SDS150 vs SDS100 for mobile OH MARCS

[dizwiz21]

I work as a field engineer for a company’s products in Ohio and drive OH, Michigan, PA, quite often. Sometimes IN, KY, WV

(I do not do any feeds, or use the scanner to broadcast to any scanner apps or anything like that)

on one vehicle, I had a larsen triband antenna with NMO amount. On the other I just had a scanner BNC 800 Mhz antennex ducky connector.

My main priority is 700/800 Mhz systems like OH MARCs

I used to use my GRE PSR-500 for mobile monitoring but it doesnt do well anymore with simulcast

I also couldnt stand all the constant programming I had to do keep up with TG’s alphatags and changes to the system sites/freq. I simply do not have that time anymore.

I did appreciate how that scanner would still stop on an ENC TG, show the freq alphatag (and even radioID) - at which point I would manually hit lockout. Or sometimes, there was one-sided encryption where I could hear one side (but not the other)

So with that said;
Can I change these scanners so they will stop on the enc TG’d with aftermarket software like GITHUB X27/CFT?

Next up, what do I gain with spending more for the SDS150 vs SDS100?
Is one better for mobile monitoring with less programming gymnastics?

I want the scanner to ‘roam’ and go to the next site automatically as I drive thru counties and states?

Where do these scanners GPS get their database from? Something up to date like RR’s database or the manufacturers database which is updated who knows how often, if ever?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[redbeard]

150 is not compatible with the openscanner firmware yet. Best reason to get a 150 is the built-in GPS instead of an external wiring mess like on the 100. If your car has bluetooth that may be a plus too for the 150 for you.

 

[richardbritt]

Being mobile, an external GPS might work better than the internal 150 built-in GPS. If you can use a portable driving GPS inside your vehicle that might not be an issue. Some vehicles don't pass GPS signals very well. A SDS-200 with external GPS might be more what you want. The database for the Uniden scanners comes from Radioreference and it's updated weekly. Run the scanner off the main database, pick your service types, and set your scanning range.

 

[dmfalk]

As stated, the SDS scanners don't work with SDR interfaces, but they do come with their own waterfall display.

The difference between the SDS 100 & SDS 150 is that the 150 is an upgrade, mostly hardware, to the 100, so from that, I'd recommend going to the 150. But what upgrades? The RF section is completely rebuilt, with less internal interference and greater sensitivity, plus a faster, considerably cooler processor, and internal GPS & Bluetooth, though at present, the Bluetooth only works with the U/Aware app (iOS/Android). The interface is essentially the same across all SDS models. GPS is extremely helpful for what you want to do. Do note, you can't log encrypted TGs, but as the master database used is a Uniden-formatted copy of the RadioReference database, these are usually well-documented by the denizens of RadioReference, already. You will need to use a Windows program from Uniden called Sentinel, for basic operations, including database and firmware updating.

You're not the first here to want mobile scanning of Ohio/Pennsylvania trunked systems like MARCS, and the ability to scan from ever-changing locations, which having GPS built-in is a major plus!

Congratulations on considering the Uniden SDS scanners, as they're really the best for what you want to do. The next task is choosing an antenna! The one that comes with the 100 is crap, bur the one that comes with the 150 is, like the rest of the radio, a considerable improvement, but yet, there are even better ones.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

As stated, the SDS scanners don't work with SDR interfaces, but they do come with their own waterfall display.

Well the 150 includes or "comes with" waterfall, it's a $20.00 add-on for the SDS100 and 200 if bought direct from Uniden. Third party retailers mark the price up quite a bit

 

[dmfalk]

Well the 150 includes or "comes with" waterfall, it's a $20.00 add-on for the SDS100 and 200 if bought direct from Uniden. Third party retailers mark the price up quite a bit

True, that. That's the case with all the SDS/x36HP registration keys-- Always best to buy them directly from Uniden, at my.uniden.com! (The waterfall isn't required, but a good feature to have.)

 

[dizwiz21]

Ok, what about 3rd party firmware that will allow the scanner to stop on encrypted P25 TG’s (and display TG ID, frequency, and radio ID) vs. auto skip them

Is there any software out there that will replace/supplement the factory Uniden’s firmware that do not allow that?

