SDS100 your likes / dislikes

[mkt853]

I would like to figure out how the keypad back light comes on. I must have deactivated it somehow because now I can't get it to light up even when pressing the lightbulb/power key which just turns the screen on and off.

 

[maus92]

I would like to figure out how the keypad back light comes on. I must have deactivated it somehow because now I can't get it to light up even when pressing the lightbulb/power key which just turns the screen on and off.

There's a setting in Sentinel: Edit | Profile | Display Options | Key Backlight | Enable

 

[coolderb]

I really love the scanner, i really do, i find it has a nice quality feel to it, i absolutely love the display. It’s just the fact that the one i had was missing a a lot of traffic, and i really dont have that much on my favorite list either. So im really hoping i have better luck with the next one. I’m going to put a radio shack 800 antenna on the next one, and see if that helps too.


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I found that with the stock antenna I was missing transmissions that my BCD536 was receiving. I switched to a RS800 antenna and the SDS100 came to life!

I really love the color display, ease of setup (used the same FLs from my 436) and ergonomics. I like the lightness, compactness yet sturdiness of the unit.

One thing I dislike is the inability to use AA batteries. I have invested in quite a few Enoloops over the years for use with my scanners. Hopefully there will be an option to use them via a holder similar to the ones used in Radio Shack scanners (black for alkaline, yellow for Ni-Cads, etc.

The other pain is the lack of support for 3rd party SMA antennas.

Overall though I am very happy with it. I had always wished that there would be a sort of hybrid between the HomePatrol II and BCD436. The SDS100 is that and then some.

 

[BigWonton]

I found that with the stock antenna I was missing transmissions that my BCD536 was receiving. I switched to a RS800 antenna and the SDS100 came to life!

I'm finding similar experiences with the stock antenna with the 7/800 MHz band. I do like having the RSSI meter as a gauge of antenna performance.

 

[buddrousa]

Sorry to tell you AA batteries will only supply 2/3's what the factory that came with the SDS100 does so would you be happy with 2 to 3 1/2 hours max? 2500ma AA's where as the factory battery is 3800ma and my guess is the new battery coming later this summer will be 5000ma atleast.

 

[TxScanner]

I found that with the stock antenna I was missing transmissions that my BCD536 was receiving. I switched to a RS800 antenna and the SDS100 came to life!



I really love the color display, ease of setup (used the same FLs from my 436) and ergonomics. I like the lightness, compactness yet sturdiness of the unit.



One thing I dislike is the inability to use AA batteries. I have invested in quite a few Enoloops over the years for use with my scanners. Hopefully there will be an option to use them via a holder similar to the ones used in Radio Shack scanners (black for alkaline, yellow for Ni-Cads, etc.



The other pain is the lack of support for 3rd party SMA antennas.



Overall though I am very happy with it. I had always wished that there would be a sort of hybrid between the HomePatrol II and BCD436. The SDS100 is that and then some.

That’s great to hear about the antenna, hopefully i get the new scanner and antenna about the same time.


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[maus92]

I found that with the stock antenna I was missing transmissions that my BCD536 was receiving. I switched to a RS800 antenna and the SDS100 came to life!

I really love the color display, ease of setup (used the same FLs from my 436) and ergonomics. I like the lightness, compactness yet sturdiness of the unit.

One thing I dislike is the inability to use AA batteries. I have invested in quite a few Enoloops over the years for use with my scanners. Hopefully there will be an option to use them via a holder similar to the ones used in Radio Shack scanners (black for alkaline, yellow for Ni-Cads, etc.

The other pain is the lack of support for 3rd party SMA antennas.

Overall though I am very happy with it. I had always wished that there would be a sort of hybrid between the HomePatrol II and BCD436. The SDS100 is that and then some.

You might want to verify that your service types are configured the way you want them. I discovered that when I added the SDS100 profile to Sentinel, some service types had reverted to a different / default state. Once I fixed that, I received all the traffic I expected.

 

[sallen07]

Disappointed

Likes:

Solid feel
Nice display
Good sound quality

Dislikes:

I must say that I'm VERY disappointed in how the SDS100 is performing on the local Harris P25 simulcast system (Monroe/Ontario NY). I had very high hopes, but I'm sitting here with my BCD436HP and the SDS100 on my desk, and the 436 is doing as well as the SDS100 and occasionally better. I was also hopeful that I'd be able to pull in some of the P25 systems in nearby counties, but nothing at all.

