SDS100 Prerelease Discussion

[UPMan]

Based on his description of what he was doing:

Just loaded Conventional channels here in Columbus.

But if it was a search, that is exactly what it should do. Stop on the data and display the information so that you can make a note of the system ID and other relevant information before you AVOID or tap scroll to resume searching. If it skipped, then you would lose that valuable information.

There is an option to timeout and move on. Negative delay.

 

[UPMan]

Ok, I found the section of the video where he loaded conventional channels. He was clearly conventional scanning, not searching.

The first channel he had to skip (Columbus Green Cabs) was of an unknown digital type. I don't know of any scanner that will skip a digital signal that it cannot determine is a digital signal.

I didn't watch long enough to see the 2nd avoid.

 

[jasonhouk]

Correct, I loaded Columbus conventional as well as well as conventional business channels from the full database into a favorite list. Started scanning only that list and ran into 2 digital channels that I avoided.

Clearly the information submitted needs updated to RR.

Houk

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[jasonhouk]

Is it just me, or are we lacking mobile and comparison videos ? I can set my PSR-800 on the table and get great decode on LSM, DMR, etc. It’s when mobile that all goes to hell. I’d like to see more real world testing. These videos just raise red flags for me.


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Best we could do while mobile. This is not my home system and all channels were default to 2 second delay and site was holding on Columbus City while driving through the Short North clear past OSU and the Old North almost into Worthington area.

https://youtu.be/3TQ5egwJ4JY


Houk

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[03msc]

Best we could do while mobile. This is not my home system and all channels were default to 2 second delay and site was holding on Columbus City while driving through the Short North clear past OSU and the Old North almost into Worthington area.

https://youtu.be/3TQ5egwJ4JY


Houk

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Maybe that'll satisfy some of 'em...

Don't get me wrong, I understand the skepticism of some based on the performance of the x36 models, etc., in LSM areas. Looks like it's fixed in the 100.

 

[Voyager]

Normally, I'd rather have AA batteries since that's a common size and there's a lot of good options. But don't re-chargeable packs provide more power?

Generally speaking, yes, Lithium Ion packs can provide more power in a smaller size. But, an SDR-based receiver will require more power than a conventional receiver design (especially given the decades of current misering R&D).

I would bet the reason AAs were not used is that they are not suitable.

 

[Voyager]

If you program a system 3 times, once for fire, once for EMS, and once for police talkgroups, you have about a 67% probability of missing any given transmission.

Given an average transmission duration of 1 second, yes.

I will point out older (non-x36) models required doing exactly this for larger systems. Some really large ones will not even fit in one FL on the x36!

The correct approach is to program the system only once, and use Service Types, Location Control + GPS, and/or Department Quick Keys to filter traffic as desired. It uses less memory, scans faster, and unless there are multiple transmissions of interest happening simultaneously, missed traffic will be minimal.

Agreed - given the limitation I noted above.

 

[Voyager]

From a road safety point of view while driving, trying to look at a scanner screen to see if its hung and faffing around trying to hit a small avoid key is no better than texting at the wheel.

Then don't use the AVOID button - just turn the much larger scroll knob that is easy to find without looking at the scanner at all. :roll: ...Safer driving through common sense.

It doesn't even matter if you scroll several clicks, as it will move on with the first one.

 

[radio3353]

Best we could do while mobile. This is not my home system and all channels were default to 2 second delay and site was holding on Columbus City while driving through the Short North clear past OSU and the Old North almost into Worthington area.

https://youtu.be/3TQ5egwJ4JY


Houk

Thanks for making that video. I could hear some choppyness (if that is a word :lol in the signal at times, usually at the start of a transmission. I would say it is about 90% there. Maybe a little more tweaking to the firmware is needed. The Uniden has tinny audio (unless it was the recording mic and/or the car environment that caused that.) The Unication sounds better (just sayin'...not trying to start a war :wink - clearer audio and a little more bass. Thanks again for making the video.

 

[jonwienke]

Given an average transmission duration of 1 second, yes.

Or longer transmissions, if the system has multiple sites being scanned in each instance.

I will point out older (non-x36) models required doing exactly this for larger systems. Some really large ones will not even fit in one FL on the x36!

What system? I've programmed several statewide systems and had plenty of room left in a FL. My WV list includes SIRN and a bunch of county-level stuff, and yet is only 219KB.

 

[jasonhouk]

Or longer transmissions, if the system has multiple sites being scanned in each instance.



What system? I've programmed several statewide systems and had plenty of room left in a FL. My WV list includes SIRN and a bunch of county-level stuff, and yet is only 219KB.

While in SoCal I've built favorites list by adding channels in a rang over the limit. I can't howere recollect any one system being over that limitation.

Houk



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[Voyager]

Or longer transmissions, if the system has multiple sites being scanned in each instance.

True.

What system? I've programmed several statewide systems and had plenty of room left in a FL. My WV list includes SIRN and a bunch of county-level stuff, and yet is only 219KB.

ICORRS - PA Multi-County... actually 6 counties soon to be 7.

It's not the TGs that is the issue - it's the 12K+ UIDs. Currently at 955K with some UIDs omitted and another 2000 coming on later this year.

I'm hoping the SDS100 is expanded to 2MB, but I'm not holding my breath. I'll have to program multiple FLs to scan the system and I'll lose UIDs cross-TG (on TGs other than their home ones).

 

[jonwienke]

I don't bother with programming uids because I haven't found it worth the trouble.

 

[Voyager]

I like to see (and in some cases, need to see) who is actually transmitting.

Agreed they are a PITA to set up (and maintain), but....

 

[jonwienke]

While in SoCal I've built favorites list by adding channels in a rang over the limit. I can't howere recollect any one system being over that limitation.

It's easy to do with a 50-mile range setting. If you live in any kind of urban area, there are typically so many systems you can reach the 1MB limit. But just programming sites and talkgroups, I haven't found any system that comes anywhere near 1MB.

 

[Voyager]

If you live in any kind of urban area, there are typically so many systems you can reach the 1MB limit. But just programming sites and talkgroups, I haven't found any system that comes anywhere near 1MB.

Yes - limiting how much you program is one way to keep it under the limit.

My example is a single system, however.

 

[radio]

I love the UID feature.

One can ascertain the area of an incident based on the unit(s) transmission, provided one has the time and patience to properly identify every UID.

I certainly hope the SDS 100 will have an unlimited number of talk groups/UIDS for each system, as opposed to the current 396XT and 996P2 that is limited to 500.

That 500 limited is very cumbersome here in Colorado Springs and El Paso County.

 

[radio]

By the way, has the SDS 100 been submitted to the FCC for approval yet?

 

[SteveSimpkin]

Generally speaking, yes, Lithium Ion packs can provide more power in a smaller size. But, an SDR-based receiver will require more power than a conventional receiver design (especially given the decades of current misering R&D).
I would bet the reason AAs were not used is that they are not suitable.

True, the R836 tuner chip on the SDS100 alone draws about 660 mW when it is active. Also the color display likely draws more power than the B/W display on the BCD436HP, especially since the color display can't be read when the backlight is off.

 

[Spitfire8520]

Thanks for making that video. I could hear some choppyness (if that is a word :lol in the signal at times, usually at the start of a transmission. I would say it is about 90% there. Maybe a little more tweaking to the firmware is needed.

I am probably being too critical, but I noticed that as well for many of the videos. There are some minor distortions and visible spikes in D-ERROR where one wouldn't expect any, for example some of the dispatch side audio. It does look and sound like a big improvement over existing scanners.