Adding A Scanner to my HAM Station and why!! The Uniden SDS100 Unboxing @ Review
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- This is a video about The Uniden SDS100 Scanner and why I have decided to add this piece of equipment to my HAM Radio Station! I will do an Unboxing and Review/Overview of this high quality Software Defined Scanner!
Check Out: www.zipscanner...
(I am not affiliated with them nor did I receive any special pricing or considerations they just did an excellent job taking care of me)
To Check what you can listen to in your area check out: www.radiorefer...
I just passed the Technician Exam last Saturday and I'm going to be studying for the General. I want to work towards an amateur radio set up with an all band transceiver (looking at the ICOM IC 7000) set up and I want to have a solar charged deep cycle battery for back up power (I live in hurricane alley). But I also just ordered the Uniden SD100 to keep abreast of what's going on in my area in real time. Thanks for this video.
Congratulations on passing the Technician Exam and a big welcome to Amateur (HAM) Radio!!! Yes I would definitely go straight after upgrading to General so you can get the HF privileges! That is what I did while waiting for my call sign from the FCC I just started studying for my General. The Icom 7000 looks like a good radio and allot of HAM’s really like that radio even though they no longer make it people really like it which explains why there is a huge demand for the 7000 in the used equipment market! I love my three Icom Radios (7300, 9700 and 705) and since entering the hobby I have become a big fan of Icom! Although I do have Yaesu Radios and a Kenwood and have been impressed with them as well! Each of my radios serves a different need although I must admit when I first got in the Hobby I had not planned on acquiring so much equipment let alone spending the $$$ (LOL) needed to do so but I had certain goals I wanted to have the necessary equipment for in order to have a specific capability. The Uniden SDS100 was and is a great addition to my shack! Thanks for watching and commenting and for becoming a new HAM 73 and best of luck!!
@@PrecisionGroupYT Thanks. I have a LOT to learn before I even start thinking about getting a base transceiver so I've met with some guys in a local club that I'm going to join. They said they'd advise me on equipment and even help me set up antennas. I'm thinking this morning that the best way for me to go would be to start out with an all band mobile that I can use as a base transceiver and then move to my truck when I upgrade. I've only got a Kenwood HT right now but I'm having fun listening while I wait for my license to show up in the FCC data base. Thanks for responding to my comment. Have a good one.
Great review Chris. I'm on the cusp of picking one of those up, and the review was helpful. '73, Eric N6OIM
Thank you Eric! I know the Uniden SDS100 I reviewed is in really high demand along with the base station version the SDS200 because of everything that has been going on; I have heard now several conversations on HAM radio about fellow HAM’s who have been waiting several months as they seem to all be on back order right now as many people such as myself picked these up shortly after we saw what was coming and happening and perhaps had been holding off (such as myself) due to the cost but I am really glad I picked mine up when I did for the reasons I stated in my video! Best of luck to you sir and stay safe and positive 73 K4BBC
I did some research and still decided to go
with bcd436hp scanner.
Good Review, I am Using the Uniden BC436hp with add on Provoice & DMR i am looking at the Uniden SD200 for a Base Unit Keep up the Great Videos, 73's John W4GLX
Just ordered one yesterday. I’m right up the road from you in Seminole county.
Thanks for the info!!
Very good! I grew up in Seminole County! Hopefully you get your SDS100 soon. Thank you for watching and commenting and enjoy your new scanner after it arrives!
Great detailed video of the sds 100
Thank you! Much Appreciated 🙏
Good review of an area that I had not thought of. thanks.
Enjoyed your review. I have the 436 and the SDS 100. I got the SDS 100 after wishing the 436 had better contrast and more information on the screen. I think the 436 wastes a lot of screen real estate.Love the SDS 100 and am glad I spent extra on it. I would have to disagree with you that the SDS 100 is easy to program manually. First it takes a while to wrap your head around the Dynamic Memory structure as well as the three layer step to input one frequency. I think it is so much more easier programming the scanner on the PC with Sentinel plus you always have a back up of the favorite groups. But on the other hand should you be in the field and need to add a frequency, you already know how to do it. Thanks for the review and all the best to you. Stay safe.
Did this sentinel plus come with your sds100? I ordered the sds200 the other day and am worried I'll struggle programming it.
It does have a back light you just have to trun it on by the settings
Hope to see a tutorial on discovery mode etc.
