SDS100/SDS200: Uniden GPS

[bamx2]

Two questions:

1) What are the specifications on the new GPS unit power plug? I saw the interface box between the puck and my SDS100 requires 6V. Does anyone know the plug size? The plug they sent me was dead, and to be honest I don't want to mess with a return claim for the power plug.

2) is there any alternate ways of connecting the GPS puck to the SDS100?

 

[tvengr]

Did you match the GPS baud rate in the scanner to match the GPS puck? The new Uniden universal GPS kits use a 9600 baud rate.

 

[bamx2]

Bumping this up before I take a trip. If I just throw a new cigar plug on there it shouldn’t cause an issue?

 

[n1chu]

2) is there any alternate ways of connecting the GPS puck to the SDS100?

Yes. Hardwire it into the fuse box. Refer to the vehicle manual, locate the fuse box inside the cabin, identify which fuse sockets support auxiliary andd-ons. You won’t need the cigarette plug. Get your power directly from the fuse box.
Note: the auxiliary fuse sockets may be considered an exessory which loose power when the vehicle is shut off. If you need power when the vehicle is off, look for another fuse socket that is always hot (most every fuse (regardless of fuse amperage, will support your 7 volt requirement).

 

[ofd8001]

For some reason, I was thinking that the Uniden plug has something that steps voltage down. A long time ago, I thought I could cut off the plug and wire it direct. Ended up burning out the GPS device.

That was a model or two ago and it may have changed. I suggest you contact someone like Scannermaster before you put any plug on it.

 

[n1chu]

I have a Uniden GPS for the SDS200 in my vehicle hard wired into the cabin fuse block and never had a problem but it’s been some time since I did the installation and my memory isn’t as sharp as it once was. So, please take this with a grain of salt… any opposing posts will be appreciated-if I’m not correct, I’d like to know so I don’t continue giving bad advice.

I believe the Uniden cigarette plug on their GPS unit might have a fuse rated at some value of amps but there’s no voltage regulation happening at that point. If you blew up a previous GPS unit and you wired it correctly, I’d suspect you got a faulty one. But more likely than not it was probably wired incorrectly, once you cut off the cigarette plug you have two wires, one is for 12 volt positive and the other is for 12 volt negative. If these wires were crossed, the unit won’t work and likely damage will occur.

 

[dave3825]

The plug they sent me was dead,

Many of those cigarette lighter style plugs have a fuse in them. Check if yours has one as that may be the simplest solution. If the gps is rated for 6 volts, and you put 12 (13.8) usually, there's a good chance you could burn out the gps.

The style of power plug shown here many times has a fuse in the tip.

I have a Uniden GPS for the SDS200 in my vehicle hard wired into the cabin fuse block and never had a problem but it’s been some time since I did the installation and my memory isn’t as sharp as it once was.

Do you have what's pictured above? I am curious as I just built a gps for my sds200 and it uses 3.3volts.

 

[donc13]

I have a Uniden GPS for the SDS200 in my vehicle hard wired into the cabin fuse block and never had a problem but it’s been some time since I did the installation and my memory isn’t as sharp as it once was. So, please take this with a grain of salt… any opposing posts will be appreciated-if I’m not correct, I’d like to know so I don’t continue inue giving bad advice.

I believe the Uniden cigarette plug on their GPS unit might have a fuse rated at some value of amps but there’s no voltage regulation happening at that point. If you blew up a previous GPS unit and you wired it correctly, I’d suspect you got a faulty one. But more likely than not it was probably wired incorrectly, once you cut off the cigarette plug you have two wires, one is for 12 volt positive and the other is for 12 volt negative. If these wires were crossed, the unit won’t work and likely damage will occur.

The latest GPS kit (BC-SGPS) requires no external voltage connection when used with the SDS200. The puck is only connected to the SDS200 via the 4 wire phone line and gets its power directly from the SDS200. That's inhome on 120v power or in vehicle on 12v power.

 

[N9JIG]

The latest GPS kit (BC-SGPS) requires no external voltage connection when used with the SDS200. The puck is only connected to the SDS200 via the 4 wire phone line and gets its power directly from the SDS200. That's inhome on 120v power or in vehicle on 12v power.

Also, be sure that the cable from the radio to the GPS is either the one supplied in the kit or is a straight-thru, 4-wire phone style one. If you need to use a longer one check the continuity for all 4 pins, many phone cords these days only have 2 wires.

Please see this thread for a complete description of the GPS kit: Uniden Universal GPS Kit

 

[n1chu]

Many of those cigarette lighter style plugs have a fuse in them. Check if yours has one as that may be the simplest solution. If the gps is rated for 6 volts, and you put 12 (13.8) usually, there's a good chance you could burn out the gps.

The style of power plug shown here many times has a fuse in the tip.


View attachment 132999


Do you have what's pictured above? I am curious as I just built a gps for my sds200 and it uses 3.3volts.

