Uniden SDS100 or SDS200 ??

[etuck]

Wanting to purchase either a Uniden SDS100 or the SDS200 that I would mostly use at home. The SDS100 is on sale for 559.99, the 200 is still $699 at all sellers I've see so far today.
My question, as far as durability, not worrying about batteries, more prone to drop and so forth, with the SDS100 being $150 less today, if you can afford to spend the extra $$, which would you recommend going with for the long run?

Also, can I get any of the additional programming that may be needed, right here on RR as a premium member?

Thanks for your time!

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Wanting to purchase either a Uniden SDS100 or the SDS200 that I would mostly use at home.

"Mostly at home" meaning you may plan on traveling with it at some point in the future? Go with the 100 in this case

Also, can I get any of the additional programming that may be needed, right here on RR as a premium member?

Yes, one of the benefits of a premium subscription is the ability to use the Radioreference Web Service to import info directly from the database to numerous software titles. Read about this and the other benefits you get on this page
You can program on your own for free using Uniden Sentinel but my recommendation for programming (with a premium sub), recording, remote control & more goes to Proscan

Supplemental reading material for your perusal:

SDS100 and SDS200 FAQ Page - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

And let's not forget:

Easier to Read SDS100/200 Digital Scanner Manual

&

SDS Sentinel Software Manual

 

[etuck]

"Mostly at home" meaning you may plan on traveling with it at some point in the future? Go with the 100 in this case


Yes, one of the benefits of a premium subscription is the ability to use the Radioreference Web Service to import info directly from the database to numerous software titles. Read about this and the other benefits you get on this page
You can program on your own for free using Uniden Sentinel but my recommendation for programming (with a premium sub), recording, remote control & more goes to Proscan

Supplemental reading material for your perusal:

SDS100 and SDS200 FAQ Page - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

And let's not forget:

Easier to Read SDS100/200 Digital Scanner Manual

&

SDS Sentinel Software Manual

Yes, mostly use at home, I meant to say that I have residences in 2 different states, not carrying it around on the hip.

 

[GadgetGeek]

Got the 100 first. It's a nice handheld. When I got the 200 I was immediately impressed with the sound quality with its larger speaker. It sounds beautiful to me. The 200 has a bigger display too. For home use it's hard to beat the SDS200.

But it sounds like you want to go portable too so the only answer is you need both.

 

[CHHTX]

I have them both and I prefer the 200 over the 100. I use the 100 at another residence as well but even then, I like to attach an external speaker on my desk there. Also I really, really prefer the larger screen, but that's just personal preference.

 

[Brales60]

I mainly use mine at home with a external antenna, so the SDS200 was my choice. It's a excellent unit.

 

[donc13]

Yes, mostly use at home, I meant to say that I have residences in 2 different states, not carrying it around on the hip.

The SDS200 is your best bet for mostly indoor use. I have one that I move from my house to my house on wheels (RV) and it works perfectly both places. However, I also added a Larsen tri-band antenna on my RV's fender and a GPS Puck so while traveling, it switches to the local public safety systems (via service types)

 

[gary123]

Also a base unit does not have the batteries die halfway through the day.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Also a base unit does not have the batteries die halfway through the day.

One small gripe I have against the SDS100 versus its older siblings (436HP, 325p2, others) is the proprietary Li-ion battery. Yes I realize the SDS100's power demands are greater but I much prefer portables running on AAs. When one set of 3 runs out I have another set charged up & ready to rock

 

[swatpup102]

One small gripe I have against the SDS100 versus its older siblings (436HP, 325p2, others) is the proprietary Li-ion battery. Yes I realize the SDS100's power demands are greater but I much prefer portables running on AAs. When one set of 3 runs out I have another set charged up & ready to rock

Pick up a few extra of the SDS100 batteries and a charger. I've never had to use even one of my extra batteries yet since it lasts quite a while between charges, but def good to have available.

 

[Ubbe]

One extra SDS100 battery are probably a wise thing to have handy but you could also use any small power bank. Those modern 10,000mAH are real small, and can be used with a USB cable with the connector being both angled and magnetic so if the cable get stuck or you bump the connector it will detach without damaging the scanners USB jack.

$15 for 5-Pack different lengths and different types of USB tips.

