SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 Regrets

[GregOH]

I'm not talking weather. I'm talking mostly about the people that you have to be hands-on 24 hours a day.

I do have grand children here so yeah, it is an environment thing.

I am going to try the bluetooth dongle to the audio jack on the headset for a wireless connection to my car stereo.

I thought about using the bluetooth dongle with mine in my vehicle, but I just use a cable and the aux channel on the stereo.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

I have a cable but as I was mentioning earlier in the the thread I was getting a low frequency rumble (signal artefact) prior to and after receiving any call on the SDS100..now when I listen to the radio at my bedside normally I hear no such thing but the freq response of the car stereo is revealing something inaudible otherwise..I wanted to try a wireless connection to see if the rumble is still present.

 

[GregOH]

I have a cable but as I was mentioning earlier in the the thread I was getting a low frequency rumble (signal artefact) prior to and after receiving any call on the SDS100..now when I listen to the radio at my bedside normally I hear no such thing but the freq response of the car stereo is revealing something inaudible otherwise..I wanted to try a wireless connection to see if the rumble is still present.

Wonder if a double shielded cable would work, because you'd still have to use a cable unless the dongle itself has a 3.5mm male.

Mabye something like when I set up my home theater system and having to use double shielded cable to my powered sub to eliminate noise that wall outlets and extension cords were creating?

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Wonder if a double shielded cable would work, because you'd still have to use a cable unless the dongle itself has a 3.5mm male.

Mabye something like when I set up my home theater system and having to use double shielded cable to my powered sub to eliminate noise that wall outlets and extension cords were creating?

The SKOSHE FM DONGLE used to work well in my other vehicle (Jeep) The Chevrolet I drive now has Bluetooth so I need to find a powered Bluetooth dongle. (the 3.5mm Cable I used is pretty good quality..and I think the frequency rumble preceding and after the calls on the EDACS radio system I am monitoring may be a TONE that the radio is supposed to hear and people are not supposed to hear. I cant hear it over the built in speaker..only when I am hardwired into the AUX jack on the car. Shielded cable..audio anyway the interconnect should be good enough. I was not connected to the 12v charging outlet when I got the rumble so we can eliminate the charge circuit. It specifically precedes any radio transmission on the FM EDACS system. As soon as you can hear someone speak its below that threshold but as soon as people stop speaking you can hear it again..almost like a mike click opening squelch..

 

[GregOH]

The SKOSHE FM DONGLE used to work well in my other vehicle (Jeep) The Chevrolet I drive now has Bluetooth so I need to find a powered Bluetooth dongle. (the 3.5mm Cable I used is pretty good quality..and I think the frequency rumble preceding and after the calls on the EDACS radio system I am monitoring may be a TONE that the radio is supposed to hear and people are not supposed to hear. I cant hear it over the built in speaker..only when I am hardwired into the AUX jack on the car. Shielded cable..audio anyway the interconnect should be good enough. I was not connected to the 12v charging outlet when I got the rumble so we can eliminate the charge circuit. It specifically precedes any radio transmission on the FM EDACS system. As soon as you can hear someone speak its below that threshold but as soon as people stop speaking you can hear it again..almost like a mike click opening squelch..

Glad we got on this subject, I went searching Amazon and I think I want to try this one...
https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Tr...08343226&sprefix=bluetooth+tr,aps,504&sr=8-53

 

[Patch42]

I do have grand children here so yeah, it is an environment thing.

Well, if you're going to set impossible standards for environmental survivability... My suggestion, buy an armored vehicle and put the scanner in that. Hide the key extremely well when the grandchildren are there. And even then I give it at best a 50/50 chance of survival if they're anything like the kids around here.

 

[Peerlessk]

one: buy a battery charger and extra battery
two: read the manual and watch videos until your eyes burn
three : realize you have the best handheld scanner ever made
four : step two - enjoy the sds100

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

one: buy a battery charger and extra battery
two: read the manual and watch videos until your eyes burn
three : realize you have the best handheld scanner ever made
four : step two - enjoy the sds100

Its pretty good advice, I have mine beside me right now and it just caught its first airband transmission on 118.300 with an MFJ-1717 Dual Band on an SMA/BNC connector. I am going to put the UBC-XLT 125 beside it with the same anetenna..and see which one does best on my Airport frequencies list..Flight Radar 24 and a scanner makes for a fun quiet night..seeing if you can catch a call as a plane moves across your area

 

[trentbob]

Its pretty good advice, I have mine beside me right now and it just caught its first airband transmission on 118.300 with an MFJ-1717 Dual Band on an SMA/BNC connector. I am going to put the UBC-XLT 125 beside it with the same anetenna..and see which one does best on my Airport frequencies list..Flight Radar 24 and a scanner makes for a fun quiet night..seeing if you can catch a call as a plane moves across your area

Yes I like to follow Flightradar24 when the news Choppers get dispatched a story, then they talk to each other on the news Chopper air-to-air Aviation frequency. I watch them go to the scene and circle LOL, lots of fun. Enjoy.

 

[gmclam]

This is why I previously stated I wish it had a built in Bluetooth transmitter. I could get it setup the way I want and leave it powered on all the time and Bluetooth the audio to one of those cheap Bluetooth speakers that I can adjust the volume on.

First we "complain" about the low battery life and/or battery type. Then we want a feature that will suck even more power than the radio already uses, even thought most of us are not using BT. This is why products "designed by a committee" are rarely, if ever, great.

