Manual / Guide · 2024
Uniden SDS100 / SDS200 Digital Scanner — Easier-to-Read Manual
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Manual / Guide · 2024
Easier to Read SDS-100/200 Digital Scanner Manual Also the SDS100E, SDS200E, and USDS100 Click here to buy a printed copy of this manual from Scanner Master Scanning Quick Reference Card for both the SDS100 and SDS200 See also the Sentinel SDS100/200 Software Manual Home Last Updated November 30, 2024 Contents Scanning Selecting Quick Keys View Current QK Status View Any QK Status Selecting Service Types Toggle ID Scan/ID Search Replay Transmissions Start/Stop Recording Review Recordings Scan Hold Avoiding Transmissions Store a Channel from the Database Advanced Channel Memory Edit Current Channel Add to Favorites List Save Sub Audio/P25 NAC Save TGID Save Unit ID Store a Search Frequency (Search with Scan) Attenuation Modulation Intermediate Frequency Exchange View Repeater Frequency Channel Volume Offset Toggle Priority Scan Modes Weather Alert Priority Close Call Modes Using Filters Direct Frequency/ID Entry Using Number Tags Review Scan Avoids Using a GPS Using Analyze System Status LCN Finder Discovery Mode Session Options Review Discovery Search/Close Call Options Freq Avoids Broadcast Screen Set Filter Search for... Edit Custom Search Set Search Key Search with Scan Searching Custom Search by Search Quick Key Quick Search Custom Search Storing Search Frequencies Avoiding Search Frequencies Review Search Avoids Close Call Close Call Options Hits with Scan Using Close Call Weather Operation Weather Options Weather Scan Weather Alert Review Weather Alerts Tone-Out For... Tone-Out Setup Tone-Out Standby/Search Store Found Tones Related Links/Info Appendix Intro/Review Main Features Understanding CTCSS/DCS/NAC Understanding Trunking/Types Understanding the Memory Understanding Quick Keys Connecting the USB Cable Charging the Battery Pack Turning on the Scanner Navigating the Menus Data Naming Key Operations Set Your Location Understanding Range Using the Database Selecting Service Types Display Options Backlight Options Customize Set ID Format(s) Set Scan Display Mode Set B/W or Color Mode Viewing the Battery Level A Look at the Display Settings Adjust Key Beep Set Clock Upgrade Battery Options (SDS100) Site NAC Operation Global Auto Filter Band Defaults Auto Shutoff LAN Settings (SDS200) Set Audio Off Time (SDS200) Replay Options Restore Options See Scanner Info Planning Favorites Lists Understanding Profiles Worksheets Manage Favorites Lists Favorites List Options Review FL Avoids Understanding Location Control Programming Systems Edit Unit IDs System Options Review ID Avoids Programming Departments Department Options Programming Sites Site Options Programming Frequencies/IDs Quickly Storing a Frequency/ID Channel Options Set Scan Selection Select Lists to Monitor Manage Quick Key Status Set Nationwide Systems Set All Lists On/Off Manage Full Database Review Database Avoids Stop All Avoiding Using Startup Keys Priority Scanning Scanning Checklist Contents SDS200 SDS100 Intro/Review Uniden has finally produced a scanner with a readable and informative display - the SDS200. The ability to customize the information to see just what you want to is even better. The SDS100, handheld brother, has the same display format, just smaller and narrower. It also uses a battery pack instead of AA batteries. The newer SDS100/200 models are basically programmed and work the same way as the 436/536 models with a few extra features. Basically the guts of the X36HP series with new features like 'Filters' for fine tuning reception issues. The True I/Q™ Receiver is supposed to be the best at 'simulcast and weak-signal environments' with 'improved digital performance in challenging RF environments'. A bigger and more informative, customizable display, a new "I/Q receiver that captures the complete signal waveform in 3 dimensions, allowing for improved error correction and digital signal recovery", "additional countermeasures to help in strong signal areas" that include "Wide Normal", "Wide Invert" and "Wide Auto" filter options for FM performance improvement, and optional (paid) upgrades that add multiple types of NXDN and DMR/MotoTRBO trunking, and EDACS ProVoice decoding. The SDS200 also has a USB A port and a LAN port for direct Ethernet connectivity for streaming and control. The hand-held SDS100 uses a new Lithium Ion battery pack and has a water resistant case. You can scan up to 256 Favorites Lists (but there are only 100 Quick Keys-available once for each Favorites List) along with, or just the database. The complete Radio Reference Database for the US and Canada is included on a 4 GB micro SD card with locations programmed so you don't need a GPS unit to scan by location. The included Sentinel software has been updated to accommodate the two new models. For those of you who are new to trunking or haven't had a scanner in the last 10 years it is a good idea to read the respective