BCD 99 XT and GPS

[KD4FUN]

What is the purpose of connecting GPS to the BCD996XT scanner?
I was told it wont switch frequencies like the SDS 100.





Brian KD4FUN

 

[doctordialtone]

BCD99XT scanner?

There's no such model.

This describes GPS operation on a 996XT

Easier to Read BCD996P2/XT Digital Scanner Manual gps

 

[a417]

I'm going to assume it was BCD996XT, and according to documentation it allows location based scanning & location based alerts. As I don't have one, I'm going off information on the uniden website. YMMV.

 

[W9WSS]

I had my previous mobile scanner, BCD996T, connected to a Garmin GPS V. It was configured to lock on to the State of Illinois Starcom21 towers within 30 miles of my mobile. We had the SC21 system set up in 3 zones; North, Central, and South. Since I live within 20 miles of Chicago in the 'burbs, I was mostly monitoring "North" towers. At the time, I had a relative who lived in Carbondale, IL, so I enabled Central and South sectors in my configuration when I drove down to visit.

I have since replaced the 996T with a 596HP to now monitor SC21's Phase II (TDMA), where the 996T (Phase I FDMA) could not. The GPS isn't connected because I have my 536HP set up with "favorites" instead of Quick-Keys. It is beneficial if you do a lot of traveling and don't wish to "Zip Code" program your respective Uniden scanners.

 

[KD4FUN]

Thank you for the timely replies, living in NC I have the Viper system programmed in the scanner. I will set it up to scan the towers that are local to me. Have to upgrade fairly soon so I can utilize zip code input when I am out of the state.
As always RTFM Read The Fine Manual lol

73 De Brian KD4FUN

 

[cmjonesinc]

After you get a compatible gps you can set a range on your monitored sites. If you're within the range you defined it will turn the site on, if you leave it will turn it off. Keeps you from wastefully scanning out of range sites. You'll have to figure out the actual usable range of the sites you're wanting to monitor. The range that RR has assigned to the sites when you download the system isn't always usable and is more of rough guide. There are several different ones varying in price. I haven't used the gps with mine in years as I now live somewhere that I don't need to toggle multiple sites for my daily commute. But when I was using the gps I went the cheap route and got a Delorme Tripmate and made these mods to it. http://www.pullig.org/T4.html It's an easy and cost effective route if you are handy with a soldering iron and have spare parts laying around. Otherwise the purpose built ready to roll options may be better suited. Also, hello from NC as well!

 

[doctordialtone]

As always RTFM Read The Fine Manual lol

Yes, ,and don't take any more advice from wherever you got bad information.

Good luck!

 

[marksmith]

The BCD996XT while compatible with GPS is an example of very first application of such. This being the case, the radio and operating system will work with a GPS but is extremely inefficient in how it works. The overhead required to scan and also monitor GPS in this very early incarnation of GPS scanning makes it very inefficient.

I have done it, but found that with this radio and the others using this operating system (396/996/325) in all models it is much more efficient to use quick keys or other programming means to narrow your search to specific local activity.

If you want to use GPS I would recommend that you upgrade to at least a home patrol 1 or 2, 426, 526 or SDS100.

All of these radios were built with an operating system that presumed handling GPS and is much more fluid in both programming and operation with GPS.

 

[doctordialtone]

If you want to use GPS I would recommend that you upgrade to at least a home patrol 1 or 2, 426, 526 or SDS100.

You mean 436 and 536?

 

[ofd8001]

I've used the 996XT with Garmin and Uniden GPS devices and found the scanner to be satisfactory. This is actually the first I've heard that the scanner had issues. If nothing else, I've seen folks lament that the current (SDS/x36) scanners do NOT have the same features as the 96 series. For example, point of interest, dangerous crossing, etc.

I've traveled many places with the x96 and GPS and was quite pleased.

 

[eaf1956]

I've used the 996XT with Garmin and Uniden GPS devices and found the scanner to be satisfactory. This is actually the first I've heard that the scanner had issues. If nothing else, I've seen folks lament that the current (SDS/x36) scanners do NOT have the same features as the 96 series. For example, point of interest, dangerous crossing, etc.

I've traveled many places with the x96 and GPS and was quite pleased.

It was a LOT slower with switching than the later models but it did work.

 

[ofd8001]

Well. . . It was the fastest at the time. Yeah, the 996XT is slower and less adept at many things when compared to the SDS 100 and SDS 200 - Uniden had nearly ten years to make improvements.

The original post asked about the purpose and noted he was told it would not switch frequencies like the SDS 100. I believe that information isn't correct. Always be cautious of statements that include the words "I heard that".

 

[eaf1956]

Well. . . It was the fastest at the time. Yeah, the 996XT is slower and less adept at many things when compared to the SDS 100 and SDS 200 - Uniden had nearly ten years to make improvements.

The original post asked about the purpose and noted he was told it would not switch frequencies like the SDS 100. I believe that information isn't correct. Always be cautious of statements that include the words "I heard that".

It switched fine just a bit slow about it.

 

[ka3aaa]

I ran a gps unit on my 996xt for years when i was working on the road all day and never had a problem with the scanner turnimg systems on and off as i drove around.

 

[tvengr]

I ran 2-996XT's for years with Garmin GPS's and they worked fine. I removed the AM/FM radio from my vehicle and placed the scanners in the hole. The AM/FM radio included the clock. It was great that the 996XT's displayed the time off of the GPS satellite. I only had to change the time zone in the scanners to switch between standard and daylight savings time. I could set locations with audible warnings to remind me to check my speed when approaching an area with frequent radar traps.