Uniden SDS100 and SDS200

[TRG]

Is anyone here using a Uniden SDS100 or SDS200? I'm considering one of these scanners. I've been out of the scanner hobby for quite a while now. Now that I'm retired I have time for it again. I have an older Whistler WS1080 and feel its time for an upgrade. One of the things I really like about the SDS series is that you can plug in a GPS accessory. Then you activate the GPS mode and the scanner automatically adjusts the frequencies for your location. That would be great for road trips.

 

[EarDemon]

I've had an SDS100 for almost exactly 2 years now. In 2023, Uniden had a rare Cyber Monday sale, so I got the SDS100 for either $50 or $100 off MSRP. It's a solid scanner, with a learning curve. I watched a LOT of YouTube videos on this. The Uniden Sentinel software makes it super easy to update the scanner firmware, scanner database (new updates are released every Monday) and make customizations. Even though this scanner is 7 or 8 years old now, it's still being updated, an update just came out a month ago, and Uniden publishes the change log.
https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/SDS100FirmwareUpdate

After a ton of research, I realized it's pretty much not up for debate that the Remtronix REM-820S is the best third party antenna for the scanner and out performs the OEM
Remtronix REM-820S UHF SMA Antenna

I bought this cup holder mount for the scanner and it is solid, even bought a second one for my Midland GXT67 GMRS radio
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHHYWL9Y

The GPS functionality is flawless. I think they used to sell an official bundle, but all you need is this GPS antenna and this cable and then go into the menu and enable it. The GPS puck does not need a clear view of the sky. I have it shoved in a storage compartment that has a sliding cover to keep it hidden that located below my center stack. I do not know the exact range it looks for when in GPS mode, but because of living in Western NY, quite often it's scanning frequencies licensed to agencies in Ontario, Canada if I'm heading north, or agencies in Pennsylvania, if I'm heading south.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJSJHS4B
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQFHLBL

Be aware, there are licensed upgrades that are available that add to cost of this already expensive scanner. If agencies in your area use DMR, ProVoice or NXDN, you have to buy the keys for each one of these three to be able to listen. DMR is the only one that is in heavy use in my area so I bought that. There is some ProVoice, mainly just an ambulance company and the GM plant, IIRC. Check the maps on Radio Reference for more info for your location and locations you plan to travel to. And of course if agencies in your area are encrypted, you wont be able to listen at all.

Also worth mentioning, using a police scanner in a car is illegal in 5 states, none in your region though, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida and my dump state of New York. I quite frankly don't give a flying F' though and have it on every time I jump in my car. I fail to see the difference between using the Scanner Radio app on Android Auto, which is not illegal, versus using a real scanner.

Of note, you may want to wait. Uniden announced the SDS150 at SEMA, it has built in GPS, Bluetooth, comes with an actual changing dock as has a few other upgrades. Availability and pricing has not been announced yet. This should result in the SDS100 dropping in price if you're still interested in that one. Link to product flyer in second post here

New Uniden Scanner announcement at SEMA 2025

 

[TRG]

Thanks for all that EarDemon. I'm still kicking around the idea. My only hesitation is that so much of what I want to listen to has been encrypted in my area.

EDIT: BTW - The SDS150 is available for pre-order. $950.

 

[EarDemon]

You're welcome!

Yep, I saw that price too. I can't say I'm really shocked. When you take into account the price of the SDS100, add in the GPS functionality, add in the license for Waterfall upgrade, you're creeping up there. Plus Uniden kinda has a monopoly on this, so they can charge what they want. it's a dying hobby, their main competitor Whistler went out of business only to come back and has yet to prove their relevance again under their new ownership. I unfortunately don't have high hopes for the U/Aware app, I found their R/Tach app for their radar detectors to be buggy and lackluster, but to be fair I haven't used it in a while, never bothered to reinstall it when I got my Pixel 10 series phones.

I may get this eventually, but not anytime soon. I'd like to see if they come out with an SDS250 within the next year and I would get that first, even if the price is over $1K.

The SDS150 and SDS200 are/will be two of the best scanners on the market, the R8/R8W two of the highest performing radar detectors on the market, the R9 is probably considered to be the second best laser jamming setup on the market behind ALP and while almost completely dead, they still have a good presence in the CB market. Uniden is involved in a handful of less than mainstream industries and they are a leader and can charge accordingly.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

The silly part of the SDS150 is it has Bluetooth yet you can't use Bluetth headphones with it, it only works with Bluetooth to their U/Aware app.

How silly is that?

They say you can run the U/Aware app on your phone and listen to the Bluetooth from your phone. Why should I have to run an app to listen to Bluetooth, I should be able to get the sound directly from the scanner.

