SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 Regrets

[ProScan]

Please tell me HOW? I am reliant on the automatic gain control as of now...and I cant seem to adjust the squelch w is globally set at 2

AGC? Not on the SDSx00 scanners.

 

[KK4JUG]

SDS scanner are overpriced but there's no competition and Uniden probably needs to get some money back to their scanner division after the blow when they had to replace a lot of circuit boards and displays on the x36 scanners and there where also a lot of free firmware upgrades that sometimes added new features.

/Ubbe

If it was just the scanner, that might be the case but you have to take into consideration, the prior costs before it went into production, You can't recoup R&D costs, for instance, until the item hits the market but it has to be included in the price. Yeah, they're a little pricey but it's not so high that they're gathering dust on the shelf.

 

[darkness975]

I find that programming with the software makes it far easier and much less tedious.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

You also may need to play with the SDS Filters on the P25 to fine tune the scanner.

Hey whats the difference between USB1 and USB2 Marked Charge?

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

AGC? Not on the SDSx00 scanners.

Jesus..I am not here to get into a yes it is or no it isn't on this radio...I haven't had it long enough to know it inside and out..I have seen the letters AGC somewhere in the settings or the manual and thought it meant automatic gain control..if thats my mistake I am sorry. Do you have any help to offer me with this radio for how to set the squelch easily or something else useful please?

 

[Romak3]

I had a TRX-1 since they came out. It did what I wanted. But it never seemed to work well on analog, antenna was always loose and I wrote it up as that. I just picked up a SDS-100 and this blows the TRX out of the water in every aspect! Far more useful for travel and the battery run time is equal. I ran rechargeables (eneloops) and was constantly replacing with fresh, so much so that I left the protective case off. The volume is far better with the SDS. That was my first complaint about the TRX in the car. SDS is so loud I find myself tuning it down.

I have no regrets or complaints. Can't wait to try out the GPS option going do the road!

 

[MStep]

I have to agree that if you are using the SDS100 in an "emergency operations" situation, like every other portable radio device, you have to be carrying a second fully charged battery ready to drop in. In terms of programming, having come from the 436 and 536, I was pretty familiar with the "demands" of the SDS series. But as you learn some of the less documented features, like putting a single frequency in quickly on-the fly, or other quick ways of getting around to the various functions, it becomes less and less frustrating, and more or less pretty routine. There are a lot of bells and whistles you may never actually use, but a little patience with the "Easier To Read" manual and the plentiful information both here on RR and videos on YouTube, you should be able to get a good handle on things in just a few days. Patience and practice.

 

[ProScan]

Jesus..I am not here to get into a yes it is or no it isn't on this radio...I haven't had it long enough to know it inside and out..I have seen the letters AGC somewhere in the settings or the manual and thought it meant automatic gain control..if thats my mistake I am sorry. Do you have any help to offer me with this radio for how to set the squelch easily or something else useful please?

It was helpful. Now you know.

On the squelch question. Per the Easier to Read SDS-100/200 Digital Scanner Manual
Press Func then press the scroll control to display the squelch level. Turn the scroll control counter-clockwise all the way then clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more. Press the scroll control again to close the squelch level.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

It was helpful. Now you know.

On the squelch question. Per the Easier to Read SDS-100/200 Digital Scanner Manual
Press Func then press the scroll control to display the squelch level. Turn the scroll control counter-clockwise all the way then clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more. Press the scroll control again to close the squelch level.

Thank you for the link and the advice.

 

[darkness975]

My BCD325P2 is my "go-to" for emergency situations (aka power outage). Unfortunately the main downside is that the BCD325P2 doesn't pick up the state PD from my home location due to a myriad of factors I have discussed at length in my state's Forum. The state PD are the ones that police my town and the surrounding towns. I can at least get all the local EMS and Fire channels, though. The SDS100 and SDS200 are the ones that can pick up the state PD from home.

Something that this thread has me pondering now. I wonder if I could hook up the BCD325P2 to my indoor discone setup and finally hear the state PD from home on it ...

@MH82 When you are talking about programming in the context of your original post, have you been only trying to manually program it or have you been using the software? Honestly for me the software makes it easier than having to do everything one at a time manually.

The power use is much higher on the SDS and without a bunch of backup batteries or a couple of those power banks it wouldn't last if a power outage exceeds a certain amount of time. It is unfortunate. But not much can be done about it except having a couple of power banks and/or backup batteries. Since the SDS are the only ones that pick up the state PD from home I have to work with what I have.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

My BCD325P2 is my "go-to" for emergency situations (aka power outage). Unfortunately the main downside is that the BCD325P2 doesn't pick up the state PD from my home location due to a myriad of factors I have discussed at length in my state's Forum. The state PD are the ones that police my town and the surrounding towns. I can at least get all the local EMS and Fire channels, though. The SDS100 and SDS200 are the ones that can pick up the state PD from home.

Something that this thread has me pondering now. I wonder if I could hook up the BCD325P2 to my indoor discone setup and finally hear the state PD from home on it ...

@MH82 When you are talking about programming in the context of your original post, have you been only trying to manually program it or have you been using the software? Honestly for me the software makes it easier than having to do everything one at a time manually.

The power use is much higher on the SDS and without a bunch of backup batteries or a couple of those power banks it wouldn't last if a power outage exceeds a certain amount of time. It is unfortunate. But not much can be done about it except having a couple of power banks and/or backup batteries. Since the SDS are the only ones that pick up the state PD from home I have to work with what I have.

I have to agree my BCD325P2 with Arc Butel Pro is really easy to program..if it wasn't for all the SIMULCAST in this area it does 99% of the monitoring that I need.

 

[darkness975]

I have to agree my BCD325P2 with Arc Butel Pro is really easy to program..if it wasn't for all the SIMULCAST in this area it does 99% of the monitoring that I need.

I use FreeScan for my BCD325P2 but I am sure other software would work even better. But I never bothered to invest in it since I mostly mess around with the SDS scanners.

 

[buddrousa]

Hey whats the difference between USB1 and USB2 Marked Charge?

UPMan passed away before that info was released.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

I use FreeScan for my BCD325P2 but I am sure other software would work even better. But I never bothered to invest in it since I mostly mess around with the SDS scanners.

I was able to progam the SPLASHCREEN on my P2 with Freescan ie instead of saying UNIDEN on start up it said my name and phone number...very cool

 

[buddrousa]

I do that with my 2 sds100's and my sds200 now.

 

[darkness975]

I was able to progam the SPLASHCREEN on my P2 with Freescan ie instead of saying UNIDEN on start up it said my name and phone number...very cool

I did that on my HomePatrol 2. Never bothered on my SDS scanners

 

[trentbob]

It was the first thing I did when I got my SDS 100 in June of 2018 LOL.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

It was the first thing I did when I got my SDS 100 in June of 2018 LOL.

Where did you find that option in the Sentinel software? Or were you using another program?

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Where did you find that option in the Sentinel software? Or were you using another program?

Never mind I found the option in the Sentinel Program. Next time I update the database it will get changed

 

[trentbob]

Yes I was just going to get back to you on editing your startup screen in Sentinel. Someone had suggested here on RR so I went in and put my information in on the startup screen.

I like to do a lot of changes on the radio itself when I think of them so when I customize something right on the radio like filters or anyting it's always a good habit when you hook up to Sentinel to transfer all the information on your card to sentinel so as to save your changes in your profile.