I notice most sites and talkgroups have GPS information. As I understand it, the scanners first check the sites for activity and if found, check for TG activity. Unless you want a TG range different than the site, why have TG GPS enabled?
GPS Use/Settings
- Thread starter Randy_Vick
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Spitfire8520
I might be completely clueless! =)
For the reason you noted. For large systems, like some statewide systems, users who use location-based scanning will often want to use the talkgroup locations to filter down to local traffic only.
Exactly. But if the location and distance are the same, is there any reason to also enable GPS for the TG?
A little hair-splitting. Talkgroups themselves do not have location information. Rather the Department (or group) to which a talkgroup is associated, has the location. In the great scheme of things, the location and range of Departments is set based on the Department's service area.
For example, you are in Los Angeles County California, but NOT actually in the city of Los Angeles. There is a site that covers all Los Angeles County. LA County has a Department for the Sheriff and LA County Fire. There is also a Department for Los Angeles city talkgroups. (As you would expect, the County Distance or Range, is larger because it covers a greater footprint.
As you enter LA County, the County Site comes on as does the County Department, but not the city Department because you are still outside of the city. The city Department becomes active only when you enter the city's coverage area which is a function of location and Range.
So a site's location and distance is often different from the Department's location and distance.
It seems a little strange at first, but gradually sinks in. So there is a "method to the madness".
For example, you are in Los Angeles County California, but NOT actually in the city of Los Angeles. There is a site that covers all Los Angeles County. LA County has a Department for the Sheriff and LA County Fire. There is also a Department for Los Angeles city talkgroups. (As you would expect, the County Distance or Range, is larger because it covers a greater footprint.
As you enter LA County, the County Site comes on as does the County Department, but not the city Department because you are still outside of the city. The city Department becomes active only when you enter the city's coverage area which is a function of location and Range.
So a site's location and distance is often different from the Department's location and distance.
It seems a little strange at first, but gradually sinks in. So there is a "method to the madness".
No problem with attention to detail. But here is the point: In a city like Suffolk , VA (desired coverage area for the site and departments/groups is the same), if I have GPS enabled for the site, is there any reason to also enable it for the departments/groups? It may seem minor but, for similar systems I'm trying to avoid A) remembering to update the site and/or range for each department/group when I adjust the site and B) reduce the beeps as the scanner temporarily locks out or re-enables based on location.
You cannot enable location control (using a GPS) for only a site without also having it enabled for talkgroups (actually for talkgroups, the location information is entered at the Department level, not for individual talkgroups) on the system. It's either on for that specific Favorites list, or off. If using the main database and a GPS, you would need to use location, which applies to all sites and departments. There is no option to independently activate location control for part of a system, like a site, without also using location for the departments and their associated talkgroups.
Site locations don't change, so you only need to enter the location information once. Entering location info for both departments and sites is mandatory to use GPS. Sites and departments rarely have identical service areas. A site may cover most of a county, while departments may only cover specific towns within the county. Conversely, a site may only cover part of a town, and you may need several sites to cover an entire county.
There usually isn't a beep when location control toggles a site or department.
There usually isn't a beep when location control toggles a site or department.
Also, bear in mind that in this forum here, we are talking about global use of GPS devices, rather than for one specific system or area. Your specific location/system/area may be the exception to the general "rules".
Specific areas and systems often have nuances that folks like us are unaware. For a better discussion of whether GPS devices is helpful and if so, the best ways of doing that, might be lead to more specific and satisfying answers if posted in the Virginia page.
Specific areas and systems often have nuances that folks like us are unaware. For a better discussion of whether GPS devices is helpful and if so, the best ways of doing that, might be lead to more specific and satisfying answers if posted in the Virginia page.
Gotcha. Thats the information I was looking for.
Correct about site locations - I've had to adjust a number of ranges though. And I understand the potential for multiple sites for political or regional jurisdictions.
It seems I'm getting more beeps than sites I would anticipate being enabled/temporarily locked out during my regional travels. As I was driving I wasn't able to monitor the display to see precisely what was happening. The alternative was to have my wife drive and I'd prefer to avoid that.
Understood. I was using a specific system/area to try to improve clarity of my question.
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