SDS150: Uniden's Official SDS150 Tech Discussion

[KevinC]

Idle, display off 480 mA
Idle, display at 50% 520 mA
Idle, display on at 100% 570 mA
Receiving P25 trunked TG, display off, volume at 6, 520 mA
Receiving P25 trunked TG, display off, volume at 15, 550 mA
Receiving P25 trunked TG, display at 50%, volume at 6, 550 mA
Receiving P25 trunked TG, display at 100%, volume at 6, 570 ma
Receiving P25 trunked TG, display at 50%, volume at 15, 550 mA
Receiving P25 trunked TG, display at 100%, volume at 15, 600 mA

These were all done with GPS and BT off, I just did a quick test with both on and the difference was around 20 mA more.

 

[fairweatherfixd]

Using the GPS on your SDS150 and your favorites lists can be combined effectively, especially when traveling. It is advisable to leave the GPS receiver on when traveling, as it automatically adjusts the scannable systems based on your current location, which is a major advantage over manually changing favorite lists.

I have my range set to "zero"

Using the GPS with Favorites Lists:

• The GPS functionality works in conjunction with "Location Control" settings for systems and sites, either in the main database or your favorites lists.

• How it works: The GPS continuously updates your physical location. The scanner then uses this location data to determine which programmed systems or sites are within range based on their specified location and range settings (both the database/list range and the scanner's set range).

• Your favorites lists: For the GPS to interact with your favorites lists, those lists (or specific systems/sites within them) must have Location Control enabled. If Location Control is off for a favorites list, it will always scan that list regardless of your location.

Hope this helps

Using the GPS on your SDS150 and your favorites lists can be combined effectively, especially when traveling. It is advisable to leave the GPS receiver on when traveling, as it automatically adjusts the scannable systems based on your current location, which is a major advantage over manually changing favorite lists.

I have my range set to "zero"

Using the GPS with Favorites Lists:

• The GPS functionality works in conjunction with "Location Control" settings for systems and sites, either in the main database or your favorites lists.

• How it works: The GPS continuously updates your physical location. The scanner then uses this location data to determine which programmed systems or sites are within range based on their specified location and range settings (both the database/list range and the scanner's set range).

• Your favorites lists: For the GPS to interact with your favorites lists, those lists (or specific systems/sites within them) must have Location Control enabled. If Location Control is off for a favorites list, it will always scan that list regardless of your location.

Hope this helps!

When have the GPS enabled and enabling it on a system like STARCOM or WISCOM were there are sites located throughout an entire state, does this narrow down the search to only sites that are in your set range?

 

[KI4ACI]

This has been mentioned before but think the request is worth repeating. I've been connecting my vehicle audio and also headphones through the app on my phone. I appreciate the bluetooth feature but having to use the phone has an intermediary is a bit clunky. Hopefully a software update will allow the scanner to directly connect to other audio output devices without use of the app/phone.

Also, I've noticed the bluetooth function does seem to drain the battery significantly faskter when it is activated. Anyone else noticing this?

 

[ratboy]

Only real power/charge issues I've had so far is my recliner's USB is not strong enough to really charge the battery. It runs the 150 ok, but the charge light only comes on when it's powered off. Even then, it's really slow to charge it, as it is my phone, which takes many hours to get fully charged. I looked at the tiny power supply for the USB, and it makes sense why it's so weak..
I ordered a high powered USB charger for my new cellphone and if it works great on the 150, I will buy a second one and run an extension cord to my little table next to my chair. The USB's lack of capacity is one of the few disappointing things about my chair.

In my car, my phone charger works great and I was able to fully charge and run the radio at the same time without any issues. I do hope another battery is soon available. Even better would be one where the cells are replaceable. Battery packs have been one of my pet peeves since the BC200XLT days. That radio made me swear off any scanner that didn't use AA batteries for many years.

 

[murphcc1]

So got my SDS150 and set it up for GPS and U/Aware on my android phone. The screen display on my phone is in color and on the SDS150 it's in black and white, which it what I want, how do I get the display on my phone to mirror the one on the SDS150?

 

[jasonhouk]

When have the GPS enabled and enabling it on a system like STARCOM or WISCOM were there are sites located throughout an entire state, does this narrow down the search to only sites that are in your set range?

Yes, and I'll add if your set range overlaps the range of the site it will be active.

