Home Patrol Road Trip report

[kennyblues]

Returned home last night after a 13 day road trip from Boston to Florida to attend a wedding, visit family, friends and attend the Tampa Bay blues Festival. I brought along the Home Patrol and the 396XT, (the 396XT was programmed for Military and federal frequencies) With one exception the Home Patrol performed just as advertised. As I was headed south on 95 near the CT/NY border the GPS stopped responding, I stopped at the next rest area checked all the plugs and fuses, everything appeared OK but still would not work. So I just entered in a city location as I continued south. A couple of hours later in Virginia I tried it again and it started to work OK and continued to work OK for the remainder of the trip. So I have no idea as to why it stopped working. The HP-1 is now the only way for me to take a road trip, loading and unloading systems as you motor along without having to do any programming before or during a trip. I just used the supplied antenna with the HP-1 mounted in a cup holder, and thought it received OK as it was. Drove from Boston to lakeland, FL for the Blue Angels, to Tampa, Orlando, Key West, then to Saint Petersburg and back to Boston. Here's how things looked from the drivers seat.

 

[russellmaher]

Kenny:
Looks like a nice clean set up. You used the supplied antenna with the HP, but what about the 396, do you use an exterior antenna? My 396T is set up in the car just like yours is, however mine is connected to a trunk mount Spectra. I find the external antenna gives more coverage and the distance is greater for reception. Thanks for the report. I'm leaning toward the HP more every day - just saving my nickels and dimes.

Russell

 

[kennyblues]

The 396XT was/is hooked up to a very old Antenna Specialist VHF-High band mag mount. but it still works good.

 

[russellmaher]

OK. And if I'm not being a PITA, does the HP have a connection for an external antenna instead of the supplied one? I'm asking since I have not had the chance to see one up close and personal, and if I get one, will want to use it with my Spectra. Thank you.

Russell

 

[mass-man]

YEP a SMA on the top left side...as you look at the display! Interesting thing is though, when paired with a GPS the Homepatrol reduces its range to 0 miles. Meaning it will only scan thru systems that it directly travels thru. You can go in and set it for more range if you like, but with 0 range, the onboard antenna does a great job, as it is not trying to scan systems very far away,

 

[russellmaher]

Understood...this unit is sounding better all the time.

Thanks Cleve, I appreciate your input.

Russell

 

[SCPD]

Glad to hear it is working so well for you, I wish we could get these in Australia.

Paul

 

[n2pqq]

what kind of mount are you using for the hp-1 ?

I would like to get a cup holder mount for my hp-1 but cannot find one .

 

[rustynswrail]

Glad to hear it is working so well for you, I wish we could get these in Australia. Paul

Paul,

You may just get your wish in the not too distant future.

Russell B

 

[UPMan]

You can get a cup holder mount from Ram-mounts that will attach directly to the HP-1's mounting bracket.

 

[n2pqq]

You can get a cup holder mount from Ram-mounts that will attach directly to the HP-1's mounting bracket.

Thanks for the reply do you have a model number ?

 

[SkipLincoln]

Thanks for the reply do you have a model number ?

RAM-A-CAN II Universal Cup Holder Mount with 6" Flex Arm

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogRes...d/082065080045050057057045050085/Default.aspx


Is this it?


Thanks,
Skip