sections on those topics. You really have to know how trunking works in order to program a trunking system. It won't do you any good to try to program a trunking system unless you know what the radio needs and is going to do with the data (control channel, IDs, LCN order, etc.). You will also need a better antenna as the stock antennas aren't fabulous. Scanner Master has a large selection of quality antennas. There are optional upgrades (for each scanner) that add multiple types of NXDN and DMR/MotoTRBO trunking, and EDACS ProVoice decoding. And, thanks to the many people who have posted their valuable insight on the Radio Reference Forums and Yahoo groups. Enjoy. Main Features Contents Bigger, Customizable Display - Allows you to select the information you want to see in colors. True I/Q™ Receiver – Designed to improve digital performance in even the most challenging RF environments. An I/Q receiver captures the complete signal waveform in 3 dimensions, allowing for improved digital error correction and signal recovery. No Programming Required - Factory programmed micro SD card for all known radio systems in the US and Canada. The database is updatable with the included Sentinel software and Radio Reference updates the main database weekly. Scan by Location - Allows you to set location(s) by zip/postal code or GPS coordinates for instant reception. The Auto-locate feature will find your location based on local trunked systems if you don’t know your zip code. Favorites Scan - Allows you to organize your Systems into Favorites Lists. The scanner can scan multiple Favorites Lists and the Full Database at the same time. micro SD card - For storing Favorites Lists, Profiles, all of your settings, Discovery sessions, and recording sessions. Location Based Scanning - Connect to a GPS receiver (not included) for precise system selection and continuing reselection when you travel. The scanner can automatically Avoid and Unavoid Trunked Sites and Departments in Systems based on your current location as provided by an external GPS unit. Range Control - Lets you set how far out from your current location the scanner will search for Channels in Favorites Lists and the Database. Location precision for Departments and Sites that allows you to define a location and range using rectangles instead just of a single circle. Trunk Tracker X Operation - Scans APCO 25 Phase 1 and Phase 2, X2-TDMA, Motorola, EDACS, (EDACS Provoice, with $50 upgrade key), and LTR Standard trunked systems, as well as conventional analog and P25 digital channels. Conventional Digital Mobile Radio (DMR), MotoTRBO Capacity Plus, and MotoTRBO Connect Plus Trunked Radio Systems are also available with a paid upgrade key. APCO 25 Phase I and Phase II Support - Allows you to receive transmissions with these decoding protocols. Multi-Site Trunking - Lets you program the scanner to share trunked system IDs across multiple sites without duplicating IDs. P25 One-Frequency Trunking - The scanner can follow individual talk groups on P25 single-frequency systems that use both NAC and TGID’s for squelch control and user identification. Control Channel Only Scanning - With Motorola trunking frequencies, you do not have to program voice channel frequencies. Instant Replay - Plays back up to 240 seconds (4 minutes) of the most recent transmissions. Audio Recording - Capture transmissions for later playback. Encryption Muting - APCO P25 encrypted voice is muted automatically. Custom Alerts - You can program your scanner to alert when you receive, a Channel or Unit ID, a Close Call hit, an ID is transmitted with an Emergency Alert, or a Tone-Out hit. For each alert in the scanner, you can select from 9 different tone patterns, 15 volume settings, 7 LED colors, and 3 flash patterns. Multicolor LED Alert - The alert LED with 7 colors, Blue, Red, Magenta, Green, Cyan, Yellow, or White, can be used with your Custom Alerts. Trunking Discovery - Monitors system traffic on a trunked radio system to find unknown IDs and can automatically record audio from and log new channels for later review and identification. Conventional Discovery - Searches a range of frequencies to find unknown frequencies and can automatically record audio from and log new channels for later review and identification. Scan by Service Types – Scan your channels by Service Type i.e. Fire, Police, Railroad, etc. Analyze Mode - Has a system status graph and a LCN channel finder similar to those features found on the HomePatrol 1/2. Scan Speed – 85 channels per second. Search Speed – 80 steps/sec. except for 5 kHz steps. 