I have a SDS200 and love it. You can access it at Welcome to NewingtonWeather.COM

 

[TRG]

The silly part of the SDS150 is it has Bluetooth yet you can't use Bluetth headphones with it, it only works with Bluetooth to their U/Aware app.

How silly is that?

They say you can run the U/Aware app on your phone and listen to the Bluetooth from your phone. Why should I have to run an app to listen to Bluetooth, I should be able to get the sound directly from the scanner.

I have a SDS200 and love it. You can access it at Welcome to NewingtonWeather.COM

You are lucky that your local PD and fire are transparent.

 

[HipKat]

I've had an SDS100 for almost exactly 2 years now. In 2023, Uniden had a rare Cyber Monday sale, so I got the SDS100 for either $50 or $100 off MSRP. It's a solid scanner, with a learning curve. I watched a LOT of YouTube videos on this. The Uniden Sentinel software makes it super easy to update the scanner firmware, scanner database (new updates are released every Monday) and make customizations. Even though this scanner is 7 or 8 years old now, it's still being updated, an update just came out a month ago, and Uniden publishes the change log.
https://info.uniden.com/twiki/bin/view/UnidenMan4/SDS100FirmwareUpdate

After a ton of research, I realized it's pretty much not up for debate that the Remtronix REM-820S is the best third party antenna for the scanner and out performs the OEM
Remtronix REM-820S UHF SMA Antenna

I bought this cup holder mount for the scanner and it is solid, even bought a second one for my Midland GXT67 GMRS radio
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHHYWL9Y

The GPS functionality is flawless. I think they used to sell an official bundle, but all you need is this GPS antenna and this cable and then go into the menu and enable it. The GPS puck does not need a clear view of the sky. I have it shoved in a storage compartment that has a sliding cover to keep it hidden that located below my center stack. I do not know the exact range it looks for when in GPS mode, but because of living in Western NY, quite often it's scanning frequencies licensed to agencies in Ontario, Canada if I'm heading north, or agencies in Pennsylvania, if I'm heading south.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BJSJHS4B
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQFHLBL

Be aware, there are licensed upgrades that are available that add to cost of this already expensive scanner. If agencies in your area use DMR, ProVoice or NXDN, you have to buy the keys for each one of these three to be able to listen. DMR is the only one that is in heavy use in my area so I bought that. There is some ProVoice, mainly just an ambulance company and the GM plant, IIRC. Check the maps on Radio Reference for more info for your location and locations you plan to travel to. And of course if agencies in your area are encrypted, you wont be able to listen at all.

Also worth mentioning, using a police scanner in a car is illegal in 5 states, none in your region though, Minnesota, Indiana, Kentucky, Florida and my dump state of New York. I quite frankly don't give a flying F' though and have it on every time I jump in my car. I fail to see the difference between using the Scanner Radio app on Android Auto, which is not illegal, versus using a real scanner.

Of note, you may want to wait. Uniden announced the SDS150 at SEMA, it has built in GPS, Bluetooth, comes with an actual changing dock as has a few other upgrades. Availability and pricing has not been announced yet. This should result in the SDS100 dropping in price if you're still interested in that one. Link to product flyer in second post here

New Uniden Scanner announcement at SEMA 2025

I used to have an old Bearcat 300 Ch when everything was analogue in the 90's, that could pick up the radios at the stadium during Bills games.
I had a nice handheld that picked up the 800 and 900 MHz bands, and when I was sitting in truck stops (during the trucker days), I'd eavesdrop on cordless phone calls in the immediate area.
This thread makes me think about getting into scanners again one day, probably after I retire

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

You are lucky that your local PD and fire are transparent.

I helped them setup their new digital system. I worked with the chief to make sure things would not go scrambled.

Now all routine calls are in the clear. The supervisors have their own scrambled channel and there is also another scrambled channel the police can use for sensitive things.

Since the moved to digital earlier in the yeah the supervisors have used their scrambled channel 3 times. And the police have used their channel twice.

I run a sdrtrunk system which can see and log everything going on. And it keeps track of the scrambled stuff too. I just can't hear it. But I can see it, I can see who's using them by radio id etc.

The fire department is in the clear however their incident channels (on scene communications) are scrambled. They are only scrambled as on the old system the on scene communications only went out about 1000 feet. With this system it can go over the entire state. And they didn't like that because most of it is them swearing at each other and yelling at each other to do things.

The Chief was big on them keeping the system as open to the public as possible and I worked with him to make sure that happened.

 

[waylew]

All went digital here about 2 years ago,except the fire pagers/siren activation is still analog.They put all the basic communications on the pager channel as well.So you can still get all the fire/ambulance calls on just a plain old scanner.The only thing you don't hear is when departments are switched to a tac channel for individual incidents,but you can still get that (and police) on broadcastify if you really want it.