Uniden SDS150 FAQ

Will the SDS150 work in my area?

That depends on what your local agencies use. The SDS150 can monitor analog, P25 Phase I and II, Motorola, EDACS, and LTR trunking. With optional paid upgrades from Uniden, it can also decode DMR, NXDN, and ProVoice. It cannot monitor fully encrypted talkgroups or proprietary systems like OpenSky, and no scanner can.

If you do not want to guess, use our Which Police Scanner Do I Need? tool. We will research your county, check simulcast, encryption, and system type, and tell you if the SDS150 is the right move or if a cheaper model will do the job.

Why should I buy the SDS150 instead of the SDS100?

Think of the SDS150 as the next generation SDS handheld. You still get the same True I/Q architecture and trunking performance that made the SDS100 a beast, but with major usability upgrades: built-in GPS, included waterfall, a larger color screen, USB-C, U/Aware app support, and an included charging cradle.

If budget matters more than built-in GPS and app integration, the SDS100 is still a strong choice. If you want the most capable Uniden handheld today, buy the SDS150.

What digital upgrades do I need?

Out of the box the SDS150 handles analog, P25 Phase I and II, plus Motorola,

Software upgrades are a subset of digital modes of transmission that affect individual frequencies and, often, countywide trunking systems. If your area, or an individual frequency that you wish to monitor utilizes these modes of transmission, you must purchase the upgrade(s) associated with that county/talk group in order to monitor those broadcasts.

We can look this up for you here.

Can the SDS150 listen to encrypted police channels?

No. The SDS150 cannot decrypt fully encrypted radio traffic, and no legal scanner can. If your primary agency went to full encryption, you will only hear whatever they still broadcast in the clear, if any.

If you have a mix of clear and encrypted talkgroups, the SDS150 will monitor the clear ones and automatically mute the encrypted ones.

Is the SDS150 hard to set up?

Programming scanners can be tedious if you start from scratch, but the SDS platform makes it manageable. The USA and Canada database is preloaded, location-based scanning works by zip code or GPS, and Uniden Sentinel lets you build Favorites Lists on a computer and push them to the radio.

If you want to skip the learning curve, add Expert Programming and we will ship your SDS150 ready to scan your area.

How rugged and weather resistant is the SDS150?

The SDS150 is built as a field radio. It is rated water resistant to JIS4 / IPX4 when covers are closed, so it can handle rain and splashes. It is not designed to be submerged.

Is the SDS150 future proof?

Nothing in radio is completely future proof, but the SDS150 is about as close as it gets today. Its True I/Q SDR platform is designed for modern simulcast P25,DMR, NXDN, or ProVoice. Sentinel updates keep your database current.

If agencies in your area migrate to full encryption, no scanner will help. Short of that, the SDS150 is a long-term play.

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Remtronix for Uniden SDS 150

The performance difference is night and day compared to the stock antenna.

Amazing clear quality on SDS100! Picks up ALL frequencies!

This antenna is insanely great. well made. It picks up police transmissions from Powers and S Carefree in Colorado Springs all the way across town to Monument Police FROM INSIDE MY BEDROOM! Thats 20+ miles of hilly city from inside a bedroom with antenna mag base sitting on a TV stand metal base and no clear line of sight. When I place my Remtronix tri-band rubber duck antenna back on I only get local stuff. Crazier still, my window has metal blinds. In every way youd think signal loss in every way. No, Im even getting signals from Fountain Co, Woodland Park Co, Black Forrest Co, Peyton Co. All areas around me that are 25 to 40 miles away. I pick up state patrol sometimes in Castle Rock Co which is 40 miles away with mountains in front of it. It picks up mountain forestry over 50 miles away at times. SDS100 works under a watt I believe but it makes HIGH efficient use of this antenna. In the photo I swapped mag bases with my Browning/Laird NMO type but its no different or better than the Hustler mag base. its the antenna that shines here. I use the hustler base for my UHF 2 way radios. BUY IT. you will love it on a SDS100 in your car with BNC connections.

SDS 150

Zipscanners had the SDS 150 in stock so I bought it they got it to me very quickly!! I love it so far!! It’s the best scanner I’ve owned yet!!

upgrade from the whistler scanner

this scanner is rocks my area has simulcast distortion my other scanner that I had was not able to handle this mostly because I did not do my research on scanners I used the app before but can't tell who is talking when you use the app works great and programmed and ready out of the box

Still testing... but seems like a great upgrade.

I purchased this antenna as an upgrade over the stock. I am in the Upstate NY area. Currently using on my SDS100. I have the 842B and recently purchased the 820s to compare because every review states it's the one to get. I have not tested this trying to pickup new bands/frequencies yet. 700-900 mhz, seems to pick up just as good as the 820s, audio seems a little clearer.400 mhz seems very good as well. All though, it is not billed as a triband antennae, it picks up almost as well as the 842B in my area for the analog bands. I do like the aesthetic look of it and the water proof O-ring. Overall I'm very pleased with this purchase and will be ordering again in the future.

Hi there! Thank you for your review and for choosing our On Set Remtronix Scanner Antenna. We are happy to hear that it is working well for you in the Upstate NY area and is an upgrade over the stock antenna.