I am considering buying an SDS-100. I currently have a Whistler TRX-1. Can you tell me some good differences between the two? Im a big railroad buff and the Whistler seems poor on that as my Radio Shack scanner does better on picking up transmissions than the Whistler (I’ve had both on simultaneously).
Scanner shopping
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An SDS-100 is an expensive scanner for monitoring rail frequencies. Aren't they all still analog?
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I'd be more worried about if/when they decide to go encrypted. Ain't no scanner on the market gonna touch that.
There's still quite a bit not encrypted out there, and some services will never go encrypted (civilian air, for example). But quite a few have gone digital (digital is not equal to encrypted, but there can be encrypted digital), and the SDS100 excels in handling both conventional digital, trunked digital, as well as conventional analogue. It is not, by any means, perfect, but it does what it's supposed to, and quite well, in my opinion. Expensive, yes, but it's worth it.
As for just rail, many systems have gone digital, mostly DMR and NXDN, though some others, as well... The extra cost of buying these two upgrades practically make the SDS100 twice as useful. The waterfall upgrade isn't necessary, but it can be handy, and even add more time with the scanner. ProVoice? Officially, it's at end of life, but it's still being used, and might be worth having, "just in case".
I should know, as I have an SDS100, and although I live in a rural area, I'm quite happy with mine.
As for just rail, many systems have gone digital, mostly DMR and NXDN, though some others, as well... The extra cost of buying these two upgrades practically make the SDS100 twice as useful. The waterfall upgrade isn't necessary, but it can be handy, and even add more time with the scanner. ProVoice? Officially, it's at end of life, but it's still being used, and might be worth having, "just in case".
I should know, as I have an SDS100, and although I live in a rural area, I'm quite happy with mine.
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The DMA memory will be a challenge if you are used to programming the Whistler. It's a good learning curve as DMA is no where near as flexible as the Object Oriented memory in the Whistler.
If following railroads & aircraft is your thing the BCD160DN is great, NXDN for rail frequencies, DMR for other stuff if needed, no paid upgrade needed. Better air band than the BC125AT. If P25 simulcast isn't an issue near you a BCD325P2 is cheaper, NXDN & DMR are a paid upgrade. The SDS 100 is the only radio P25simulcast capable, NXDN & DMR are a paid upgrade. If/when you get a new radio down ProScan to program it. In my opinion, it's the better software of any available.
Due to the unavailability of new Whistler TRX-1's I have, in the last two months, bought a BCD160DN, two BCD325P2's and an SDS100.
If following railroads & aircraft is your thing the BCD160DN is great, NXDN for rail frequencies, DMR for other stuff if needed, no paid upgrade needed. Better air band than the BC125AT. If P25 simulcast isn't an issue near you a BCD325P2 is cheaper, NXDN & DMR are a paid upgrade. The SDS 100 is the only radio P25simulcast capable, NXDN & DMR are a paid upgrade. If/when you get a new radio down ProScan to program it. In my opinion, it's the better software of any available.
Due to the unavailability of new Whistler TRX-1's I have, in the last two months, bought a BCD160DN, two BCD325P2's and an SDS100.
This all depends on that one magic word: ANTENNA!
(The stock antenna is terrible, and there are plenty of better ones out there....)
You can’t beat the price of the 160DN at $249.00. It comes with DMR and NXDN, non trunking. Very similar to the older scanners but new technology. Also have a 325P2 that works great in little simulcast areas. A bit choppy in heavy simulcast areas. My SDS200 is for P25 only. Do your home work on what’s in your area and what your needs are. Now if you have deep pockets, that Icom R30 in the for sale section handles both digital and analog better than any scanner. No DMR though. It’s the best handheld receiver on the market, even though it’s been discontinued.
Yep
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You just saved me a lot of money!
I have one of those I use occasionally on one of my HT's when we're doing stuff at events for the ham radio club. For VHF, it's hard to beat that antenna for a rubber duck for its length.
I have that same antenna on my Yaesu FT60-R
This is why I get sick and tired of hearing that the SDS100 is "terrible" on VHF. It's not. The stock antenna it comes with, however, is! Keeping that in mind makes it easier to judge how suitable this, or any, scanner is, for what you want to do. Thankfully, there are plenty of replacement antennas out there that'll do the job far, far better. You will hear of Remtronics, Diamond, and (what I use) Comet.... All good, and not badly priced, antennas to choose from.
And spurious signals, aka "birdies"? How many scanners, or for that matter, any portable radios, offer ways of dealing with them? Sure, you could shield the hell outta them, but they're still there.... The SDS100 & SDS200 have both filters and IF Exchange (IFX) to mitigate internal noises to reduce interference. It's not perfect (nothing ever is), but at least there are options available. (Better than I can say for most radios I've used over the years....)
As usual, yourmileage experience may vary, and some other, cheaper alternative might not do (as much as) you want to, and come back to the choice of an SDS100, but that's all up to you. Me, I bit on the expense, and I'm pretty happy with mine. 🙃
And spurious signals, aka "birdies"? How many scanners, or for that matter, any portable radios, offer ways of dealing with them? Sure, you could shield the hell outta them, but they're still there.... The SDS100 & SDS200 have both filters and IF Exchange (IFX) to mitigate internal noises to reduce interference. It's not perfect (nothing ever is), but at least there are options available. (Better than I can say for most radios I've used over the years....)
As usual, your
That’s what I have for my Radio Shsck Pro 96. A little bent but both the antenna and the scanner work like a charm!
