Scanner shopping

[Chris0516]

The SDS is horrible on VHF. It excels at receiving digital simulcast radio systems.
You’ll be sorely disappointed in its performance in receiving railroads.
A better choice for monitoring the railroads is the BC75xlt or the BC125AT.

This is why, I only listen to digital on my SDS100. I do still have my BC75XLT, but. I don't listen to analog.

 

[cb225662]

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).

Sds 100 is the best scanner I ever have had works Great on simulcast systems great reception very happy with radio.

 

[brcoz]

I went with the bdc325p2 and did the DXDN & DMR upgrades. I wanted a small size and digital. I know it has only two batteries and most of the time I power it in my car or USB.
I carry extra batteries when needed. It works for me. I would have bought the SDS-100 but due to the cost and more and more systems making that change to block us. There is some simulcast near me and some of the places I travel. I change my antenna to a small 3/4" and again it works for me.
My old Pro97 and Pro106 are still being used daily with the 325p2 scanning what they can't.

I would say buy what will work the best for what you scan.

Enjoy what you end up with.

 

[snyderdobes77]

I am also thinking about moving on from my TRX 1, I have really enjoyed it and found using the ez scan software really easy. I am thinking either the 436HP or SDS100, What are the pros and cons between the 436HP and SDS100?

 

[dmfalk]

Between the two? The single biggest difference is that the SDS100 handles simulcast trunking, whereas the 436HP doesn't.

The Waterfall option is available for the SDS100 (and SDS200), but not the x36HP, as far as I know.....

And the screen on the SDS radios is customisable, with a palette of colours......

Might be a few other things, too....

 

[snyderdobes77]

Between the two? The single biggest difference is that the SDS100 handles simulcast trunking, whereas the 436HP doesn't.

The Waterfall option is available for the SDS100 (and SDS200), but not the x36HP, as far as I know.....

And the screen on the SDS radios is customisable, with a palette of colours......

Might be a few other things, too....

Thanks for the reply, not really sure what the waterfall would do for me, guess I will do some research, the simulcast really has not been much of an issue where I am located I suppose if I travel into a bigger area might be something not really sure.

 

[KK4JUG]

Deleted

 

[dmfalk]

Thanks for the reply, not really sure what the waterfall would do for me, guess I will do some research, the simulcast really has not been much of an issue where I am located I suppose if I travel into a bigger area might be something not really sure.

You might be surprised, honestly.....

Also, regardless of the radio, get a new antenna.... The ones that come with the Uniden scanners is crap. Search around these forums for replacement suggestions.

Lastly, regardless of which model you choose, invest in the DMR and NXDN upgrades. You might not think there's much going on, but having these upgrades might surprise you.

As for the waterfall function, it's a great way to snoop around the bands for anything unexpected that's not necessarily in the database. It's great to have, but not an absolute necessity. (It also helps in seeing any interference to what you're receiving....)

(I have the SDS100, so I know this radio fairly well..... The 436HP is similar, but as I said, the biggest difference is the simulcast handling. Both have the aforementioned upgrades available, except the waterfall, which is on the SDS units only, as far as I know...)

 

[snyderdobes77]

You might be surprised, honestly.....

Also, regardless of the radio, get a new antenna.... The ones that come with the Uniden scanners is crap. Search around these forums for replacement suggestions.

Lastly, regardless of which model you choose, invest in the DMR and NXDN upgrades. You might not think there's much going on, but having these upgrades might surprise you.

As for the waterfall function, it's a great way to snoop around the bands for anything unexpected that's not necessarily in the database. It's great to have, but not an absolute necessity. (It also helps in seeing any interference to what you're receiving....)

(I have the SDS100, so I know this radio fairly well..... The 436HP is similar, but as I said, the biggest difference is the simulcast handling. Both have the aforementioned upgrades available, except the waterfall, which is on the SDS units only, as far as I know...)

How is the programing? One of the reasons I really liked the TRX was it was pretty easy to program and did not take a lot of effort. I am not a hardcore scanning enthusiast, in my previous life I was a LEO and my son is a current LEO, so I like to listen in when he is out and about. I agree with the DMR and NXDN, our local SO is hoping to upgrade their communications in next two years or so and I believe (could be wrong) the were going to something with the NXDN. I guess the only thing I am concerned about the SDS is it may be much more of scanner then I need or can comprehend. Of course on the other side of the coin it probably would be the last scanner I would ever need.