So I'm bummed. Not feeling like it was worth the $$ at this point, especially since I could get another 436 from Amazon for less that $400 right now.

 

[One13Truck]

Mine came while I was at work today. Just got everything unboxed and running about 1/2 hour ago. I'd have to say in my very brief time I've had it up and running so far it's 95% positive with only small negatives.

Going to test and tweak over the next few days and compare various setups and antennas and the like among my 396XT, 436, and the SDS100 before making a final decision. So far though early thoughts are that I like it.

 

[wise871]

Likes:

Solid feel
Nice display
Good sound quality

Dislikes:

I must say that I'm VERY disappointed in how the SDS100 is performing on the local Harris P25 simulcast system (Monroe/Ontario NY). I had very high hopes, but I'm sitting here with my BCD436HP and the SDS100 on my desk, and the 436 is doing as well as the SDS100 and occasionally better. I was also hopeful that I'd be able to pull in some of the P25 systems in nearby counties, but nothing at all.

So I'm bummed. Not feeling like it was worth the $$ at this point, especially since I could get another 436 from Amazon for less that $400 right now.

There was a chart released that showed the SDS100 vs the 436HP prior to it coming out. This would have told you what you are seeing now and saved you some money. Also the hopes of pulling in the further P25 system. It all depends on the antenna your using and if those singles are strong enough to reach you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[buddrousa]

Likes:

Solid feel
Nice display
Good sound quality

Dislikes:

I must say that I'm VERY disappointed in how the SDS100 is performing on the local Harris P25 simulcast system (Monroe/Ontario NY). I had very high hopes, but I'm sitting here with my BCD436HP and the SDS100 on my desk, and the 436 is doing as well as the SDS100 and occasionally better. I was also hopeful that I'd be able to pull in some of the P25 systems in nearby counties, but nothing at all.

So I'm bummed. Not feeling like it was worth the $$ at this point, especially since I could get another 436 from Amazon for less that $400 right now.

From another post it looks like this is being looked into.

 

[sallen07]

There was a chart released that showed the SDS100 vs the 436HP prior to it coming out. This would have told you what you are seeing now and saved you some money. Also the hopes of pulling in the further P25 system. It all depends on the antenna your using and if those singles are strong enough to reach you.


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You mean the chart showing receiver sensitivity at various frequencies? Yes, I saw that chart, and if I recall the SDS100 was at least as good at 800 MHz as the 436. Not sure how that would have told me not to buy one. I'm not having a signal strength issue on the local system.

 

[jonwienke]

There was a chart released that showed the SDS100 vs the 436HP prior to it coming out. This would have told you what you are seeing now and saved you some money.

The chart showed that the 436 was better in some bands, and the SDS100 better in others. The maximum difference was about 3dB. Which is pretty consistent with what I've seen comparing my 436 and SDS100. Sometimes one is a little better than the other, but in general, there's not a lot of difference in sensitivity.

 

[KE4ZNR]

I'm commenting on what I read, it was always obvious the design was only focused on LSM and not on good RF performance, sadly those who know something about RF and can see beyond the colorful display are now experiencing some of the predicted issues.

The QC is poor, how is it radios have got to customers with keypad LEDs out?

Your continued Uniden bashing is very interesting indeed considering you are not even based in the US.

Marshall KE4ZNR

 

[jonwienke]

And he's a NASA RF hardware engineer, too.

 

[woodpecker]

Your continued Uniden bashing is very interesting indeed considering you are not even based in the US.

Marshall KE4ZNR

I bash any manufacturer that produces crap, what does my current location have to do with anything?

 

[woodpecker]

And he's a NASA RF hardware engineer, too.

I've never worked for NASA, more wrong assumptions.

 

[jonwienke]

It highlights the fact you're opining on a product you don't own, or have any firsthand experience with.

 

[woodpecker]

The chart showed that the 436 was better in some bands, and the SDS100 better in others. The maximum difference was about 3dB. Which is pretty consistent with what I've seen comparing my 436 and SDS100. Sometimes one is a little better than the other, but in general, there's not a lot of difference in sensitivity.

That chart has a limit spec as high as 2uv on some bands, I did ask if that meant some units could have that poor a sensitivity and no answer was given, maybe that is why some find they are deaf?

 

[woodpecker]

It highlights the fact you're opining on a product you don't own, or have any firsthand experience with.

I own 4 Uniden scanners, I've never said I owned an SDS100, I won't be buying one due to the amount of reported problems.