This really irks me, as my older GRE PSR500 does give me all that information on encrypted TG’s (whereas I can make a mental note of what groups are active and then hit the lockout button)

I hate to buy the newest model and ‘lose’ that ability.

Understand that I am not looking for the ability to decrypt these TG’s, I am looking simply to have the SDS100 or SDS150 do what my old PSR-500 already did (while also working with simulcast, having a higher memory and auto-programming based on GPS)

Thank you for the help

 

[redbeard]

Ok, what about 3rd party firmware that will allow the scanner to stop on encrypted P25 TG’s (and display TG ID, frequency, and radio ID) vs. auto skip them

Is there any software out there that will replace/supplement the factory Uniden’s firmware that do not allow that?

This really irks me, as my older GRE PSR500 does give me all that information on encrypted TG’s (whereas I can make a mental note of what groups are active and then hit the lockout button)

I hate to buy the newest model and ‘lose’ that ability.

Understand that I am not looking for the ability to decrypt these TG’s, I am looking simply to have the SDS100 or SDS150 do what my old PSR-500 already did (while also working with simulcast, having a higher memory and auto-programming based on GPS)

Thank you for the help

You named said firmware in your original post, and as I replied it's not compatible with the 150. Whether that is a 'not yet' or 'won't be' is a question for that firmware author. There's a Telegram group linked from the Github.

As of right now if that's the most important feature, you need a 100.

 

[RobDLG]

The SDS150 can log encrypted talkgroups in Trunking Discovery mode.

 

[wa8pyr]

As stated, the SDS scanners don't work with SDR interfaces, but they do come with their own waterfall display.

The difference between the SDS 100 & SDS 150 is that the 150 is an upgrade, mostly hardware, to the 100, so from that, I'd recommend going to the 150. But what upgrades? The RF section is completely rebuilt, with less internal interference and greater sensitivity, plus a faster, considerably cooler processor, and internal GPS & Bluetooth, though at present, the Bluetooth only works with the U/Aware app (iOS/Android). The interface is essentially the same across all SDS models. GPS is extremely helpful for what you want to do. Do note, you can't log encrypted TGs, but as the master database used is a Uniden-formatted copy of the RadioReference database, these are usually well-documented by the denizens of RadioReference, already. You will need to use a Windows program from Uniden called Sentinel, for basic operations, including database and firmware updating.

You're not the first here to want mobile scanning of Ohio/Pennsylvania trunked systems like MARCS, and the ability to scan from ever-changing locations, which having GPS built-in is a major plus!

Congratulations on considering the Uniden SDS scanners, as they're really the best for what you want to do. The next task is choosing an antenna! The one that comes with the 100 is crap, bur the one that comes with the 150 is, like the rest of the radio, a considerable improvement, but yet, there are even better ones.

What he said.

I use my SDS150 traveling all over Ohio and parts of Kentucky. It works great using the GPS feature and is quite sensitive.

 

[k8zdr]

150 is not compatible with the openscanner firmware yet. Best reason to get a 150 is the built-in GPS instead of an external wiring mess like on the 100. If your car has bluetooth that may be a plus too for the 150 for you.

I have that wiring mess going on in my truck with the SDS100 that I currently have. I may upgrade to the 150 just to reduce that down to a simple USB cable for power.

 

[z96cobra]

I have that wiring mess going on in my truck with the SDS100 that I currently have. I may upgrade to the 150 just to reduce that down to a simple USB cable for power.

If you have an Android phone you can use the free app SDS Remote Display and it will use the phones GPS for the radio. Just need a USB Mini to USB-C (or whatever your Android uses if it's older).

 

[Colin9690]

Get a 100. I’ve owned it since 2019 and have used it every day cycling two batteries back-and-forth.. and the reception blows the Whistler TRX or anything else out of the water.

 

[BBossman1]

If you have an Android phone you can use the free app SDS Remote Display and it will use the phones GPS for the radio. Just need a USB Mini to USB-C (or whatever your Android uses if it's older).

THANK YOU SIR! I had no idea this app existed. I have a SDS150, so I don't need the GPS capability it offers, but the remote display brought new life to my BCD536HP, replacing the defunct Siren app.

I plugged in the WIFI dongle for the first time in YEARS, fired right up and is solid. Now I have two tablets on my desk displaying two scanners on screens my old a** eyes can see. Bonus is it has a black & white mode that U/Aware is lacking.