GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver

[CorwinScansNM]

Hi everybody,

I was just wondering if the GlobalSat BU-353-S4 USB GPS Receiver is compatible to use with the Uniden BCD536HP Digital Scanner for location based scanning control? I can't find anywhere on the web to tell me or answer this question regarding this Product. I unfortunately, already ordered this specific GPS Receiver for this use but am now second guessing & questioning myself as to if this may not work for use with my Uniden BCD536HP Digital Scanner? I am yet to receive this GPS Receiver but it will be here shortly. I may have to Ship it back or refuse Delivery of it if this is not going to work for or with my Uniden BCD536HP.

 

[vagrant]

You would need to cut the USB type A connector off and then figure out what wires are what for the GPS. Connect the correct wires to a USB type B connector so that it will fit into the scanner. You will then need to use a correct power source for the GPS and wire that separately into the correct wires for the GPS as I am doubtful the scanner provides power out. Still, I am unsure if that would work.

I would take the easy route as Uniden sells a GPS to be used with the BCD536HP.

Serial GPS Receiver BC-SGPS

GPS Module Kit. The BC-SGPS provides a GPS signal/location in time to a Uniden scanner that does not have access to a GPS source (internal or external). You can connect this module kit directly to a scanner or CB radio or to a converter unit (included). The converter unit connects the GPS unit...

uniden.com

 

[CorwinScansNM]

You would need to cut the USB type A connector off and then figure out what wires are what for the GPS. Connect the correct wires to a USB type B connector so that it will fit into the scanner. You will then need to use a correct power source for the GPS and wire that separately into the correct wires for the GPS as I am doubtful the scanner provides power out. Still, I am unsure if that would work.

I would take the easy route as Uniden sells a GPS to be used with the BCD536HP.

Serial GPS Receiver BC-SGPS

GPS Module Kit. The BC-SGPS provides a GPS signal/location in time to a Uniden scanner that does not have access to a GPS source (internal or external). You can connect this module kit directly to a scanner or CB radio or to a converter unit (included). The converter unit connects the GPS unit...

uniden.com

Darn it. I was afraid that I was trying to be too simple for my use of location based scanning with that cheap GPS Receiver that I ordered. I will not deal with that much trouble for it & my BCD536HP. It will simply be refused or shipped back.

Now the problem that I see with ordering the Uniden GPSK BC-SGPS, Universal Receiver is that I am not going to be using it for my BCD536HP in a Vehicle in any way, shape or form but instead, in my Home only for location control Scanner receiving of my Statewide DTRS System. Therefore, the kit only has the Power source to be provided to the GPS using the stinkin Car Lighter plug in & no way of plugging it into a wall outlet or USB Wall Charger to Power it. This seen & learned from the YouTube Video that I just watched on the Uniden GPSK BC-SGPS.

 

[nessnet]

I'm not sure about the 536, but the 436 needs serial protocol (not USB like the BU-353-S4 is). That (serial puck) you'd need would be the BR-355S4.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AMAJFUO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Oh wait.... above (BC-SGPS) link... the Uniden unit is showing as serial, so that'd mean you ordered the wrong (USB) one and you'll need to return it.

BTW, the Uniden GPS being referred to you above is a real POS - a rats nest and a kludge. I'd personally avoid it. A regular here (Jon) can help you out in the GPS dept. I'd reach out (unidenscanners.com). If it (536 GPS) isn't listed, just ask him...

 

[sfb88]

This is a little confusing to me. If you are not mobile and just using it for location control at home, do you need a GPS at all? Can't you determine your latitude and longitude position from a smart phone or Google Earth or something and input those coordinates into the scanner? Then set appropriate ranges and turn on location control to control what is scanned.

 

[nessnet]

"I am not going to be using it for my BCD536HP in a Vehicle in any way, shape or form but instead, in my Home only for location control Scanner receiving of my Statewide DTRS System.

You do know you can manually enter GPS coordinates into your radio, right....?? (If always stationary, no need for a GPS).

 

[CorwinScansNM]

You do know you can manually enter GPS coordinates into your radio, right....?? (If always stationary, no need for a GPS).

Yes, I definitely knew that & have tried it without success. The Location Control on my BCD536HP is not & was not working correctly to filter out & let me just hear my local Fire Station down the Road from me on the new Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System for my State. Even with my low set Range on my BCD536HP, my exact GPS Coordinates for my Home programmed into my Scanner, as well as the exact GPS Location Coordinates for the Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System in my State which were downloaded directly through Sentinel for the Trunked System.
Therefore, I was going to go at this to try to accomplish Location Control Scanning at my House with a GPS Receiver to see if that would work & be the trick to accomplish Location Control Scanning to help filter out all of the other far away & annoying Dispatch Calls that I have to hear & listen to on the Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System here in New Mexico. It sounds like it may not work either or even be worth trying, as for I do not use my Uniden BCD536HP Scanner for Travel use purposes.

 

[CorwinScansNM]

I'm not sure about the 536, but the 436 needs serial protocol (not USB like the BU-353-S4 is). That (serial puck) you'd need would be the BR-355S4.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AMAJFUO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Oh wait.... above (BC-SGPS) link... the Uniden unit is showing as serial, so that'd mean you ordered the wrong (USB) one and you'll need to return it.

BTW, the Uniden GPS being referred to you above is a real POS - a rats nest and a kludge. I'd personally avoid it. A regular here (Jon) can help you out in the GPS dept. I'd reach out (unidenscanners.com). If it (536 GPS) isn't listed, just ask him...