/Ubbe

 

[hiegtx]

Yes, mostly use at home, I meant to say that I have residences in 2 different states, not carrying it around on the hip.

For identical systems, using the same antenna, the SDS200 seems slightly more sensitive on the weaker systems than the SDs100.

The SDS200 has a larger display, and audio from the scanner (not using an external speaker) is better on the 200 than the SDS100.

The SDS200 has a metal housing, versus the all plastic of the SDS100. That gives the 200 a slight edge in reducing reception interference from other electronic devices in the home, such as broadband modems, printers, some PCs, and certain types of lighting.

Being battery powered, in addition to the grab & go portability of the SDS100, the 100 (with a charged battery) can keep working during a power outage. I can't find the original post, but there were comments (quite some time ago) about using a small battery, such as this, or maybe this other one, to create sort of a UPS for the SDS200 to continue scanning during power interruptions.

 

[donc13]

For identical systems, using the same antenna, the SDS200 seems slightly more sensitive on the weaker systems than the SDs100.

The SDS200 has a larger display, and audio from the scanner (not using an external speaker) is better on the 200 than the SDS100.

The SDS200 has a metal housing, versus the all plastic of the SDS100. That gives the 200 a slight edge in reducing reception interference from other electronic devices in the home, such as broadband modems, printers, some PCs, and certain types of lighting.

Being battery powered, in addition to the grab & go portability of the SDS100, the 100 (with a charged battery) can keep working during a power outage. I can't find the original post, but there were comments (quite some time ago) about using a small battery, such as this, or maybe this other one, to create sort of a UPS for the SDS200 to continue scanning during power interruptions.

You can buy a UPS that will power a SDS200 for several hours at Office Depot for between $90 and $200, depending on how long you want it to run before the UPS runs out of power. Or "build your own" with an automobile battery and the 12v power cord that comes with the Sds200

 

[hiegtx]

You can buy a UPS that will power a SDS200 for several hours at Office Depot for between $90 and $200, depending on how long you want it to run before the UPS runs out of power. Or "build your own" with an automobile battery and the 12v power cord that comes with the Sds200

Yep

My SDS200 is plugged into the UPS that feeds my laptop when I’m using it at home. Powering a scanner via a UPS, whether an off-the-shelf unit purchased from Office Depot, Amazon, or elsewhere, or a home brewed equivalent, allows the scanner to continue to operate during a power outage. That lets you stay informed of the causes of an outage, and let’s you do a normal shutdown versus an unplanned one which could corrupt the card.

 

[RandyKuff]

Yep

My SDS200 is plugged into the UPS that feeds my laptop when I’m using it at home. Powering a scanner via a UPS, whether an off-the-shelf unit purchased from Office Depot, Amazon, or elsewhere, or a home brewed equivalent, allows the scanner to continue to operate during a power outage. That lets you stay informed of the causes of an outage, and let’s you do a normal shutdown versus an unplanned one which could corrupt the card.

I've been playing with this little unit for backup power for my SDS200...
So far so good...

https://www.amazon.com/TalentCell-Uninterrupted-27000mAh-Wireless-Smartphone/dp/B07WLD32RP?ref_=ast_sto_dp

I also have this plugged into it for some light...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QX096L0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I can run the other scanners off battery power banks...

 

[belvdr]

I've been playing with this little unit for backup power for my SDS200...
So far so good...

https://www.amazon.com/TalentCell-Uninterrupted-27000mAh-Wireless-Smartphone/dp/B07WLD32RP?ref_=ast_sto_dp

I also have this plugged into it for some light...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QX096L0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I can run the other scanners off battery power banks...

How long does it last?

 

[RandyKuff]

How long does it last?

After fully charging it...
I had the 200 running for about 5 hours on it to try it out... Still had plenty of battery power to run it...
Still had three of the four charge LED's lit...

It's plugged into the same power port the AC wall wart uses with one of the supplied cables...

 

[RandyKuff]

How long does it last?

 

[hiegtx]

I also have this plugged into it for some light...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QX096L0/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I can run the other scanners off battery power banks...

That light looks handy. Could have used that back in '21 when the Tx power grid went AWOL for several days.

I have several of the high capacity power banks, so powering the light, as well as a scanner, for up to several days would not be a problem.

 

[Brales60]

View attachment 152116

Pretty slick. How come the volume is 0?