Scanners › Uniden SDS200
Uniden SDS200: will it hear your police?
The SDS200 is Uniden's True I/Q digital scanner for a desk or a vehicle. Uniden says it has all the same high-performance features as the handheld SDS100. This isn't a hands-on review. We checked what it decodes, from Uniden's own product page and manual, against the FCC licenses of every US county we cover.
The short answer
It decodes analog and P25 Phase I and II[1],[2]. In 638 of 3,198 US counties (20%), every voice mode on the main public safety licenses is one it decodes out of the box. In 720 (23%) it hears the analog and P25 channels, and the licenses also list DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade. In 1,838 (57%) it hears the main analog and P25 channels, and some licenses list digital codes we can't identify, which could occasionally be DMR or NXDN. It can't hear any of it in 1. In 1,319 counties the main licenses list P25 Phase II, which it decodes too.
From FCC licenses[5], which don't show encryption. No scanner plays encrypted channels.
Will the SDS200 hear your city?
Type your city, county or ZIP code. The answer comes from the FCC licenses of your county's main public safety agencies.
What the SDS200 decodes
- Conventional analog channels and conventional P25 digital channels.[1],[2]
- Trunked systems: APCO P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2, X2-TDMA, Motorola, EDACS and LTR (Uniden calls this TrunkTracker X).[1],[2]
- With Uniden's optional paid upgrades: several types of NXDN and DMR trunking, and EDACS ProVoice.[2]
- Encrypted channels. No scanner plays them, the SDS200 included.
- DMR, NXDN and ProVoice without the paid upgrades.[2]
Key specs
| Type | Digital base/mobile scanner[1] |
|---|---|
| Receiver | True I/Q. Uniden says it improves digital error correction and signal recovery.[1],[2] |
| Frequency coverage | 25–512 MHz, 758–824 MHz, 849–869 MHz, 894–960 MHz, 1240–1300 MHz[2] |
| Display | 3.5-inch color display, with a color you choose for each field[1],[2] |
| Network | Direct Ethernet connection for streaming and control[1] |
| Setup | HomePatrol database of US and Canada radio systems, updated weekly by Uniden. Location-based scanning by ZIP code or GPS (GPS receiver not included).[1],[2] |
| Power | AC adapter, DC adapter and a mobile power harness, all included[2] |
| Recording | Audio recording, and instant replay of the last 30 seconds to 4 minutes[2] |
| Size and weight | 7.08 × 6.29 × 2.83 in without antenna; 49.38 oz[2] |
| In the box | Scanner, AC and DC adapters, mobile power harness, USB cable, telescoping BNC antenna, mounting bracket and hardware, microSD card[2] |
Specs from Uniden's product pages, owner's manuals and upgrade pages, checked 29 Oct 2026. We list only what Uniden states.
Where to buy
Uniden SDS200 (desk)
Digital P25 Phase I and II base/mobile scanner. Check your city first: if your police are encrypted, no scanner hears them.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change what you pay.
Where the SDS200 works: 3,198 counties, 9,191 cities
| What the SDS200 hears | Counties | City pages |
|---|---|---|
| Fully: every licensed voice mode is one it decodesAnalog and P25 only on the main licenses. | 638 (20%) | 1,206 (13%) |
| Partly: analog and P25, plus DMR or NXDNIt hears the analog and P25 channels. DMR and NXDN need Uniden's paid upgrade. | 720 (23%) | 1,554 (17%) |
| Hears the main analog and P25 channels. Some licenses list digital codes we can't identifyThe analog and P25 channels on the main licenses are ones it decodes. Some licenses also list digital emission codes that don't name a mode; those could occasionally be DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade. | 1,838 (57%) | 6,430 (70%) |
| Can't hear: no analog or P25 licensedThe main licenses list only other digital modes. | 1 (0%) | 1 (0%) |
| No voice channels on file | 1 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
How we counted. For each county we take the same main licensees the county and city pages use for their analog-or-digital answer, and read the emission designators on their FCC licenses: analog FM, P25 Phase I or II, DMR, NXDN, or another digital code that doesn't name a mode. Each channel is also checked against the scanner's frequency coverage in Uniden's manual, and trunked channels against the trunking it follows. A city counts with its county. Licenses show what a channel may use, not whether it's encrypted or which channels are busy. Source: FCC ULS license file of 18 Oct 2026, as of 27 Oct 2026.
