SDS 100 North Jersey Assessment

[richee2000]

got my sds 100 today initial thoughts from my home in bernards twp....i am receiving morris co trs and middlsex co trs .... from inside my home.. i could not get them on my 436 or 536. the audio seems a bit tinny, too much treble. receiving somerset co trs and njics well, as always.... What rubber duckie antenna does everyone find best does everyone find best for 700-800-uhf-vhf>?

 

[SCPD]

The SDS100 works great for the NJPSIC 700mhz system,and 800mhz systems in my opinion I am testing it in the NYC/NJ area at the moment and its working well with firmware 1.04 .
The town nearest is VHF highband but I have over 60 scanlists.

 

[mondaro]

I took the dive and purchased the SDS 100, after using it for a couple of days for me and your mileage may vary but the SDS-100 is nothing to see here I can not see any difference versus my BCD-436 the analog UHF and VHF still sucks, the color display is cute besides that will just throw it in the pile. I monitor in the south bergen county area.

Tony

 

[richee2000]

Not only does the sds100 suck on VHF and UHF but it also sucks on 800 analog. For example my 536 receives the New York City DoiTT system and the Port Authority 800 system with the stock antenna from my home in Basking Ridge. The sds100 does not receive either system even with an 800 antenna or the telescopic antenna. I am thrilled with the sds100 performance on p25 trunking systems in the 500 700-800 range. But it sucks on everything else including aircraft. ...very disappointed for $649... Now I need to keep multiple scanners to receive what I need.

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[railtrailbiker]

Not only does the sds100 suck on VHF and UHF but it also sucks on 800 analog. For example my 536 receives the New York City DoiTT system and the Port Authority 800 system with the stock antenna from my home in Basking Ridge. The sds100 does not receive either system even with an 800 antenna or the telescopic antenna. I am thrilled with the sds100 performance on p25 trunking systems in the 500 700-800 range. But it sucks on everything else including aircraft. ...very disappointed for $649... Now I need to keep multiple scanners to receive what I need.

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So are you clear now as to why it is absolutely necessary to have both a wife and a girlfriend? Ha!

 

[joerobb23]

i agree live in rockland county sloatsburg i have sds100 since june fdny uhf reception is horrible . As far as
difference between 436 ive yet to see a difference. i dont even hear a voice difference in Rockland cnty P25 voice. Hard to justify purchase price. No improvement in picking up distant systems.

 

[ten13]

For example my 536 receives the New York City DoiTT

If you're talking about the DoiTT system for the FD's handi-talkies, fireboat operations, etc, that's a 400 system.

They just call it "the 800 radio" because they don't know any better. They use to be on the 800 system, but when they changed it, they just took the 800 radios out and put the 400 radios in, and didn't tell anyone that it was different.

It's probably the biggest misnomer in public service communications.

If you're talking about the original NYC 800 radio, I didn't think there was anything worthwhile to listen to on that anymore.

In any respect, I don't think with ANY of these new and newer radios, you're going to have consistent reception, especially in the NYC area. The "receive" end is so critical, and transmitters so geographically spread out, that there's got to be serious variations no matter how centrally located you are.

At least with the old VHF systems, the higher the antenna the better your signal, no matter where you were.

 

[richee2000]

I am talking about both the 400 and 800 systems for the New York City DoiTT. I can receive both on my 436 in Basking Ridge New Jersey. No reception whatsoever on my SDS 100 at the same location.

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[SCPD]

Everyone that thinks the SDS-100 sucks on VHF and UHF should do a phone call to Uniden and either a video and/or log file from their SDS-100 and post otherwise we will not see a fix for this expensive radio.I agree with Mondaro.
Search the forums on how to do that log file to .txt. Made my call and had a long conversation with no return phone call from them yet.

 

[RadioDitch]

Everyone that thinks the SDS-100 sucks on VHF and UHF should do a phone call to Uniden and either a video and/or log file from their SDS-100 and post otherwise we will not see a fix for this expensive radio.I agree with Mondaro.
Search the forums on how to do that log file to .txt. Made my call and had a long conversation with no return phone call from them yet.

