nx-720

[CCEMS703]

My Department has NX720's now in the units, I have seen that it has Built in GPS. How does this work? Do u have to buy anything extra ? GPS screen's maybe? Thanks for any help or advice.

[mmckenna]

Originally Posted by CCEMS703

My Department has NX720's now in the units, I have seen that it has Built in GPS. How does this work? Do u have to buy anything extra ? GPS screen's maybe? Thanks for any help or advice.

The NX720 and 820 have a built in GPS receiver, but not the antenna. There is a jack on the back of the radio where you need to install a suitable GPS antenna. Kenwood sells the KRA-40G GPS antenna, which is a magnetic mount designed to go on the dashboard. . Once you have that, the radio needs to be programmed to know what to do with the GPS signal. It's intended for AVL (automatic vehicle location) where it would send out your coordinates on a specific interval, or when you key up the radio, press a pre-programmed button, etc. There isn't an output on the radio that will allow you to plug in a readout, but there is a GPS Position display function that can be programmed into the menus. It would scroll through the latitude, longitude and altitude.

All this needs to be enabled in programming, and if the radio was not installed with the GPS antenna, it's likely it wasn't done. You'd need KPG-141DN and the correct programming cable, KPG-36um, I believe.

How do you like the radio? Those only started shipping back in October. I haven't seen one in person yet.

[CCEMS703]

Thank you for the info. I wasn't sure if we could some how hook it too a computer in dispatch and have the "closest unit dispatch" type system. We have only had them a few days. We haven't done much with the digital yet. Mostly analog so far and it's worked fine. It's a lot like my tk-7360 that I just got a few weeks ago before I knew we was getting a new nexedge system so now I need to figure out how to trade that in ha. We also are getting the nx-220. I wanted the 200 but they don't care what I think. Hope it works distance wise :s

[mmckenna]

If you do go to NexEdge, it's pretty simple to set that up. NexEdge has space in the packets to send GPS data. You'd need to set up the individual radios to send it, and set up the base to receive it. You would then feed the output of the base radio into a PC. You will need the Kenwood KAS-10 software that will give you the display of the individual units. I misunderstood your initial question, I thought you were asking about a way to display the GPS info in the vehicle.

I've got the KAS-10 software at work and it's hooked up through a base radio to our trunked NexEdge system. I have honestly been so busy I haven't had any time to play with it in the 9 months our system has been on line. I've been meaning to ask one of my guys to play with it but he's been too busy too.

The KAS 10 will do what you need.
You will need the KAS-10 and a map software to load into it. I can't recall the exact ones it works with.
You will need a base radio set up to receive the location info and feed it out to a PC.
Each mobile you want to track will need the GPS antenna installed and the radio programmed to do the right thing with it.

You can even get the KMC-48gps speaker mic that has a built in GPS receiver. It will allow them to track the individual portable radios. I have one and it isn't any larger than the standard public safety mics.

You should have your Kenwood dealer get you a price on this stuff. The KAS-10 software isn't very expensive, and you likely already have a base radio, so you are part way there already. Just be careful what you wish for, AVL can be a real PITA when the company can track your moves, it's really good for some things, but it can get certain types of people in trouble, if you know what I mean.

[CCEMS703]

I am having trouble setting up the over the air ID... I have done everything i can think of to make it work. set up the Own and id's checked over the air. went into channel edit and changed it to NX id... Anything im missing ?

[mmckenna]

Give this a try, this is from the KPG-111D, should be the same, or close enough, for the 720:

Under the Edit button on the top, select:
NXDN,
General 1 Tab:
Enter Unit ID (own) (range of Blank, or 1 to 65519)
Unit ID Name (own) can be used for vehicle ID for mobiles or badge number/ID for portables. (up to 14 characters)
You would need to click the Over-the-Air Alias button to make that work. Very nice function that sends the radio NAME out in the packet, so you don't have to program alias tables into all the other radios.

Group Call Display Type needs to be set to allow Calling Transceiver ID or Calling Transceiver ID/Group ID. This will allow calling radio ID number/name to show up on the other radio.

You will also need to select NXDN ID in the Optional Signaling (NXDN) drop down list in Zone Information window for the Conventional Group.


To send GPS data, you need to set the Base ID Type on the NXDN General Tab 1 to Unit ID. Then you enter the Base ID of the radio that is connected to the PC that is running the mapping software. There is a bunch of settings that need to happen to transfer GPS data back and forth, that is all included in the KAS-10 help menus.

[CCEMS703]

I figured it out. It was a check box hiding in a setting. Thanks for your help!

[mmckenna]

Excellent. Let me know if you have any other questions.