HP 1 and GPS

[cs0139]

Does anyone have experience using GPS device with their homepatrol 1 and is there any particular model that does NOT work. I am hoping an inexpensive GPS unit will work.
Thanks from Spokane, WA.

 

[WX4JCW]

i use this one and it works rock solid - ive seen them cheap
View Product Garmin GPS 18x serial receiver for PC at The GPS Store

 

[KC1UA]

+1 for the GPS18. Very positive experiences with it here not only with the HP1 but also with any of the Uniden GPS compatible scanners.

 

[UPMan]

Most GPS units will not work (because they do not output location data or, if they do, not using the industry standard NMEA 0183 signalling).

See Uniden Scanner GPS Features - The RadioReference Wiki

 

[KC1UA]

One caveat with the GPS18; it does require a null modem adapter between it and the HP1. They can be found at Radio Shack or many places online inexpensively. Sorry, didn't think of that in my first post.

 

[jkahn]

What are you using for the cable connection to the HP-1, via the null modem connector? Are they available outside of the "out of stock" Uniden website?

 

[cs0139]

thanks for the replies.

 

[selbydo]

GPS 18x PC not connecting

I purchased GPS 18x PC, Uniden GPS cable, and the male to male RS232 connector
The scanner will not connect to the GPS.
I'm using the latest version software 1.02

the Male to Male RS232 connector does not state it is "Null Modem" it was purchased at local Rat Shack

I called support at Uniden and they stated they don't support the Garmin 18x PC and would only direct me to Garmin Support who had no clue what was wrong either

I tried to post this on the Uniden web Forum but it will not let me register, I was able to read on the forum that others were having the same issue,

Please help! I love the concept of this scanner and purchased it based on it;s ability to connect as I travel.
I'm ready to return everything if I can not solve this issue

Thanks

 

[SkipLincoln]

I use the GPS 18 that I had connected to my 996T. I got it to work with my HP-1 by using the Radio Shack male to male adaptor AND the null modem (both available at Radio Shack).

The HP-1 then recognized the GPS.

The question I have is with the GPS connected, the HP-1 continues to pick up distant systems that I am not expecting to hear. With the range set at 5 miles and the GPS on, I pick up systems 40 miles away -- almost as if the GPS is not working.

I did see the database re-loading as I drove but I really don't want all that extra (and sometimes noisy) traffic.

Any idea as to what I'm doing wrong?

Anyway, sellbydo, you need to add the null modem adapter and it should work fine.
Skip

 

[mass-man]

Interesting, as when you connect to the GPS range goes to 0...unless of course you have gone in and changed it. The concept being, I believe, it will let you hear stuff close to you as you drive. How are you determining it is hearing systems 40 miles away? As the crow flies, it may be that far away, but the transmitter could be much closer to you with a large range, and therefore you will scan it. I find it does its best when travelling if you narrow down to just a few service types. I mean after all, you won't in the area long if you are travelling, so just to hear dispatch is fine by me. If you stop for a break, then add service types.

 

[mass-man]

Selbydo...let's backup!!! Do you have the geniune UNIDEN GPS cable? ...it does not need the null modem adapter. At least that is what is posted on the HP forums! Did you buy the 18x new? I see a lot of setups on the technical setup page. Make sure it is set for 4800baud. You may have already done this, so I apologize if I am stating the obvious. I might doubt the gender changer...get another, and be ready to return it. I am not a computer expert, but plugged all my stuff together and it worked first time. Will it see the GPS at all?

 

[selbydo]

Thanks for the response, the GPS cable is the one that works with the other Uniden Scanners and is not the one Uniden has on Back order which eliminates the need for the RS232 M/M "gender Bender" and Null Modem.
The gender bender I have is not a " Null Modem ".
From reading other threads I can fairly confident that this is what is wrong with my set up, I have ordered a Null Modem from Amazon.
When this arrives I will post the results (Hopefully Positive) since I'm probably not the only person who has made a mistake like this

 

[SkipLincoln]

Interesting, as when you connect to the GPS range goes to 0...unless of course you have gone in and changed it. The concept being, I believe, it will let you hear stuff close to you as you drive. How are you determining it is hearing systems 40 miles away? As the crow flies, it may be that far away, but the transmitter could be much closer to you with a large range, and therefore you will scan it. I find it does its best when travelling if you narrow down to just a few service types. I mean after all, you won't in the area long if you are travelling, so just to hear dispatch is fine by me. If you stop for a break, then add service types.

