GPS With Favorites List

[TxNomad]

Hello all,

I am new here and new to the Uniden BCD536HP. I just recently purchased it and these forums and Radio reference in general have been a huge help, thanks to all of you! I understand the concept of how everything works together in the scanner for the most part, but have a couple of quick questions. I searched around to see if anyone had answered one of them, but did not find it.

I will have the Uniden GPS hooked up to the scanner and am currently working on a favorites list in Sentinel. I am taking a trip tomorrow and will only want to use the favorites list I am creating while in that area. I have added everything I want to listen to in the favorites list, and I understand that the departments and sites have to have locations set to be able to use it with the GPS (hope that is correct).

Question 1 - How do you enable location control for the favorites list? Is that an option in Sentinel or in the scanner itself? If I don't enable location control will it still only scan my favorites list, but just everything in it?

Question 2 - I have checked the Lat/Long that were in the locations for departments and sites to make sure they are correct. There was one that was a national guard air channel that had a Lat/long in West Texas but I want to see if they are using it in the area I am in, so I change the Lat/Long to the center of the are I will be in. Is this correct or should I have left it? If I had left it where it was at would I still hear it a few hundred miles away? Was not real clear on the coordinates and how they play a role. Are they only for when you are using Range?

Question 3 - While using GPS with the favorites list should I put in a range? Do you always have to have one, or will it see that I am using location control and GPS and turn systems on/off because of that? Is Range only used when you are not using location control, or are using location by zip for example?

Question 4 - I see on some of the air channels (Civil Air Patrol Natl Freq for example) that their locations are set to box instead of circle. If those coordinates are not near my area will I still receive them on the frequency if they are in the area? Or do I need to set it to circle and give it a Lat/Long in the area I will be in?

Hopefully I did not overload you guys! lol...I really appreciate all the help on here. Hope this is located in the correct place admin. Thanks again.

 

[TxNomad]

Ouch...over 70 views and no responses. Too much?

 

[TxNomad]

Can someone at least answer this one for me? I know the manual says that my favorites list has to have location control enabled. How do you do that?

Question 1 - How do you enable location control for the favorites list? Is that an option in Sentinel or in the scanner itself?

 

[phask]

Can someone at least answer this one for me? I know the manual says that my favorites list has to have location control enabled. How do you do that?

Question 1 - How do you enable location control for the favorites list? Is that an option in Sentinel or in the scanner itself?

Under profile/favorite lists in Sentinel.



Just answered your FB post.

 

[rkm1215]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding for Question 3 is: A. While using GPS with the favorites list should I put in a range? Yes. B. Do you always have to have one, or will it see that I am using location control and GPS and turn systems on/off because of that? Always set one bc even though gps is on you need to give it a distance from your current position. C. Is Range only used when you are not using location control, or are using location by zip for example? No, range is applicable in all 3 situations see my answer about position in B. above.

I don't use my GPS a lot, but when I do range is pertinent.

 

[ofd8001]

GPS scanning while on trips is a great thing!

Question 1 - How do you enable location control for the favorites list? Is that an option in Sentinel or in the scanner itself? If I don't enable location control will it still only scan my favorites list, but just everything in it?

Sentinel>Edit Favorites List>Options Tab and set Location Control to "Yes". If Location Control is set to "No" the Favorites List is always active, regardless of your location (presuming quick keys are on, things not avoided, etc).

Question 2 - I have checked the Lat/Long that were in the locations for departments and sites to make sure they are correct. There was one that was a national guard air channel that had a Lat/long in West Texas but I want to see if they are using it in the area I am in, so I change the Lat/Long to the center of the are I will be in. Is this correct or should I have left it? If I had left it where it was at would I still hear it a few hundred miles away? Was not real clear on the coordinates and how they play a role. Are they only for when you are using Range?

I'd probably create a separate Favorites List for this channel and not turn on Location Control for that one. It would always be on that way and you'll see how far out it goes.

Question 3 - While using GPS with the favorites list should I put in a range? Do you always have to have one, or will it see that I am using location control and GPS and turn systems on/off because of that? Is Range only used when you are not using location control, or are using location by zip for example?

This is a user preference setting. Some set the scanner range to 0. I set mine to 10 miles. Probably over simplifying it a lot, but if your scanner's range is 10 and the site/department is 5, you will be attempting to receive something 15 miles away.

Here is why I do it: The database is setup so that the range for a department approximates the service area. However it is quite likely you could receive comms from much farther away. Personally I like getting everything I can, just as soon as I can, so I extend the range. Note scanner range and site/department are similar but different creatures.

Question 4 - I see on some of the air channels (Civil Air Patrol Natl Freq for example) that their locations are set to box instead of circle. If those coordinates are not near my area will I still receive them on the frequency if they are in the area? Or do I need to set it to circle and give it a Lat/Long in the area I will be in?

Again I'd go with a separate Favorites List for these channels and leave Location Control off. That way they are always on regardless of where you are.