SDS100/SDS200: SDS and Unication technology

[buddrousa]

It is just a pager and only a pager. It works good as a PAGER only a PAGER. It is not a multi system receiver it is a PAGER. So you are willing to spend $600 to $700 dollars for a one system PAGER. The make PAGERS for LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS if they do not work PEOPLE DIE. Uniden makes SCANNERS you may think you are going to die but you are not.
Plus the great UNICATION PAGER does not even work on our system and they said they would not make it work on our system SO they do not care about me and people like me.

 

[troymail]

It is just a pager and only a pager. It works good as a PAGER only a PAGER. It is not a multi system receiver it is a PAGER. So you are willing to spend $600 to $700 dollars for a one system PAGER. The make PAGERS for LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS if they do not work PEOPLE DIE. Uniden makes SCANNERS you may think you are going to die but you are not.

Just to be clear - yes - it is a pager - but it is much more than what most may think a pager is.

And you CAN program and receive multiple systems on the pager - just not at the same time.

 

[mule1075]

It is just a pager and only a pager. It works good as a PAGER only a PAGER. It is not a multi system receiver it is a PAGER. So you are willing to spend $600 to $700 dollars for a one system PAGER. The make PAGERS for LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS if they do not work PEOPLE DIE. Uniden makes SCANNERS you may think you are going to die but you are not.
Plus the great UNICATION PAGER does not even work on our system and they said they would not make it work on our system SO they do not care about me and people like me.

Man calm down and no need for all the shouting. We understand you're point.

 

[mharris]

So back to the original topic:
That's like asking "What are the technological differences between Unication/Motorola/Harris/EF Johnson and the SDS?"

It would laughable to compare the SDS100 to a Motorola radio's performance, right? They're not even in the same ballpark in terms of performance, reliability, and price.

The only reason Unication is part of the ongoing discussions here is because the programming is accessible to the scanning masses, and the masses are starting to acquire them. There is no difficult-to-acquire or costly software, no special cable, no worries about non-affiliated scanning, no worries about system keys, and so on.

The Unication is in the same class as the other professional radios listed above, and that's why it works so well. Remember that Unication radios were in the public safety sector long before we discovered them here.

Actually, I and others found out about the G4 from this board upon its initial release back in 2015. I immediately purchased one, even before they were mass purchased by the fire service. Hobbyists can be very good at finding new hardware as it comes out, especially in 2015 when there was no good option for Simulcast.

 

[buddrousa]

Not when the company that is so great turned you down. Ya'll can calm down also I risk my life and they turned their backs on us. I sent a letter and received an answer they were not interested in our problem.

 

[WX4JCW]

I sold my G4 for An XPR7550, much better investment

 

[KE4ZNR]

And you CAN program and receive multiple systems on the pager - just not at the same time.

You can't program 4.1 3600bps CC (non-P25) Moto systems into a G4/5.
Even though the majority of radio systems in my area are 9600bps P25 the capital city & county (Raleigh/Wake) is still using a 4.1 3600 Moto system which won't be upgraded until Spring/Summer of next year. Folks in Wake County can't use Unication products. At least Uniden provides them a solution.

Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[troymail]

You can't program 4.1 3600bps CC (non-P25) Moto systems into a G4/5.

No one ever said you could....

 

[rvacs]

It all depends too on your areas that you live.
In Texas - the G4 is awesome - so many Phase 1/2 systems around
including:
San Antonio,
Austin,
Midland,
El Paso,
Ft. Worth
Galveston,
Several Suburbs of Dallas and Ft. Worth. (Carrolton / Garland / Ft. Worth / Richardson) - I could go on and on and on. I have so much in my G4 its crazy.

But if you have a lot of Motorola Systems / EDACS etc. Maybe best to stay Scanners for now.

 

[troymail]

For the most part, most scanner users are purchasing Unication pagers for their superior handling of simulcast P25 systems.

If what you are trying to monitor doesn't fall into that category, you probably don't need to be considering a Unication pager. I've been contacted by some folks who want to purchase a G4 or G5 but after talking details with them, it is the wrong product for their needs.

Don't buy a hammer if you really need a shovel.

 

[fmulder13]

I sold my G4 for An XPR7550, much better investment

Does the xpr do 800mhz P25? Am I missing something?

 

[WX4JCW]

Does the xpr do 800mhz P25? Am I missing something?

Nope UHF DMR (Cap+,Connect Plus, and Capacity Max) I use it for amateur use

Point is the Unication was too restrictive for my needs


Sent from my iPhone 8 using Tapatalk Pro
Jason WX4JCW
XPR7550 - SDS100

 

[mancow]

I believe the SDS100 is a dud, and will go down in the history books as such. Just too many bad points to ignore. Honest reports from bigger city areas say it's overloaded beyond any use. One can only imagine how many images it's plagued with. If I had one, I'd tell you how many images issues it has, as I would test that. I'm sure some test results will eventually surface. I'm not wasting all that money on a dog like the SDS100. Just my opinion, it's not worth it.

