I wanted to share my initial / preliminary review of this scanner, the good, and the bad. The first thing I did was to update the firmware and the database. My programming was basically a very well-vetted 436 file, along with my SDS100 display color settings. I charged the unit to 4.2v before testing performance (it was at around 3.9v to start with).
The Good
*LSM seems to be properly demodulated, with a few caveats. This is huge, and Uniden has taken a leap forward in that regard. The difference is obvious.
*Modern feel, very nice keypad and buttons, knob, fit and finish.
*Great display that can be customized as needed with a lot of information available.
*Uses the great menu system from the x36 line, works well, logical.
*Excellent scan speed, noticeably faster than the x36 line.
*Very good reception on conventional UHF / VHF, noticeably better than the x36 line.
*Excellent reception of civilian AM air band with stock antenna (surprised me).
The Bad
*Around 770 MHz, where all of our local simulcasts are, receiver performance is less than expected. Driving around (always a tough test), the ability to lock onto a control channel in the 770 MHz range isn't very strong. The x36 line locked onto the CC more solidly and sooner (despite the known modulation issues / distortion, a separate issue). My Unication G4 can lock onto a simulcast at twice the range. I'm talking 8+ miles solid reception from a site with the G4 and it's silly inch-long antenna, versus 3 or maybe 4 miles max for the SDS100.
*Inconsistent performance. Sometimes certain simulcasts won't come in at all. Then after a restart they will, varying in strength from weak to strangely strong. The RSSI on control channels can be very low, but when a voice transmission is locked onto the RSSI improves greatly at times. The G4 was pretty consistent. Other than random link drops that happened occasionally, the link was solid, over long distances.
*The comment two-up in this post about a poor ability to lock at 770 MHz? That's also inconsistent. On some simulcasts there is no issue, on others, within 1 MHz of the trouble-free simulcasts, things are bad. Again, the G4 doesn't behave this way.
*Strange noises / anomalies when monitoring very familiar local conventional UHF systems. They don't happen often, but they are an issue, and are not originating from the system I'm monitoring.
Bottom line though, I can't sit in my own house and monitor my own police department's radio system with the SDS100, and I have never found any dedicated scanner that will do it. The Unication does it effortlessly, but it annoys me with several things and is not ideal (it's a pager after all). At this time it is impossible to scan my local police department, along with other simulcasts / systems, from within my own home. That really sucks.
Disclaimer: This is only my experience, and nothing more. Of course everyone's experience is different, and I know that everyone else seems to be thrilled with their SDS100, and I am happy for them. I am also willing to accept the possibility that this particular unit has some type of issue. I very much wanted to share a more positive review, but it is what it is.
I will spend more time with this scanner before making a decision on what to do next.
The Good
*LSM seems to be properly demodulated, with a few caveats. This is huge, and Uniden has taken a leap forward in that regard. The difference is obvious.
*Modern feel, very nice keypad and buttons, knob, fit and finish.
*Great display that can be customized as needed with a lot of information available.
*Uses the great menu system from the x36 line, works well, logical.
*Excellent scan speed, noticeably faster than the x36 line.
*Very good reception on conventional UHF / VHF, noticeably better than the x36 line.
*Excellent reception of civilian AM air band with stock antenna (surprised me).
The Bad
*Around 770 MHz, where all of our local simulcasts are, receiver performance is less than expected. Driving around (always a tough test), the ability to lock onto a control channel in the 770 MHz range isn't very strong. The x36 line locked onto the CC more solidly and sooner (despite the known modulation issues / distortion, a separate issue). My Unication G4 can lock onto a simulcast at twice the range. I'm talking 8+ miles solid reception from a site with the G4 and it's silly inch-long antenna, versus 3 or maybe 4 miles max for the SDS100.
*Inconsistent performance. Sometimes certain simulcasts won't come in at all. Then after a restart they will, varying in strength from weak to strangely strong. The RSSI on control channels can be very low, but when a voice transmission is locked onto the RSSI improves greatly at times. The G4 was pretty consistent. Other than random link drops that happened occasionally, the link was solid, over long distances.
*The comment two-up in this post about a poor ability to lock at 770 MHz? That's also inconsistent. On some simulcasts there is no issue, on others, within 1 MHz of the trouble-free simulcasts, things are bad. Again, the G4 doesn't behave this way.
*Strange noises / anomalies when monitoring very familiar local conventional UHF systems. They don't happen often, but they are an issue, and are not originating from the system I'm monitoring.
Bottom line though, I can't sit in my own house and monitor my own police department's radio system with the SDS100, and I have never found any dedicated scanner that will do it. The Unication does it effortlessly, but it annoys me with several things and is not ideal (it's a pager after all). At this time it is impossible to scan my local police department, along with other simulcasts / systems, from within my own home. That really sucks.
Disclaimer: This is only my experience, and nothing more. Of course everyone's experience is different, and I know that everyone else seems to be thrilled with their SDS100, and I am happy for them. I am also willing to accept the possibility that this particular unit has some type of issue. I very much wanted to share a more positive review, but it is what it is.
I will spend more time with this scanner before making a decision on what to do next.