SDS100, not ideal for VHF?

[EAFrizzle]

Now you're just grasping at straws. Sorry for insulting you somehow.

I've tried all the things you have suggested, I have favorite lists set up and used, I've applied filters to individual frequencies, made ifx adjustments, and gotten the machines to receive VHF as well as they're able. It's probably acceptable performance for most people, but it's not worth the time to set up each individual frequency to get it as good as possible when I have other machines that easily outperform the SDS on VHF with zero hassle. For me, the SDS scanners are only useful for trunking and digital modes right now, and they're likely to get less use when my new shack gets set up.

 

[hiegtx]

That said, it would’ve been really helpful if Uniden had included an on-screen indicator on the SDS100 to show which frequencies prefer certain settings (like Normal, Invert, Wide Normal, Wide Invert, or Off) when Auto is enabled. Maybe they can add that in a future firmware update!

That is something that had been mentioned in one of the 'Joe Bearcat - Help Me Help You' threads by myself & others. Using auto for filters results in a much slower scan speed, as the scanner tries the available filters each time that system comes up, even in the same 'session'. If the scanner would display which filter was selected, instead of only showing as "auto", we could then update the Favorites list to select the most effective mode. Barring a change to what is showing on the display, it would be helpful if the scanner "remembered" which filter was used during the current scanning session. That would limit the slow-down effect on scan speed. If it would retain that result, at least until the current session is terminated, we could save the result to Sentinel. That is roughly the same as the scanner remembering temporary 'avoids' (as opposed to those applied as 'permanent avoids' via Function or other methods) until the next power-cycle.

My TRX 1 has been in a drawer with no batteries in it for years, it has very low mileage as we went to p25 Phase 2 simulcast right after I got it and it didn't work for me but I'm not going to sell it. Especially with Whistler being bought in January and possibly ramping up again.

My TRX-1 is almost useless for local public safety monitoring. Just about all of the counties, cities, & smaller towns in range of my location are on one of several local P25 trunked systems, all of which use simulcast sites. I'm using mine to help discover & document DMR systems not currently in the database. It also comes in handy when I visit a friend in a rural area about 100 miles west of me. Virtually everyone (all the counties & towns) in her area are conventional, not trunked. Many of those rural counties are not fully documented as to who is using what frequency for which purposes.

My SDS100, with an appropriate antenna, also does well in that area. But the ability to selectively record specific frequencies, via the TRX, versus 'everything' on the SDS (as well as the x36HP series scanners) is an advantage in ferreting out 'new' entries. I have no issues receiving the fewer Vhf & Uhf users in the metro area on either the SDS100 nor the SDS200.

 

[trentbob]

Yeah I was always a fan of the GRE PSR 800 and appreciated when Don Starr added the keyboard.. should have been there in the first place.. but I really need the p25 Phase 2.

I still listen to quite a bit of VHF High between Milair, TV Choppers, air to air and 400 MHz news desk, guard, marine radio, Amtrak Road, police on the Northeast Corridor..

I listen to 1 simulcast system at a time using one site.. and a handful of conventional items to a favorites list.

I have to say I'm pretty satisfied with the overall reception that I've been able to get.

I've been using a Watson W-801 that I've had for decades, good on VHF high and UHF but I'm surprised how well it works on 7-800 MHz.

They are impossible to find now and the SMA version will not fit the 100 so it's BNC with the adapter.

 

[trentbob]

Now you're just grasping at straws. Sorry for insulting you somehow.

Me? Grasping at straws? You didn't insult me at all, I asked a lot of questions you didn't answer but you just answered most of them in your last post, it would have been good to know all that information, really only trying to help you to get the results you're looking for on VHF High and get the most out of your radio.

Like I said you're doing your own thing. I don't have any problem with that.