Happy to report that all 3 of my SDS 200's have been updated and adjusted and are working Perfectly. Now to get over and update my brothers machine. On another note i update my SDS100 and it still seems scratchy and not sounding to good. Tomorrow i will play with the filters some more to see if i can get it just right.
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what's weird is my SDS100 generally requires no filter settings, but on the SDS200, I definitely use Wide Invert a lot, especially on simulcast P25 systems
Is this with them both using the same antenna? It seems to me with these radios that as soon as a different antenna is utilized, different results may occur, all based on the signal levels of interfering signals. I can understand how the SDS100 just using a portable antenna, or a 200 using a back of set type may be less susceptible to interference.
I’m doing more thorough testing today but the antenna does play an important part
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So far, setting the filters for that system to invert made it worse. I swapped out SD card with the settings of invert for the one with the settings of normal. I I might try a card with the filter settings to off for that system and see if that does anything.
I changed the Global setting on the filters to "Off" with great improvement in UHF analog and digital reception. Actually, reception across the board is better, as is audio processing. The system I was originally having problems with is much better and UHF analog has really come to life.
I'm going to leave the filter set to "Off" and only mess with individual sites or system if they seem to be problematic.
I'm going to leave the filter set to "Off" and only mess with individual sites or system if they seem to be problematic.
I was seeing that possibly you can do a trunking site hold on the SDS-200. Is there was way on the keypad to do this function? I think it was already talked about but could not find out on how to do it. Thanks
Function + middle button
Ok did a little more Comparative testing between the SDS200 and SDS100
Same Firmware
Same antenna (Austin Spectra)
My example is the weather channel 162.450
The SDS100 performed slightly better, having a filter on reduced signal but improved the audio
SDS100 had -60DB vs SDS200 having -69 to -75 DB in signal
The SDS200 seems to perform better with the wide invert filter, especially on P25 700/800 for some reason I was getting an error rate of 10-30 with the filter off and dropped it to 0 with wide invert, other filter settings really degraded the signal as much to -107DB
With the filter off I also saw the SDS200 would not even acquire the control channel, while the SDS100 wasn’t affected as much
Both are solid performers though so I’m not worried about small differences
Also of note, I tested on multiple systems from Michigan to Florida not just one and the findings were pretty similar
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Same Firmware
Same antenna (Austin Spectra)
My example is the weather channel 162.450
The SDS100 performed slightly better, having a filter on reduced signal but improved the audio
SDS100 had -60DB vs SDS200 having -69 to -75 DB in signal
The SDS200 seems to perform better with the wide invert filter, especially on P25 700/800 for some reason I was getting an error rate of 10-30 with the filter off and dropped it to 0 with wide invert, other filter settings really degraded the signal as much to -107DB
With the filter off I also saw the SDS200 would not even acquire the control channel, while the SDS100 wasn’t affected as much
Both are solid performers though so I’m not worried about small differences
Also of note, I tested on multiple systems from Michigan to Florida not just one and the findings were pretty similar
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There is one 700Mhz and two 800Mhz systems in my local driving area. They both seem to work okay with the filter off, but I'll try them with Wide Invert just to see if they improve.
Thanks.
Thanks.
N8TXX
Scanner Enthusiast
WX4JCW,
Your results are exactly what I found comparing my SDS100 (1 year old) with SDS200 (one week old) (both on the latest firmware and DB). I'm so glad you posted your results, I was beginning to think my SDS200 was a little inferior to my SDS100.
This is my setup:
I have a Diamond discone d130j (N-connector) (Attic installed, HOA restricted), LMR-400 run to my shack (about 30'), Stridsberg MCA204M/N (N-connector input), and a 2' RG-8X BNC jumper cable running to each scanner (swepped to 1.5Ghz, swapped the cables to make sure both are performing equally).
Out of the box, making sure No filters are on on each scanner, the SDS200 consistently was -10dB (higher) Worse! I mainly listen to P25 Phase-1 trunking.
I just changed the SDS200 to "Wide Inverted" as you did, and it brought the SDS200 down (better) approximently -10dB. They are both running equal now.
Now, we may ask, what does this really mean? And, What exactly are the specs for "Wide Inverted"? And, is each radio tuned differently with no filters activated? Is it firmware related? Are these just two different animals! I know, a lot of questions? Being a Ham, I like this kind of stuff, I'm not disappointed, just very curious!
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It’s an SDR chip they all tune a bit different, it’s a different animal than most scanner listeners are used to, play with a normal SDR and you’ll see
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N8TXX
Scanner Enthusiast
Yes, for sure, I have an icom IC-7300. What I meant when referring to different animal, this in reference between SDS100 and SDS200, not SDR vs conventional.
As a side note, I would sure like to know the specifications of the filters? (maybe width and roll off) Someone knows whats behind the filter names? It would give us a much better understanding of what is happening.
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My "normal" SDRs, specifically $200 Airspys, require about 1/100th of the TLC these scanners require. Of course they are receivers and not scanners. I used this example in another thread, but I have a strong police department on 855.2125 and a weaker one on 855.2375. With the SDS200 .2375 gets clobbered every time .2125 transmits at the same time, no matter (so far anyway) the filter setting. On the Airspy I can obviously view the two signals side by side. There is never any reduction in signal strength when both are simultaneously transmitting, and I can tune the Airspy to the .2375 department while .2125 is transmitting....and it acts like the stronger signal is not present at all.
That said I have a new SDS100 arriving tomorrow (Monday 4/22) so I'll be able to do some side by sides as well....
I'm a glutton for punishment!
UPMan has not said much even when questioned point blank his answer was to try them and see what worked for you. The only problem is if a user has nothing to compare to it is harder to see results because you do not know if you are missing anything or not.
Problem is if you put 10 SDS’s side by side they would probably all be different to some degree,
Not complaining as they do a wonderful job on what I listen to, honestly I don’t think the engineers even have a complete handle on it, but they have done a good job so far
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I still think variable attenuation would be a huge improvement for everyone. Especially if it could be set on a system by system basis.
However, this latest firmware update is yet another step in the right direction. Again, Kudos to Upman and the Engineers.
However, this latest firmware update is yet another step in the right direction. Again, Kudos to Upman and the Engineers.
I believe it was also said awhile back that minor hardware differences exsist between the 100 and 200. Even if minor I would expect differences between the 100 and 200 that being said my 200 loaded with the same configuration as my 100 had the 200 is doing a bit better in all areas.
I’m happy with both
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N8TXX
Scanner Enthusiast
With the SDS200 "Wide Inverted" filter turned on, both SDS100 and SDS200 exactly the same, very pleased!
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