People will defend it (and their latest new toy 'bragging rights') until a new model with much better technology replaces it...then years later they will finally tell the truth about what it really is. (I've seen that many times here)

Unication set the bar high, and that is what Uniden needed to aim for, especially for that kind of money. Not a current hog that eats Li Ion batteries and generates enough heat to use as a space heater in winter time, all the while generating more NOISE as it gets hot...even enough radiated noise to set off radar detectors! It's a pig. Face it! But I thank those who tried it and were honest about it's faults. Corporate defenders? Not so much.

What's nice about it? The display options. That's about it. Maybe some simulcast performance, but I still do not see Unication like results. That's what I expect, and won't buy-in until they make a model that achieves that level of performance. Sadly, we might have to wait may years for the model that gets it right. Whistler still has a shot at it, but should seriously get their trunking protocols working for all trunking modes. That will be part of their test. Uniden wasted it's effort on this dog, and no 'firmware update' is gonna fix a bad hardware design. Period!

Would a SDSxxx base/mobile model be any better? Nope. I bet not. Same $#!+. They could dissipate heat better with a hefty heat sink, and that might reduce noise, but the potential city overload issues would probably still exist. And how much more would a base/mobile cost? Maybe $1,000 with digital mode add-ons??? Please don't tell me they they are trying to make that an "SDS Home Patrol III" with a tiny (crappy) Home Patrol speaker.

Pass on this line of Uniden scanners. I hope the next line gets it right...and sooner than later.

Phil

I believe you are incorrect. I'm selling all my others to move to them.

 

[eorange]

Actually, I and others found out about the G4 from this board upon its initial release back in 2015. I immediately purchased one, even before they were mass purchased by the fire service.

I remember that, and those initial posts ultimately led me to buying one. I thought Unication was in the public safety sector for a while before that, but I guess not as long as I thought.

Regardless...this inevitably drew up the SDS100 does this, the G4 doesn't do that (and the reverse), but that's not the point here.

It just strikes me curious why the Unication ("PAGER") is the radio that is always compared to the SDS100, and causes the most debate? By far. Why not all the Motorola radios floating around out there? I can only assume the Unication is more widely owned, per the reasons I stated above (and yes, also due to cost).

 

[troymail]

It just strikes me curious why the Unication ("PAGER") is the radio that is always compared to the SDS100, and causes the most debate? By far. Why not all the Motorola radios floating around out there? I can only assume the Unication is more widely owned, per the reasons I stated above (and yes, also due to cost).

Likely because the Unications are more readily available in our price range and that they do the job of handling simulcast extremely well... one might even say that they have set the bar for hobby/consumer use when dealing with P25 simulcast.

 

[Citywide173]

I remember that, and those initial posts ultimately led me to buying one. I thought Unication was in the public safety sector for a while before that, but I guess not as long as I thought.

Regardless...this inevitably drew up the SDS100 does this, the G4 doesn't do that (and the reverse), but that's not the point here.

It just strikes me curious why the Unication ("PAGER") is the radio that is always compared to the SDS100, and causes the most debate? By far. Why not all the Motorola radios floating around out there? I can only assume the Unication is more widely owned, per the reasons I stated above (and yes, also due to cost).

It handles LSM very well, and a lot of people who have had LSM issues with previous scanners have moved to them, it has become the de facto benchmark since most do not have access to subscriber equipment . The remaining features of the SDS100 are refined and expected, so comparison of those features to other scanners is moot.

EDIT

After thinking about my answer, it isn't exactly accurate. There have been a few posts about UHF reception issues and range problems compared to the 436.

There are a few videos with side by side performance with Motorola gear, but you really have to look for them.

 

[CanesFan95]

Not when the company that is so great turned you down. Ya'll can calm down also I risk my life and they turned their backs on us. I sent a letter and received an answer they were not interested in our problem.

What problems did you have with Unication?

 

[maus92]

Both the Unication G5 and the SDS100 work well for me,. Driving around the DC / Baltimore metro area, and the more rural Eastern Shore of MD, the radios equal each other in receive performance (stock antenna on G5, RS800 on SDS.) I like the solid feel / build quality and size of the Unication, and the flexibility of the SDS100. I can keep the Unication off charge all day, but I keep the SDS100 supplied with power all the time. I wish both radios had more audio power. I never have to touch the SDS, but I change zones / knob positions on the G5 depending on what jurisdiction I'm in. I probably don't need to own both, but I purchased the G5 first because I was frustrated with terrible simulcast reception of my previous scanners, both GRE/ Whistler and Uniden. The only major drawback to the G5 is that it doesn't do SmartZone which is unfortunately my home system type (I use the VHF receiver to mitigate that shortcoming.) I also like the fact that it IS a pager - I use that functionality. But TBH, if the SDS had come out first, i would not feel the need to purchase the G5 - but I'm keeping both radios.

 

[eorange]

one might even say that they have set the bar for hobby/consumer use when dealing with P25 simulcast.

Funny you say that, because I was thinking the same thing. I bet Unication didn't even plan on doing that.

 

[buddrousa]

As I posted we wanted 75 pagers for our county and our system is not supported and was told they would not support it.