Big cities where every licensed mode is one it decodes
Knoxville, TN · Brownsville, TX · Warwick, RI · Lynchburg, VA · Bowling Green, KY · Kalamazoo, MI · Eau Claire, WI · Harlingen, TX
Big cities with DMR or NXDN on the licenses (paid upgrade)
Omaha, NE · Durham, NC · Winston-Salem, NC · Sioux Falls, SD · Birmingham, AL · Warren, MI · Fargo, ND · Sterling Heights, MI
Biggest cities where it hears the main analog and P25 channels, with some digital codes we can't identify
New York City, NY · Los Angeles, CA · Chicago, IL · Houston, TX · Phoenix, AZ · Philadelphia, PA · San Antonio, TX · San Diego, CA
The rest of the digital codes on these licenses don't name a mode. They could occasionally be DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade.
SDS200 or SDS100?
The SDS100 is the handheld version. Uniden says the SDS200 has all the same high-performance features as the SDS100, in a larger base[1]. Both list TrunkTracker X with P25 Phase I and II, with DMR, NXDN and ProVoice as paid upgrades[2],[4]. Pick the SDS200 for a desk, a shelf or a vehicle: it runs on AC or DC power and comes with a mounting bracket[2]. Pick the SDS100 to carry it around: it runs on a lithium-ion battery pack[4]. On what it decodes, our coverage numbers are the same for both.
Handheld version
Uniden SDS100 (handheld)
Same decoding as the SDS200, in a handheld.
We earn a commission if you buy through these links. It doesn't change what you pay.
Who the SDS200 is for
- Most of the US. In 3,020 of 3,198 counties the licenses are not all analog, so an analog-only scanner would miss part of it. The SDS200 hears analog and P25 alike.
- Big digital systems. Uniden built its True I/Q receiver for digital performance in difficult RF areas such as simulcast, which licenses don't show.
- A scanner that stays put. On a desk or shelf at home, or mounted in a vehicle on DC power.
- Streaming or remote control. Uniden lists a direct Ethernet connection for both.
Who should skip it
- Your county is analog. In 177 counties the main channels are licensed as analog. An analog scanner like the Uniden BC125AT (Check price on Amazon for the Uniden BC125AT (opens store)) hears those.
- Your police are encrypted. No scanner plays encrypted traffic. Check your city or county first.
- You mainly need DMR or NXDN. The SDS200 needs Uniden's paid upgrades for those.
- You want to carry it. The handheld Uniden SDS100 (Check price on Amazon for the Uniden SDS100 (opens store)) or Uniden SDS150 (Check price on Amazon for the Uniden SDS150 (opens store)) has the same decoding.
Questions
What are the specifications of the Uniden SDS200?
Uniden lists a True I/Q receiver, TrunkTracker X decoding of analog and P25 Phase I and II, coverage of 25–512, 758–824, 849–869, 894–960 and 1240–1300 MHz, a 3.5-inch color display, a direct Ethernet connection, and AC and DC power. DMR, NXDN and ProVoice are paid upgrades.
Which is better, SDS100 or SDS200?
Neither decodes more than the other: Uniden lists the same decoding and paid upgrades for both. The SDS200 is the base/mobile version for a desk or vehicle, with Ethernet. The SDS100 is the handheld, on a lithium-ion battery.
Will the SDS200 work in my area?
Look up your city above. Across 3,198 US counties: in 638 every voice mode on the main licenses is analog or P25, which it decodes. In 720 the licenses also list DMR or NXDN, which need Uniden's paid upgrade. In 1,838 it hears the main analog and P25 channels, and some licenses list digital codes we can't identify, which could occasionally be DMR or NXDN. Licenses don't show encryption.
Does the SDS200 do P25 Phase II?
Yes. Uniden lists APCO P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2 trunking, plus conventional P25 channels.
Can I use the SDS200 in a car?
Yes. Uniden includes a DC adapter, a mobile power harness and a mounting bracket with hardware.
Does the SDS200 have GPS?
Not built in. You can connect a GPS receiver (not included) so it selects channels as you travel. Without one, set your location by ZIP code.
Can the SDS200 hear DMR or NXDN?
Only with Uniden's optional paid upgrades, which add NXDN and DMR trunking, and EDACS ProVoice.
Can the SDS200 hear encrypted police radio?
No. No scanner can play encrypted channels. Check whether your police are encrypted before you buy.
What's the best police scanner to buy for my home?
The one that matches your area's radio. Look up your city: if the channels are analog, a cheaper analog scanner is enough. If they're digital, you need a P25 scanner. If your police are encrypted, no scanner hears them.