Compatible Mobile GPS units

Status
Not open for further replies.

DaveIN

Founders Curmudgen
Database Admin
Joined
Jan 5, 2003
Messages
6,514
Reaction score
5
Location
West Michigan
I use the Garmin GPS18 (serial version) and the 60CSx. I've also used the eXtrex Legend (Serial) in the past with good luck.
 

K4APR

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2003
Messages
1,031
Reaction score
29
Location
Chesapeake, VA.
There are plenty of mapping GPS receivers that work with the Uniden. Just a couple off the top of my head are the Garmin 176C and 276C. These are both mapping with color maps and have a standard 4800 baud NMEA serial interface.

Another option is a Garmin Nuvi 350 using the newly developed converter cable that translates the Garmin Binary format to and from NMEA data at 4800 baud.

The maker is Argent Data Systems and the cable was originally made for Amateur Radio APRS applications, but I can't see why it would not work in this application as well.

Here is a link to the cable at ADS's website:

https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=114

I am an official ADS dealer (www.rpc-electronics.com) but I have not received any of these cables for stock yet, so for now, you can always order direct from ADS.
 

K4APR

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2003
Messages
1,031
Reaction score
29
Location
Chesapeake, VA.
Looks like Scott at ADS has updated the compatiable GPS list for the translator cable:

Garmin nüvi 300 series
StreetPilot c340
StreetPilot 7000 series
StreetPilot 2820 series
StreetPilot 2720 series
zumo 400 series
zumo 500 series
 

moses_108

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Jan 14, 2009
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Location
Turtle Lake, WI
Can we get some reviews on these units from anyone who has experience using them with there scanners.
 

UPMan

In Memoriam
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Apr 19, 2004
Messages
13,295
Reaction score
1,132
Location
Arlington, TX
If you mean their performance with the scanner, the rating scale is binary:

0: Doesn't work
1: Works

If you mean the general experience of using a GPS with the scanner, most reports I've seen from others who use the feature love it (myself included, but I am naturally biased). The only button I ever have to press while driving around DFW is L/O when I get a Close Call hit I don't want to keep scanning. All agencies automatically turn on/off so I don't have to wade through Dallas PD calls when I'm in Arlington (and vice versa). Actually, I have it set up so that each patrol district is geographically constrained so I don't hear Northside calls when I'm down in south end of town...
 

davidmc36

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Nov 14, 2004
Messages
1,861
Reaction score
3
Location
South East Ontario
If you mean the general experience of using a GPS with the scanner, most reports I've seen from others who use the feature love it ...

I too am in the "Love It" camp. Never have to take my eyes from the road. Just "Set it and Forget it". I will never put a non-GPS scanner in a vehicle. Am actually in the market right now for a 15 to stack on top of the 996.:D CD Player is going Bye-Bye:twisted:
 

jnewell

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
321
Reaction score
1
Does anyknow know off the top of their head whether the Garmin Geko series is the same standard as the eTrex and would therefore work with the 396XT?
 

ka3jjz

Wiki Admin Emeritus
Joined
Jul 22, 2002
Messages
25,887
Reaction score
2,573
Location
Bowie, Md.
Please don't be shy about adding compatible models to the wiki....this is the kind of question that will, no doubt, come up again and again, now that the new handhelds have GPS capability 73 Mike
 

jnewell

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
321
Reaction score
1
I need to dig out the specs for the Geko series but things have been flying around at home & work recently....
 

mrscanner2008

Member
Joined
Jun 21, 2008
Messages
334
Reaction score
44
Location
Canada
Does anyone know if the GPS that came with Microsoft Street & trips works with the BCD996T?

thanks

Mrscanner2008
 

davidmc36

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Nov 14, 2004
Messages
1,861
Reaction score
3
Location
South East Ontario
USB connector. maybe with USB-serial adaptor?

Mrscanner2008
Unfourtunately no. You can convert a serial device to plug into USB but not the other way around. The puck ouputs the right NMEA sentences but needs a USB host to run it, AFAIK.

EDIT: After reading this:

Features
iGPS-500 Convertible GPS Receiver Design allows you to use one GPS receiver for multiple configurations (i.e. CF, PCMCIA with adapter, USB, sync cable, and Bluetooth) (these accessories sold separately)
Enhanced sensitivity receiver (Fast acquisition time)

On this page:

http://www.pharosgps.com/products/proddetail.asp?prod=006_PB010_1.00&cat=141

I makes me wonder where the "USB" interface is, in the puck or in the cable? Could you hack up a serial cable for the puck? When you hook that reciever to a PCMCIA card isn't the interface "Serial"?
 
Last edited:

jnewell

Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2002
Messages
321
Reaction score
1
Yes, the Geko will work. The rear connector is a small round, four pin connector with a keyed flat side. I sell the serial cable for the Geko at www.rpc-electronics.com

Thanks, I was guessing it would work because the cable is physically the same as for the eTrex, which is listed. I have a serial cable for the eTrex but the Geko is a much more compact unit so I was toying with that.
 

K4APR

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2003
Messages
1,031
Reaction score
29
Location
Chesapeake, VA.
Thanks, I was guessing it would work because the cable is physically the same as for the eTrex, which is listed. I have a serial cable for the eTrex but the Geko is a much more compact unit so I was toying with that.

You're right, the Geko does use the same eTrex connector. For some reason I was thinking about the Rino, which does use the small round connector I descibed above.
 

mmtstc

Ø
Joined
Aug 3, 2005
Messages
880
Reaction score
51
Location
Minneapolis Area
I am sure i missed it simply because of my own ineptitude and lack of hardware savvy, but am I gonna be pretty much limited to a Puck-like unit or piggybacking from a conventional handheld GPS unit? Ideally what i would like to do is just drill the hole and make a more permanent installation on my trunk versus velcro-ing something to the deck behind my back seats. Not to get all wacker-esque or anything, but i would prefer an installation that resembles what one would see on a public safety vehicle... Or am i just confusing hardware bits? Again, my apologies if this has already been covered or if it is completely off-base...
 

davidmc36

Member
Premium Subscriber
Joined
Nov 14, 2004
Messages
1,861
Reaction score
3
Location
South East Ontario
Ideally what i would like to do is just drill the hole and make a more permanent installation on my trunk versus velcro-ing something to the deck behind my back seats.
If you are thinking better reception on the trunk lid I don't think it would be worth it. Any of my GPS recievers get 11/12 satellites at 70-90% signal sitting on the front dash. Get some two-way tape that they have at Wal-mart. it comes on a small roll in a blister pack with red peel-away film. I had my speaker mounted with it in the Corolla and it never even thought of coming loose, but didn't leave behind any gunk when I took it off for trade in. One of those nice black pucks mounted close to the front and you should be able to hide the cable in some nooks and crannies to get it down to you scanner. Or if you have the scanner in the trunk with remote head same thing only on the rear deck. I think one of those black pucks would actually come out looking quite professsional.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top