BearTracker 885

[wbswetnam]

It also uses a small GPS puck antenna to figure out where it is and what to listen for. These usually work just fine if you place them up on the dashboard. They don't necessarily need to be mounted outside to work well.

Two years ago, I took a trip from Arkansas to northern Minnesota with my Home Patrol 1, with the GPS puck mounted on the dashboard. It worked great. Once I drove at least fifty miles before I noticed that the puck had fallen off of the dash and onto the passenger side floor. No matter, it still tracked where I was.

 

[jonwienke]

The newer GPS receivers work remarkably well. The one I put in my 436 has no problem getting a fix in the back seat of a SUV or a basement, even when the antenna is pointed toward the horizon or the ground instead of the sky. I paid $20 for it on Amazon.

 

[ShyFlyer]

GPS receives have indeed come a long way. My first GPS, a Garmin 96C I bought back in 2002 or 03, took forever to get a position lock inside a one-story house even when the unit was next to a window. If I were lucky, it would maintain that lock for more than a few minutes.

My current unit, a Garmin Nuvi, gets a position lock within less than a minute inside my apartment which is on the first floor of a three-story building.

 

[DJ11DLN]

GPS receives have indeed come a long way. My first GPS, a Garmin 96C I bought back in 2002 or 03, took forever to get a position lock inside a one-story house even when the unit was next to a window. If I were lucky, it would maintain that lock for more than a few minutes.

My current unit, a Garmin Nuvi, gets a position lock within less than a minute inside my apartment which is on the first floor of a three-story building.

That's the model I have. Had a Mio from about 2007 (?) that died a couple of years ago...I'm a homebody so there was no urgency to replace it until a couple of months ago. I wish I had gotten a Garmin a long time ago now, absolutely no comparison between the units!

I just wish it had a serial output so it could control a scanner...but you can't have everything.

 

[lugnuts]

any word on when they will be in stock?

 

[davidjacobs2012]

+1 ^^

 

[trido]

Shipping soon

Some will ship soon I was told today.
Cant be more exact right now.


Here is Uniden link for software, click product support. Well it is just update database , you can take SD card out of the 885 put in a PC and update the Sd card.
https://www.uniden.com/automotive/c...earTracker_885_Hybrid_CB_RadioDigital_Scanner

QUOTE=lugnuts;2768510]any word on when they will be in stock?[/QUOTE]

 

[eaf1956]

Ham Station taking Pre Orders at $399.95 get yours while they're hot!

 

[kb7gjy]

I'm waiting for someone to come up with the ability to program custom frequencies to the SD card. Everyone knows it is going to happen. It is just a matter of time.

 

[poltergeisty]

Speaking of GPS, I know DARPA was working on an INS (Inertial Navigation System) chip the size of around a dime. This little wonder has a timer, accelerometer and gyro. I can't wait till this hits the consumer market after military application use because it will end the days of having to depend on a GPS Sat for location. I'm sure you can only imagine the applications; like scanners, etc.

Too bad this CB didn't have SSB. I had a nice Rat Shack SSB unit I sold a few years ago. Hated to part with it but I needed the money. I rarely used it, but it was nice and I did make a few DX contacts with it. I used a dipole cut to 27 MHz. That thing would drown out CBers.:lol:

 

[transmission]

BearTracker 885 Excitement!

I for one am super stoked about this radio CB combo. My initial worry is that it could overheat with all the technology integrated onto one circuit board without a proper heat sink. I read someone mentioning the GPS being included and how it is kind of annoying due to wires. I own the GPS cable already and I agree. I think that if a cellular phone has an integrated GPS chip onboard, then why can't Uniden's devices have integral GPS chips onboard? Perhaps the external GPS pulls better signals atop the vehicle like it is designed for, or maybe it is a marketing thing to simply sell you an accessory. Either way I cannot wait to get one of these hybrids and mount it in my vehicle. I have a freshly installed top loaded antenna awaiting a female port to penetrate haha!

I just saw this morning that Uniden.com is allowing notifications when it is in stock to order. As of now, they have it listed as sold out. Initially you weren't even able to see "Buy New" or whatever beside it in the list, so I guess we are getting closer to its availability. Maybe some company got the jump first and bought them all for resale but if anyone knows what's up please let me know!

 

[mmckenna]

It's not all on one board.
The CB is on one board. The scanner section is a separate module.
Neither one of those is going to generate an appreciable amount of heat.
(photos are on the FCC OET site if you look at it's type certification grant)

One possible reason for using an external GPS antenna is that many truckers mount the CB's overhead. While GPS receivers work pretty well through the windshield and sitting on the dash board, that won't be the case if the radio is mounted to the overhead and has sheet metal roof directly above it.
The external GPS allows for more mounting flexibility based on what Uniden probably sees as real world use scenarios.

I won't be purchasing one of these, but I'm interested to see how others like them.

 

[ShyFlyer]

I think that if a cellular phone has an integrated GPS chip onboard, then why can't Uniden's devices have integral GPS chips onboard? Perhaps the external GPS pulls better signals atop the vehicle like it is designed for, or maybe it is a marketing thing to simply sell you an accessory.

It's not that the GPS can't be integrated (i.e. no external antenna), it's that it's less than ideal. There's a thread here where a few 436 owners have proven an internal GPS is not only possible, but works pretty well. However, with the 885, it will typically be installed in or under a vehicle dash, limiting the satellite reception. Cellphones, on the other hand, typically aren't installed in such a manner and also have the ability to supplement their position using cellular towers and WiFi hotspots.

The GPS antenna is included with the 885 (so you aren't buying it separately).

 

[transmission]

State / Federal ?

Will this proximity scan state and federal trunked systems, etc. via the GPS?

 

[UPMan]

The BearTracker 885 has a completely enclosed metal chassis. No way a GPS signal could get to a receiver integrated into the PCB. Also, as mentioned, the GPS needs a clear view of the sky (no metal). The only way to ensure that for every mounting condition is to put it on an external cable.

 

[ShyFlyer]

Will this proximity scan state and federal trunked systems, etc. via the GPS?

If the system is in the RadioReferance database, then it will be available to the 885. I believe it won't have DMR, ProVoice, and NXDN scanning capability.

 

[transmission]

I'm at newb at this. What does that mean? Like who uses those protocols?

 

[DaveNF2G]

I'm at newb at this. What does that mean? Like who uses those protocols?

This thread is not the place to answer that. There are many discussions here on RadioReference, along with the database and the Wiki, that contain answers to those questions and many others that you haven't thought of yet.

 

[transmission]

Copy that.

 

[trido]

Paul just posted a very nice 885 Video.
Good job Paul.
I have one setup at my store, kinda cool.
Different scanner to play with.
You tube Paul video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhfcbGXHI1c

Guess I forgot my CB days be sure MIC is plugged in even for RX scanner side ONLY.