SDS150

[BBear2]

Anyone test out the SDS150 with the MA State Police and/or your community.
Curious if the reception is better than the SDS 100.

I live in Central MA, very hilly. Reception is mostly poor........

 

[ynot58]

Their build of the radio hardware are the exact same as the 100 except added features like bluetooh app only and gps per uniden. My trx1 has aways received better on everything even simulcast and close calls (spectrum sweep) even on dmr trunk inputs that uniden cannot.

 

[ynot58]

From uniden:



+3

The Uniden SDS100 and SDS150 share the same core True I/Q SDR engine, frequency coverage, and digital decoding (P25, DMR, NXDN), but the SDS150 is a significant upgrade with built-in GPS, USB-C, Bluetooth, a bigger/brighter screen, integrated waterfall display, faster charging cradle, and IPX4 water resistance, making it better for mobile/field use, while the SDS100 is a proven, lower-cost option for stationary home monitoring with external GPS needed.
This video provides a detailed overvi

 

[buddrousa]

The SDS150 has hardware added that the SDS100 does not. Uniden added a new hardware filter that improves reception without the use of software filters. The SDS150 has a faster CPU that scans faster works faster boots faster. The SDS150 and even the SDS100 runs circles around my TRX-1 and TRX-2.
There are 3 SDS150 threads that users are posting to Please read those that have bought them not someone guessing about something they do not own.

 

[mikewazowski]

Let's try and keep this thread Massachusetts related as the OP asked.

Anyone test out the SDS150 with the MA State Police and/or your community.
Curious if the reception is better than the SDS 100.

I live in Central MA, very hilly. Reception is mostly poor........

If you have tech support questions that don't pertain, please ask them in the Uniden Tech Support thread so the OP's original question isn't lost.

Thanks!

 

[W1KNE]

I live in Central MA, very hilly. Reception is mostly poor........

Peanut gallery comments ignored.

Reception of what is poor? The conventional towns/cities? The MSP 800 Trunk? Both?

I am in Bristol County and have been very happy with the reception on my SDS 100 and 200 of the MSP analog system.

 

[BBear2]

Both MSP and local towns have poor reception.
I live in Petersham, MA.
Very remote and hilly!

I took everyone's advice and read the other posts on the SDS150.
Thank you.

Was just asking for proven local advice I can trust before I purchase the SDS150.
I didnt mean to stir things up at all........

 

[W1KNE]

Both MSP and local towns have poor reception.
I live in Petersham, MA.
Very remote and hilly!

I took everyone's advice and read the other posts on the SDS150.
Thank you.

Was just asking for proven local advice I can trust before I purchase the SDS150.
I didnt mean to stir things up at all........

Petersham is a lovely town. No cell service to be anywhere except on the Athol end!

I have always had good luck with the 536HP there. (Yes I go there frequently. One day I will be there and never leave. Hopefully not for a very very long time , if you catch my drift.). I haven't brought my SDS 100 up there as I've only monitored the conventional stuff. (Petersham PD Low Band, DPW VHF HB, the Rutland Regional stuff and the UHFs out of Athol.). Next time I go up, in a few weeks, I'll bring up my SDS100 and see how it does there.

And you didn't stir up any troubles, just some dumb comments made by some dumb people is all.
Buddyrosa 's comment does clarify what DA's did not. He's a lot more up on the technology than the other one. So I'd pay attention to his remarks.

 

[BBear2]

I believe a new cell tower went on line in town early this year.
But, I agree, the Athol side is best!

I would like to hear about your SDS 100 testing while you drive through Petersham.
Thank you very much!

 

[mrsvensven]

Make sure you're experimenting with MSP site 9 (West Brookfield) and 10 (Athol) in addition to site 8. While the typical advice of "stick to the simulcasts" is good in most of the State, western Worcester County is an exception as there really are few site 8 radio towers and most coverage incomes from the "intellipepeater" sites.

 

[W1KNE]

Make sure you're experimenting with MSP site 9 (West Brookfield) and 10 (Athol) in addition to site 8. While the typical advice of "stick to the simulcasts" is good in most of the State, western Worcester County is an exception as there really are few site 8 radio towers and most coverage incomes from the "intellipepeater" sites.

Also Shelburne and Warwick come in well , especially downtown - north. Although I don't know if Shelburne carries any C troop traffic.

 

[BBear2]

W1KNE, did you have a chance to drive through the Petersham area with your SDS100?
Just following up.
Thanks

 

[W1KNE]

W1KNE, did you have a chance to drive through the Petersham area with your SDS100?
Just following up.
Thanks

Probably in a few weeks at this point.

 

[BBear2]

Great!
When you drive through town, visit the Country Store for a bite to eat!

 

[W1KNE]

Great!
When you drive through town, visit the Country Store for a bite to eat!

Love the Country Store! Especially those home made Sesame Chips they sell there. It's also one of the few spots in town you can get Cell service.

 

[BBear2]

I hope it's ok to ask.......
Again, I am in Petersham, MA. How do I know if i am picking up State Police transmissions from the Athol tower?
I am not that far away and my reception is poor.

How to add the Athol tower?

 

[ecps92]

I hope it's ok to ask.......
Again, I am in Petersham, MA. How do I know if i am picking up State Police transmissions from the Athol tower?
I am not that far away and my reception is poor.

How to add the Athol tower?

if you mean this one

Massachusetts State Police Site: Athol

Massachusetts State Police Site: Athol Details

www.radioreference.com

it would show up as S-010 (Site/Zone) with a SysID of 0D14

 

[garys]

IIRC, that's an intellipeater, which is a fill in site. You'll only hear traffic if a mobile unit has affiliated with that site. ecps92 probably has a better recollection of that.

At one time Orange PD and FD were on that most of the time.

 

[WMaScanner]

I hope it's ok to ask.......
Again, I am in Petersham, MA. How do I know if i am picking up State Police transmissions from the Athol tower?
I am not that far away and my reception is poor.

How to add the Athol tower?

Anecdotally, I haven't been through Petersham, but have gone up and down 202 and Rt 2 coming from the valley with a 436HP and a good tri-band mobile antenna and can get the Athol Intellipeater as far south as the Pelham overlook, although it is in and out due to the extreme elevation changes. At the New Salem General Store, I was able to get Athol reasonably clearly even with an out-of-band antenna and probably broken coax. I'm pretty sure I was able to go down 32 in Barre/Hardwick with coverage the entire time between the Worcester Simulcast and the West Brookfield/Brimfield repeaters. Athol, West Brookfield, and Brimfield seem to carry a great deal of the Troop C traffic despite being an Intellipeater because there are MSP barracks within their coverage areas.

You should do some research on how to program the SDS, you would add the system as a whole and then those simulcasts/repeaters within that system. You should scan between them (and the Shelburne Mtn and Warwick sites W1KNE mentioned) to see what's coming through the best - it will be specific location dependent.

Also, what antenna are you using? 800mhz doesn't "travel" well in the best of cases, especially through terrain and woods. I'm between two sites myself and only with a big discone in the attic am I able to get anything readable. The rubber duck certainly won't cut it in the location you're in. If you do have an external antenna, 800Mhz is attenuated significantly in mid-grade coax that is otherwise sufficient for VHF and low UHF, and you might need to upgrade to something like LMR400.

 

[BBear2]

Thanks to everyone who helped me with all my questions.
I seem to have the programming correct and now I am getting much better results on my SDS100.
I also got the SDS150 which I am enjoying very much.

The SDS150 seems to be a little better that the SDS100, but not much........
I love the Bluetooth app!