 

[jasonhouk]

So got my SDS150 and set it up for GPS and U/Aware on my android phone. The screen display on my phone is in color and on the SDS150 it's in black and white, which it what I want, how do I get the display on my phone to mirror the one on the SDS150?

The phone display colors are not changeable.

 

[fairweatherfixd]

Yes, and I'll add if your set range overlaps the range of the site it will be active.

Thank you!

 

[dmfalk]

The phone display colors are not changeable.

It might be a good idea to have the U/Aware upp updated to support the 150's user-defined colour scheme.

 

[jasonhouk]

It might be a good idea to have the U/Aware upp updated to support the 150's user-defined colour scheme.

Added to the feature wanted list

 

[AK9R]

Folks, this is a tech issues thread. Let's try to stay on topic.

 

[maus92]

My initial impression is the receive performance on 800 MHz is better than my G5 in terms of range. Using the stock antennas on both, the SDS150 can receive the Delaware TRS and provides a good voice decode, while the G5 struggles to maintain a lock on the control channel and goes Out of Range. I have to use the G5's drop-in amplified charger with the antenna to get a good lock and voice decoding.

 

[K9KLC]

My initial impression is the receive performance on 800 MHz is better than my G5 in terms of range. Using the stock antennas on both, the SDS150 can receive the Delaware TRS and provides a good voice decode, while the G5 struggles to maintain a lock on the control channel and goes Out of Range. I have to use the G5's drop-in amplified charger with the antenna to get a good lock and voice decoding.

While it's always location and system dependent to me that's saying something. Did you per chance have an SDS 100 ever to compare? Yes this is asking to see about the receive on the 150 vs the 100.

 

[KevinC]

I don't know how linear this battery chemistry discharges, but after 2 hours I've dropped from 4.12 to 3.96 volts. Let's say it stays linear to 3.4v, that would probably give around 9 hours for my use case (very busy P25 trunked, backlight to squelch, display at 40% and volume at 5) if the 150 shuts off at 3.1v

Battery chemistry stuff makes my head spin, but I'm guessing the discharge linearity is tied to SoC more than voltage. Anyway, my stopwatch will tell me what I want to know...I guess.

ETA...this is all with the GPS and BT off.

It appears to have dropped the linearity around 3.4v. Anyway, 8 hours 10 minutes until the unit shut off at 3.07v. I'll test tomorrow with GPS and BT turned on. I suspect a little more than 7 hours with both turned on.

 

[NWI_Scanner_Guy]

The phone display colors are not changeable.

Well, that sucks. I have vision issues, so I hope the colors are agreeable to my eyes. I guess I'll find out on Monday when my 150 arrives.

 

[policefreak]

My initial impression is the receive performance on 800 MHz is better than my G5 in terms of range. Using the stock antennas on both, the SDS150 can receive the Delaware TRS and provides a good voice decode, while the G5 struggles to maintain a lock on the control channel and goes Out of Range. I have to use the G5's drop-in amplified charger with the antenna to get a good lock and voice decoding.

That's huge.

 

[maus92]

While it's always location and system dependent to me that's saying something. Did you per chance have an SDS 100 ever to compare? Yes this is asking to see about the receive on the 150 vs the 100.

I do have an SDS 100 to compare but it has an REM820s antenna - and it's still in the truck where it lives, lol. I literally just programmed the SDS150 and stuck it in the charger and was observing its behavior. I'll definitely compare them all side-to-side in the next few days. Also remember that initial reports don't always reflect the truth!

 

[K9KLC]

I do have an SDS 100 to compare but it has an REM820s antenna - and it's still in the truck where it lives, lol. I literally just programmed the SDS150 and stuck it in the charger and was observing its behavior. I'll definitely compare them all side-to-side in the next few days. Also remember that initial reports don't always reflect the truth!

Thanks. I appreciate your response and look forward to your testing.

 

[Tank67]

While it's always location and system dependent to me that's saying something. Did you per chance have an SDS 100 ever to compare? Yes this is asking to see about the receive on the 150 vs the 100.

My SDS150 is receiving systems that the 100 cannot from the same location and same antenna (REM-842S). All of these come in beaming with a strong signal with the SDS150 which the SDS100 can’t pick up or picks up with a faint signal and loses. Nassau County, NJICS, and Jersey City to name a few. I’m not on the water either.

 

[ratboy]

I'm impressed. I'm hearing some Wayne County MI traffic very well on the stock antenna. Silence on my SDS 200 regardless of antenna . Better reception of it than on my GRE PSR500 with a big duck on it