SDS100/SDS200: Using Filters

[Drkatzjr45]

I monitor a digital P25 system and have noticed improved reception and range when using the filter: Wide Normal

To be honest, however, I really do not know what this filter, or the other filters, actually accomplish.

Would someone be kind enough to help me with what each filter actually does

 

[Ubbe]

I blocks certain adjacent frequencies. If you have a strong transmitter close in frequency it could interfere with your reception. The different filter settings blocks frequencies either above, below and close or more further away in frequency. What filter to use must be tested at each unique location. The auto setting will test the filter settings for you and try to pick the best one, but will take some time to do and will slow down scanning rate to a crawl.

/Ubbe

 

[522]

Use that Search feature.... enough info on filters here to keep you reading all day.

 

[Drkatzjr45]

I have actually been using the filter invert on a P25 system and have noticed an appreciable improvement in reception

 

[IAmSixNine]

Filters are location dependent. You could have several users on the same system use different filters and all have good results based on their location. simple answer is what works for you may not work for others.
On the bright side, several systems i monitor with out filters are terrible, selecting the right filter makes the scanner work like a finely tuned receiver.

 

[joerobb23]

DO you have a good setting for uhf filters

 

[garys]

As has been said numerous times, which filter setting you might need varies widely depending on what you are listening to and where you are located. It's really a matter of trial and error until you get the results you like.

I think that the use of filters would have been better explained eventually if UPMan hadn't passed away. It was a feature added after the release of the scanners I don't think it was completely documented at the time of his death.

 

[JoeBearcat]

As has been said numerous times, which filter setting you might need varies widely depending on what you are listening to and where you are located. It's really a matter of trial and error until you get the results you like.

I think that the use of filters would have been better explained eventually if UPMan hadn't passed away. It was a feature added after the release of the scanners I don't think it was completely documented at the time of his death.

I would try to get that documentation, but didn't another RR user post a thread with what they all are and do?

 

[hiegtx]

I would try to get that documentation, but didn't another RR user post a thread with what they all are and do?

There has not been a definitive, 'answer all the questions' thread regarding the filters.

In the absence of much more comprehensive documentation of which filters may work best in what situations, one of the best things Uniden could do, hopefully within a firmware update, would be to update the "auto" function so that it does not reinvent the wheel each time it hits a department or site set as Auto. Determine which filter works best, and then don't re-check every possible combination each time that system or site is scanned, at least during that session. You already have similar behavior with a temporary Avoid. The scanner remembers that action until the next power cycle. Alternatively, if you could have a choice to show what filter 'auto' selected on the display, then you could adjust your programming on that basis. Currently, on the SDS100 & SDS200, you can customize to show the filter selection. That works if you are picking a specific choice, such as Normal, Wide Invert, Global, etc. But if you are using Auto, the display only shows "Auto", not which choice it found was the best match.

 

[ka3jjz]

From our SDS FAQ in our wiki....

SDS100/SDS200: - SDS100&200 Global Filter Setting spreadsheet

I have just made a spreadsheet anyone can edit to see what is the best setting for each system. This is for the SDS 100 & 200. SDS 100 & SDS 200 Global Filter Settings

forums.radioreference.com

SDS200 "filter" settings

i have NO IDEA how these settings work. It seems the default is GLOBAL. Anyone know how the rest of these work and what systems would work better with the other setttings?

forums.radioreference.com

SDS100/SDS200: - What is the difference with all the filters in the sds100 scanner?

hi everybody, first post in this support group. can anybody tell me the difference with all the different filters ,and what each one does so i know what to use and not to use. i live in volusia county florida, port orange to be exact,and need to know if i need to use any filters ,or if there are...

forums.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[garys]

The only useful information in any of those link is from UPMan. He said that it's all trial and error and can change from location to location.

SDS200 "filter" settings

i have NO IDEA how these settings work. It seems the default is GLOBAL. Anyone know how the rest of these work and what systems would work better with the other setttings?

forums.radioreference.com

Some people don't seem to understand what "Global" means or how it works on the SDS radios.

Again, I don't think that how filters work was completely developed at the time of UPMan's death.

From our SDS FAQ in our wiki....

