HomePatrol-1 Extreme Upgrade Post-Release Thread

[KC2EIP]

default option to use GPS and for battery charging

UPMAN: Can the next update please include a way to select a default option to use GPS whenever one is connected? It's a pain to have to select use GPS every time after I start driving because it takes a minute for the GPS to acquire location after pulling out of garage.

Secondly, the ability to select a default option for charging the batteries would be a very welcome addition (instead of being pestered with constant beeping every time the radio gets power).

Lastly I would love a right angle GPS data cable to become available so the molded connector doesn't stick so far out from the radio (like the power cable which is less obtrusive). I pulled the cover off the original cable connector to make it slightly less visible and vulnerable to being hit by something and breaking off into the radio. However, a factory right angle cable would be a much better solution until the next version of the HomePatrol hopefully has an internal GPS so I can get rid of the rat's nest of proprietary serial cables, null modem adapters, power cables, etc...

Love the updates by the way! Thanks for all your efforts!

 

[Viper43]

KC2EIP,

Your GPS doesn't store the last settings it used so it takes longer to find the satellites. I hae used a number of different GPS with the scanners and this is the best of the bunch here: "Uniden" GPS Accessory Module at Uniden
It turns on instantly and ready to go. I've let mine sit unused a week and as soon as I plug it in it's on and working, even if the truck was inside my shop. The nice thing is it also works with some of my mapping software on the laptop too.

 

[BearMan54]

KC2EIP,

Your GPS doesn't store the last settings it used so it takes longer to find the satellites. I hae used a number of different GPS with the scanners and this is the best of the bunch here: "Uniden" GPS Accessory Module at Uniden
It turns on instantly and ready to go. I've let mine sit unused a week and as soon as I plug it in it's on and working, even if the truck was inside my shop. The nice thing is it also works with some of my mapping software on the laptop too.

I can vouch for Viper on the speed of the Uniden GPS, I've never seen one acquire the satellite singles as fast as it..... I'm totally happy with the Uniden setup.....

 

[Jay911]

Update on the "metadata" issue

The following fields appear to be written to a wav file in a "normal" recording.

Windows name - HP1 equivalent
Title - Channel
Contributing Artists - System
Album - always has value of "HomePatrol"
Album ID - always has value of "HomePatrol"
Authors - System
Comments - Frequency (and/or TGID, where applicable)
Creators - System
Genre - Department
Participants - System
Year - 2011

On a recording found during ID Search:
Windows name - HP1 equivalent
Title - blank (no value)
Contributing Artists - System
Album - always has value of "HomePatrol"
Album ID - always has value of "HomePatrol"
Authors - System
Comments - "TGID : " and the numerical TGID
Creators - System
Genre - Department
Participants - System
Year - 2011

UIDs don't seem to be recorded in metadata. I would suspect this means found tones aren't either.

UPMan, I have a couple of requests for updates/fixes based on this information.

1. When doing an ID Search and recording a new as-yet-undiscovered TG, i.e. where Department = "Unknown" and Channel = "TGID : "+some value, please consider having the contents of the "Comments" metadata field copied over to the (currently blank) "Title" metadata field. Or have something written into "Title" - anything but a blank field.

2. Please consider writing found tone data and/or found UID data to some field, either as an extension to the "Comments" metadata field (i.e. "154.8300 C123.0" or "33072 UID:47165") or in an unused metadata field ("Description" is available and unused according to Windows, among other fields). Preferably the latter so it can be sorted on separately from the freq/TGID.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

Also... It would be nice if it would simply add discovered conventional radio id's to the fav. list if so desired after you have made the single freq trunk systems...( It doesnt seem to now. )

How about an Icon to enter and exit mass storage to enable you to keep the USB cord plugged in ??

 

[KC2EIP]

default gps use setting

Thanks for the suggestion on the Uniden GPS. However, I am satisfied with the time it takes my Garmin GPS-18 to acquire (it's pretty quick). I'd also like to avoid buying yet another GPS when I already have several that I don't need. What bothers me is having to select "Use GPS" every time I drive and having the question about whether to use GPS stay on the screen until I notice that it's there three or four traffic lights down the road. As I understand it, even if I got the fastest GPS I would still have to press "Use GPS" every time the radio starts in my car.

