SDS100 Colored Text VS Battery?

[darkness975]

Does having the text in multiple colors on the SDS100 affect battery life? It seems like the battery drains faster in color mode than the white text with black background.

 

[trentbob]

That's a good question, I've had my 100 on white text black background since the day I first programmed it. If I had a guess I would think it would take more juice but probably not that much.

 

[KK4JUG]

If I remember correctly, Upman once said it takes about .1% more than a B/W display.

 

[darkness975]

Mine seemed to drain pretty quick when I switched it randomly one day. Honestly B&W mode is best since I can see it the best. I am playing with color modes on my SDS200 though, but with that it's irrelevant since it's always plugged in.

 

[RRR]

I know for a $600+ scanner, with such an awesome display, it would be such a waste to use a black and white display, when the color display can be so vibrant and beneficial.

 

[jonwienke]

The LCD backlight is what consumes the most power. The power consumption of the LCD itself is negligible. And b&w just drives all 3 color channels (red, green, and blue) equally, as opposed to unequally for colors.

 

[greggk]

"When" I buy my new SDS, I will test it in black and white. People like me with not so good eyesight can see that type of screen better. FWIW. Greg

 

[KevinC]

Just measured mine...

Color display 790 ma
B/W display 780 ma
Display off 720 ma
Rx adds about 30 ma with volume set to 10
Boot up 630 ma

 

[darkness975]

Maybe it was just a glitch the last time I posted about this. I have been unplugging the SDS100 and running it on battery a bunch of times since that date and it has been more or less the same as always.

It's possible that I might have been distracted that night and lost track of time lol.

 

[trentbob]

I know for a $600+ scanner, with such an awesome display, it would be such a waste to use a black and white display, when the color display can be so vibrant and beneficial.

I find with my eyes the white text on a black background as shown in post 2 is much easier to see. Also uncluttering the screen makes it easier for me to see what I am monitoring.

That's what's cool about it, it's so customizable and everybody has their own preferences. There certainly is a lot of choice.

 

[darkness975]

I find with my eyes the white text on a black background as shown in post 2 is much easier to see. Also uncluttering the screen makes it easier for me to see what I am monitoring.

That's what's cool about it, it's so customizable and everybody has their own preferences. There certainly is a lot of choice.

I agree I do like the black background with white text. I currently have mine set to black background with blues and reds for text , no highlighting. And simple view instead of detail view for the display.

 

[torontokris]

Just measured mine...

Color display 790 ma
B/W display 780 ma
Display off 720 ma
Rx adds about 30 ma with volume set to 10
Boot up 630 ma

How do you measure that?
So screen is 60-70ma
Colour vs b/w is 1.2% difference according to your numbers

 

[KevinC]

How do you measure that?
So screen is 60-70ma
Colour vs b/w is .012% difference as someone else/upman stated

Using a USB multimeter.

 

[Bob1955]

Maybe it was just a glitch the last time I posted about this. I have been unplugging the SDS100 and running it on battery a bunch of times since that date and it has been more or less the same as always.

It's possible that I might have been distracted that night and lost track of time lol.

darkness, how do you like it compared to the BCD-325P2 and does it work/perform better on CSP? And is the audio/sensitivity better too?

darkness, how do you like it compared to the BCD-325P2 and does it work/perform better on CSP? And is the audio/sensitivity better too?

I do love the BCD325P2.

The sds100 and sds200 do perform better on the CSP. Especially because someone sent me a custom favorites list that they tweaked a little bit. What is bizarre is that if I bring the BCD325P2 a half a mile up the road it starts to receive the CSP with the information from the radio reference database. For whatever reason, the CSP channels from the RR database do not come in from home. The only way that I can hear them is with the SDS100 and SDS200 running the custom favorites list.

If it was a reception issue then you would think that it would not work at all. But I will not even attempt to try to understand why it is the way it is, I'm just happy that with the SDS series I can at least hear the CSP.

When I searched Google I came across this site and one of the forum members has a programming book. I am hoping he will see my plea. Thank you for the good wishes.

Is there a way to contact a member directly?

 

[jonwienke]

That's just the way simulcast is. It's not signal strength that's the issue, it's the phase relationship between multiple signals. In tests I've done, going from one end of a Wal-Mart parking lot to the other made the difference between silence and perfect reception comparing a 436 to a SDS100. The SDS100 didn't care where it was, but the 436 definitely did.

 

[doctordialtone]

What is bizarre is that if I bring the BCD325P2 a half a mile up the road it starts to receive the CSP with the information from the radio reference database

I use the 325P2 on the CSP system with no problems. I am close to HQ and have no Simulcast issues here.

Sorry you had to dump $700 X 2 just to listen.

 

[darkness975]

That's just the way simulcast is. It's not signal strength that's the issue, it's the phase relationship between multiple signals. In tests I've done, going from one end of a Wal-Mart parking lot to the other made the difference between silence and perfect reception comparing a 436 to a SDS100. The SDS100 didn't care where it was, but the 436 definitely did.

I use the 325P2 on the CSP system with no problems. I am close to HQ and have no Simulcast issues here.

Sorry you had to dump $700 X 2 just to listen.

In my case it's not simulcast issues, at least not from my home location. If I use the "full database" which has the frequencies from RR, it will not work on the SDS100 or SDS200 any more than on the BCD325P2. But the custom Favorite's list does work using it on the 100 and 200. Most unusual, but as I said earlier, through luck and fate I can hear them from home on those two units so I won't complain.

 

[jonwienke]

So what is different about the FL vs the DB?

 

[darkness975]

So what is different about the FL vs the DB?

@WoodburyMan can explain it better , it's his list. But as far as I know the only difference is everything except the control channel was removed from each system.

Though I tried creating a list on FreeScan for the 325p2 this way and it still didn't work so maybe something else was also done to the list. If he sees I tagged him here he will respond.

 

[jonwienke]

@WoodburyMan can explain it better , it's his list. But as far as I know the only difference is everything except the control channel was removed from each system.

That wouldn't account for the difference. Scanning the voice channels has negligible impact on scanning.