SDS100/SDS200: Uniden SDS100 better reception?

[NS9710]

Is there a way too improve on reception of Railroad, Aviation, and Maritime bands? I don’t have a filter, and NFM modulation used, I am using a Comet SMA-24 antenna.

 

[n1chu]

You should also list what scanner you are using and if it’s a base setup or mobile.

 

[NS9710]

My bad, overlooked it - SDS100.

You should also list what scanner you are using and if it’s a base setup or mobile.

 

[NS9710]

I put it in the topic name.

You should also list what scanner you are using and if it’s a base setup or mobile.

 

[nessnet]

.

 

[dmfalk]

I use a Comet W100RX, SMA connector. It does a bang-up job on most frequencies. The SMA-24 is smaller, and tuned more towards 2-meter (144 MHz) ham than the longer wavelengths of the Air band. This might be your weakness in reception, since civil air is 118-136, maritime is between 156-174, and railroad is between 160-162, mostly. The SDS100 handles the modes needed well, and has internal filters. You might want to get the NXDN and DMR upgrades for railroad, though, as many rail systems have switched to digital.

 

[NS9710]

I have those upgrades, forgot to mention that.

Any suggestion if I should use filters, and if so, which ones, and should I leave them NFM modulation?

I use a Comet W100RX, SMA connector. It does a bang-up job on most frequencies. The SMA-24 is smaller, and tuned more towards 2-meter (144 MHz) ham than the longer wavelengths of the Air band. This might be your weakness in reception, since civil air is 118-136, maritime is between 156-174, and railroad is between 160-162, mostly. The SDS100 handles the modes needed well, and has internal filters. You might want to get the NXDN and DMR upgrades for railroad, though, as many rail systems have switched to digital.

 

[n1chu]

I put it in the topic name.

How is it being used? As a portable or base?

 

[dmfalk]

As for modulation, let the scanner use the default modulation on their respective frequencies. (Civil air is always AM, for example.) Use filters if you have interference issues, otherwise let them be. They're there, "just in case", which does happen enough.

And good for you having the upgrades! They really do expand the SDS100's abilities. Best investment after the '100, in my opinion.

 

[NS9710]

Portable

How is it being used? As a portable or base?

 

[NS9710]

Knowing how railroads going to NXDN (plus various uses amongst northwest New York), I wasn’t getting the scanner without DMR or NXDN

And good for you having the upgrades! They really do expand the SDS100's abilities. Best investment after the '100, in my opinion.

 

[dmfalk]

A wise decision! You based your decision well with what you wanted to hear. 😌

 

[n1chu]

A search for handheld radio aviation antennas will give you items such as the Radtel RHD-771, an aviation band (118-136MHz) antenna with an SMA female. The connector may not be the correct gender for your scanner and it is important to be aware that when looking for antennas that support a specific band, they are usually offerings for commercial transceivers which commonly use other connectors for their antenna ports. There are adapters but best bet is to choose a BNC connector and use the SMA to BNC adapter that came with your scanner. If you buy an SMA antenna make sure it will fit the SDS100 with that raised ridge around the antenna port.