SDS100 suitable to listen to Alabama Interoperable Radio System (AIRS)?

[K9KLC]

Huge thanks to everyone for the help. Scanner was delivered today and I had it up and running pretty much immediately thanks to the assistance with setting up Sentinel lists. I am picking up AIRS clear as a bell.

That's what we like to hear!!!

 

[dmfalk]

Huge thanks to everyone for the help. Scanner was delivered today and I had it up and running pretty much immediately thanks to the assistance with setting up Sentinel lists. I am picking up AIRS clear as a bell.

Enjoy! There's lots more than AIRS in Alabama to explore and listen to, but it sounds like you're good to go!

 

[richard4537312]

I have monitored the system you mentioned in your original question with my SDS100, with outstanding results. As with any multiple agency system, you should familiarize yourself with the volume offset feature of your new scanner. [Search pdf owner's manual for "volume offset."] Different agencies have different volume levels. In the good old CB days, we called it modulation. Without the volume offset, you're likely to increase your volume setting to hear a low volume call, and shortly get blasted by an agency having a higher volume. With a little practice, the volume offset will deliver a much more comfortable listening experience. It will also make a spouse or significant other more tolerant of your scanning hobby.

 

[threeofnine]

I have monitored the system you mentioned in your original question with my SDS100, with outstanding results. As with any multiple agency system, you should familiarize yourself with the volume offset feature of your new scanner. [Search pdf owner's manual for "volume offset."] Different agencies have different volume levels. In the good old CB days, we called it modulation. Without the volume offset, you're likely to increase your volume setting to hear a low volume call, and shortly get blasted by an agency having a higher volume. With a little practice, the volume offset will deliver a much more comfortable listening experience. It will also make a spouse or significant other more tolerant of your scanning hobby.

That's a great tip! I was actually noticing the different volume levels yesterday. Thank you for that.

 

[threeofnine]

You only want the sites in range for you. Having an excessive number of sites, many nowhere near in range, can slow down your scanning speed.

Is it ideal to only have the 2-3 sites closest to you or is it better to have all sites within range added? The reason I ask is if it takes around 1 second per site, if you have 10 sites (roughly the number in range of me) would that not increase the risk of missing some transmissions?

 

[hiegtx]

Is it ideal to only have the 2-3 sites closest to you or is it better to have all sites within range added? The reason I ask is if it takes around 1 second per site, if you have 10 sites (roughly the number in range of me) would that not increase the risk of missing some transmissions?

It’s best to have only a handful of sites being monitored at any one time. As you note, it does take the scanner a second or so, to acquire and decide a given site. In most cases, unless you’re talking about more than one system, you won’t gain anything by having additional sites active. If they are in your area, the radio traffic will be on the close sites. You’d be wasting time scanning additional, more distant sites, for units that are in your vicinity.