SDS250 potential?

[MStep]

I would have said the BC300 was the flagship of the fleet.

I was selling scanners during the years of the 250's and 300's, but at least for my customers, the Bearcat 300 did not have the same appeal as the 250. I believe it was the styling of the 250, with its slanted keypad, which many folks seemed to favor. It's true, the 300 maybe have been considered the pinnacle of that series for Uniden, but it never made the same impression on folks as the 250. With all the usual IMHO and YMMV disclaimers notwithstanding

 

[737mech]

Why doesn't Uniden just make a box with gps and antenna inputs with all the features of a SDS scanner that simply adds an app to carplay on your truck or car's screen? No more worries of mounting, head units etc'. Plug it in to the usb. Or BT?

 

[Ubbe]

These functions may be available with newer radios through software, but I don't recall seeing them as "onboard" features in scanners after the 250. The radio was certainly advanced for its day.

I have seen hit counters in different models and I googled now and the Pro-651 turned up. Isn't Search&Store available in many scanners? I recall seing instructions that says you have to specify what memory bank to use for the automatically stored hits. In the most modern Uniden scanners you have Discovery mode that stores any hits to a specific memory, as well as audio recordings.

It's probably what Bud says, it maybe was the first scanner having those features.

/Ubbe

 

[Ubbe]

Why doesn't Uniden just make a box with gps and antenna inputs

Yes, a black box without the added costs of a frontpanel with display and controllers, all replaced by a standard mobile phone or iPad. A SDS150, or 250, without the display and controllers at a reduced price. We then use the display size we want and run U/Aware on it.

/Ubbe

 

[MStep]

I have seen hit counters in different models and I googled now and the Pro-651 turned up. Isn't Search&Store available in many scanners? I recall seing instructions that says you have to specify what memory bank to use for the automatically stored hits. In the most modern Uniden scanners you have Discovery mode that stores any hits to a specific memory, as well as audio recordings.

It's probably what Bud says, it maybe was the first scanner having those features.

/Ubbe

Yes indeed, the discovery mode seems to operate as you have outlined. Mea culpa. I'm gonna have to try to unravel the hit counter function in relation to programmed conventional channels.

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

I think there will definitely be a SDS 250. Maybe it won't have GPS and can be the same price or cheaper than the 150

 

[I_Am_Infinite]

View attachment 194528
How about it, SDS550?!

That thing would be sweet id buy it right now 🤣

 

[ogppc]

How about a baseband out feature. Covertly supports the efforts of software which need baseband audio

 

[joescanner]

View attachment 194528
How about it, SDS550?!

Hopefully they'll simplify the keypad(s)... 😉🤣

 

[mitbr]

The Bearcat 300 had service search with a dedicated button for each service, while the Bearcat 250 did not have service search at all. I think that is the main difference in the feature set.

They were both plagued by cold solder joints and other maladies common to the Electra Bearcats. Uniden did continue producing the 300 after they bought the Bearcat line.

A buddy of mine had one back in the day - simply a great scanner, one of the best Uniden has ever made. It was extremely sensitive, even picking up low band skip on the stock antenna. (this was during Cycle 22, early 90's)

As for the SDS-250, a great feature to include would be a detachable head.

Yep used to have a bc300 when living in Toronto area listened to skip from laso on 39 mhz was great fun!
Tim

 

[garys]

That was a feature rich scanner crippled by a sieve of a front end. There was a very short lived 350 as well with an Alpha display. I never got to play around with one of those and the only one I saw was in a ham radio store.

Fortunately, Universal Radio doesn't seem to ever delete pages,

https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners/BC300.html

https://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/scanners/BC350.html

A walk down scanner memory lane.

I would have said the BC300 was the flagship of the fleet.

 

[W1KNE]

Its an 8-track player

Does it come with the matchbook for mobile applications?

(I am sure this comment confuses most who are 40 and younger...)

 

[buddrousa]

That matchbook served 2 purposes.
1. The 8 Track
2. The Distributor

 

[dave3825]

Given the metal case and typical mobile mounting locations with no view of the sky, an external GPS antenna would be mandatory for a mobile installation. Would it be included or an extra-cost option? Plus, how many buyers use them mobile as opposed to on a table at home? The cost/benefit calculation for built-in GPS doesn’t necessarily add up; might as well stick with the optional GPS which someone could buy if they need it.

I use this 12 dollar gps attached to 6 feet of rj-45 and it works well on the dashboard. I ran across a magnetic active antenna lying around that honestly have no idea where it came from. So the plan now is to mount the gps inside the 200 and use the external antenna when needed. Most likely going to remove the rj-45 and mount the sma there and solder the wires directly to the 200 where the rj-45 went and add a toggle switch to be able to turn off the gps when not needed. .

 

[Ubbe]

add a toggle switch to be able to turn off the gps when not needed.

I'm interested in the reason for the on/off switch. Is it creating added interferences?

/Ubbe

 

[buddrousa]

I can turn it on and off in the menu just as fast. Not gonna save a battery as the SDS250 would not use one.

 

[Brales60]

@jasonhouk
That would be more than a cat out of the bag. Looks like the entire litter got away.
It also says SDS500

I caught that too, but the top unit says SDS550 and the lower one SDS500. Someone needs to brush up on photoshop or AI. haha

 

[dave3825]

I'm interested in the reason for the on/off switch. Is it creating added interferences?

I can turn it on and off in the menu just as fast. Not gonna save a battery as the SDS250 would not use one.

While I do take the 200 on trips/travel, it spends a good amount of time at home. Really no need for the gps to be trying to obtain satellites which it wont see inside the 200, inside a home without the external antenna. Not sure the lifespan on a cheap china gps so why have it running when not in use..

 

[pyeman99]

Hopefully they'll simplify the keypad(s)... 😉🤣

Ask Jason hows he's finding it !

 

[Brentorious]

If a SDS250 doesn’t have a remote head unit, I will not upgrade. A usable display would be nice.