SDS100 vs. BD346 - A picture is worth a thousand words

[racin06]

As you can see, the SDS100 is receiving full bars on the signal. The BCD436 receives at best one bar. The tower is approximately 25 miles away.
Both scanners are using the Remtronix 800MHz antenna and the same exact SMA to BNC adapter, as well. Perhaps, I can post some video in the near future.

 

[RogueSteward]

It's pretty amazing what software and program routines can do to reduce noise and discriminate the signal.

 

[gonefishn1]

Oh boy, here we go again. Signal bars on one radio compared to signal bars on another? Really not very accurate.

 

[jonwienke]

Signal bars are not particularly accurate or meaningful. A better metric is the number/duration of transmissions received by each radio when hooked to a common antenna. That said, given the conditions in the photo, the SDS100 is likely to pick up a lot more traffic than the 436.

 

[mule1075]

Oh boy, here we go again. Signal bars on one radio compared to signal bars on another? Really not very accurate.

No not very accurate. But going by the photo it is going to be quite a bit better then the 436.

 

[klinquist]

A photo I just took.. I have a fancy camera and a lightbox..

 

[DSC45]

As you can see, the SDS100 is receiving full bars on the signal. The BCD436 receives at best one bar. The tower is approximately 25 miles away.
Both scanners are using the Remtronix 800MHz antenna and the same exact SMA to BNC adapter, as well. Perhaps, I can post some video in the near future.

Hi! What is your assessment of the comparison clarity receiving the signal, and which system are they monitoring?

Thanks,

 

[racin06]

The system being monitored is the Project Hoosier SAFE-T system (P25 Phase I). The difference between the two scanners is very noticeable...the 436 picks up maybe 30 -40% of the radio traffic and probably 50% are broken and garbled. The SDS100 seems to pick up all radio traffic with very clear audio.

 

[racin06]

So, if signal bars are irrelevant, then why have signal bars? Uniden claims the SDS100 receives signals better from distant towers. I believe the photo confirms that claim.

 

[DSC45]

The system being monitored is the Project Hoosier SAFE-T system (P25 Phase I). The difference between the two scanners is very noticeable...the 436 picks up maybe 30 -40% of the radio traffic and probably 50% are broken and garbled. The SDS100 seems to pick up all radio traffic with very clear audio.

That's some great information! Love to hear that, hope it works as well for me.

Thank you.

 

[Ubbe]

Are they on the same site/frequency?

Press CHAN and enter the control channel frequency and CHAN again on both scanners.

/Ubbe