n0wla
Member
I have a 100 and 200 both programed identical. In side-by-side comparisons the 100 out receives the 200 by a lot. Anyone else ever experience this?
SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 receives better than SDS200
- Thread starter n0wla
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Are they connected to the same antenna?? If not, get a multi-coupler & try again, or at last use two identical antennas & test in the same environment / location.
Certainly can't judge radio rx by programming alone. What are you using for an antenna on each? Have you connected the same antenna independently to one then the other? Is the squelch set identically on both? (not impacted by programming) You've ensured the same service types are enabled on both?
n0wla
Member
Stock antennas on both, locked on same FL, SQL on 2, 100 chatters on while 200 scans with an occasional hit.
Switched 200 to outside discone with same results.
Switched 200 to outside discone with same results.
I will reiterate a previous poster.
Unless the radios are connected to the same antenna (via a multi-coupler), any reception comparison is invalid.
Just a few inches difference in the radio's position - and certainly the antenna's different gain, etc. can and does make a difference.
Unless the radios are connected to the same antenna (via a multi-coupler), any reception comparison is invalid.
Just a few inches difference in the radio's position - and certainly the antenna's different gain, etc. can and does make a difference.
Are the radios really side by side or is there some separation. Something near one scanner could cause a wee bit of de-sense.
wtp
Member
squelch ?
Have you considered what part simulcast may play here? First, if you can determine the SDS100 is receiving simulcast agencies when the SDS200 is not, but all conventional analogue frequencies are not affected, you may be experiencing simulcast distortion. While I have not seen this happening between these two SDR units (as that’s what these two are designed to combat against), it’s important any comparison be done with the same antenna as previously mentioned. I am assuming all programming is identical in each radio and both radios are placed in exactly the same spot, one at a time, with some distance between both. Put the SDS200 in the exact same spot as the SDS100, removing the SDS100, turning it off and parking it away from the SDS200. A quick way to determine this is to take the SDR card from the “good” SDS100 and instal it in the SDS200.
As a long time owner of both SDS 100 & SDS 200's, yes it is possible, the reception could be different. My SDS 200's all run off an outdoor antenna and on certain systems, I have to apply the attenuator where the SDS 100 doesn't need attenuation. Since I self-program using Sentinel, I copy these systems, rename them (Illinois State Police SDS100 for example) and edit the profile so only that favorite list is added the the proper scanner(s). As it's been said for many years here, these scanners need to be experimented with and once you find the optimal settings, you save them and read them back to Sentinel to save it.
jasonhouk
Uniden Betaman
Can you post a short video or link to a video of them both in with the display in detailed mode?
I have done a little testing on my SDS100 and found the Remtronix antenna is the better choice than the DJ-130 base antenna for what I listen to. The cable loss on 800 MHz negates any gain from the higher base antenna. That said, as already suggested, you need to try a multicoupler.
Surely you can see the stock antenna on the 100 is different than the stock antenna on the 200.
Like others have mentioned, get a multi coupler and run both scanners off the same antenna. Then set up detailed display with rssi showing on both.
Ubbe
Member
It's not only the coax loss, the discone only works fine up to 500MHz then its directional pattern points down into the ground and up in the sky and not much at all at the horizon, where the transmitters are. It can be a 10-20dB worse signal at the horizon. If you can sacrifice some performance at VHF you can cut the horisontal elements to half lengths to regain full signal at 800MHz.
You only need to cut those elements that points to the transmit source, if the weak signal ones are all in one general direction. You can always put the cut pieces back on using hose clamps or you could buy new metal rods to begin with and replace the original ones. There's usually threaded metal rods you can buy. It's probably M4 metric threading that the discone uses.
Radiation pattern can look something like this:
/Ubbe
You don’t mention what coax you are using where you mention cable loss. Suggest you swap out your coax to something like the LMR400, which is designed for the higher frequencies while not suffering on the lower frequencies. Cable loss is measured over 100 ft lengths. So, using a short length of something like RG58, (two feet) to manage a thicker LMR400 cable feed, which is unmanageable when trying to make a sharp turn is acceptable as there is a negligible signal loss with a short run to attach to your scanner. I run a 50’ length of LMR400 (the amateur radio guys call it “poor man’s hardline) and reduce it to RG58 for the last few feet in order to allow for flexibility when connecting to my scanner. There’s also LMR600, which I believe is a much more manageable size, comparable to the dia of RG58 that does the same thing. At the time I swapped out my coax it wasn’t available. But any upgrade will incorporate it in my shack.
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