250 step/sec. for 5 kHz steps. Multi-Level Display and Keypad light - Makes the display and keypad easy to see in dim light with three light levels. Temporary or Permanent Avoid - For Systems, Sites, Departments, Channels, Search Frequencies, Close Call hits, and Search with Scan Departments. System/Channel Number Tagging - Number tags allow you to quickly navigate to a specific Favorites List, System, or Channel. Start-up Configuration - You can program each of your Favorites Lists with a Startup Key (0-9) so that when you power up the scanner and press the key number, just those Favorites Lists assigned to the key will be enabled for scan. Close Call© RF Capture Technology - Lets you set the scanner so it detects and provides information about nearby radio transmissions. Close Call Do-not-Disturb checks for Close Call activity in between channel reception so active channels are not interrupted. Broadcast Screen - Allows the scanner to ignore hits on known broadcast frequencies including pager frequencies in search and Close Call modes. You can also program up to 10 custom frequency ranges that the scanner will ignore. Fire Tone-Out Standby/Tone Search - Lets you set the scanner to alert you if a two-tone sequential page is transmitted. You can set up to 32 Tone-Outs. The scanner will also search and display unknown tones. PC Programming – Use the included Sentinel software to manage your scanners Profiles, Favorites Lists, Databases, and firmware updates. Priority/Priority DND Scan - Priority channels let you keep track of activity on your most important channels while monitoring other channels for transmissions. Priority DND checks priority channels only between transmissions. Priority ID Scan - Allows you to set priority to talkgroup IDs. Intermediate Frequency Exchange - Changes the IF used for a selected channel/frequency to help avoid image and other mixer-product interference on a frequency. Individual Channel Volume Offset - Allows you to adjust the volume offset for each Favorites List channel. Configurable Band Defaults - Allows you to set the step (5, 6.25, 7.5, 8.33, 10, 12.5,15, 20, 25, 50 or 100 kHz) and modulation (AM, FM, NFM, WFM, or FMB) for 31 different bands. Repeater Find - Allows the scanner to try to switch to the repeater frequency if an input frequency is found. Adjustable Scan/Search Delay/Resume - Set a delay up to 30 seconds or a forced resume up to 10 seconds for each channel or search. Data Naming - Allows you to name each Favorites List, System, Site, Department, Channel, ID, Location, Custom Search, and SAME group, using up to 64 characters. Duplicate Input Alert - Alerts you if you try to enter a duplicate name or frequency already stored in the scanner. Quick Keys - You can assign up to 100 Quick Keys for each of your Favorites Lists, Systems, and Departments or Sites. 10 Custom Searches - Lets you program up to 10 custom search ranges. Search Avoids - You can temporarily Avoid up to 250 frequencies and permanently Avoid up to 250 frequencies in any Search Mode or Close Call Mode. Search with Scan Operation - Lets you include Custom Search ranges during scan operation. 3 Search Keys - You can assign 3 of the number keys to start a Custom Search, Close Call, or Tone-Out Search. micro USB Port - For audio streaming, raw data output, and serial control modes in future software from 3rd party developers. USB Type-A Port (SDS200 only) - For audio streaming, raw data output, and serial control modes in future software from 3rd party developers. LAN Port (SDS200 only) - Direct Ethernet connectivity for streaming and control. Quick Search - Allows you to start searching at the displayed frequency, or enter a frequency and start searching. SAME Weather Alert/Priority - Lets your scanner alert you when a SAME weather alert is transmitted on a NOAA weather channel. You can also set a weather channel as a priority channel. Built-in Battery Charger (SDS100 only) - Allows you to charge the battery pack in the scanner. DIN-E and ISO Vehicle Mountable (SDS200 only) - Using the optional DIN-E sleeve or a standard ISO technique, the scanner can be easily mounted in most vehicles. Understanding CTCSS/DCS/NAC Contents Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) are two methods used to prevent interference by other radio communications. Your scanner can receive transmissions that use these codes (or more commonly referred to as tone codes). CTCSS and DCS systems all use some form of coded squelch. Coded squelch techniques involve the transmission of a special 'code' signal along with the audio of a radio transmission. A receiver with coded squelch only activates when the received signal has the correct 'code'. This lets many users share a single frequency, and decreases interference caused by distant transmitters on the same channel. In all major metropolitan areas of the United States, every available radio channel is assigned to more than one user. Public safety radio systems on the same frequency are usually set up at a distance of 40 miles apart, or more. This means that you may hear transmissions from a distant system when your local system is not transmitting. By programming the CTCSS tone for a local channel the scanner will not stop on transmissions from the distant system. With few exceptions, such as the VHF Aircraft and Marine bands, almost every other VHF or UHF radio system uses some form