SDS100 Prerelease Discussion

[phillydjdan]

My only question is whether or not Uniden fixed the LSM distortion issue that has been plaguing their scanners for years now...

 

[UPMan]

So nothing we didn't really already know 2 months ago....

https://forums.radioreference.com/uniden-tavern/364616-new-uniden-sds100-handheld.html

Seriously? That lacked most of the most important features and didn't accurately reflect the design in several important ways (especially the display representation).

 

[racingfan360]

I don't think anyone has said NXDN wouldn't be ready at the time the scanner hits the shelves. Sure, it might not be, but then again it may be. Uniden is very good about covering their butts with disclaimers and notes, but that doesn't mean it will / won't be available.

My personal speculation was purely coming from the fact that I didn't hear any NXDN in the videos and that NXDN is a separate upgrade. But, if you consider they new architecture they are using, there is absolutely no reason to believe NXDN won't be available, or that it would take a significant amount of time before it would become available. And, who knows, maybe NXDN is "working" and they just haven't showcased it because what people really wanted to see is LSM support.

It's odd, until today, I can't remember an RR post that standing out to me where people were absolutely clamoring for NXDN (it isn't nearly as popular as DMR). Now, all of the sudden, with the announcement of the SDS100, everybody in the world wants to monitor NXDN and needs it to be supported above all else. Something is fishy about that.

Mike

I think the caveat that NXDN 'might not be available in the initial release' is evidence enough for me. Same goes for single channel DMR which sucks in the x36 IMHO. The promise of new features is better than what was ever said about upgrades for the x36 range, but people have long memories and smaller wallets as a result. More of us will be cautious now as a result of what's happened before, and that will likely mean there won't be a stampede for the SDS100. This is a niche hobby, those of us on this thread are more likely to be early adopters than the majority, and I think many are just saying it looks good but they'll wait and see for a bit.

And for me yes NXDN is more important than yet another DMR receiver, regardless of how pretty it looks even if I get wet admiring it.

 

[UPMan]

Any chance fire tone out will work/alert when also actually listening to the dispatch channel, rather than the radio having to be silent/muted until the proper tones are received? Almost like the monitor mode in the Minitor pagers?

That is impossible to do without multiple receivers.

 

[troymail]

Seriously? That lacked most of the most important features and didn't accurately reflect the design in several important ways (especially the display representation).

I think the January "accident" provided the gist... so, no real new news.

 

[mule1075]

Why do people relate NXDN to rail fans so much. There is a huge demand for NXDN. Not just rails, by far.
Our whole county is on NXDN.

I said that because of what I have personally saw on here. I was not discounting the demand for NXDN as a whole.

 

[mtindor]

I Don' know If I would use the word "nearly". Our whole county has gone to NXDN as with numerous others that have been mentioned in the forum. I actually see it mentioned more than DMR when it comes to public safety. That's my observation at least. Plus DMR is already an addon for Uniden.

I'm sure you are right. I have a pretty narrow view when viewing the forums. There is very little NXDN locally, and it's not of interest to anyone -- so I probably just don't see the clamoring for NXDN. I'll take your word for it. I had forgotten about the Railfans, and there are a lot of them on here.

I still have complete faith that Uniden will come through with NXDN without any issues and without waiting forever. There isn't going to be a technical (hardware) hurdle to overcome, and they have likely included enough memory in the new architecture to allow for all of the planned options.

Mike

 

[scosgt]

I have to get me one of those!

 

[W2GLD]

After several models with your great location based scanning feature; why in the hell aren't you including built-in GPS in the handhelds? That's is a huge fail among several other items folks mentioned. That doesn't mean I'm not interested in the unit; just makes me band my head on the wall that your are crippling one of your greatest exclusive feature sets by not incorporating a GPS in a 2018 model scanner whereas almost every manufacture of two-way radios does include one; just plain stupid there... A portable handheld scanner with external wires hanging off it for the GPS so that you can get the best location based scanning experience; clearly a swing an a miss yet again Uniden... And again with the extra cost licenses; REALLY? It make Whistler more attractive; not better, but more attractive indeed...

 

[mule1075]

My only question is whether or not Uniden fixed the LSM distortion issue that has been plaguing their scanners for years now...

Posts 21 and 37 touch on that.

 

[Baker845]

Upman,

why would you need multiple receivers for the scanner to tone out if it had the correct fire tones?

 

[wa8pyr]

Why do people relate NXDN to rail fans so much. There is a huge demand for NXDN. Not just rails, by far.
Our whole county is on NXDN.

Because railroads are the single largest user group for NXDN. As you note, there are pockets of NXDN here and there, but the railroads have nationwide reach, and while NXDN use by railroads is limited at the moment, sooner or later the day will come.

 

[troymail]

Posts 21 and 37 touch on that.

I think the glossy doc says:

"...digital performance is better than any other scanner in both simulcast and weak-signal environments."

It doesn't say they fixed or solved it.

Seems like a fancy way to say "YMMV" (again).

Time will tell....

 

[mule1075]

Sounds like you are making the assumption that the x36 is EOL. For the sake of all those x36 owners out there, I'm sure they hope his isn't true....

Wouldn't surprise me at all.I own both and if that is the case so be it.

 

[03msc]

Types of systems in use - DMR, NXDN, etc - is very dependent upon location. Some want DMR and they're happy; others wanted NXDN and they'll be happy when it's implement here (or already are on the Whistler scanner they may own).

It's easy to have on blinders and only see what systems and types of modulation is in use around you and have the "why in the world would anyone care about [insert type here]" mentality but the reality is it varies by location across the country...and even across a state.

 

[troymail]

Wouldn't surprise me at all.I own both and if that is the case so be it.

If so, Uniden should just come out and say it...

 

[scannerhead]

I will be buying one. Uniden has been listening to us and I'm very happy about this.

Paul, the specs pdf has a spelling error... the first paragraph three words in has "another" mispelled.

 

[UPMan]

So far, in multiple environments on multiple systems, the SDS100 has performed as good or better than either Unication pagers or duty radios, sitting side by side.

 

[wa8pyr]

Any chance fire tone out will work/alert when also actually listening to the dispatch channel, rather than the radio having to be silent/muted until the proper tones are received? Almost like the monitor mode in the Minitor pagers?

Probably not. Even public safety radios have to be parked on the paging frequency; the timing is pretty critical for proper decoding as well as to avoid false activations, and if the radio is scanning it will miss part or all of the first tone.

A Minitor pager is always parked on the proper frequency, so won't miss the tones.

If you want to hear everything on the paging channel, just program and scan it normally.

 

[Mr_Boh]

I think the best part most people are glossing over is that by this unit being an SDR with a hopefully large user base is that improvements to decoding and changes to system are very much less limited by the hardware so theoretically it could be a lot more future proof.

Now I'm curious what the bandwidth of the receiver is (ie decode CC while decoding a talkgroup even on a system with channels in 7 and 800 band) and what the actual bandwidth range will be (maybe shortwave SSB?). Doubtful on those too but a powerful tool to have SDR in a purpose built handheld unit.