SDS 100 suggestions

[TailGator911]

Yeah if you own the 436 and learned the programming process, you shouldn't have any problems with Sentinel and your SDS100. As others have advised, almost the same sequences, imports, etc, the major difference is the display options and the filter options. Once you figure that out, the fun begins

Sounds like you are traveling daily with your SDS100 and carrying it, etc. I highly recommend the hard leather case for your scanner. Law of averages, you will fumble the football now and then and it might get dropped. The leather case from ScannerMaster fits well and offers great protection for your SDS100. I would hate to hear that you damaged the display screen.

Also, the filter programming is very individualistic and user-specific to your area and your systesm, meaning that your filter settings and how well they perform in your area and on your selected radio systems is very unique and proprietary. Those same settings on your filters at work may not work for you when you are at home (or changing locations). Then again, you may find that you don't even need them at all.

Take your time with it and, above all, have fun with it!

JD
kf4anc

 

[bobmich52]

1st impressions

Not bad so far, Hartford edacs works better than 436

my other stuff, good, just gotta make a fav list

good battery life, about 8hrs or more

The not so good

I was specific about having the latest firmware & DB installed b4 shipping, my computer is very basic & has always sucked on sentinel, utter fail on both by BCW

My data base version is 7-15-18 whiskey tango foxtrot

Put out help request on software forum here, thanks guys, followed instructions , still NFG, cant even get sentinel in the green version up on my desktop

Need the DB updated since im only getting CSP troops A, H & I

otherwise, im impressed, Good reception, Just need a few things to work as they should & I can later give it a better grade

 

[jperuta]

1st impressions

Not bad so far, Hartford edacs works better than 436

my other stuff, good, just gotta make a fav list

good battery life, about 8hrs or more

The not so good

I was specific about having the latest firmware & DB installed b4 shipping, my computer is very basic & has always sucked on sentinel, utter fail on both by BCW

My data base version is 7-15-18 whiskey tango foxtrot

Put out help request on software forum here, thanks guys, followed instructions , still NFG, cant even get sentinel in the green version up on my desktop

Need the DB updated since im only getting CSP troops A, H & I

otherwise, im impressed, Good reception, Just need a few things to work as they should & I can later give it a better grade

I was hearing troop L earlier. As well as k.

 

[bobmich52]

FINALLY a few minutes 2 sit down & just listen in my office

Nice 2 have CSP back, its on clmrn, Busy as always, hearing majority of barracks L/C

CLMRN has much 2 hear & more on the way, U got to screen out a lot, depending on what u want 2 listen 2

FINALLY got my computer 2 take sentinel with the green icon, will make fav lists soon 2 narrow down & make a list 2 listen 2 CSP/local stuff in the Manchester area etc

Hearing TN/WW, Manchester, EH, Vernon quite well, I left QV in also if something happens in that part of the state

impressed with range (Set @ 30), im hearing stuff from bethel/sherman & lcd on my stock antenna in my office, SKIP??

hopefully, The CDOT puts their trucks & depots on CLMRN soon, I travel the htfd area daily & like 2 hear the weather roundups & the boots on the ground updates

If santa iz nice 2 me by the end of the year, maybe another scanner just 4 my office, The 100 will be for my car

100 or 200 4 my office

ideas/thoughts??

 

[jonwienke]

I'd personally go with the 200 for home/office, and the 100 for portable. YMMV

 

[n1chu]

Well I've waited a year & The prices have not come down

I'm tired of not hearing the CSP & its new radio plan/band on my 436 & HP 2, I'm in rush hour every day in Hartford

My 436/HP 2 Kicks Six receiving everything else in my area

That being said, I am looking For suggestions/comments on how the SDS 100 would be 4 the Hartford Manchester area, Especially 4 CSP Troop H,W, K & C

It would be going in my Jeep, It has 2 glass mount antennas, SDS 100 would be easy 2 remove due 2 constant vandalism in my area

How easy is it 2 program on your own or should I have some1 do it 4 me ( technology challenged I am)

My listening plan would be CSP, All related Talk groups, specialized units etc

Hartford police & fire, always busy

East Hartford PD & Fire

Manchester PD & Fire & 8th district Fire

Tn/ww/ Fire Ems Frequencies 4 my area

In Closing

I'm looking 4 best price & Service, Scanner master & Bearcat warehouse I've dealt with b4, But ill listen 2 other suggestions , Just not Zipscanner, I know they r bad & a ripoff

TIA

On the topic of glass mounted mobile antennas; I’d do a comparison between a thru-the-glass antenna and a conventional mag mount or permanent mount antenna and see if the windshield glass impedes the signal. Most windshield glass is laminated, some or most has a metallic film designed to help with glare and/or UV light. This film degrades radio waves... not saying yours doesn’t play to expectations, but in the ham community these thru-the-glass antennas end up in the junk drawer!

 

[bobmich52]

Yep It works well within my listening preferences, Not my preference, But it is what it is

AWESOME reception CLMRN, The rest, could be better TN/WW/, Local PD's Manchester/Vernon etc

curious 2 see if CTDOT PlowTrucks work on CLMRN or the legacy low band freqs for this latest weather issue

my SDS 100 has them, Will it work ???

TBD

 

[awasser1]

yes will. Yeah TN, WW<QV have so many vhf and uhf repeaters Some work well some not depending on location. Crazy so many

 

[n1chu]

Well I've waited a year & The prices have not come down

I'm tired of not hearing the CSP & its new radio plan/band on my 436 & HP 2, I'm in rush hour every day in Hartford

My 436/HP 2 Kicks Six receiving everything else in my area

That being said, I am looking For suggestions/comments on how the SDS 100 would be 4 the Hartford Manchester area, Especially 4 CSP Troop H,W, K & C

It would be going in my Jeep, It has 2 glass mount antennas, SDS 100 would be easy 2 remove due 2 constant vandalism in my area

How easy is it 2 program on your own or should I have some1 do it 4 me ( technology challenged I am)

My listening plan would be CSP, All related Talk groups, specialized units etc

Hartford police & fire, always busy

East Hartford PD & Fire

Manchester PD & Fire & 8th district Fire

Tn/ww/ Fire Ems Frequencies 4 my area

In Closing

I'm looking 4 best price & Service, Scanner master & Bearcat warehouse I've dealt with b4, But ill listen 2 other suggestions , Just not Zipscanner, I know they r bad & a ripoff

TIA

Bob,

Just getting around to reading your post in Jan 2020. I can’t add anything to the comparisons posted between the 436 and the SDS100 but do have a comment about the “on the glass” antennas you mentioned. I’m a ham. And as most hams will tell you, there is a reason the “on the glass” antennas are stored neatly in our junk drawers. If you have mounted them on the side glass you shouldn’t have any problems. But mounting them on the windshield could degrade their performance due to a metallic film or substance used in the construction of windshield glass not found in side window glass.
The reports I’ve read relate to ham radio applications on the VHF & UHF bands. As the ham application relates to both receive AND transmit, the antenna may be just fine on receive only. I don’t remember if the noticed loss of performance is related to only transmit or receive or both. But most hams who had them mounted on the windshield have either replaced them with the more common and proved fender/hood cowling mount Types of antennas or moved them to the side or rear windows of their vehicles.