SDS100E Overview, Features & Specifications

Summary: A tour of the Uniden SDS100E True I/Q handheld scanner: what it can receive, what’s in the box, its main features and key specifications.

What the SDS100E Is

The SDS100E is a rugged handheld digital TrunkTracker scanner with a True I/Q receiver, which captures the complete signal waveform for improved error correction and digital signal recovery in difficult RF environments. It’s built to JIS4 standards (water resistant, and resistant to dust), has a customisable colour display, and includes the HomePatrol database of radio systems for the US and Canada. The “E” version is the international model and carries an EU Declaration of Conformity.

The HomePatrol database, zip code selection and the weather/SAME functions only work in North America. Elsewhere you’ll normally scan your own Favorites Lists (see SDS100E Loading Frequencies From Squawker PC & Squawker Online).

What It Receives

• Trunked systems: Motorola (Type I, II, IIi and X2-TDMA), EDACS (FM, NFM and, optionally, ProVoice), LTR, and APCO 25 Phase 1 and Phase 2 (ASTRO IMBE, ASTRO 25, P25 AMBE HDQPSK).
• Optional modes: DMR (MotoTRBO, Tier III) and NXDN (NEXEDGE, IDAS), and EDACS ProVoice, are optional upgrades, unlocked with a registration key entered under Settings, Upgrade.
• Conventional: analogue and P25 digital channels.

What’s in the Box

• AC adapter (5V DC output)
• USB cable
• Hand strap
• microSD card (installed)
• Lithium-ion battery pack (3.7V)
• SMA-to-BNC antenna adapter
• SMA-type rubber antenna
• Belt clip
• Printed material

Main Features

• HomePatrol Database (US and Canada), updated weekly by Uniden, with Sentinel for updates.
• Customisable colour display – choose the information shown and the colours for each field.
• Location-based scanning by zip/postal code, Auto Locate or GPS, with Range Control.
• Favorites Lists – up to 256 lists; scan any combination of lists and the full database.
• Instant Replay (30-240 seconds) and audio recording to the microSD card.
• Custom alerts for a channel or unit ID, Close Call hit, emergency flag or tone-out (9 tones, 15 volume levels, 7 colours and 3 flash patterns), with a multicolour LED.
• Trunking Discovery and Conventional Discovery, plus Analyze tools (System Status and LCN Finder).
• Close Call RF Capture with Do-Not-Disturb, Broadcast Screen, Repeater Find, Fire Tone-Out (32 channels).
• Priority, Priority DND and Priority ID Scan.
• IFX, channel volume offset and configurable band defaults for 31 bands.
• Data naming up to 64 characters; 100 Quick Keys; Startup Keys; Number Tags.
• 10 Custom Searches, 3 Search Keys, Quick Search, Search with Scan; 250 temporary and 250 permanent search avoids.
• SAME weather alert and priority (North America).
• Built-in charger – charge from any USB port.
• Water resistance: JIS level 4 with all jack covers in place. Uniden says the product isn’t warrantied against water damage.

Key Specifications

• Bands: 31. Step sizes: 5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5, 15, 20, 25, 50, 100 kHz or Auto.
• Display: 2.4-inch LCD, 240 x 320 dots, white backlight (also a white key backlight)
• LEDs: multicolour ALERT and a red/green CHARGE indicator
• Speaker: 8 ohm, 1W max (32 mm)
• Headphone jack: 3.5 mm stereo (32 ohm stereo headphones or 64 ohm earphone)
• Jacks: SMA antenna; 3.5 mm phone; micro USB (USB1); mini USB with charging (USB2); microSD slot; 4-pin battery jack
• Power: 3.7V Li-ion polymer battery, or 5V USB
• Size and weight: 65 x 50 x 167 mm (W x D x H) without antenna; 337 g with antenna and battery
• Operating temperature: -10 to +40 C; charging +10 to +35 C; storage -20 to +60 C
• Clock backup: at least 1 week (after more than 50 hours of charge)
• Sensitivity (12 dB SINAD): typically 0.25 to 0.8 microvolts on most bands (1.0 at 1200 MHz)
• Attenuator: typically 22-33 dB
• Two-tone sequential: 250-3500 Hz, 0.1 Hz steps
• Weather alert: 1050 Hz tone system and NWR-SAME
• GPS: NMEA-0183 v3.01 with GGA and RMC sentences (optional BC-UTGC cable)
• PC connection: direct control over USB2
• First IF 265.55 or 380.75 MHz; second IF 2.4 MHz