SDS100/SDS200: SDS100 Regrets

[sallen07]

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

I knew that when I wrote my post. We all have things we want.

I do have a question for you though: How is Uniden supposed to cover those licensing fees? I'm sure their business model for the SDS100/200 included a certain cost per unit plus enough extra to cover a percentage of all the development costs plus sufficient profit to make it worthwhile for them to continue building them. If that equation had included those three license fees for every unit then they would have raised the price $150 for every unit. Yes, they are expensive already. But Uniden has to make enough profit on them or they'll pull the plug. That's how business works. Uniden isn't a charity, and if they can't make money on a product they won't make it.

Here's a thought ... get a TRX-1 or TRX-2 instead. No trunk-tracking of NXDN or DMR, but you can listen to the voice traffic all day long.

Just good luck if you want to listen to a simulcast system with it.

 

[buddrousa]

I did not get the OPTIONS IN MY NX5200 NX5300 EF Johnson 5100SL for free I spent thousands of my own money to do the right thing.
You see I use these for a living and my life depends on my equipment.

 

[R0am3r]

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.

Some vendors sell the SDS series scanners with the licenses key already installed. After you buy it and switch it on the first time, your SDS will have the digital modes ready to go. There is your solution. Feel better now?

 

[Firefox10]

I purchased my SDS 100 back in June. Its ok, but I found my 536 was same except for fancy display. I dont have phase 2 near me, Only state pd is on phase 1 and rest of state uses UHF.
Haven't sold my 536 yet, deliberating should I keep it or sell sds 100 which I have extra battery & charger for. Also have remex antenna which now gives me good 800/900 but i think i maybe loosing UHF. If i switch antennas to vhf/uhf, I loose 800.
Received everything on 536 good with stock antenna
Now, my question is reading the above, what do you suggest I do? and does the 536 receive better than the sds100 when it comes to VHF/UHF??
Comments welcome.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

I knew that when I wrote my post. We all have things we want.

Here's a thought ... get a TRX-1 or TRX-2 instead. No trunk-tracking of NXDN or DMR, but you can listen to the voice traffic all day long.

Just good luck if you want to listen to a simulcast system with it.

Sooner or later it was going to come down to that..some one was going to make that post and now you have. Lets move on. You have all made your response to my consumer opinion very clear. This thread is about SDS 100 REGRETS..and I regret having to pay more on top of what I have already paid.(I bought the Pro Voice Upgrade for the 325P2) I am considering whether I will do that for the SDS 100 and unlock its natural potential for Nationwide Reception. I don't like it and I don't have to but if I want the ability then right now there is no other choice. I dont have to like it..and I DONT. This will be my final word and post on the matter. Feel free to continue at your own pace. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year and 73's to all who persevere with this hobby

 

[buddrousa]

Having 1 Scanner is like having a car with 1 tire. I have over 20 scanners running and recording each has a purpose and any of my Unidens can be switched out with one of the others with no loss of performance.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Some vendors sell the SDS series scanners with the licenses key already installed. After you buy it and switch it on the first time, your SDS will have the digital modes ready to go. There is your solution. Feel better now?

No..

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Having 1 Scanner is like having a car with 1 tire. I have over 20 scanners running and recording each has a purpose and any of my Unidens can be switched out with one of the others with no loss of performance.

Christ..I have 20 pairs of pants..I can only wear one at a time without looking..like a hill billy...(not that there is anything wrong with that Mr Clampett)

 

[daddyjohn]

I knew that when I wrote my post. We all have things we want.

I do have a question for you though: How is Uniden supposed to cover those licensing fees? I'm sure their business model for the SDS100/200 included a certain cost per unit plus enough extra to cover a percentage of all the development costs plus sufficient profit to make it worthwhile for them to continue building them. If that equation had included those three license fees for every unit then they would have raised the price $150 for every unit. Yes, they are expensive already. But Uniden has to make enough profit on them or they'll pull the plug. That's how business works. Uniden isn't a charity, and if they can't make money on a product they won't make it.

Here's a thought ... get a TRX-1 or TRX-2 instead. No trunk-tracking of NXDN or DMR, but you can listen to the voice traffic all day long.

Just good luck if you want to listen to a simulcast system with it.

You most certainly can listen to trunked nxdn systems on the TRX and get all the talkgroups, it just does not track the control channel. Side by side my trx1 outperforms my 436 and 536 on my local nxdn trunked system.

 

[Firefox10]

ok, maybe a should ask you pros this.
I have
325p2
436
sds 100
for simple 800 trunking (which i live with 5 miles of tower) and mostly UHF.......which radio is better for reception???

 

[buddrousa]

Here is just a small look at my setup.

Media added by buddrousa

forums.radioreference.com

 

[buddrousa]

I have and use all 3
I have a Scanner for Fire
I have a Scanner for Law
I have a scanner for STATE POLICE
ECT.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Here is just a small look at my setup.

Media added by buddrousa

forums.radioreference.com

That is just an amazing set up..I have to ask where is your ICOM 8600?

 

[Firefox10]

I have and use all 3
I have a Scanner for Fire
I have a Scanner for Law
I have a scanner for STATE POLICE
ECT.

Awesum, simply awesum.
guess your not the guy to ask which scanner is better for my use.

 

[Firefox10]

so in your expert opinion, which 1 scanner would be best?

 

[buddrousa]

My answer is simple you have all 3 what works best for you. As I have posted I can interchange any of my Unidens and not see a performance difference but you may be in a different environment and see a difference.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Awesum, simply awesum.
guess your not the guy to ask which scanner is better for my use.

You have to admit thats an open ended question..it all depends on quite a few factors and most of them are dynamic and changing constantly,
I was an AM Radio DXer for years in Canada chasing radio stations that played ART BELLs Coast to Coast AM I was living in Calgary and waiting for the sun to go down so I could pick up KOMO K1000 from Seattle. Sony ICF 2001, Sony ICF 2010, Crane Antennas..I did what ever it took to get my Art Bell fix..eventually he started the streamlink service and the local radio would pick up the 2nd hour but for years every night would find me fiddling and fine tuning trying to get the signal for Coast to Coast..

 

[daddyjohn]

ok, maybe a should ask you pros this.
I have
325p2
436
sds 100
for simple 800 trunking (which i live with 5 miles of tower) and mostly UHF.......which radio is better for reception???

You can search the forums sometime and see that a lot of people have been disappointed with the uniden sds radios because the uhf reception is not as good, some have even gone back the the x36 radios.

 

[buddrousa]

Only because the SDS was setup improper if you take the time to set the filters the SDS will preform as good as the x36 or 996p2.

 

[SierraTangoAlpha]

Only because the SDS was setup improper if you take the time to set the filters the SDS will preform as good as the x36 or 996p2.

You have said that before can you explain point by point what you mean by setting the filters...the only options that I can see is to turn on or off a band..