Added GPS, Am I doing something wrong?

[twotoejoe]

I'm fairly new to this digital age of scanning, owing this 536 only since February. Planning a trip next week I recently purchased Uniden's GPS unit to add to this scanner.

So I have to make a relatively short 50 mile trip toward Atlanta today and I thought it would be a good 'trial' run. I went through everything that was explained in the Youtube video, including Auto Locate, then I Setup GPS, set range to 40 miles, and left all the other settings at the default.

I was expecting to hear some different traffic on my trip. Man was I disappointed. I didn't hear anything that wasn't already in my Favorite List! Did I not do something right? Please help a newbiel

 

[jonwienke]

Do NOT USE AUTO LOCATE WITH GPS. It has nothing to do with GPS, and is a total waste of time when you have a GPS. It does a band scan and tries to guesstimate your position based on the P25 sites it hears. It's accurate within 20-30 miles, while GPS is accurate within 20-30 feet.

Set scanner Range to 5 miles or less.

And if you don't turn on the main database, all you will hear is stuff in favourite lists.

 

[WX4JCW]

What Jon said


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[I_am_Alpha1]

Yes, what Jon said...plus you should see "GPS" on the screen if it's setup correctly. After turning on the main database, don't forget to select what services you want to hear.

Menu > Set Scan Selection > Select Lists to Monitor > Full Database to ON
Menu > Set Your Location > Set Range > 05.0
Menu > Select Service Types > ON for what you want to receive

 

[ofd8001]

In addition to what the others have said. . .

The "Set Range" value is more or less an "extender" for ranges established in the database. So if you have the scanner range set to 40.0 and there is a system have a range of 30.0 miles, your scanner will attempt to receive that system when you are within 70 miles of the system's center point.

So what you experienced is correct behavior. Location control stuff is one of those concepts that takes a while to sink in. You are doing the right thing - trying it and asking questions.

 

[jonwienke]

How it Works: Location, Location, Location