I also think those with heavy criticism should include more information. What antenna(s) are you using? How are they mounted? Where are you monitoring from? What area are you trying to monitor? There should be a more complete description of your experience being Uniden does watch these forums. UPMan (Mr. Opitz) regularly checks the entire site for comments.

Compile the info and pass it on. Paul Opitz has made clear its welcome.

 

[richee2000]

I am using the same exact antenna that I am using on the Uniden 536 in the same location. I use the remtronix. I am simply comparing the Uniden 536 to the SDS 100. And the Uniden 536 picks up Many frequencies and systems mostly analog... On various band VHF UHF and 800 megahertz where the sds100 is deaf.

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[joerobb23]

i still dont see why the sds100 doesnt perform better there are too many vhf uhf systems to listen to & for 600 dollars plus consumers should get better performance not all systems are trunk & in ny area man are not.

 

[richee2000]

What part of Bernards Township are you in? I am in the Cedars on Valley Road..still difficult receiving Morris County TRS and Middlesex County TRS in my home.. I have to move around to receive it properly.. audio is ridiculously tinny on everything except p25 systems. VHF UHF analog is pretty bad. My 436 and 536 received New York City no problem... The sds100 is totally deaf for New York City stations

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[RadioDitch]

The sds100 is totally deaf for New York City stations

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Again, I've had the opposite experience. At my sister's in Boonton I get FDNY and Manahattan 2m repeaters with no issues on my SDS100. It's nowhere near S9+20 on the meter, but I couldn't expect it to be. Jersey City, REMCS, Cranford Police and Fire, Bergen County fire departments are acceptable also from her place. And no issues from home either (when I actually get to be there).

 

[richee2000]

I am only comparing the SDS100 to my 436 and 536... where as, the 436 and 536 perform well, and the SDS 100 is deaf, same exact location.

 

[joerobb23]

this is the issue im not in new jersey im in sloatsburg ny about 30 miles from bronx & fdny reception absolutely horrible 600 bucks for a scanner what a joke

 

[NParkNJ]

this is the issue im not in new jersey im in sloatsburg ny about 30 miles from bronx & fdny reception absolutely horrible 600 bucks for a scanner what a joke

Interesting. I’m in Ringwood. Actually near Sloatsburg, right by the ball field in town.

How does it do on Morris County? Can you get that from there? Also, can you get Wayne?

Ramapo sure on ICS comes in pretty well for me.

I have the 396xt. Looking to upgrade. How is it on Rockland P25? And the rest of ICS(Ramapo, other sites?)

Wayne I can’t pick up from


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[joerobb23]

hi actually tuned those in on bcd325p2 reception ok wayne too far because of mountains will add these to sds & 436 & test

 

[ansky]

this is the issue im not in new jersey im in sloatsburg ny about 30 miles from bronx & fdny reception absolutely horrible 600 bucks for a scanner what a joke

30 miles is pretty far out to be receiving FDNY UHF unless you're using an outdoor antenna. I'm only 10 miles outside Manhattan and most of the FDNY channels are fairly scratchy on my HP-2 with indoor antenna.

 

[mondaro]

I also think those with heavy criticism should include more information. What antenna(s) are you using? How are they mounted? Where are you monitoring from? What area are you trying to monitor? There should be a more complete description of your experience being Uniden does watch these forums. UPMan (Mr. Opitz) regularly checks the entire site for comments.

Compile the info and pass it on. Paul Opitz has made clear its welcome.

I have own scanners since the 80s my first was a Sears 10 channel radio, (Still Works) showing my age.
The radio is good for NJ PSIC and nearby trunking radio systems however it is NOT GOOD
analog conventional VHF and UHF systems I am comparing it right next to a Uniden 125
even for the next town or two over, I am using the stock antenna with this radio. If you own a
BCD 436 in my eyes your good to go its more or less the same radio, I understand your milage may vary depending on your application. Tell you one thing SDS100 its a sexy looking radio with the color combinations on the display, also I would never knock Uniden it's pretty much all I own they made a great
product.