SDS100 Prerelease Discussion

[troymail]

... try it out for myself in my area. If it doesn't live up to expectations I will send it back. Very simple.

The only true test.

The next best thing is finding someone you trust (not some random person testing on some random system under unknown conditions) who understands the issues, acquires one, and gives you a report that you can rely upon.

 

[N9NRA]

re, SDS100

Well, this is definitely exciting to hear, as i`m likely gonna be in the market for a new unit soon, as my trusty `436HP is finally starting to have clock issues (started noticing it losing clock settings after i had left it off while at work, came back to turn it on and it had lost clock, had to set the date & time again, possibly the clock battery is going south on me...big dollar$ to fix methinks). Will this new scanner have that pesky clock battery too? Hoping not, as i really don`t wanna be worrying about an internal battery going out and having to send the unit back just to replace a battery . Now that said, i`m looking forward to this scanner, the fact that it`ll be an SDR unit is a big plus too, hoping also that it`ll be availible come Dayton, if so i`ll DEFINITELY snag one, even at the price mentioned, for that type of unit it`s going to be worth it . N9NRA.

 

[iMONITOR]

I'm going to get nit-picky, sorry.

The issue isn't weak or strong signal areas, it's multiple sites (or subsites actually) hitting your radio at about the same signal level. Whether they arrive at -103 dBm or -73 dBm doesn't matter, unless you are in full capture of one subsite you'll probably have problems.

Properly engineered systems minimize overlap areas with power, antenna design and launch delays.

Now back to Uniden bashing.

But if some of the sites are weak enough, then they don't interfere right?

I'm not bashing Uniden. Had you read my previous post you would know I own three Unidens, and Unidens only, and I'm very satisfied with them, even on my local simulcast system. I just am not convinced from I've seen and heard 'so far', I'm not convinced that the SDS100 will completely solve the multipath issue. If it does, I'll be pleasantly surprised and most likely will buy one. The demos don't cut in and out, but they still have that 'Donald Duck' effect.

 

[jonwienke]

possibly the clock battery is going south on me...big dollar$ to fix methinks). Will this new scanner have that pesky clock battery too? Hoping not, as i really don`t wanna be worrying about an internal battery going out and having to send the unit back just to replace a battery .

Uniden is still fixing the RTC clock and display for free, even paying shipping:
https://www.uniden.com/contact-us/uniden-bcd536hp-bcd436hp-scanner-repair/

The defect was fixed with a redesign about two years ago, and units made since then are not susceptible to the issue. There's no reason to believe that Uniden would trash a successful fix and go back to a known defect in a new model.

 

[radio3353]

...
I'm not bashing Uniden. Had you read my previous post you would know I own three Unidens, and Unidens only, and I'm very satisfied with them, even on my local simulcast system. I just am not convinced from I've seen and heard 'so far', I'm not convinced that the SDS100 will completely solve the multipath issue. If it does, I'll be pleasantly surprised and most likely will buy one. The demos don't cut in and out, but they still have that 'Donald Duck' effect.

[Bold added by me]

Read or reread post #1319. That is all you need to know. Really.

 

[mtindor]

I'm not convinced that the SDS100 will completely solve the multipath issue.

I'm certainly convinced that the SDS100 will handle LSM systems.

As far as multipath issues go, even with the best radio equipment out there (commercial radios, radios specifically designed to handle LSM like Unications), there is no guarantee that you will experience absolutely no digital decode errors 100% of the time, especially in the presence of heavy distortion.

Despite what anybody may claim on the forums that their particular radio or device never ever misses a single syllable on a simulcast system, they are simply lying -- just as no radio out there provides zero-error decode 100% of the time on analog / NXDN / DMR / etc.

And, if you are one of the people who have doubts, the solution is very simple -- Do not go out and buy one the first moment you see one available for sale. Wait for others to test them out and report their findings.

Mike

 

[werinshades]

I'm certainly convinced that the SDS100 will handle LSM systems.

As far as multipath issues go, even with the best radio equipment out there (commercial radios, radios specifically designed to handle LSM like Unications), there is no guarantee that you will experience absolutely no digital decode errors 100% of the time, especially in the presence of heavy distortion.

Despite what anybody may claim on the forums that their particular radio or device never ever misses a single syllable on a simulcast system, they are simply lying -- just as no radio out there provides zero-error decode 100% of the time on analog / NXDN / DMR / etc.

And, if you are one of the people who have doubts, the solution is very simple -- Do not go out and buy one the first moment you see one available for sale. Wait for others to test them out and report their findings.

Mike

Very good points. For those of us that have been around since the 796D days, we have experienced this pesky simulcast digital decoding issue. I know many who became frustrated because they wanted to listen to the Illinois State Police and because of the issues we've all experienced, have all but given up. T/XT/XTP2's has always slightly improved it slightly, but never enough.

