SDS100 and BCD436

[FR9Ford]

I picked up a used BCD436 the other day, only to find out they have simulcast issues. So I found a local shop today and also bought a brand new SDS100 to compare to two to see which one is going to suit me better. I am using sentinel software. I have updated the firmware on the SDS100 and updated the database. I've copied my exact favorite list to the SDS100 so they both have the exact same list saved to them. For a few hours now, my 436 has been chatting away and the SDS100 has not picked up a single transmission. I've googled and youtubed and I feel I'm just missing something stupid but I don't know what it is. I have location turned off, I have all of the service types selected and custom1 in Sentinel. The SDS100 does not have the DMR upgrade while my 436 actually has DMR and NXDN. But if I'm correct, I don't really need it as mostly everything around me in P25. If someone can help me I would appreciate it so much.

 

[RadioSc]

What's your filter settings set on the SDS 100? Try turning it off. Traffic will go nuts. And your NAC operation turn it off. NAC when off acts like a Roaming option. Brings traffic from different sites

 

[FR9Ford]

What's your filter settings set on the SDS 100? Try turning it off. Traffic will go nuts. And your NAC operation turn it off. NAC when off acts like a Roaming option. Brings traffic from different sites

Is this a setting in Sentinel? I'm day 2 new to this.

 

[RadioSc]

Menu- settings- global auto filter. It's on the scanner

 

[RadioSc]

Menu- settings- global auto filter. It's on the scanner

NAC set it to Ignore Site NAC

Setting your filter to off. Would probably have your SDS holding on a channel longer than it needs to. If this happens just choose another filter

 

[FR9Ford]

Menu- settings- global auto filter. It's on the scanner

Found it, its off now. Is the NAC operation something you want to turn off?

 

[RadioSc]

NAC locks you to that particular site you listening to. By ignoring it brings other site traffic along with the site you listening too.

 

[eaf1956]

Found it, its off now. Is the NAC operation something you want to turn off?

Sometimes the Database has incorrect information on NAC and it caused No reception issues

 

[FR9Ford]

Sooo, it MIGHT be fixed. Just by me going into Sentinel and rebuilding my favorite list for the 100th time? NAC was already set to ignore and now my filter is off. Will update once I try more.

 

[RadioSc]

Oh yea your antenna. The stock antenna is alright. But look into getting the Remtronix SDS100 with the O ring

 

[Robertolson]

Play with the global filter setting ....... It defaults on (normal) you would think this would be idea setting ........ But not...... after playing around with different setting, I found out that (normal) on My SDS 200 was deaf...... especially on the conventional channels .......... (wide invert) setting was much better......... like a new scanner........ try all settings

 

[FR9Ford]

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[sallen07]

NAC locks you to that particular site you listening to. By ignoring it brings other site traffic along with the site you listening too.

That's not how NAC works.

Each site has a NAC, which could be different for each site within a system or could be the same.

If you have a NAC programmed for a site, it acts just like the NAC on a conventional P25 frequency does ... the NAC in the scanner and the NAC being transmitted must match, or the scanner ignores the traffic. That's what eaf1965 mentions ... if the value in the DB is wrong and it's programmed into your scanner, you won't hear anything.

Unless you are in range of two different P25 systems that are using the same frequencies (and thus need to distinguish one from the other) you can just leave the setting in the SDS100 to "search" for NAC. As long as you can put up with the NAC flashing on and off, of course.

But that has nothing at all to do with hearing traffic from other sites. If you have another site programmed in, not avoided, and it is in range, the scanner will check both sites. Which site you are "locked to" is all about what you have programmed and what you are in range of, not the NAC.

 

[RadioSc]

But that has nothing at all to do with hearing traffic from other sites

What I was trying to say was Site Trunking is limited when you have. Use Site NAC.
Me Using Site NAC option only brings traffic from that County E using Site A
Now Using the same Site A ignoring NAC. Brings traffic from Site B using County G traffic. NAC option does bring traffic from other sites that wasn't possible before. I couldn't hear County G traffic from another site with NAC set to use Site Code.

 

[jonwienke]

For comparison testing, start with the basic set your location and scan the database with all service types turned on. You will want to refine that for long term use, but doing that will help you reduce the number of programming and setting errors that might block reception.