SDS100 or SDS 200 Reluctance

[werinshades]

Besides using the simple display modes, you can edit them to remove clutter that is of no interest.

This is an excellent suggestion. Many items in my Simple Display mode are blacked out (black text/black background), so it makes it clean. I only use the detail modes if I'm searching for new systems to gather undocumented information needed for an accurate database submission.

 

[Omega-TI]

I'm detecting some buyers remorse

Nope, not a single drop of buyers remorse. I'm simply being honest with my assessment, because other people may be relying on this forum to guide them in their personal decision making process concerning a purchase.

The only negative thing I have to say about the radio is that the speaker sucks, for music at least. For voice, I can live with it, but for music, well the cheap little $25.00 dollar radio I have outperforms it. You know though, I've never had a scanner that covered that frequency range before, so it's cool that the SDS100 gives me that option if wanted/needed. I can see that in the event of an emergency being able to tune into a local radio station could be a huge positive.

 

[MStep]

Nope, not a single drop of buyers remorse. I'm simply being honest with my assessment, because other people may be relying on this forum to guide them in their personal decision making process concerning a purchase.

The only negative thing I have to say about the radio is that the speaker sucks, for music at least. For voice, I can live with it, but for music, well the cheap little $25.00 dollar radio I have outperforms it. You know though, I've never had a scanner that covered that frequency range before, so it's cool that the SDS100 gives me that option if wanted/needed. I can see that in the event of an emergency being able to tune into a local radio station could be a huge positive.

I have a cheap Chinese radio that sells for $5 USD with a giant speaker that outperforms the SDS100 (and 200) on music reproduction. Important to keep in mind, the SDS are communications tools, not hi-fi devices.

 

[werinshades]

Nope, not a single drop of buyers remorse. I'm simply being honest with my assessment, because other people may be relying on this forum to guide them in their personal decision making process concerning a purchase.

The only negative thing I have to say about the radio is that the speaker sucks, for music at least. For voice, I can live with it, but for music, well the cheap little $25.00 dollar radio I have outperforms it. You know though, I've never had a scanner that covered that frequency range before, so it's cool that the SDS100 gives me that option if wanted/needed. I can see that in the event of an emergency being able to tune into a local radio station could be a huge positive.

Your other post on the lack of hits you had on a trunking system seems to say otherwise. The SDS scanners have been out 3+ years now, many posts on performance, size, complaints etc. are out there so I don't think one thread is going to push them one way or another.

Did you follow my suggestion on asking in the local state forums in regards to activity on the trunking system and lack of hits? If it's a statewide system, and everything appears to be programmed correctly, I wonder if you're trying to monitor the wrong site(s), or are trying to scan the entire systems sites which would result in a lack of hits if the targeted department(s) aren't as active.

I would suggest to step away from initiating some of these threads with various questions that have already been answered, and sit down uninterrupted with the scanner, the programming, and use the search box on these forums. As I mentioned, this scanner has been out a long time, and not too many things haven't already been mentioned. Do some homework on this scanner.

I did have to laugh at the complaint about the speaker sound on radio broadcasts, it reminds me of the guy complaining about listening to CB on his scanner.

 

[trentbob]

I started scanning in the early 1970's any scanner geek should love the SDS display all the system data all the signal data all the color.

That is the beauty of the SDS series. Not only can you switch off the colors and go from black on white or white on black, but you can pick and choose what you want to display on your screen.

Nice to see this thread from early December resurrected. I love the nostalgia. All I had in the mid-sixties when I started as a kid was tunable monitors. When Crystal controlled radios came out it was like a miracle, can you imagine? I could actually listen to four different frequencies at the same time using one radio? That was Space Age.

Regarding the display. All the information is very useful but my eyes cannot see anything with all the clutter so using the advanced display I made it easier for me to read.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

When Crystal controlled radios came out it was like a miracle, can you imagine? I could actually listen to four different frequencies at the same time using one radio? That was Space Age.

 

[natedawg1604]

The system here is our local public safety system (Harrison County, Mississippi)
I am sure it will go away sooner or later but as of now, there has been no news as to when it will happen.
The equipment I am using to monitor it are the SDS-100 and the SDS-200.
My comments earlier are about the fact that I just dont like either scanner frankly. Ugly displays. Crappy audio. A lot of settings and functions that I would rather not have to mess with.

I was very involved with another EDACS system (Abilene Texas) from the planning and implementation of it (2005/2007) till it's retirement in 2019.
It had a good run, was very robust and reliable and were sad to put her to sleep.

Very interesting. If you're disappointed with the SDS, you will almost certainly be happy with a Harris M7300/XG 75M NAS radio. Great audio with many options. The biggest limitation is the 127 member scan list, but if you get several it makes it very workable.

 

[fasteddy64]

Very interesting. If you're disappointed with the SDS, you will almost certainly be happy with a Harris M7300/XG 75M NAS radio. Great audio with many options. The biggest limitation is the 127 member scan list, but if you get several it makes it very workable.

