My SDS100 with rubber antenna receives much better than my SDS200 with outdoor antenna. Neither performs poorly. I do live in a rural area and have a Moonraker 2000 amp as part of the base antenna. Should I consider some modification to the SDS200 or doing a factory reset? I did have the SDS200 preprogrammed when I purchased it on line. The SDS100 was not preprogrammed and I simply use the Zip Code to monitor. I enjoy both of them and would buy either again. I do intend to raise the outdoor antenna another 10 feet in the spring. Presently the outdoor antenna is above the roof line, but I do have trees in the area, however none within 150 feet.
With anywhere from 6 to 20 dB of gain I suspect that amp may be part of your problem. Take it out and see how the 200 performs.
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How long is your coax run, what kind of coax is it, is it low loss coax and what are the frequency ranges that are not performing as well as the 100?
Also make sure both radios have all service types enabled. I've heard many times of "expert" programming by scanner vendors who never enable all of the service types which is not done by default when it comes out of the box.
It's never good when a stock antenna on a portable works better than a rooftop.. clearly an issue somewhere, I agree about getting rid of the amp.
Also make sure both radios have all service types enabled. I've heard many times of "expert" programming by scanner vendors who never enable all of the service types which is not done by default when it comes out of the box.
It's never good when a stock antenna on a portable works better than a rooftop.. clearly an issue somewhere, I agree about getting rid of the amp.
I would swap antennas. You might have to put a 90 degree adapter on the 200.
If the 200 now receives better than the 100, then it's the antenna setup. If not, then it's the radio.
If it's the antenna setup, do what everyone else said and pull the amp. Remove as many variables out of the equation as possible.
If the 200 now receives better than the 100, then it's the antenna setup. If not, then it's the radio.
If it's the antenna setup, do what everyone else said and pull the amp. Remove as many variables out of the equation as possible.
I have them both. Take off all the outside antenna gadgets, put the stock antenna on, duplicate the programming as the SDS100, and that will be a good starting point to determine if you have an issue.
Thank you all very much! I put stock antenna back on SDS200 and its like STEREO! You all are great. I will remove amp, upgrade coax, upgrade antenna, and raise antenna in the spring. Current antenna is multi band $50 from Amazon. I will start with coax.
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Your antenna might be okay if it's got wide coverage of VHF High, UHF 1 and 2 and 7 - 800 MHz. A good coax to go with is a version of LMR 400, a good low loss coax. Good luck to you.. also remember that moving the radio around can make a difference even if it's 10 in LOL
Have you tried it without the amp but still on the antenna and coax you already have up? I'd start with removing that amp and see what happens.
Ubbe
Member
That Moonraker 2000 amp are the lower quality one and their M100 at twice the cost are better. But those are pretty much what Uniden already have put inside their SDS scanners and don't need any more gain. If you can put that amp in a weather proof box right at the antenna then it might help and you then don't need to upgrade any coax, just use RG6.
Get the variable attenuator from ScannerMaster if you can't get a similar one cheaper from other places, as a variable attenuator are often what are needed when having outside antennas on the roof and especially when using amplifiers to be able to set the correct level that doesn't overload a scanner. A FM broadcast filter trap are also useful.
Any amplifier with PGA103+ or similar in its name or used in its circuit will be excellent with both low noise and a high interference threshold. Many of them can be powered from the coax using a bias-T connector.
/Ubbe
Get the variable attenuator from ScannerMaster if you can't get a similar one cheaper from other places, as a variable attenuator are often what are needed when having outside antennas on the roof and especially when using amplifiers to be able to set the correct level that doesn't overload a scanner. A FM broadcast filter trap are also useful.
Any amplifier with PGA103+ or similar in its name or used in its circuit will be excellent with both low noise and a high interference threshold. Many of them can be powered from the coax using a bias-T connector.
/Ubbe
