My 996P2 and SDS200 both receive a VHF and other signals at the same. I'm running a single Onmi X with a Stridesberg multi coupler. Obviously the SDS is way better on simulcast.
SDS100, not ideal for VHF?
- Thread starter threeofnine
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And this will work fine on VHF? I've got a couple of the Remtronix 800 MHz antennas. I use one on the back of my Unication amplified charging base. And have another one I used on my BCD 436 but I remember on the 436, I had to switch antennas to get the NOAA weather where I lived. In fact the antenna that came with the scanner worked better than the remtronix did to get the weather channels.Is what I use an all portable scanners when not connected to an outside antenna.
REMTRONIX 800 MHz Portable BNC Antenna | Scanner Master
REMTRONIX 800 MHz Portable BNC Antennawww.scannermaster.com
I get 5 NOAA sites outside on my SDS100's 436's 325p2's and 160DN and TRX-1.
The only time I ever get 5 is during a band opening on my outside ham antenna... I just checked it on my bcd 436 and the telescoping vastly is better on the two I do receive here in the house this evening than the Remtronix 800 I bought for use on the back of the amplified charter. In fact the single long thing they sent with that charger out did it also.
Thanks though. Glad it works that well where you live.
I am in town but not an area to be considered a High RF Area.
Ok thanks. Like I said. I can usually get two under normal conditions on hand held devices and during certain openings I can get all 5 but at that usually only when connected to my outside Tri-Band ham antenna for 2 meters, 1.25 meters and 70cm.
Even now on the outside antenna I can only barely pick up a 3rd one on my ham radio.
As an aside I can get the same two in my Unication G5 on the internal VHF antenna, and the same two but slightly better in the charging base with the telescoping antenna.
I should have an SDS100 here to test in a couple days and look forward to retrying some of the tests we did only briefly before. The will be with attached antennas swapping back and forth over several days so hopefully I'll see in my case, for my needs, at my location, what the situation is.
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Same here
You guys sure live at the right place for weather info I guess.
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Correct, East Coast, Philadelphia weather radio the closest, I have the Jersey Shore that has two.. pick up NYC fine, Allentown area. I can actually pick up six depending on atmospheric conditions with two stations competing with each other in Central PA.
This is on an SDS radio.
I'll see what happens here. The several hour test we did some time back left the sds100 lacking severely not only on VHF but honestly here comparing it to a Motorola radio, (an actual subscriber radio programmed on what we were listening to) it missed some of the simulcast stuff. I do not remember what antenna was on the scanner. It wasn't mine. I've since had the opportunity to test a Unication G5 against that same Motorola and it did not miss anything.
This time I will have the SDS100 longer and have permission to change settings in it, even programming if necessary. I know more about it (the 100) now and hope to finally give it a fair shake here. Truthfully receiving anything has always had s lot to do with location.
I do not believe there is one single device that is best for receiving everything everywhere, and for everyone. Frankly to be honest, it doesn't matter what works at your house unless I am going to monitor there. I need what's best for me , for monitoring what I want in the areas I listen.
Earlier it was posted there is pushback anytime anyone points out a shortcoming in the SDS scanners. I agree, it seems to be that way. At this time I don't have but one short 2-3 hour test with no setting changes and only whatever antenna the owner had on the 100. During that test it failed for what I needed.
I hope this time, to honestly and fairly see for myself if it would be something I'd invest money in. Frankly I hope it does work out. I occasionally visit places and n occasion it might be nice to monitor more than one system at a time on a single device. Since simulcast is so prevalent these days, the 100 has been something I had hoped for for some time. As it stands now I use 2 Unication G5 pagers, a BCD536 and a 30 year old Relm scanner. I also take the first 3 with me when I travel.
Thanks for your info, I know I have been places where I got 3-4 weather stations on a HH device but I'll have to come up near you or buddrousa I guess to get 5. Again thanks.
Dyersburg Tn, Jackson Tn, Wardell Mo, Vale Tn, Mayfield Ky
As I told another user comparing a Commercial Radio to a Hobby Scanner is not a fair test.
That is the same as comparing a Real Car to a Peddle Car for speed and ride comfort.
One better like comparing a 40 year old TV to an 1 year old HD TV.
That is the same as comparing a Real Car to a Peddle Car for speed and ride comfort.
One better like comparing a 40 year old TV to an 1 year old HD TV.
I agree. It is not a fair test which is why this time I'll use my Unication for the simulcast test. I really didn't think anything about the SDS missing anything till we tried the Unication test against it and it didn't. I am however just as interested in the VHF analog side of things. (Which is what this thread was about) We still have a fair amount of that here and honestly when the local department slips up, some P25 VHF Simplex.
I'm way to old for a pedal car and wouldn't fit anyway!!!
3 NOAA stations in my direct listening area (Eureka, CA): Humboldt Bay (covering Eureka), is the closest at 27 miles, on top of a nearby mountain; Willow Creek, about 30 miles away, but not line of sight, due to mountains; Brookings, OR, about 90 miles north, along a very mountainous coast.
That's right, 90 miles, with the SDS100 and a Comet W100RX!
And my other weather-capable radios choke on it.... Even the HP-2, with the same antenna! 😯
That's right, 90 miles, with the SDS100 and a Comet W100RX!
And my other weather-capable radios choke on it.... Even the HP-2, with the same antenna! 😯
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I think Buddy said it well in the beginning of this thread. Those who don't take the time to tackle the steep learning curve because they are too lazy or don't have the intelligence to do it are the first ones to complain about the shortcomings.. those who take the time to learn, to study, to read, to experiment, and really learn the nuances are going to get the best results from these radios.
Those who pull it out of the box, turn it on and it doesn't perform the way they want it to are the ones who complain.
We are not talking about apx 8000s, these are consumer radios with questionable quality control at what I consider a reasonable price when I think of my first programmable scanner made by Electra, the Bearcat 101 which I paid $399.99 in 1974 which is a lot more money than a loaded SDS 100 and you know I would have paid $599 in 1974 for a bearcat 101 programmable scanner, so it's all relative.
Those who pull it out of the box, turn it on and it doesn't perform the way they want it to are the ones who complain.
We are not talking about apx 8000s, these are consumer radios with questionable quality control at what I consider a reasonable price when I think of my first programmable scanner made by Electra, the Bearcat 101 which I paid $399.99 in 1974 which is a lot more money than a loaded SDS 100 and you know I would have paid $599 in 1974 for a bearcat 101 programmable scanner, so it's all relative.
I totally agree. I remember going from crystals to being able to actually front panel programming. WOW. What a great breakthrough!!
Yes things were high dollar comparatively given what's out there today.
I already said I didn't think anything of the sds100-APX comparison until the G5 didn't miss anything, at that point I wanted to get the 100 again and do more testing. I also didn't have it long enough nor have permission to make changes as I will this time. I know more now than I did then. And yes I fully plan to adjust and see what's up. I'll also have several antennas to try.
I'm no newcomer to having to tweak and adjust radios. I just didn't have the opportunity to do that before, this time I will. I actually want the thing to work as I hope it does. There are times I'd like to carry one device and have it do what I need it to do even locking it on a single frequency at times.
Thanks for all your input.
That's great. I'll see how it works out here.