of coded squelch. By far, CTCSS is the most popular mode among non-trunked systems. NAC, similar to CTCSS/DCS, has a 3 digit hexadecimal code that is broadcast along with the digital signal being transmitted. See also the Appendix for a chart. For more information visit Radio Reference's respective pages on CTCSS, DCS, and NAC. Understanding Trunking Contents Trunking systems let a large group of 2-way radio users (or even different groups of 2-way radio users) efficiently use a set of frequencies. Instead of selecting a specific frequency for a transmission, the user’s radio selects a programmed trunking bank in the system when that user presses their PTT (push to talk) button. The trunking system automatically transmits the call on the first available frequency, and also sends (on a different frequency called a Data or Control channel) a code that uniquely identifies that transmission as a talkgroup ID (or just ID). So when you are trunktracking a system, you are listening to active IDs transmitting in the system (each using the first available frequency in the system). Trunking systems in general allocate and use fewer frequencies among many different users. Since the trunking system might send a call and its response on different frequencies, it is difficult to listen to trunked communications using a conventional scanner. These scanners let you monitor the control channel frequency so you can hear calls and responses for users and more easily "follow" conversations than with a conventional scanner. RadioReference.com has an excellent page explaining the various types of trunking systems in more detail here. Some systems covering a very large geographic area use multiple antenna sites that each operate on different frequencies and use the same talkgroup IDs for traffic. Each site will have its own set of trunking frequencies and is monitored like a single system. Each site can have its own quick key, so you can turn each individual site on or off (only) while you scan. Program your talkgroups into departments within that system and all talkgroups in the system are available to every site so they don't have to be reprogrammed for each site. Since all sites share all the talkgroups within the system, multi-site trunking is much more efficient than programming each site as a separate system. These trunking scanners trunktrack the following types of systems: DMR - Digital Mobile Radio (with DMR key) MotoTRBO Capacity Plus (with DMR key) MotoTRBO Connect Plus (with DMR key) Hytera XPT (with DMR key) Motorola Type I Motorola Type II Motorola Type IIi Hybrid Motorola Type II Smartnet Motorola Type II Smartzone Motorola Type II Smartzone Omnilink Motorola Type II VOC LTR Standard P25 Standard P25 X2-TDMA P25 Phase I and Phase II EDACS ESK EDACS Standard (Wide) EDACS Narrowband (Narrow) EDACS Networked (Wide/Narrow) EDACS Provoice (with Provoice key) NXDN-Nexedge (with NXDN key) NXDN-IDAS (with NXDN key) Motorola Systems/EDACS Systems LTR Systems DMR/MotoTRBO/Hytera Systems NXDN Systems Understanding Multi-Site Trunking ID Formats/Types Motorola/P25 and EDACS use a control (or data) channel, and voice channels shared by all the users. There may be 3 or 4 frequencies assigned as (primary or alternate) control channels but only one control channel will be active at a time. These scanners will allow you to program just Motorola/P25 control channels into the trunking system and the voice channels will automatically be found. EDACS systems need all the frequencies for the system programmed and in the correct LCN (Logical Channel Number) order. Motorola and EDACS systems can be either analog, digital, or mixed (digital and analog talkgroups). Mixed Motorola systems should be programmed as Motorola systems and not P25 digital systems. That way the channel options will allow you to select if it is digital or analog. Motorola systems are limited to a maximum of 28 frequencies per system or site. Ericsson EDACS systems are limited to 25 frequencies per system or site. LTR systems work a little differently. LTR systems typically do not have a dedicated control channel. This type of system encodes all trunking information as digital sub-audible data that accompanies each transmission. The frequencies also have to be in LCN (Logical Channel Number) order or the correct 'slot' for the system to trunktrack properly. Each repeater has its own controller, and all of these controllers are synchronized together. Even though each controller monitors its own channel, one of the channel controllers is assigned to be a master that all controllers report to. Each of these controllers sends out a data burst approximately every 10 seconds so that the subscriber units know that the system is there. This data burst is not sent at the same time by all the channels, but happens randomly throughout all the system channels. LTR systems are limited to 20 frequencies per system. Contents Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) is a TDMA mode that