- Joined
- Jul 23, 2017
- Messages
- 201
I have an SDS100, an SDS200, 2 Raspberry Pi's running OP25, a HomePatrol 2, and a Whistler TRX-1.
Every once in a while I will turn them all on and see which one is best. All of them are configured to track two P25 systems. Both are Phase 1. There are no simulcast issues. None of the scanners have much superfluous stuff programmed in. Just those 2 systems, their talk groups, and conventional traffic frequencies for police and fire in my area (except for the OP25 systems that don't track conventional).
New Bern Public Safety
North Carolina VIPER
Both systems have excellent signal strength on all devices.
Yet sometimes a call will come in and maybe only 2 of the devices will catch it at all. Or a couple devices will start and then a second or two later a couple more will break in late on the same call.
I know there are some antenna variables here, some scan rate things going on here, some antenna differences, proximity of cell phones, and other things going on here............but no scanner really catches all the calls all the time (nor do I really expect it to....I just am a listener for the big events).
And boy do I hate to say this because I LOVE MY SDS200. My SDS200 hooked to the network, with a giant virtual display on a computer next to it, with an external speaker is a thing of beauty and the clarity is WONDERFUL...........
But dollar for dollar, pound for pound my Uniden Home Patrol 2 catches more calls. It is located in my den and when I'm in the bedroom where the other scanners are it is going a mile a minute. All my other scanners seem to play catch up to it.
Again I am not going to make the blanket statement that a HomePatrol 2 is better than an SDS200. The HP2 in the den is hooked to a small Yagi outside.
The SDS200 is hooked to a discone outside but I have a solar system in my bedroom that just sprays RF although there is no detectable interference at 700 or 800 MHz. Just around 1 to 4 MHz is where it is bad.
At any rate the HP2 performs the best. But lets be honest here. I don't care if I miss the traffic stops or other calls. Everything is background noise until I hear "shots fired" or there is a manhunt or something and then I'll do a hold on that talkgroup or system.
Scanners are weird and perform wildly differently, even in close comparison tests.
Every once in a while I will turn them all on and see which one is best. All of them are configured to track two P25 systems. Both are Phase 1. There are no simulcast issues. None of the scanners have much superfluous stuff programmed in. Just those 2 systems, their talk groups, and conventional traffic frequencies for police and fire in my area (except for the OP25 systems that don't track conventional).
New Bern Public Safety
North Carolina VIPER
Both systems have excellent signal strength on all devices.
Yet sometimes a call will come in and maybe only 2 of the devices will catch it at all. Or a couple devices will start and then a second or two later a couple more will break in late on the same call.
I know there are some antenna variables here, some scan rate things going on here, some antenna differences, proximity of cell phones, and other things going on here............but no scanner really catches all the calls all the time (nor do I really expect it to....I just am a listener for the big events).
And boy do I hate to say this because I LOVE MY SDS200. My SDS200 hooked to the network, with a giant virtual display on a computer next to it, with an external speaker is a thing of beauty and the clarity is WONDERFUL...........
But dollar for dollar, pound for pound my Uniden Home Patrol 2 catches more calls. It is located in my den and when I'm in the bedroom where the other scanners are it is going a mile a minute. All my other scanners seem to play catch up to it.
Again I am not going to make the blanket statement that a HomePatrol 2 is better than an SDS200. The HP2 in the den is hooked to a small Yagi outside.
The SDS200 is hooked to a discone outside but I have a solar system in my bedroom that just sprays RF although there is no detectable interference at 700 or 800 MHz. Just around 1 to 4 MHz is where it is bad.
At any rate the HP2 performs the best. But lets be honest here. I don't care if I miss the traffic stops or other calls. Everything is background noise until I hear "shots fired" or there is a manhunt or something and then I'll do a hold on that talkgroup or system.
Scanners are weird and perform wildly differently, even in close comparison tests.
