SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 Modified to Accept all SMA Portable Antennas Without SMA to BNC Adapter

[jonwienke]

Yes Jon, this is a conversation amongst very seasoned, experienced people who are familiar with the miracle baby for decades.

And that applies to everyone who will ever read this thread?

The whole point of the application suggested here was a desensitized, inefficient antenna.

I'm agreeing with that part. Thus the earplug analogy.

I did point out that even though it is designated a tri-band it really is best on 7 - 800 megahertz.

Actually, no:

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in a simulcast distortion environment secondary to LSM it can be helpful.

Sometimes. But more often than not, it isn't helpful, it makes things worse.

Everyone here knows its inherent limitations and specific applications so it's tough to label anybody here dumb by using it.

The first half of that statement is clearly not the case.

Of course I wouldn't, I'm not a doctor nor am I discussing cancer. But for the record countless people have been successfully treated with alternative methods and survived cancer and that's what counts! Would you avoid it if it could save your life?

And even more people have died despite receiving such treatments, or because of receiving them. Lets be honest here. Stupid antenna tricks fall into the same category. They're more likely to fail than succeed, and should be considered a hail-mary last resort attempted in desperation, where the only alternative is death, or the purchase of a receiver designed for the application. Not as a general alternative to getting the right tool (or treatment) for the job.

 

[trentbob]

No extra parts, just enlarged the clearance so a standard-sized SMA antenna would fit. I live within two miles of the 100-watt tower, and don't really need an antenna at all, anything with gain overloads the poor thing. I just like the slim battery and low-profile antenna convenience. It doesn't get knocked anymore.

Of course I wouldn't, I'm not a doctor nor am I discussing cancer. But for the record countless people have been successfully treated with alternative methods and survived cancer and that's what counts! Would you avoid it if it could save your life?

So when got2listen made this statement, that's why the miracle baby subject came up.

This is the Tavern so... I'm not a doctor either, I'm retired now, but in addition to being a retired newspaper man I'm also a registered nurse with a master's degree in public health, let me assure you, oh, there are plenty of people out there who would welcome a cancer treatment with a 75% chance of killing them. These are people with terminal end stage prognosis who do it all the time under the presidents right to try Act. This is not for discussion here as it is OT, just making a point.

There are actually people, in an attempt to deal with their simulcast issues, who drilled a hole in a paint can and stuck the rubber duck in the can so as to isolate just one tower.

I like got2listen's modification. I also think Jon's adapter is superior to Uniden's.

 

[got2listen]

Uniden SDS100 + Comet SMA501
Very low profile with a slim battery and the Comet SMA501 does work better than the Diamond SRHF10 I was using prior, in the 850MHz @ -55dB range. I think it is the SMA equivalent of the "Miracle Baby." No, it doesn't touch a Remtronix REM-820S in the 700MHz range, but this is just a clean little solution that works for me.

Disclaimer: Most SMA antennas do not fit on an unmodified SDS100, I suggest you use jonwienke's BNC adapter.

 

[iMONITOR]

Uniden SDS100 + Comet SMA501
Very low profile with a slim battery and the Comet SMA501 does work better than the Diamond SRHF10 I was using prior, in the 850MHz @ -55dB range. I think it is the SMA equivalent of the "Miracle Baby." No, it doesn't touch a Remtronix REM-820S in the 700MHz range, but this is just a clean little solution that works for me.

Disclaimer: Most SMA antennas do not fit on an unmodified SDS100, I suggest you use jonwienke's BNC adapter.

I like it! I also really like the color scheme.

I'm a big fan of the Comet Miracle Baby BNC antenna as well.


I've used them for years on all my hand-helds that had BNC connectors, for the 800 MHz band. The haters will say those tiny antennas are junk and useless but if you're in a good signal area they work great. Having an antenna that small is a great advantage when trying to be discrete.

 

[jonwienke]

They're fine in strong signal areas. But useless in a fringe area. The small size dictates a significant performance hit.

 

[iMONITOR]

They're fine in strong signal areas. But useless in a fringe area. The small size dictates a significant performance hit.

Jon, I knew someday you'd finally agree with me on something, kind of, sort of, maybe...or not!

 

[jonwienke]

I have a couple of them, but find the performance hit too great for them to be generally useful. YMMV.

 

[bberns22]

I like it! I also really like the color scheme.

I'm a big fan of the Comet Miracle Baby BNC antenna as well.
View attachment 93451

I've used them for years on all my hand-helds that had BNC connectors, for the 800 MHz band. The haters will say those tiny antennas are junk and useless but if you're in a good signal area they work great. Having an antenna that small is a great advantage when trying to be discrete.

Not sure and SDS100, even with no antenna, could be described as discrete...

 

[iMONITOR]

Not sure and SDS100, even with no antenna, could be described as discrete...

No, not with that color scheme! Was that for Easter?

 

[Markb]

I haven't seen this mentioned in the thread so far, so for anyone who is not aware, the antenna collar was designed to be used with the stock antenna so as to make the radio water resistant.
If that's not important to you or if you engineered another way to maintain water resistance, then grind away!