I have a SDS100 I love it what a Great Radio!!!!
I love mine. I wish I would have started with this scanner instead of spending thousands on ham radio gear. 😎
Glad I came across this video. Thank you for educating me on FL 843.16. 73s KN4YWW
Very good job... Thanks bro!
Thank You Kindly @one-of-us
My guess for SDS was: Simulcast Digital Scanner, but Software Defined Scanner sounds good too lol
Good video. A lot of information about the scanner. Sounds like I am close to you. I live in West Pasco (NPR). I have been looking at this scanner for a month trying to decide if I should get this scanner. I have be told that police and fire are encrypted here and if it worth me getting it or going with another cheaper scanner. Being a newbie not sure what I should do. I do like all the features on the scanner.
Thank you Chuck M.! Typically some police departments will be encrypted but usually not the Fire Departments! If their encrypted you will not be able to listen as decoding or attempting to decode encrypted signals is illegal! Now the problem with listening to most public Frequencies is that they are digital but not necessarily encrypted you just have to have a radio that can decode the digital signals like P25 phase 1 & 2. The nice thing about the SDS100 & 200 is that they are SDR (Software Defined Radios). Which means as you may be aware that they can have new features added to them through software updates! I know the SDS100 is probably one of the most popular out there! While I really liked it’s bigger desktop version the SDS200 I am glad I went with the SDS100 as it’s portable either on foot or in the car! Thanks for watching and commenting!
@@PrecisionGroupYT thanks for letting me know that the sds100 can be updated with software. I didn't know that.
I got a ICOM IC-R6, it was good for my budget and needs. It's nice listening to stuff.
How many channels does yours scan a second? It looks very slow from what's on the screen
Thanks for the review. I just ordered mine. Do you have a reference for the after market gps that works ?
Thanks
After some research I purchased the Globalsat BR-355S4 which I saw someone use in another UA-cam video although I will be honest I have not as of yet tested it myself! So far I have only taken my SDS100 in the car for local trips but nothing long distance in order to test out the GPS module! I apologize for my late reply! I hope you are enjoying your new scanner! I think in the future I would also like to have the SDS200 for my Home as I think it would look nicer in my HAM shack plus I like the slightly bigger screen and form factor for home use but with that said the SDS100 for the portability factor is the wiser first choice for me and probably most people! Happy Scanning!!
Just watched your video on the SDS100. Noticed sites showing up on your scanner such as Lake City and Jasper, which are part of the Florida State System correct? So did you purchase the Provoice option also or are you just listening to the analog? Or can you listen to their non encrypted digital communications without Provoice? I am probably going to buy the SDS200 and live in North Florida and RadioReference says the state system is Provoice and analog which confuses me a bit. Thanks.
Hi Randy, thanks for watching! ZipScanners had programmed in some Polk County Frequencies And this is probably what you saw on the video. I as of yet have not added ProVoice on to my scanner the only one I added was DMR. I as of yet have not seen any traffic from Lake City and Jasper as my receiving Antenna is only in my attic (HOA issues) at current and probably not adequate to receive signals that far out. I will be putting up a better receiving antenna at my future QTH at a greater height which should increase my reception range and signal quality! I apologize that I could not be more helpful! 73
If you were just keeping it inside most of the time, why didn't you just get the Uniden SDS200 or do what I did and get both. One for the house and one for the truck.
I was really torn between the 2, but as I wanted to get the most versatile one first (budget reasons) I went with the SDS100 as it gave me the ability to listen at home, on foot and mobile, but down the road I will probably get the SDS200 as I prefer it for my home shack 73’s!
So forgive the noob question, but does this scanner just cycle through already "known" frequencies, or will it search across frequency ranges for new broadcasts? For example on my old fashioned scanner I can just say "hey search this range of frequencies" instead having to tell it exact frequencies to scan through. Will this do the same thing? Can you even "search" a digital trunk system? I know my area is all digital.
You can define a custom search criteria for this scanner to scan! It also can detect close by transmissions so if a transmission is close to your location this scanner has the “close call feature” which will detect close proximity transmissions!
Good review . I thought you were done talking 10 minutes ago... you drag on...lol
LOL my apologies as I can be long winded at times……thanks for watching and for your patience!!
As a Ham I have this question.
Can the scanner be set to scan just 2m and 70cm?