SDS100/SDS200: - SDS100&200 Global Filter Setting spreadsheet

I have just made a spreadsheet anyone can edit to see what is the best setting for each system. This is for the SDS 100 & 200. SDS 100 & SDS 200 Global Filter Settings

forums.radioreference.com

SDS200 "filter" settings

i have NO IDEA how these settings work. It seems the default is GLOBAL. Anyone know how the rest of these work and what systems would work better with the other setttings?

forums.radioreference.com

SDS100/SDS200: - What is the difference with all the filters in the sds100 scanner?

hi everybody, first post in this support group. can anybody tell me the difference with all the different filters ,and what each one does so i know what to use and not to use. i live in volusia county florida, port orange to be exact,and need to know if i need to use any filters ,or if there are...

forums.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[Ubbe]

... one of the best things Uniden could do, hopefully within a firmware update, would be to update the "auto" function so that it does not reinvent the wheel each time it hits a department or site set as Auto. Determine which filter works best, and then don't re-check every possible combination each time that system or site is scanned, at least during that session. You already have similar behavior with a temporary Avoid. The scanner remembers that action until the next power cycle.

Both things need to be working as it is, as both depend of the current location. If you are mobile it will change what filter setting you will need and needs to be evaluated at that specific time and temp avoids need to be reset with each new load of the favorite list as the conditions could have changed when you are mobile or the next time you power on the scanner. When you are stationary at home conditions don't usually change and filter settings will always be the same that you have manually tested out. Keep it as it is or at least add a user selectable choice to let auto filter be "sticky" or not.

/Ubbe

 

[dazza0768]

Uniden really needs to add a function key binding so you can change the global filter quickly without having to go through the settings.
Perhaps function then the dept key as that isn't in use as a function key.

 

[MStep]

Uniden really needs to add a function key binding so you can change the global filter quickly without having to go through the settings.
Perhaps function then the dept key as that isn't in use as a function key.

Asked for several times already for the SDS series.

 

[garys]

Function+Dept key is used for Site Hold on trunking systems, isn't it?

 

[Ubbe]

Perhaps function then the dept key as that isn't in use as a function key.

That's a good combination for conventional channels.

I would suggest that the current Fn+7 for IFX should instead popup a list that also include the filter settings, having both IFX and all the filters to choose from. And while in the filter menu they should activate at the moment that you go thru the selection choices so that you can hear how it will affect the receive performance.

/Ubbe

 

[dazza0768]

That's a good combination for conventional channels.

I would suggest that the current Fn+7 for IFX should instead popup a list that also include the filter settings, having both IFX and all the filters to choose from. And while in the filter menu they should activate at the moment that you go thru the selection choices so that you can hear how it will affect the receive performance.

/Ubbe

Easily done with a FW update. Where is Uniden these days?
Haven't been any new updates, no new hardware no nothing.
We have been waiting for a USDS FW to fix a major fault for years.

 

[JoeBearcat]

No new hardware? A new model (SR30C) was released last year and I expect one this year (maybe two, but probably one with another early next year). COVID has slowed things, but they are returning to normal. There are also a lot of long-overdue updates that will be introduced. Details to follow when the time comes.

Updates to firmware was on hold but is back on track (although delayed because the firmware guys are working on other things currently - see above).

As for USDS, that is not Uniden America so I cannot comment on that other than to say that would be the same firmware guys.

 

[joerobb23]

New question on sds100 programming using sentinel software for trunk systems. After you program a system there are boxes or ferequencies listed at the bottom after all the cities or related groups are listed. I am assuming these are talk around channels that are already programmed within those municipalities and there is no need to copy them in? Also on the sds100 would those be the add db channel feature? Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[hiegtx]

New question on sds100 programming using sentinel software for trunk systems. After you program a system there are boxes or ferequencies listed at the bottom after all the cities or related groups are listed. I am assuming these are talk around channels that are already programmed within those municipalities and there is no need to copy them in? Also on the sds100 would those be the add db channel feature? Any help greatly appreciated.

I'm not sure I know what you are asking.

If, in Sentinel, you append a system from the main database, you will see the Departments, which are the talkgroups being used.

Below the Departments are the Sites, which are the frequencies used at each site that's programmed. This is noted by the entry in the Type column.


If you click on the site, then you see the frequencies.


If you are looking at something different, attach a screen shot to clarify what you are asking about.