PSR 800 and GPS support

[losman54]

I'm a new PSR 800 owner and I was wondering since I intend to use this scanner while traveling via motorhome/highway use whether or not the scanner can interface witha GPS as you're traveling across a state or does anybody feel that turning on "Spectrum Sweeper" suffice when on the road?

[Spitfire8520]

Originally Posted by losman54

I'm a new PSR 800 owner and I was wondering since I intend to use this scanner while traveling via motorhome/highway use whether or not the scanner can interface witha GPS as you're traveling across a state or does anybody feel that turning on "Spectrum Sweeper" suffice when on the road?

The PSR-800 does not support GPS. I believe the only 3 scanners that does support GPS is the Uniden 396XT/996XT/HP-1. While I have limited experience with spectrum sweeper, I wouldn't entirely count on it to listen to transmissions close by. Most of my experience required me to be within 300 feet from a signal as it is looking for the really strong signals, and it's doubtful that you will hear both sides of the conversation with the complexities of modern communications. If you know absolutely where you will be going, it may be a good idea to program the scanner ahead of time for that route.

[detroit780]

No GPS support however you can program your scanner via Zip code from the on board database. Search by zip code and program your scanner as you travel or create V folders along your path and switch to them when you enter each area of your route.

Originally Posted by losman54

I'm a new PSR 800 owner and I was wondering since I intend to use this scanner while traveling via motorhome/highway use whether or not the scanner can interface with a GPS as you're traveling across a state or does anybody feel that turning on "Spectrum Sweeper" suffice when on the road?

[losman54]

The GPS feature on the BCD396XT is about the only thing I like about that scanner. Do you think the Spectrum Sweeper will work well rather than manually switching/dialing up every zip along a road trip? THX

[tampatracker]

I would not count on the spectrum sweeper for reliable regular scanning while stationary or on the road. You will miss almost all of the comms you'd hear with programming before hand, or as you go. Spec sweep will simply not provide you the range you'll need, especially in rural/semi rural environments, which I'd imagine you'll be traveling through on a cross country trek. Hope that helps, have a great drive, I'm envious I love road trips, TT.

[losman54]

Originally Posted by tampatracker

I would not count on the spectrum sweeper for reliable regular scanning while stationary or on the road. You will miss almost all of the comms you'd hear with programming before hand, or as you go. Spec sweep will simply not provide you the range you'll need, especially in rural/semi rural environments, which I'd imagine you'll be traveling through on a cross country trek. Hope that helps, have a great drive, I'm envious I love road trips, TT.

Thanks for the response, I suspect that the only time(s) that I really would need to know what's going on, would be if I were stuck in traffic. There have been usually at least once on every trip that I have taken, were traffic has come to a complete stop where you have no idea why or what has caused traffic to stop.

I was considering getting a CB radio, but I decided that I would get a bigger bang for the buck if I got a scanner, and specifically the PSR 800 for the excellent user interface. The on board GPS will be able to give me the town or I can also use my smart phone to search for the towns zip code, if the sweep doesn't get me what I want.

[troymail]

Spectrum sweeper isn't the right tool.

Best bet is to do a County, City, or Zip code load from the SD card. I've done this on the fly while driving (I know, but at least I wasn't texting!). It's not optimal but it works - better than using any type of search capability. In fact, search and/or spectrum sweeper won't help you on trunked systems as they need to be programmed as trunked systems.

I like to record things and prefer more tailored programming than what the locational imports provide so when I travel, I try to program the radio with EZ Scan before I travel.

[losman54]

Yep, the scanner just hit my front door, so I'm updating the firmware and etc. Looks great so far so good...thx worth the money...easy to use and good doc and software is understandable! Winner