SDS150: SDS150 Review

[Markscan]

On a road trip from New Jersey to Florida and the GPS on the 150 is awesome.

 

[eaf1956]

On a road trip from New Jersey to Florida and the GPS on the 150 is awesome.

Cool Beans

 

[DavidWave26]

I Love my Uniden SDS-150. Thank you to Paul Opitz Director of Product Development for the Uniden SDS line of scanner communication receivers. Many years ago. RIP. We love you.

 

[eaf1956]

And the Spare battery arrived! YEA

 

[blackbelter]

While Paul‘s work on SDS series is certainly a legacy to remember , we should also give a shout-out to the current Uniden teams, engineers as well as Jason and all the beta testers . These individuals listened to the end users and delivered a remarkable product such as 150 . They meticulously analyzed the SDS series and constructed a superior scanner which will likely appeal to most if not all users . While I have not had the opportunity to own the 150, based on numerous positive reviews it is evident that this device is what we have been asking for.
Bravo.

 

[J-Wrock]

While Paul‘s work on SDS series is certainly a legacy to remember , we should also give a shout-out to the current Uniden teams, engineers as well as Jason and all the beta testers . These individuals listened to the end users and delivered a remarkable product such as 150 . They meticulously analyzed the SDS series and constructed a superior scanner which will likely appeal to most if not all users . While I have not had the opportunity to own the 150, based on numerous positive reviews it is evident that this device is what we have been asking for.
Bravo.

As a proud owner of the SDS 150, I will second your shout-out!

 

[drsparky]

I recently retired and missed having radio traffic as background noise, so I got a SDS 150 and am slowly learning to use it. It's my first scanner.

 

[eaf1956]

I noticed since getting my spare Battery for the SDS 150 that the spare charges much faster than the one on the radio even with the radio turned OFF

 

[MaineGuy]

I recently retired and missed having radio traffic as background noise, so I got a SDS 150 and am slowly learning to use it. It's my first scanner.

I've been a ham for years, but am new to scanner life. The 150 has a big learning curve. The factory manual is useless for 'newbies'

This manual really helped me figure out what I need to do:

SDS Sentinel Software Manual

and:

Easier to Read SDS100/200 Digital Scanner Manual

Have fun!

 

[ratboy]

I remember the frustration I had when I got my first SDS200. That manual was a joke, Sentinel annoyed me. and Youtube videos were the thing that saved me, and had me relatively satisfied with it pretty quickly. A friend's frustration with his SDS200 later on enabled my buying it for $400 with DMR and NXDN.

 

[jeffm77]

Just wondering how the 150 performs on VHF and UHF analog stuff. My SDS100 really lacks in that area. My 396, 436 and trx-1, blow my SDS100 away on VHF and UHF analog stuff.

 

[eaf1956]

Just wondering how the 150 performs on VHF and UHF analog stuff. My SDS100 really lacks in that area. My 396, 436 and trx-1, blow my SDS100 away on VHF and UHF analog stuff.

Some people think it is much better. My SDS 150 seems on par with my SDS 200. That being said there is no messing with filter settings on the 150. Love the GPS and Bluetooth APP. In my case the SDS 150 seems to have better reception with a rubber duck antenna over an outdoor antenna which inherently makes no sense.

 

[buddrousa]

I have posted several times in different SDS150 Threads about the improvements. I never had problems with my SDS100/200's with Analog VHF or UHF I offend people by saying if it does not work for you it is not setup correctly my 3 SDS100's and 3 SDS200's all share the same antenna system at the same time with BCD536's BCD 996P2's and BC15's and have no problems. Back to the SDS150 works better on my antenna setup better than my SDS100/200's.

 

[eaf1956]

OK something I just tried with GPS. Turned GPS off, entered ZIP from a town 50 miles North. Started Scanning those systems albeit no reception this far away. Well, did have some reception on some closer towers. Turned GPS ON or enabled.....Nothing...Waited and waited....Nothing. I had to leave the house and go outside to get a GPS LOCK. Once it locked on it was OK in the house.

I did notice that 2 SAFE T towers I can not receive at home on my SDS 200s with outdoor antennas showed reception on the SDS 150 with a Remtronix TriBand not strong but much better than a 200 which gets NOTHING. Notably Princeton and Augusta Towers on Safe T, first Tower in WARRICK county I could get a signal from at home. Anyway although the GPS takes a bit to LOCK ON the SDS 150 is a much better recieve at least on that system.

 

[wd9fli]

I’m listening to to DaneCom (Madison, wi) Harris P25 system which has around 7 simulcast transmit towers. I live right in the middle of 3 towers. Unication G5 handle reception bery will. Years ago Zi had a Wistler P25 scanner. It didn’t simulcast towers at my location. If I got closer to one tower it recieved well.

How does the Uniden SDS150 recieve Harris P25 simulcast systems when in between multiple transmit towers?

 

[dmfalk]

The SDS series of scanners use an I/Q (In-phase/Quadrature) detection method that reduces phase between multiple signals. This series is specifically designed to handle simulcast systems.

 

[gootch]

Had my SDS150 for a whole day now. These things are a big improvement right out of the gate for me. Came from a SDS100 so I am familiar with basic functions and Sentinel. Not much of a learning curve.


1) USB C primarily for charging convenience.
2) Built in GPS.
3) U/AWARE App
4) U/Aware App ability to play audio through my car speakers via wireless Apple Car Play.

These 4 things make scanning while traveling in a vehicle much more convenient for me. I will likely bring scanner with me more often than before.