Sorry, memory is vague but I ordered it from Scanner Master if that’s any help. As for the voltage required… Uniden knows what the GPS unit needs for voltage and manage that after the cigarette plug… which Uniden knows will see 12 volts. Otherwise they wouldn’t supply a cigarette plug with the unit because cigarette plugs plug into 12 volt receptacles.

 

[dave3825]

I understand that but as far as I know, the gps for an SDS200 uses just a phone cord and does not use a cigarette plug cable. You said you hardwired your gps to your fuse box?

 

[n1chu]

The latest GPS kit (BC-SGPS) requires no external voltage connection when used with the SDS200. The puck is only connected to the SDS200 via the 4 wire phone line and gets its power directly from the SDS200. That's inhome on 120v power or in vehicle on 12v power.

I stand corrected. Thanks donc13. I’ve confused my GPS installations. At one time I had another scanner mounted on a motorcycle with GPS. I guess I confused the two installs.

 

[n1chu]

I understand that but as far as I know, the gps for an SDS200 uses just a phone cord and does not use a cigarette plug cable. You said you hardwired your gps to your fuse box?

Thanks for the correction dave3825. I’ve confused my SDS200 GPS install with another GPS install on a motorcycle I had… please disregard my first post.

 

[garys]

Found that out on the trip back from South Carolina in 2020. I used a dollar store phone cable with a bad connector and got zero GPS signal. I also found out that the Auto Locate feature doesn't work well while mobile.

Also, be sure that the cable from the radio to the GPS is either the one supplied in the kit or is a straight-thru, 4-wire phone style one. If you need to use a longer one check the continuity for all 4 pins, many phone cords these days only have 2 wires.

Please see this thread for a complete description of the GPS kit: Uniden Universal GPS Kit

 

[bamx2]

Thanks for all of the reply’s.
I believe I have the older version that doesn’t power from the scanner, it has the puck and the converter box. EDIT: I stand corrected. I am using the BC-SGPS but it’s with the SDS100 not 200.
I went to grab it last night to play with it, and it’s not where I left it last. 🤦🏼‍♂️
Looks like it might be zip code maps for me on this trip.

 

[donc13]

Found that out on the trip back from South Carolina in 2020. I used a dollar store phone cable with a bad connector and got zero GPS signal. I also found out that the Auto Locate feature doesn't work well while mobile.

Auto Locate essentialy scans the bands to see what combinations of frequencies and/or trunked systems are in use and then tries to match up to a location in the nationwide database. It's a fairly slow process, especially in rural areas where there are low volumes of radio traffic.

And, of course, if you are moving, the actual location changes constantly. So definitely not advisable for mobile use.

 

[N9JIG]

Thanks for all of the reply’s.
I believe I have the older version that doesn’t power from the scanner, it has the puck and the converter box. EDIT: I stand corrected. I am using the BC-SGPS but it’s with the SDS100 not 200.
I went to grab it last night to play with it, and it’s not where I left it last. 🤦🏼‍♂️
Looks like it might be zip code maps for me on this trip.

Once you locate the GPS Kit make sure that the grey phone cable has all 4 conductors, if that got swapped out it might not work properly.

On the SDS100 the connection to the radio is via the USB-Mini port, the same one that is used for charging and programming. The cable from that goes to the adapter box. ALso connected to the adapter box is the GPS receiver itself (via the aforementioned phone cable) and the power plug.

For the power plug be sure that the fuse in the tip is good. There should be voltage (5VDC I think) at the plug going into the adapter box so if you have a volt meter you can check that.

Also be sure to set the GPS speed on the radio to 9600, the GPS kit is that speed and radios often default to 4800.

 

[garys]

I ended up redoing auto locate every time we stopped. It worked OK, but obviously was not as good as having live GPS Data. As soon as I got home and figured out the problem was with the phone call I went out and got another one. Which is pretty hard to do these days since nobody has phones in their house any more.

Auto Locate essentialy scans the bands to see what combinations of frequencies and/or trunked systems are in use and then tries to match up to a location in the nationwide database. It's a fairly slow process, especially in rural areas where there are low volumes of radio traffic.

And, of course, if you are moving, the actual location changes constantly. So definitely not advisable for mobile use.

 

[CTWaters]

Thanks for all of the reply’s.
I believe I have the older version that doesn’t power from the scanner, it has the puck and the converter box. EDIT: I stand corrected. I am using the BC-SGPS but it’s with the SDS100 not 200.
I went to grab it last night to play with it, and it’s not where I left it last. 🤦🏼‍♂️
Looks like it might be zip code maps for me on this trip.

So are you saying that you don't need any external power source with the SDS100?

I have been debating getting one, because I have an SDS100 & BCD436 that I take mobile, and every now and again, I'll grab the SDS200.

If the newer GPS kit doesn't require external power for any of those three, that would be awesome!

 

[N9JIG]

Both GPS devices require outside power when used with the SDS100. They do provide power TO the SDS100 but require 12VDC power to the GPS.

The ONLY Uniden scanner that does not require power to the GPS is the SDS200 with the SGPS module, it is powered directly from the SDS200. The other Uniden scanners do not provide power up the line to the GPS module.