This scanner has better ears for the 700-900 MHz bands rather than the HAM bands! I would suggest that you use a dedicated VHF/UHF HAM radio to scan those bands as you would probably have much better results! I have been looking at possibly acquiring the Icom IC-R8600 for scanning HAM Bands especially since it can scan quite rapidly! Although it’s quite pricey!! But for scanning public safety channels with Trunked and Simulcast systems (p25 phase 1&2 etc) then the SDS100 or SDS200 would be best IMHO
@@PrecisionGroupYT an antenna tuned for that range would fix that. I was asking more along the lines of of a setup that would only scan for those two ranges.
@@Rusted_Link yes you can scan those frequencies by themselves! I was able to program the scanner to scan just the 2M band by setting up a custom search where you can put in the frequency range and select what mode to scan in!
@@PrecisionGroupYT that's awesome! Thank you. Mine will be here as soon as they can ship it out.
Now if you're in the shack you will know when anyone is on any channel. That's cool.
Thank you
Nice review. I wonder, does this radio decode D-star? I'm not a ham, but I'd like to listen to them
Thank you! Unfortunately no it will not decode D-star. Icom does make the R-8600 scanner/receiver which will decode D-star as well as P25 ( Phase 1 ) but it’s very expensive but an awesome radio to listen to so many things like Short Wave to HAM radio! You might want to at least check it out!
@@PrecisionGroupYT ok thank you
Great video 😊👍
Thank You Flo Bartholomew !!
Semper Fi
Ooh Rah!!
You listed everything you are planning on listening to, other than the encrypted PD which you can’t get. But aren’t all those (EMS, fire, air, power company, etc...) available to hear for free on any of the various scanner apps that can be downloaded for free?
Yes Many PD are encrypted but not all, and many public safety systems are on digital modes like P25 and while there are so called “free” scanning apps......as with many things you get what you pay for! I have found those “free Apps” often times are not reliable and many times the feeds I wanted to listen to are down or not working plus not to mention in an emergency or while traveling those “free Apps” become even less reliable......in a true emergency I’ll prefer to have my own scanner/listening device as opposed to hoping and relying on the internet!
Those apps are because somebody has a scanner or other receiver pumping audio to the internet. Such as people providing it as a courtesy or hobby.
How well does the Remtronix antenna work for UHF/VHF below 700MHz?
I ordered the sds200 the other day. I upgraded the antenna to the one you speak ok. How does the remtronix antenna compare to the one that comes with the sds?
What size is the jack for external speaker on the sds100
Hi Levi it’s 3.5mm. Thanks for watching!
I'm not shure the municipalitys are allowed to scramble, as an amature radio operator we cannot scramble our transmissions.we have a right to listen thanks KK7KLD from mid utah
They can encrypt their comms ( and it would be illegal to de-encrypt their signals ) if they wish and I can understand that for certain Police Comms ( like an criminal sting operation ) that they may need to encrypt these comms for their safety but I believe in accountability and that general dispatch and so forth should be allowed to be listened to by law abiding citizens for check and balance! 73
Can't see spending this much.
My old 396XT does everything I want and does it well.
It wont access the police channels in my area which are at 800.0000+
Hey are you giving legal advice, or....?
Not at all! Everyone should do their own research and fully understand all of their Local, State and Federal Laws!
@@PrecisionGroupYT you made that explicitly clear. Many times.
The price is to expensive
Yes I agree it is expensive but it is one of the top Tier Scanners on the market today!
Please do not shake the radio at the camera while you are recording. You are making me seasick. Literally.
Just wasted 21 minutes of my life before I realized you were not going to put the antenna on and let us hear it!
Shame on you!
Hi Streak 264, The main purpose of this video was not to show it’s reception as that will always be dependent on a number of factors including type of antenna and it’s location in reference to the broadcast location for each signal, there are many videos on UA-cam showing the reception of the SDS100 and for me to put an Antenna on it while inside my home at my desk would do great in justice to show it’s reception capabilities as the reception would be poor not to mention me having to talk over the radio while discussing my reasons for doing this video! Perhaps in the near future I will upload a video showing the SDS100 receiving signals at my QTH(home) as I have several other videos just showing some of my HAM radios just receiving!
Streak 264 OMG, thanks for the tip. I'm 3 minutes in and now leaving. All I wanted to see was it operate.
Does this pick up mobile phones
Because of US laws Scanners and radios are not allowed to receive cellular however some European models ( Known as Import models ) of radios can from my understanding