You don't need to do any programming for what you want to listen to.
First download the Sentinel program and install it.
Once that's installed go to UPDATE and download the latest version of of the nationwide database.
Then go to TOOLS|Select Target Model and select SDS 200.
Then go to FILE|Open and open the the SDS Profile that will appear in the pop up window.
Then got to EDIT and click on EDIT PROFILE. That will pop up a window where you can set up the options you want to use.
First go to Set Scan Selection and check the box that says "Monitor Full Database."
Second go to "Service Types." Check the "Law Dispatch", "Law Tac" and "Law Talk" boxes, clear all of the other ones.
Third go to "Location Settings" and select 9600bps from the "Baud Rate" drop down box. Also set the range. Start with a low number, like 1 mile. You can adjust that later if you don't think you're hearing enough.
When that's done, close the box then go to FILE|SAVE. It may ask you enter a file name, so just type in something like SDS200 and close the pop up box.
Then, attach the scanner to your the computer with a USB cable and turn on the scanner. Press "E" to enter the Mass Storage Mode. The screen will then say that it is writing to the SD Card, followed by USB Mass Storage.
In Sentinel click on "Write to scanner." Another window will pop up. Check "Force Write Full Database." Then click on "Okay"
Sentinel will write your profile settings and the full database to the scanner. When it's done, unplug the USB cable and the scanner will restart.
Make sure that your GPS is connected. After the scanner locates your location it will start automatically scanning based on location data stored in the Master database. The scanner will automatically turn systems and departments on and off as you your location changes as you drive.
There is limited information on pages 22-25 of the SDS200 manual.
The GPS turns on automatically when the scanner is powered up, there is no need to turn it on manually. As long as the master database is turned on, the GPS will do the rest.
One thing I did was to go into the SET SCAN SELECTION and turn off all of the Nationwide Systems listed. I found that when I had them turned on I picked up a lot of stuff that I wasn't interested in.
It's really a lot easier than my instructions make it seem.
I just bought an SDS200 and im having a really hard time to get it to work. Does anyone know of a service where I can just pay someone to set it up for me? I know I could eventually just figure it out myself but I would rather just save myself the headache. All I want is to listen to Police around me when driving (I have the GPS adapter) I don't care about anything besides local and state police around me. I live in Peabody Massachusetts (Essex County) but I do travel across to Worcester pretty frequently so I would need ultimately need Middlesex, Norfolk, and Suffolk counties programmed in