Yes, the HP-1 went to zero miles but I was getting so much distant traffic that I thought I would reduce it by limiting to 5 miles. I'm selecting only the three Law services and in Leominster, MA, I receive Nashua, NH which I guess is closer to 30 miles than 40. The point is, I don't want to hear Nashua while in central Massachusetts with the GPS on.

The RR database also has range set from the GPS coordinates and I can't change them in Sentinel I guess.

My 996T range setting was quite precise when it came to GPS settings. If the default for the HP-1 is zero, does that mean it will pick up any systems regardless of range? I'm missing something here.

Thanks for the feedback,
Skip

 

[mass-man]

Yep, but don't feel bad, as I took me a long while to get it. With the range set at 0 it is only going to look for systems whose range fall directly onto where you are with the HP1. By setting to 5 miles you have now asked it to go out and look for systems that are even further away. But these aren't five miles away...they may have been given a system range of 50 miles, so if you are 52 miles from the transmiiter and set on 5 it is going to scan them. With the range set on 0, it will not load them into what you can hear. Set it at 0 and you will scan fewer systems. It is not like the 996 where you told the scanner, I want to hear this system and that system, when I am within ??? range. I am afraid I am not giving you a great explanation.

Imagine you are driving down a highway, and the scanner of course know where you are. Around you on your route as dozens of radio systems. Small towns may have a range of 5 miles, cities 20 miles, counties 40 miles, and for statewide systems several hundred miles...as you move, you pass in and out of systems. If range is 0 then the HP1 only scans the ones you directly drive thru...if you set it for 5 or even more, it goes out and says, there is the edge of a aystem 4 miles away, I should include that one.

That said, this whole concept is such a radical new idea, it has to be looked at differently. The DB is tagged with the lat/lon of each system, and an estimate of range attached. Sometimes it is too much, sometimes not enuf. As time goes on, the DB will improve and range of the systems get more precise. You may be hearing the other areas, because the range is not set right on the entry. In that case, you can contact the DB administrator for your area and ask them to correct it.

I have used mine many times mobile, and at least in my area it works great...just a seamless move from systems as I drive out of the range of one and into another. Yea, I wanted to scream at the radio because I kept hearing the bus system police way out of town. But then realized they cover the routes into the suburbs, so the range is greater than just downtown. I eventually just made it an avoid. One of the reasons I do not use an external antenna. It will not reach out for distant systems, so don't need the antenna to be able to hear great distances.

Hope this helps....

There is a another good explanation on the www.homepatrol. com site under the blogs, titled Location...location...location...

 

[SkipLincoln]

Cool, thanks. I'll try it at zero.
Appreciate the assist,
Skip

 

[mass-man]

You are absolutely right. A prime example...the range of Nashua is set to 28 miles. That can't be right' as it shows a range extending south of Leonminster...contact the DB administrator and explain it to them. Probably work better coming from a local, and not a cowboy from TX!!!!!!!!

The more we point this out the better the system becomes and the better the HP1 works.

 

[SkipLincoln]

Will do.

Thanks again,
Skip

 

[selbydo]

Update
Null modem works!
As I discussed above I purchased the Garmin 18x PC and by mistake a male/male RS232 connector and this did not work with the HomePatrol-1 and GPS cable.
I ordered null modem after reading the posts on this forum...it worked
Hope others can learn from my mistake
PS any one want a new RS232 m/m connector?

 

[jkahn]

Update
Null modem works!
As I discussed above I purchased the Garmin 18x PC and by mistake a male/male RS232 connector and this did not work with the HomePatrol-1 and GPS cable.
I ordered null modem after reading the posts on this forum...it worked
Hope others can learn from my mistake

What cable and null modem did you end up with and from where?
I was going to buy the 18x with RS232 terminator, but if the 18x PC works, I can also use it for other things with the USB terminator (like my PC!). I was going to order everything from Amazon, but it was too confusing, so I held off. You can reply here or PM me. Thanks!

 

[fredv]

Just wanted to thank everyone that helped me with my GPS problem on my home patrol 1. Got the null modem adapter today and hooked it in line with the Garmin GPS 18XPS and the BWZY1227001 cable from Uniden. My problem was that the adapter was just a gender changer and not a null modem gender changer. Thanks again to all of you for your input. Fred V