I ordered the GPS as shown below for my Uniden BCD536HP Scanner thinking that it would work for it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008200LHW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[dave3825]

I am pretty sure that is the same gps I bought for my 436. I chopped the end, fed it power, and believe it was only one wire needed to pass the data.

But, all the gps is going to do is tell the scanner your location, and if its the same location as the one you already entered, its going to do the same thing most likely.

What you should try is go into Sentinel, read your scanner, and then hit edit, and look for "add channels on range". It will bring up the following screen. Instead of doing lat long, hit the zip code button and enter your zip code. Select / deselect your service types. Then set a range and hit ok. It will then ask you to pick a fav list to add to, or create a new one. For this test, create new. This will use info from any saved favorites list you have and plus the full database. (thought there was a way without the full db) Then after it completes, go in the list you created and see if the things you cant listen to are listed. If so, and you want to upload the list to the scanner, give it a quick key and do not forget to set download and monitor to on.

In the event that what you are trying to listen to is not there, then its possible the gps info listed in Radio Reference is wrong. It does happen.

 

[mancow]

You would need to cut the USB type A connector off and then figure out what wires are what for the GPS. Connect the correct wires to a USB type B connector so that it will fit into the scanner. You will then need to use a correct power source for the GPS and wire that separately into the correct wires for the GPS as I am doubtful the scanner provides power out. Still, I am unsure if that would work.

I would take the easy route as Uniden sells a GPS to be used with the BCD536HP.

Serial GPS Receiver BC-SGPS

GPS Module Kit. The BC-SGPS provides a GPS signal/location in time to a Uniden scanner that does not have access to a GPS source (internal or external). You can connect this module kit directly to a scanner or CB radio or to a converter unit (included). The converter unit connects the GPS unit...

uniden.com

That won't work. It's still talking to USB not TTL. You need a true TTL GPS.

 

[dave3825]

Just looked thru my amazon history and this is the one I use with my 436, GlobalSat BR-355S4 GPS Receiver (Black)

 

[Ubbe]

Yes, I definitely knew that & have tried it without success.

The GPS isn't a magical device. It just fills in the values for for you in the lat and long fields instead of you manually entering them. The scanners location control can't tell the difference between manual entered values or GPS fetched values, it operates in the exact same way.

The problem are the database. Some settings in the DB will be wrong and most are put there from calculating the range from output power and antenna hight in the FCC license. The TG's in departments could have been set to a huge range in the DB. The range you set yourself in the scanner only tells how much that should be added to the range already set in the DB.

Enter your lat and long and set your range to 0 and append to a favorite list. Look in the favotite list and make avoids on system that you do not want to scan and then program the scanner. Monitor the systems and make permanent avoids to TG's that you do not wish to hear and then read back from scanner to Sentinel and save that file.

/Ubbe

 

[dlwtrunked]

a couple things here:

 

[dlwtrunked]

Not sure what happened to the rest of my post. But the points have been already covered.

 

[donc13]

Yes, use locat

Yes, I definitely knew that & have tried it without success. The Location Control on my BCD536HP is not & was not working correctly to filter out & let me just hear my local Fire Station down the Road from me on the new Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System for my State. Even with my low set Range on my BCD536HP, my exact GPS Coordinates for my Home programmed into my Scanner, as well as the exact GPS Location Coordinates for the Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System in my State which were downloaded directly through Sentinel for the Trunked System.
Therefore, I was going to go at this to try to accomplish Location Control Scanning at my House with a GPS Receiver to see if that would work & be the trick to accomplish Location Control Scanning to help filter out all of the other far away & annoying Dispatch Calls that I have to hear & listen to on the Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System here in New Mexico. It sounds like it may not work either or even be worth trying, as for I do not use my Uniden BCD536HP Scanner for Travel use purposes.

Just use you zip code for location.

You need to limit service types to only those you want.

While the station may be right down the road, the actual trunked transmit site for the fire dept can be miles away.

 

[CorwinScansNM]

It's confirmed. Location control scanning is not working on my BCD536HP no matter what I do or try. Location control is enabled on the Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System on my Scanner with my exact Location entered into my scanner as well as the multiple different Latitude & Longitudes for the NM Statewide Digital Trunked Radio System that were downloaded directly from Sentinel. Even with my set Range on my BCD536HP being set at 2 to 5 Miles, I am still picking up & hearing far away & unwanted Dispatch Fire & Police Calls in the City West of me as far away as 30 Miles with Location control scanning enabled & programmed on my BCD536HP

To me, it seems that the built-in Location Feature may be blown & unfunctional for whatever reason in my unit? This is the first Month that I have wanted & needed to use this feature on my Scanner to try in cut down on the overwhelming amount of far away Dispatch Calls & Transmissions & to try to only hear what is right down the Road from me on this new Statewide Digital Trunked System being used in my State.

 

[CorwinScansNM]

While the station may be right down the road, the actual trunked transmit site for the fire dept can be miles away.

Interesting & good to know.

 

[dave3825]

Can you post a link to the system and name the site your listening to? And the name of the said fire dept with its talk group id?

 

[ka3jjz]

We have a number of GPSs that have been reported to work in our wiki, but we could always use more....

GPS Units and Connections - The RadioReference Wiki

wiki.radioreference.com

Mike

 

[CorwinScansNM]

Can you post a link to the system and name the site your listening to? And the name of the said fire dept with its talk group id?

I just Private Messaged you Dave on RR.