has two voice (or data) paths per frequency. Each frequency has slot 1 and slot 2, and each can be used by different users. All DMR frequencies use Color Codes from 0 to 15 that are similar to CTCSS. All the frequencies for a site will have the same color. Each transmitter can have only one color code. Con+ and Cap+ systems can use different color codes on different frequencies. TGIDs are used with all DMR flavors. Encryption or scrambling may also be used. Radio Reference has a more detailed page on DMR. See also DMR and MOTOTRBO Tips for the BCDx36HP and SDS Scanners. DMR has 3 Tiers of operation: Tier I for non-licensed conventional, Tier II for licensed conventional, and Tier III for trunking. Each frequency in a site can be tied to a specific color code (i.e. if that frequency is used by two or more transmitters "in range"). Digital Mobile Radio basically has 6 different flavors. Conventional Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) single site digital conventional frequency with low traffic. The number of time slots used will determine if it is simplex or duplex. Adding repeaters can increase coverage and expand capacity to up to 200 users per repeater. Internet Protocol Site Connect (DMR) still conventional, but uses the Internet to extend system coverage. They may have up to 15 low traffic sites with up to 200 users per site. They operate exactly like Repeated Conventional except that there is a 2-second burst that is transmitted every 30 seconds. Capacity Plus single-site MotoTRBO digital trunking may have as many as 1200 radio users. There is a data burst that occurs every 3 to 10 seconds. The color code is assigned per LCN and need not be the same for all frequencies. Linked Capacity Plus is a trunked multi-site multi-channel configuration of MotoTRBO, which combines both the Capacity Plus and IP Site Connect configurations. MotoTRBO trunks the logical channels of multiple MotoTRBO repeaters at multiple locations and combines the logical channels into one logical channel. This allows radios to share the logical channels and increase the RF coverage area of a MOTOTRBO system. LCP allows up to 15 sites in a system. Each site can have up to 6 trunked repeaters (12 logical channels) and 3 Data Revert repeaters (6 logical channels) per site. They can handle up to 1200 users per site across 3 sites or up to 600 users per site across 15 sites. Capacity Max Is like Linked Capacity Plus with enhanced features like priority and call queuing. Each site can support up to 15 repeaters with up to 3,000 users per site. Capacity Max offers a very smooth migration path from Linked Capacity Plus via software upgrades to repeaters and radios. It also offers a good migration path for existing MPT1327 analogue trunked systems. Connect Plus uses a dedicated control channel that transmits continuously and sends LCN and time slot information for channel. They can support up to 250 sites, 420 repeaters, and up to15 repeaters with 2000 users per site. There can be many linked sites in this system type and there are many multi-dozen site systems. Hytera is basically an upgrade for Tier II without having to invest in Tier III equipment. A single XPT system can support up to eight repeaters at one site and provide up to 16 traffic channels, supporting up to 1,200 users. Each channel can be customized for voice or data. See also DMR XPT ‘Pseudo-Trunking’ explained. NXDN (Next Generation Digital Narrowband) trunking is divided into Type-C and Type-D systems. See also NXDN at RadioReference.com. Kenwood's brand for NXDN equipment (Type-C) is "NexEdge", while Icom's brand for NXDN equipment (Type-D) is "IDAS", or Icom Digital Advanced System. Type-C (centralized control) systems work like Motorola system whereas they have a control channel and use decimal IDs. A Radio Access Number (RAN) is used to identify sites. See also Understanding NexEdge Trunking on RadioReference.com. Type-D (decentralized control) systems work a little like LTR systems and do not have a dedicated control channel. Understanding Multi-Site Trunking Some systems covering a very large geographic area use multiple antenna sites that each operate on different frequencies and use the same talkgroup IDs for traffic. Each site will have its own set of trunking frequencies and is monitored like a single system within a system and can also be assigned to a quick key. Since all sites share all the talkgroups within the system, multi-site trunking is easier to program than programming each site as a separate system. Each site can also be programmed as a separate system and given a quick key, if preferred, so you can turn each individual site on or off while you scan but you will have to program the IDs for each site. This way you don't have to worry about the scanner finding one control channel in only one site and missing traffic on other sites. ID Formats Motorola IDs come in two formats: Type I and Type II. Each format displays and uses Talk Group IDs in slightly different