So yes a majority of us are holding out hope that this will be the one. Hoping further is a desktop/mobile version in the works but a handheld will suite my needs for the system I'd like to really try out.

This new scanner will be able to be used for a majority of systems out there. I know Open Sky is still around and TETRA is making it's way into the USA, but having the option to listen to almost anything non-encrypted appeals to many of us. The You Tube videos are very impressive to say the least. But you are correct...it's a scanner and won't be perfect 100% time and we should all come to expect this.

 

[mtindor]

Hoping further is a desktop/mobile version in the works but a handheld will suite my needs for the system I'd like to really try out.

I'd really love a desktop/mobile version myself. Although I'm hoping that one isn't released until quite some months after the handheld -- There are a lot of pennies to be scrounged up.

mike

 

[ansky]

And, if you are one of the people who have doubts, the solution is very simple -- Do not go out and buy one the first moment you see one available for sale. Wait for others to test them out and report their findings.

Mike

I disagree. Read my earlier post (#1319). Reception quality has too many localized factors. It doesn't matter that someone 500 miles away is having good luck with LSM. The only way you will know for sure if the scanner performs well is to buy one and try it out in your local area. If it doesn't work well for you, return it.

 

[marksmith]

It's amazing how people can criticize a radio that really does not exist yet, and they have never held one on their hands. Absolutely amazing.

While I, by the same notion, can't really be "convinced", whatever that means, at this stage of the game, it sure seems promising.

The nature of digital communication is that it will sound like "Donald Duck" every now and then. Those demanding better than that should give up the hobby.

I look forward to buying at least one of these in the future, and also look forward to a mobile or desktop version.

Mark
536/436/ws1095/996p2/996xt/325p2/396xt/psr800/396t/HP-1/HP-2 & others

 

[trp2525]

I'd really love a desktop/mobile version myself. Although I'm hoping that one isn't released until quite some months after the handheld...

It's interesting to look back at the history of the last two Uniden handheld scanners' release dates compared to the comparable desktop/mobile scanners' release dates.

Per the Radio Reference Wiki (https://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Uniden_Scanners#Handheld_Scanners):

BCD436HP handheld released January 2014
BCD536HP desktop/mobile released January 2014

BCD325P2 handheld released April 2015
BCD996P2 desktop/mobile released March 2015

 

[Forts]

....and lets not forget the demos shown of the test SDS100s are not release hardware, firmware or software. Still tweaking to be done for sure. But currently it looks to be head and shoulders above any other current P25 scanner.

 

[scannersnstuff]

Here's the thing, not prolific,but I will not be the first buyer. I will wait and see. I was not the first buyer of the bcd436hp, either. I think my later edition was significantly better.

 

[KevinC]

But if some of the sites are weak enough, then they don't interfere right?

Correct. The issue, as I said, is when multiple signals arrive at your radio at about the same signal strength. Whether that is -103 or -73, as long as they are about the same you will probably have problems.

And the "Uniden bashing" comment was a joke. :wink:

 

[iMONITOR]

Correct. The issue, as I said, is when multiple signals arrive at your radio at about the same signal strength. Whether that is -103 or -73, as long as they are about the same you will probably have problems.

And the "Uniden bashing" comment was a joke. :wink:

If anything, I guess you could call me a Uniden Fanboy.

I was just looking for a more definitive response from someone who got their hands on one, and like everyone else, I'm hoping our needs and desires will be filled. I wish Uniden great success with the SDS100!

I like to know what I'm getting into. When I buy a scanner I like to do my homework, and know exactly what to expect. I don't always hear what I want, but when I do buy one, I don't clutter the forum complaining about what it doesn't do.

 

[KevinC]

If anything, I guess you could call me a Uniden Fanboy.

I was just looking for a more definitive response from someone who got their hands on one, and like everyone else, I'm hoping our needs and desires will be filled. I wish Uniden great success with the SDS100!

I like to know what I'm getting into. When I buy a scanner I like to do my homework, and know exactly what to expect. I don't always hear what I want, but when I do buy one, I don't clutter the forum complaining about what it doesn't do.

Yep. My "concern" is that it hasn't been tested (or tested much) in these overlap areas, where you are more likely to have issues. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[springtx]

Yep. My "concern" is that it hasn't been tested (or tested much) in these overlap areas, where you are more likely to have issues. Hopefully I'm wrong.

How do you know where it has and has not been tested? Please tell us!

 

[KevinC]

How do you know where it has and has not been tested? Please tell us!

I don't....and I never said I did.

 

[springtx]

I don't....and I never said I did.

You said
Yep. My "concern" is that it hasn't been tested (or tested much) in these overlap areas

 

[KevinC]

You said
Yep. My "concern" is that it hasn't been tested (or tested much) in these overlap areas

Ok. I'm not going to argue about this.

It's still my concern though.:wink: