Suggestions on new phase II scanner brand/model

[Indianabrad]

I live about halfway between Lafayette & Gary in NW IN and I am in the market for a new phase II scanner of at least a $700.00 price tag, with very good specs. And I would like suggestions on them so that I will be ready when the phase II switch hits my area. Also what is the latest word on when phase II will hit Jasper County, I-65 is near my town & I am wondering when ISP will go to phase II. All TGs in my area are currently on SAFE-T phase I.

 

[Reconrider]

If you have 700$ to spend, just get the sds100/200 and call it a day.

 

[w9sar]

Just FYI, I was told by IPSC (the state agency that operates/administers SAFE-T) that they will never be switching to Phase II due to the cost. I hope that's true, but it's always good to be prepared with a Phase II radio ahead of time.

 

[IndyScan]

If you have 700$ to spend, just get the sds100/200 and call it a day.

This is the answer. I started with the SDS100 but caved & also bought the 200 since I'm working from home so much. They work remarkably well and if you pair it with ProScan you can do all kinds of fun stuff (and contribute to RR easier).

 

[Reconrider]

Just FYI, I was told by IPSC (the state agency that operates/administers SAFE-T) that they will never be switching to Phase II due to the cost. I hope that's true, but it's always good to be prepared with a Phase II radio ahead of time.

The cost is a lot, but the perks are even better. Just because they say they won't doesn't mean they actually will follow through with it.

 

[IndyScan]

Never say never when it comes to any of this stuff. Too many variables for them to 100% say they will "never" be switching.

 

[Indianabrad]

If you have 700$ to spend, just get the sds100/200 and call it a day.

I went & looked up the sds200 and it looks very fine, would you guys call it the best current one you can buy

 

[eaf1956]

I went & looked up the sds200 and it looks very fine, would you guys call it the best current one you can buy

Short answer YES

 

[mr10pt]

In Lowell I have a 200. Although i have an external discone antenna, I can receive Lake (Cedar Lake and Schererville), Porter, LaPorte, Jasper and Newton Counties(analog) with a stock antenna thanks to simulcast system. Can also get Kankakee and Will Co, Illinois. ISP District 13 is loud and clear along with state highway. Dont forget to add AMA channels for med-evac choppers and occasional fireground (used at Shaffer Generating Plant last summer). Side note, enjoy coloring your display!

 

[doctordialtone]

would you guys call it the best current one you can buy

Yes.

 

[Indianabrad]

Jasper and Newton Counties(analog)

@mr10pt I live in Jasper County & I broadcast one of my Pro-197 to RR here. So why don't you just listen to Jasper & Newton off of SAFE-T instead of analogue? and yeah I reprogrammed my scanners earlier this year from the RR database & with the Win500 trialware & I grabbed everything that was relevant

 

[mr10pt]

Im 99.5% FD only. Jasper on Safe-T, Newton analog. Don't care to listen to PD running license plates all day. Turn on ISP or County during weather conditions.

 

[Indianabrad]

@mr10pt I think I will pull the trigger on a sds200. Can you give info on programing it with the RR database? I saw that it has Ethernet so I am wondering if it programs over Ethernet or via USB? Also what software does it use?

 

[Enjoi19]

@mr10pt I think I will pull the trigger on a sds200. Can you give info on programing it with the RR database? I saw that it has Ethernet so I am wondering if it programs over Ethernet or via USB? Also what software does it use?

There is free software for it called Sentinel, Uniden provides it. It has the database loaded into the program to use. You can build "favourites lists" in there.

Ethernet is for streaming and remote control. USB is for programming. Technically you can just pull out the SD card and use a card reader. It's all based around files on the SD card.

Are you subscribed to RadioReference? If so I always suggest ProScan for programming... it's a thousand times easier to use I find and much less tedious than sentinel. If you're a subscriber to RR, you can import from the library there. Has a generous 30 day, full-feature trial.

 

[Indianabrad]

@Enjoi19 Yeah, I stream a scanner to RR, so I get to use their database for free

 

[mr10pt]

RRDB with Sentinel (free) is the easiest for me. Then you can add ProScan for remote listening and controlling your base unit remotely. ProScan offers a free 30 day trial but you"ll be hooked immediately. You can download Sentinel in advance to start building your FL's and color scheme for the 200

 

[Indianabrad]

Does anyone know if the Software Defined Radio (SDR) in the sds200 can possibly adapt to a modulation scheme after phase II? As it does seem that police comm equipment technology does like to kill off perfectly working scanners about every 15 yrs or so.

 

[Indianabrad]

Does anyone know if the sds200 comes with DMR, PROVOICE or NXDN. If it doesn't then are they worth the extra price? And does it need any of those software upgrades to receive phase II?

 

[Enjoi19]

Does anyone know if the sds200 comes with DMR, PROVOICE or NXDN. If it doesn't then are they worth the extra price? And does it need any of those software upgrades to receive phase II?

DMR, ProVoice and NXDN are paid upgrades, ranging from $50-60 directly from Uniden. You register your scanner on their site and buy the code to enter on the unit to unlock it. The "is it worth the price" is only applicable if there are systems using DMR or NXDN that you actually want to scan. ProVoice is mostly being killed off so it's often suggested to not bother getting that unless you are seeing it is sticking around your area for some time.

Check here for system compatibility and the rest of the specs: SDS200 - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[KK4JUG]

The SDS scanners will pick up virtually everything you're allowed to listen to and will handle simulcast.