ways. Type I/II hybrid systems use both Type I and Type II formats for Talk Group IDs. Type I IDs are in the format BFF-SS where B is the block, FF is the fleet, and SS is the sub-fleet. Type I systems are usually organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets. For example, a valid fleet/sub-fleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department might be 000-12, where 000 identifies all police IDs and 12 identifies the Detective division. To properly trunk a Type I system, you have to program the fleet map for the system. Type II IDs are identified by a 5-digit number. EDACS IDs come in two formats: AFS (Agency-Fleet-Sub-fleet) and Decimal. AFS IDs are in the form AA-FFS where AA is the agency, FF is the fleet, and S is the sub-fleet. EDACS systems are organized with different IDs assigned to different fleets and agencies. For example, a valid agency/fleet/sub-fleet ID identifying all detectives within a police department in an agency might be 06-101, where 06 identifies the agency (Police), 10 identifies the Police division (East side), and 1 identifies the Detective division. Decimal IDs are shown as a decimal number from 0 to 2047. You can find a chart showing Decimal and AFS equivalents here: Conversion Chart. LTR IDs are in the format A-HH-UUU where A is the area code (0 or 1), HH is the home repeater (01-20), and UUU is the user ID (000-254). DMR IDs are shown as 5 to (usually) 7 digit decimal numbers. The first three digits designating the country, the fourth digit designates the province/state/region and the last three digits designate the user. NXDN IDs come in two formats: NexEdge and IDAS. Type-C IDs (NexEdge) are shown as a decimal number from 1 to 65519. Type-D IDs (IDAS) are in the format HH-UUUU where HH is the home repeater (01-30), and UUUU is the user ID (0001-2000). Understanding the Memory Contents All of the information contained in the scanner is stored on a micro SD card supplied with the scanner. This includes Profiles, Favorites Lists, all the radio settings, and the Radio Reference database. Profiles A Profile is a group of settings that includes your Favorites List settings (download/monitor status, quick key status), location information (zip code, any saved locations, location range, GPS options), Service Type selections, Search and Close Call settings, weather settings, Tone-Out settings, and all your basic radio settings (display options, replay options, etc.). The first time you use the scanner to set a location you will start to setup a profile. Only one profile at a time can be used in the scanner. You can create multiple profiles for different locations, Favorites List selection, or scanning preferences. The Sentinel software allows you to download your profile from the scanner, edit, save, and create new profiles to upload them back to the scanner. Profiles also hold your Favorites Lists settings (not the actual lists) for monitoring and uploading to the scanner. If you delete a profile (in the software), your Favorites Lists will still be there. When you create a new profile, you can select which Favorites Lists will be associated (enabled or disabled) with the new profile. Favorites Lists Because the memory is based on the Radio Reference database we now have a different order of organization not like banks and channels in traditional scanners, but more like Dynamic Memory Architecture. You can now use Favorites Lists that follow RR database structure of Systems that contain Departments that hold the Channels (conventional frequencies or IDs) and then there are Sites to hold just the trunking frequencies, which generate the IDs. Favorites Lists will allow you to store channels you find when you are scanning from the Full Database (the easiest way). They can contain channels from trunking systems and conventional systems. You can also manually add systems, (not single sites), departments and channels into Favorites Lists from the database as well as program new systems, departments, sites, and channels with the Sentinel software. You can save up to 256 different lists in the scanner (and software) and associate them with any or all of your profiles. You can monitor one or more lists at a time and/or the Full Database. You can also export you lists to a file to share them. Deleting a profile will not delete the lists associated with a profile. However, deleting a Favorites List will delete it from all profiles. Systems Systems will hold all of your Sites, Departments, and Channels. Departments Departments are also created inside systems. Departments hold frequencies (channels) for conventional systems and IDs (also called channels) for trunked systems. Departments are typically used for the various Agencies that you listen to within a system. If you are familiar with DMA (Dynamic Memory Architecture) scanners, think of departments as being like 'channel groups'. Trunking Sites Inside systems are trunked sites hold the trunking frequencies for any trunking