That is a good point.
I used 7100's, 7300's and XG-75's up until I retired in 2020 and was very pleased with them. I may have to look into that.

 

[Omega-TI]

Important to keep in mind, the SDS are communications tools, not hi-fi devices.

Yeah, I realize that, but I do plan on getting an extension speaker and a 12v power supply to drive it. i'll have to decide which one to get, I'm not looking for one that shuts off when there is no activity because you can miss part of the conversation.

At this point I'm still in experimentation phase and am trying things out.

 

[trentbob]

Yeah, I realize that, but I do plan on getting an extension speaker and a 12v power supply to drive it. i'll have to decide which one to get, I'm not looking for one that shuts off when there is no activity because you can miss part of the conversation.

At this point I'm still in experimentation phase and am trying things out.

Here is something to experiment with. When listening to your local FM radio music stations you can see a big difference between... mode FMB which is what it should be on and WFM which also works fine. Definitely two different sounding options.

 

[Omega-TI]

Your other post on the lack of hits you had on a trunking system seems to say otherwise. The SDS scanners have been out 3+ years now, many posts on performance, size, complaints etc. are out there so I don't think one thread is going to push them one way or another.

Did you follow my suggestion on asking in the local state forums in regards to activity on the trunking system and lack of hits? If it's a statewide system, and everything appears to be programmed correctly, I wonder if you're trying to monitor the wrong site(s), or are trying to scan the entire systems sites which would result in a lack of hits if the targeted department(s) aren't as active.

I locked both the SDS100 and the 800XLT on the same frequency, in this case 128.300 for testing. In some cases (weak signal) the SDS100 simply gives up static, where the 800XLT has perfectly understandable speech output. My only conclusion is that the 800XLT is more sensitive or it's an antenna issue on the SDS100, I suspect the latter. In cases were I get static on the 800XLT, I get nothing on the SDS100. FWIW, I'm using the stock antenna on the 800XLT.

On the trunking aspects, as time allows, I'm in the process of moving the local stuff that I want to favorites lists, then turn off the national database. This gives the scanner less to go through which results in more hits.

 

[Omega-TI]

Here is something to experiment with. When listening to your local FM radio music stations you can see a big difference between... mode FMB which is what it should be on and WFM which also works fine. Definitely two different sounding options.

Interesting, I've not dug down that far yet. That gives me something else to look for though, thanks.

 

[Ubbe]

Regarding the display. All the information is very useful but my eyes cannot see anything with all the clutter so using the advanced display I made it easier for me to read.

I only wish they could have made a bigger font to select for that minimal info display when used in a vehicle, where you only have time to very quickly cast an eye on the display.

/Ubbe

 

[werinshades]

I locked both the SDS100 and the 800XLT on the same frequency, in this case 128.300 for testing. In some cases (weak signal) the SDS100 simply gives up static, where the 800XLT has perfectly understandable speech output. My only conclusion is that the 800XLT is more sensitive or it's an antenna issue on the SDS100, I suspect the latter. In cases were I get static on the 800XLT, I get nothing on the SDS100. FWIW, I'm using the stock antenna on the 800XLT.

Did you try the filters? Many of us here have tried with success to monitor the air bands.

 

[KC3ECJ]

Interesting, I've not dug down that far yet. That gives me something else to look for though, thanks.

Near me there's broadcast links for regular AM and FM music and shows in the 940-950mhz area that are FMB.

 

[werinshades]

I only wish they could have made a bigger font to select for that minimal info display when used in a vehicle, where you only have time to very quickly cast an eye on the display.

/Ubbe

I like that idea, probably would use it all the time depending on what's showing.

 

[trentbob]

Interesting, I've not dug down that far yet. That gives me something else to look for though, thanks.

No digging needed, while sitting on an FM radio station toggle func channel and it will then read MOD... press MOD through all the different modes and you will see that FMB and WFM both work but sound different.

 

[trentbob]

I only wish they could have made a bigger font to select for that minimal info display when used in a vehicle, where you only have time to very quickly cast an eye on the display.

/Ubbe

You don't know how hard I searched and tried to find if there was a bigger font. I couldn't believe it. I finally succumbed and realized this was it so I cleared off my screen and put the object I'm listening to right smack in the middle with capital letters. See post 105.

 

[Omega-TI]

No digging needed, while sitting on an FM radio station toggle func channel and it will then read MOD... press MOD through all the different modes and you will see that FMB and WFM both work but sound different.

Yeah, WFM sounds louder, and FMB sounds a little muffled (lower volume and audio frequencies).

 

[Omega-TI]

Near me there's broadcast links for regular AM and FM music and shows in the 940-950mhz area that are FMB.

Are those links from the station to broadcast tower? I remember years ago I found the links for every local station... except one. I searched for like 6 months, I finally called the radio station and the guy laughed, he said, "There isn't one, it's twisted pair". Oh!