 

[prima19rider]

How is the programing? One of the reasons I really liked the TRX was it was pretty easy to program and did not take a lot of effort. I am not a hardcore scanning enthusiast, in my previous life I was a LEO and my son is a current LEO, so I like to listen in when he is out and about. I agree with the DMR and NXDN, our local SO is hoping to upgrade their communications in next two years or so and I believe (could be wrong) the were going to something with the NXDN. I guess the only thing I am concerned about the SDS is it may be much more of scanner then I need or can comprehend. Of course on the other side of the coin it probably would be the last scanner I would ever need.

I would agree with your statement that the SDS will be too much. I was very unsatisfied with the one I tried. I am really happy with the Icom R6 I got to replace the sds100. While it does not do everything the Uniden does it does everything I want.

 

[kd4moj]

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.

Just curious how did you find the airband better than the 125?..

...Doug
KD4MOJ

 

[bearcatrp]

Nice thing about the waterfall display is if your getting bleed over on a frequency your listening to, can turn on waterfall and see how close and tune to it to see what it is.

 

[KE4ZNR]

The SDS is horrible on VHF. It excels at receiving digital simulcast radio systems.

I have 2 SDS-200s. One sits in my kitchen and only scans analog VHF/UHF aviation. As others have said VHF/UHF performance is based off of the antenna used and tweaking the SDS to whatever you are monitoring.
My SDS-200 in the kitchen rivals my Pro 2006 (which is the king of analog VHF/UHF).
Anyone saying otherwise has not spent enough time tweaking their SDS radios to perfection.

 

[KE4ZNR]

It's a good learning curve as DMA is no where near as flexible as the Object Oriented memory in the Whistler.

B.S. Once you get used to using DMA it is way more flexible than the OO platform.
Especially in the SDS/xHP series where you can pull up a group of channels or even drill down to one specific channel. OO was a good idea in theory (thanks Don Starr) but DMA is way more flexible overall.

 

[snyderdobes77]

I would agree with your statement that the SDS will be too much. I was very unsatisfied with the one I tried. I am really happy with the Icom R6 I got to replace the sds100. While it does not do everything the Uniden does it does everything I want.

I have not heard of that one, I will look it up

 

[kd4moj]

I really would love to test out the 260 (I have a SDS200 as well as about 20 other scanners). I could live without P25 since there is more DMR than P25 in my area but Close Call is a real bummer (and game changer for me) since I use that mostly while mobile if I'm not scanning something specific.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

 

[dmfalk]

I really would love to test out the 260 (I have a SDS200 as well as about 20 other scanners). I could live without P25 since there is more DMR than P25 in my area but Close Call is a real bummer (and game changer for me) since I use that mostly while mobile if I'm not scanning something specific.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

Conventional DMR (that is, non-trunked/OFT/repeater) doesn't work well with Close Call, because of the on-off "motorboat" effect of single-slot DMR transmissions, rather than the steady carriers that dual-slot (ie: trunked/OFT/repeaters) DMR systems will do. It's just the nature of the beast, and not really the fault of Uniden scanners that have Close Call.

This is one thing that the Waterfall function actually can be helpful with.

 

[dmfalk]

B.S. Once you get used to using DMA it is way more flexible than the OO platform.
Especially in the SDS/xHP series where you can pull up a group of channels or even drill down to one specific channel. OO was a good idea in theory (thanks Don Starr) but DMA is way more flexible overall.

And without many of the memory restrictions that other scanner systems use...... The "D" in DMA! (Dynamic!)

 

[kd4moj]

Conventional DMR (that is, non-trunked/OFT/repeater) doesn't work well with Close Call, because of the on-off "motorboat" effect of single-slot DMR transmissions, rather than the steady carriers that dual-slot (ie: trunked/OFT/repeaters) DMR systems will do. It's just the nature of the beast, and not really the fault of Uniden scanners that have Close Call.

This is one thing that the Waterfall function actually can be helpful with.

Most of my CC listening was mainly business freqs, non digital Good to know that about CC & DMR. Explains why I never heard them on CC before.

...DOUG
KD4MOJ

 

[Ensnared]

Here is a post that might interests those who posted in this thread: SCANNING: Whistler apparently out of business