system and any band plan information needed. You will need at least one site for each trunked system and some systems can have several sites. Understanding Quick Keys Contents Organizing your Quick Keys will be part of the planning. You will have to figure out which QKs to assign to your Favorites Lists, Systems, Departments, and Sites so you can scan them without a table of contents and with some sort of logic you can remember. Enabling/disabling QKs is not the same thing as Avoiding or Unavoiding Favorites Lists, Systems, Department and Sites. Favorites List Quick Keys (FLQK) Favorites Lists Quick Keys are used to enable or disable Favorites Lists for scanning. They are just the number keys on the scanner but once assigned to a Favorites List they become the QKs. Your Favorites Lists hold your Systems that also may have System QKs assigned to those Systems. Selecting a Favorites List will enable all (Unavoided) Systems in that list for scanning. Favorites List QKs can only be assigned once to any one Favorites List. If you don’t assign a QK to a list, it will always be enabled. There are 100 Favorites List QKs (0-99) to use for your Favorites Lists. System Quick Keys (SQK) System Quick Keys are used to enable or disable conventional and trunking systems for scanning. You can assign any QK to one or more Systems, or program one or more systems with no QK assigned that will always be scanned unless you Avoid it. There are also 100 System QKs (0-99) to use for your Systems. Department/Site Quick Keys (DQK) You now also have 100 Department or Site QKs to assign to your Sites and/or Departments within your Systems. You can assign any QK to one or more Departments or Sites, or program one or more Department or Site with no QK assigned that will always be scanned unless you Avoid it. If you are going to be using some keys for Departments and some for Sites, you may want to do something like start numbering your sites at 50 so you don't mix them up with your departments. Advice: Assigning a QK to a FL is a good idea but don't go overboard and assign QKs to all your 40 Systems, 125 Departments, and 300 Sites if you don't need to. Only assign QKs to what you may want to turn on or off. If you are always going to scan a Department or Site, leave it at the default (no QK) which will always enable it for scan. Using locations along with Location Control can also turn Departments or Sites on and off. If you are still bent on shutting stuff on and off, try creating a FL for some stuff on, and another for some stuff off. There's plenty of room on the SD card. To sum it up, don't make QKs any more complicated than they have to be. See also Scanning Order for QK scanning order. Search Quick Keys You can assign any Search QKs (SRCH1, SRCH2, or SRCH3) to any (1) Custom Search, Tone-Out Search, or Close Call Only Search for quick access to your favorite searches. Connecting the USB Cable Contents Turn on the scanner. When you connect the mini USB cable to the scanner ("Charge" port) and then to a USB port on your computer you will see "USB Cable Detected Select USB Mode" - "Mass Storage = "E" or Serial Port = ".". Press E/yes to use Mass Storage mode for connection to the Sentinel software, database updates, firmware updates, and for reviewing Discovery sessions and recordings. Windows should install drivers needed to read the SD card like an external drive and can be viewed in Windows/File Explorer. Press .no when serial mode will be used for audio streaming, raw data output, and serial control modes in future software from 3rd party developers. See also this post about connecting to the SDS200. Also Putting the SDS200 on wifi? The mini USB cable or a micro USB cable can also be used to power the SDS100 with or without the battery pack. Plug the USB cable into the SDS100. Press and hold the power button to turn on the scanner. Press .no when prompted to select "Serial Port". Note: Remember to turn the scanner off before unplugging the USB cable so the scanner can write to the card before it shuts off. Charging the Battery Pack (SDS100 only) You can power the scanner by using the micro USB or a mini USB connector, but only the mini connector can be used for charging. You charge the scanner’s battery by connecting the scanner’s USB mini connector ("Charge" port) to a USB power source and powering off the scanner. The power source must be rated 1A or higher to charge at a full rate. It takes about 16 hours to fully charge the scanner with the 2000ma AC adapter supplied. If you connect to a PC or other lower-power USB source, charging will take longer or may not even charge at all. The red charging LED will appear to the right of the alert LED during charging and turn green when complete when the scanner is off. The radio will charge and scan at the same time only with an adapter rated at 1000ma or more to prevent battery drain during operation. Note: If the scanner gets too hot while charging, charging automatically stops. Turning on the Scanner (SDS100 ) Press and hold for about 2 seconds. If the screen is too dark, press (within 10 seconds) to adjust the volume. Contents to turn on the backlight. Rotate the scroll control clockwise and set the volume to around 10 o’clock. Press the scroll control to display the volume level. Turn the scroll control Press the scroll control again to close the volume level (or let it disappear after 10 seconds). Press Func then press the scroll control to display the squelch level. Turn the scroll control counter-clockwise all the way then clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more. Press the scroll control again to close the squelch level. (SDS200) Rotate VOL clockwise and set the volume to around 10 o’clock. Rotate the SQ knob counter-clockwise all the way, and then rotate the VOL knob to find a comfortable volume level. Rotate the SQ clockwise until the noise stops, then one notch more. The first time you turn on your scanner it will prompt you to set the clock. See Setting the Clock. Note: Both of these scanners have a Real Time Clock (RTC) onboard powered by an internal battery. The internal battery will charge only when the scanner is powered on. It takes about 50 hours to trickle charge the internal battery up to a full charge, which will last for over a week. If the internal battery is depleted, you'll be prompted to enter the time upon power-up. To begin scanning right away, press the Zip button to select your country and zip/postal code (See Data Naming to enter postcode). The scanner will load channels for your area from the database and start scanning. Navigating the Menus Contents The Menu knob lets you select options to set up and use the scanner. To select a menu item, press the Squelch/Menu knob and rotate the scroll control. The currently-selected menu item is highlighted and reversed in the display. When the menu item you want to select is highlighted, press E/yes or the scroll control to select it. To back up a level, press Menu. To exit all menus and return to the previous mode press Avoid. Data Naming Contents Name any Favorites List, System, Site, Department, Channel, Location, Custom Search, Recording Session, Tone-Out, or SAME group with up to 64 characters. To Enter a Character, turn the scroll control to select the character you want. Characters Characters for a File/Folder Name are as follows: “A-Z, a-z, 0-9, _()-space“ and... Recordings sessions, Discovery sessions/runs. Characters for a Name Tag are as follows: “A-Z, a-z, 0-9, [\]^_`{|}~!”#$%&’()*+,-./:;<=>?@space “ Edit FL, Channel, Department, Site, System. Edit Custom Menu. Edit Location. Edit Tone-Out. Edit Review WX Alerts. Edit Unit IDs. Program SAME. Key Operations SDS100 only... Power/Backlight Contents Press and hold to turn the scanner on or off. Press to toggle the backlight. Press Func then to use the key lock. Press then turn to adjust volume level in Scan Mode. Scroll Control Vol,Squelch Press to view battery level. Press Func then Vol turn to adjust the squelch. Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode. Turn to select characters with Data Naming. Turn to select Scan/Search direction and to continue Scan/Search in Scan/Search Modes. Turn to scroll Channels or Frequencies in Hold Modes. Turn in Department Pause to scroll Departments. Turn in System Pause to scroll Systems. Turn in Site Pause to scroll Sites in current system. Turn in Search Pause to select Custom Searches to enable in Search Mode. Turn to select next or previous recording in Replay Mode. Turn to resume Close Call Search in Close Call Only Mode. Turn to start a Quick Search in Close Call Hold Mode. Turn to select next Weather Channel in Weather Scan. Turn to select Tone-Outs in Tone-out Standby Mode. Side Menu Button Press to enter Menu Mode. Press to return one level in Menu Mode. Press Func then Menu for Search Menu in Search Mode. Press Func then Menu for Close Call Menu in Close Call Mode. Press Func then Menu for Weather Menu in Weather Scan. Press Func then Menu for Waterfall Menu in Waterfall Mode. Press Func then Menu for Tone-out Menu in Tone-out Standby/Search Mode. Side Function Button Press to enter Function Mode for 3 seconds. SDS200 only... Power/VOL/ Backlight Squelch/Menu Turns the scanner on/off and adjusts the volume. Press to toggle backlight dimmer. Turn to adjust the squelch. Press to enter Menu Mode. Press to return one level in Menu Mode. Press Func then Menu for Search Menu in Search Mode. Press Func then Menu for Close Call Menu in Close Call Mode. Press Func then Menu for Weather Menu/Weather Alert in Weather Scan. Press Func then Menu for Waterfall Menu in Waterfall Mode. Press Func then Menu for Tone-out Menu in Tone-out Standby/Search Mode. Scroll Control/ Function Press to enter Function Mode for 3 seconds. Press to select a menu item or save an entry in Menu Mode. Turn to select a menu item in Menu Mode. Turn to select characters with Data Naming. Turn to select Scan/Search direction and to continue Scan/Search in S