sensitivity and audio all excel.

 

[whooey]

Unication cannot pause on a channel; HUGE deal breaker for me. I was in Anna Maria Island all last week with my SDS 100, I got manatee/Sarasota and Pinellas perfectly all week long.

 

[jonwienke]

SDS is the clear choice for simulcast.

 

[grossepointebob]

My 436 works good and picks up the Manatee/Sarasota P25 system without any problems. My location in Lakewood Ranch is close to one of the system's transmission towers (located at SR70 and Lorraine) which helps. However, if I had to start over, I'd go with one of the SDS models for the reasons noted above.