BCT15 GPS Newbie

[cgresq192]

Hello

I just got a BCT15 and still getting used to it.

I programmed it up via ARC15 and it seems to work fine

I've made sure all my systems are set for "Enable GPS Based Scanning"

No GPS is connected yet and it seems to scan all systems and turn on.

Is this by default until a GPS is connected?

Once a GPS is connected will it only turn on systems based on the GPS settings?

Thanks for any help

 

[UPMan]

What you are seeing right now is not directly related to GPS. Sounds like when you set up the file in ARC, you left all systems unlocked and all sites enabled. So, you can change the current configuration in ARC and reload to have some sites locked out and some unlocked. However, if you plan to use GPS to control all systems, having everything that you want to be controlled by GPS enabled/unlocked is what you want to do.

When you connect a GPS, for systems/sites with SQK enabled the scanner will temporarily lock out systems/sites if you are outside of their range and unlock systems if you are inside their range.

GPS won't affect the SQK status (and won't spend any time trying to determine if you are inside/outside a system/site's range if its SQK is disabled).

If you'll use the scanner both with and w/o a GPS, this can be a bit unwieldly, as when you don't have a GPS connected you'll likely want to listen to only a particular set of systems/sites. For my setup, I've created a duplicate set of systems for my stationary operation (at the office). GPS controlled systems are assigned to Startup Key 1. Office systems are assigned to Startup Key 2. When I'm going mobile, I power the scanner up while pressing "1" to unlock all the GPS systems and lock all the non-GPS systems. When I'm stationary at the office, I power up while holding "2" to reverse this. Uses additional memory to do this, but I've got plenty to spare.

 

[737mech]

Bct15 Gps

Hello

I just got a BCT15 and still getting used to it.

I programmed it up via ARC15 and it seems to work fine

I've made sure all my systems are set for "Enable GPS Based Scanning"

No GPS is connected yet and it seems to scan all systems and turn on.

Is this by default until a GPS is connected?

Once a GPS is connected will it only turn on systems based on the GPS settings?

Thanks for any help

You have a GPS tab on arc 15 and the system you want to toggle on or off needs a "range" setting, you need to set the prefferred range from the system and set a central location for that system. The manual goes over this using the center of a city as an example. So think of it as each system needs a location and a range parameter. Using ACR15 you can enter an address to find gps coordinates if you don't know them. Then when you plug in the gps feed it all works as advertised.

 

[cgresq192]

Thanks for the quick response UPman

I plan on using the GPS to control all my systems.

How do I set this in ARC?

 

[UPMan]

See post #3.

 

[cgresq192]

I already have done this.

My question is, once the GPS is connected with this be enforced?

Right now all systems are being scanned.

I was assuming this is becasue the gps is not connected

 

[UPMan]

Yep, just connect the GPS (make sure the rear port is set to 4800 bps) and you should be good to go.

 

[737mech]

Exactly

I already have done this.

My question is, once the GPS is connected with this be enforced?

Right now all systems are being scanned.

I was assuming this is becasue the gps is not connected

Yes, without GPS inputs the scanner does not know where it is. The functions (toggle on/off) are all based on gps position. Just because you entered a state for HP for the scanner it still needs GPS data for the GPS feature to work correctly. Entering a "State" has nothing to do with GPS location scanning. It only choses the correct Highway Patrol Freqs preprogrammed by Uniden. Your scanner still doesn't know where it is. I have tried this with a Garmin GPS-18PC and a Garmin 60csx. It works great if you have all the locations stored correctly.

On topic I have a wishlist item for UpMan, How about updaing a POI database into the scanner or providing provisions to use Garmin/Magellan/Lowrance/Google Earth file types to make it easier to transfer poi files into the scanner? That would be a valuable feature. In fact it should be a seperate program all together to load POI's using Google Earth. Just my $.02

 

[cgresq192]

Ok,

I have connected the GPS. It says "Searching for Satellites" then after a minute "GPS Connected"

All the systems are still unlocked.

I did notice that in the GPS screen it has the compass heading/time and MPH

Below the heading it says "OFF"

Any help is appreciated.

 

[UPMan]

You need to recheck the lat/lon/range for the systems. Most common problem is using an incorrect format for lat/lon.

This link might be helpful: http://wiki.radioreference.com/inde...pher_coordinates_that_look_like_445812.79N.3F

 

[cgresq192]

See Attached screenshot.

Once the gps says connected I know it takes a few minutes to sync .

Do I need to do anything else to the device? menus etc.

 

[cgresq192]

I see the issue.

The settings need to be changed to DMS

Thanks!