GPS antenna for the BCD396XT

[SKPhoton]

I just ordered the BCD396XT off of eBay. It's the first scanner I've had and I'm a n00b at scanning, so I've got a couple quick questions about the GPS.

I'm looking at the Garmin GPS 18x. I see that it's got a cigarette lighter charger. Does this also power the scanner so I don't need a separate charger for it?

Also, it looks like there's a version of the cable specifically for the HomePatrol-1 that uses the Uniden's proprietary USB plug. Would this work for the 396 as well?

 

[scruggsy]

http://www8.garmin.com/manuals/GPS18x_TechnicalSpecifications.pdf

I found the online manual, and it looks like the cig lighter charger is used to maintain power to the GPS unit only, given the power input and output levels described in the manual.

 

[SKPhoton]

I think you're right. Thanks.

 

[Bat_Hawk]

GPS antenna for 396

Hi

what is the model number to the gps unit on the bottom pic. The connection looks like it would fit in the side of the 396

thanks

Jimm

JImm4488@gmail.com

 

[SKPhoton]

I heard back from Garmin actually and they said that the GPS antenna takes a lot of power which is why the cigarette lighter adapter is needed. It doesn't send power through the serial port so it doesn't have a way of powering a scanner.

 

[davidmc36]

I just ordered the BCD396XT off of eBay. It's the first scanner I've had and I'm a n00b at scanning, so I've got a couple quick questions about the GPS.

I'm looking at the Garmin GPS 18x. I see that it's got a cigarette lighter charger. Does this also power the scanner so I don't need a separate charger for it?

Also, it looks like there's a version of the cable specifically for the HomePatrol-1 that uses the Uniden's proprietary USB plug. Would this work for the 396 as well?

If that is supposed to be for the Home Patrol, and the picture is correct, it doesn't look right.

This looks like a standard Mini USB:

USB Programming Cable [for Uniden HomePatrol & GRE PSR-800]

Which would be different than the 396. That one you have pictured above looks more like the 396 plug.

Kinda hard to tell if the plug looks black like the 396 or if it is just shadow.

 

[SKPhoton]

Here's the link to the site that sells that cable: https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=162

The Garmin rep didn't know anything about that cable and said they don't make it. I don't see anyone else selling it. His guess was that they took the cable that has no connector on the end and spliced this USB-like connector onto the tip.

Even if someone did that though, he said it wouldn't supply power either way.

 

[davidmc36]

Here's the link to the site that sells that cable: https://www.argentdata.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=162

The Garmin rep didn't know anything about that cable and said they don't make it. I don't see anyone else selling it. His guess was that they took the cable that has no connector on the end and spliced this USB-like connector onto the tip.

Even if someone did that though, he said it wouldn't supply power either way.

I can see the connector well in the bigger picture on you link. It sure looks like it has the little groove and is the plastic type for use on the 396. If you were to hunt around you can find that connector on some old cheapo digital camera USB cables too.

 

[SKPhoton]

I've got plenty of extra USB cables lying around. My 396 is still en route (I just ordered it) so I don't know if it's a mini-USB or micro-USB. Either way, isn't it a proprietary connector that you need Uniden's special cable for?

 

[davidmc36]

I've got plenty of extra USB cables lying around. My 396 is still en route (I just ordered it) so I don't know if it's a mini-USB or micro-USB. Either way, isn't it a proprietary connector that you need Uniden's special cable for?

Not exactly proprietary, but not common either. I have a couple old mini cheapo digital cameras with that plug but have not seen it on anything except Uniden scanners for many years now.

It is not what is refereed to as Mini or Micro these days.

 

[mainetrunk]

Uniden GPS Receiver for BCD996XT/BCT15X/BCD396XT/BC346XT and HomePatrol
I got 1 from scannermaster-gps. Magnet to that black junction rir with the 2 screws-with grips.Comes together with another wir in that junction, That wire goes to anonother connection,that goes into cig.lighter. On that black junction-those oblong peices that either have holes or has the needle like things that gointo the holes. It goes to a piece that turns it into another piece,3 connectors there. So, 1 weird piece that connects on to another black plastic junction-that leads to the plug that goes into 396xt. 1 wire is about 10 feet long. It works, but what a mess on the seat. Now a new 1? Mine went for a total of $81.00 thru scannermaster. I had to buy 1 peice at a time. They jerked me around so hard. But it works-5stars for gps,on scanner---nice!