 

[GregOH]

First we "complain" about the low battery life and/or battery type. Then we want a feature that will suck even more power than the radio already uses, even thought most of us are not using BT. This is why products "designed by a committee" are rarely, if ever, great.

Bluetooth can be cycled on and off. Doesn't matter tough, I'll add one to the headphone jack that uses its own power source.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Bluetooth can be cycled on and off. Doesn't matter tough, I'll add one to the headphone jack that uses its own power source.

Yup exactly..my bluetooth has its own USB & an internal battery good for about 5 hours..

 

[KK4JUG]

Bluetooth can be cycled on and off. Doesn't matter tough, I'll add one to the headphone jack that uses its own power source.

You're right. It doesn't matter. Perhaps some have a use for Bluetooth but I suspect less than 1 in 10 share that need. If I'm not gonna use it, I don't wanna pay for it, just like NXDN, ProVoice, etc.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

You're right. It doesn't matter. Perhaps some have a use for Bluetooth but I suspect less than 1 in 10 share that need. If I'm not gonna use it, I don't wanna pay for it, just like NXDN, ProVoice, etc.

I think that a premium radio that is deliberately sold crippled so the manufacturer can profit is pretty sad really. I want the ability to decode all digital modes to be a standard option not a paid for upgrade. I want that..I won't get that lol.

 

[GregOH]

You're right. It doesn't matter. Perhaps some have a use for Bluetooth but I suspect less than 1 in 10 share that need. If I'm not gonna use it, I don't wanna pay for it, just like NXDN, ProVoice, etc.

My feeling is as much as ya pay for it, all extras should be included at no additional charge.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

My feeling is as much as ya pay for it, all extras should be included at no additional charge.

Especially as the radio clearly has the capability built in and they disable it unless you pay

 

[sallen07]

I think that a premium radio that is deliberately sold crippled so the manufacturer can profit is pretty sad really. I want the ability to decode all digital modes to be a standard option not a paid for upgrade. I want that..I won't get that lol.

If you go back and read the numerous old threads (from before you joined RR) you'll see that your analysis is flawed.

Uniden chose to license the trunk-tracking (not just voice decoding) features of DMR and NXDN, and license ProVoice. They pay a fee for every scanner that has those features enabled. Do they tack on a bit of profit? Most likely; that's what businesses do. It's called markup. Since they went down that road, they had two options: make them key-locked and charge a fee to unlock them, or include them in every scanner and raise the price to cover the license fees.

Note too that Uniden introduced DMR and the NDXN for the 436/536 and 325P2/996P2 long after those scanners were released, so they would have no way to recoup the cost of the license fees for all those units that had already been sold. That was I'm sure a major factor in the business model they chose.

What *I* want is to not have to pay another $100 or $150 for DMR/NXDN/ProVoice on a scanner if I don't need them. I already have scanners for DMR and NXDN, and there is no ProVoice anywhere near me.

The SDS100/SDS200 is not "deliberately sold crippled". It works great on P25 Phase II simulcast, and that's why I bought it. Why should I have to pay extra for features I don't want or need?

Hey I'll tell you what. Next time I buy a truck I want the biggest engine and four-wheel drive for free. No more selling "crippled" two-wheel drives with 6-cylinder engines!!

 

[buddrousa]

I think that a premium radio that is deliberately sold crippled so the manufacturer can profit is pretty sad really. I want the ability to decode all digital modes to be a standard option not a paid for upgrade. I want that..I won't get that lol.

So you have a PROBLEM with ICOM, KENWOOD, MOTOROLA, WHISTLER, AOR. and every other manufacture that sells radios?
Kenwood and Motorola radios come with the options in them YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY TO USE THEM.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

If you go back and read the numerous old threads (from before you joined RR) you see that your analysis is flawed.

Uniden chose to license the trunk-tracking (not just voice decoding) features of DMR and NXDN, and license ProVoice. They pay a fee for every scanner that has those features enabled. Do they tack on a bit of profit? Most likely; that's what businesses do. It's called markup. Since they went down that road, they had two options: make them key-locked and charge a fee to unlock them, or include them in every scanner and raise the price to cover the license fees.

Note too that Uniden introduced DMR and the NDXN for the 436/536 and 325P2/996P2 long after those scanners were released, so they would have no way to recoup the cost of the license fees for all those units that had already been sold. That was I'm sure a major factor in the business model they chose.

What *I* want is to not have to pay another $100 or $150 for DMR/NXDN/ProVoice on a scanner if I don't need them. I already have scanners for DMR and NXDN, and there is no ProVoice anywhere near me.

The SDS100/SDS200 is not "deliberately sold crippled". It works great on P25 Phase II simulcast, and that's why I bought it. Why should I have to pay extra for features I don't want or need?

Hey I'll tell you what. Next time I buy a truck I want the biggest engine and four-wheel drive for free. No more selling "crippled" two-wheel drives with 6-cylinder engines!!

As you say this has been discussed infinitum..does not change the way I feel about things though.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

So you have a PROBLEM with ICOM, KENWOOD, MOTOROLA, WHISTLER, AOR. and every other manufacture that sells radios?

Boy does having an opinion get you some riled up responses. You are all free to agree with the makers. I am free to have my opinion. Sorry you all feel the need to take issue and ''white knight'' for the manufacturer. I am a consumer and I want as much as I can get for my hard earned tax paid dollars.