Currently, the HP-1 requires a lot of user intervention at start-up and it would be nice to have a default setting. For example, after I start the car I have to:

1. Select whether to charge batteries or not (beep beep beep)
2. Turn the radio on
(could avoid the first two by leaving batteries out but I like them in there for when the car is off so I can keep listening when my ignition switched radios turn off with the car)
3. Wait for GPS to trigger the option to use GPS
4. Select use GPS

With default options I could just turn the radio on and go. It could be as simple as a little check box in the corner of that use GPS question screen saying "remember this choice" or "always USE GPS when available" or something to that effect. There is a separate GPS menu screen where it has an "ignore GPS" button that didn't seem to do anything when I select it. Why not have an option there to either always use, always ignore, or always ask when a GPS is connected?

The charge batteries option could be similarly easy to add a default choice to either the nag screen that beeps at you when power is connected, or in the menu options.

 

[Viper43]

lol....I'm lucky if my HP is ever turned off. However I don't see having to choose whether the batteries charge or the GPS is chosen or not as a lot of "user intervention". Sheesh, my TV requires more than that at times....
I keep hearing people complain about these two items and all I can do, seriously, is laugh and think "those lazy Americans". One of my German cousins has said that I don't how many times in all the years I have known her and it wasn't until these two issues that it hit me how lazy people are when these two little things bug so many. Sheeesh, 2 questions and 2 answers....big deal! There are BIGGER issues in life than this!

 

[b52hbuff]

Has anyone seen the interaction between the Auto Dim screen mode and the Discovery modes?

I generally leave Auto Dim off in the car, and on when it is on the bedstand. I notice that when Auto Dim is on, and I'm in discovery mode, the screen doesn't increase the brightness when a signal is received. Has anyone else noticed this?

I am thinking it should work the same way as the 'non-Extreme' functions and light the backlight when a signal is received...

 

[DaveIN]

Has anyone seen the interaction between the Auto Dim screen mode and the Discovery modes?

I generally leave Auto Dim off in the car, and on when it is on the bedstand. I notice that when Auto Dim is on, and I'm in discovery mode, the screen doesn't increase the brightness when a signal is received. Has anyone else noticed this?

I am thinking it should work the same way as the 'non-Extreme' functions and light the backlight when a signal is received...

Yes, but if I press the screen it the light retuns to the normal level. It would be helpful to turn the light on when the squelch opens.

 

[ResQguy]

. I pulled the cover off the original cable connector to make it slightly less visible and vulnerable to being hit by something and breaking off into the radio.

pics please?

 

[UPMan]

New Firmware and Sentinel Released

 

[nosoup4u]

Thank you!!!

 

[Highpockets]

New Firmware and Sentinel Released

Deleted, wrong forum.

 

[KC9NEG]

Thanks, Paul and team.

 

[kennyblues]

Thanks, everything downloaded and applied easily

 

[SDavis90]

Update went flawlessly.

A huge thanks to UPMan and Team at Uniden!!!

Thank you for listening to us "end users" and continuously updating your product. I like this new update a lot already. Have already programmed a long list of UID's.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

After the update.....On p-25 conventional single freq the RID should be put back on line 3 nice and large like it was before the update...its now tiny on line 4 with a large worthless TG ID on line 3....my 2 cents.....Why can't the type font be large on all 6 lines of info ???

 

[loumaag]

After the update.....On p-25 conventional single freq the RID should be put back on line 3 nice and large like it was before the update...its now tiny on line 4 with a large worthless TG ID on line 3....my 2 cents.....Why can't the type font be large on all 6 lines od info ???

OMG!
One of the chief complainants about the RID was that it was wiping out the TG ID. This just goes to prove that you can't please everyone. I am afraid you are going to be in a minority with that opinion. :wink:

 

[wise871]

OMG!
One of the chief complainants about the RID was that it was wiping out the TG ID. This just goes to prove that you can't please everyone. I am afraid you are going to be in a minority with that opinion. :wink:

You beat me too it. I got my new glasses last week and it all looks great to me!!!
Thanks for the update. Everything went smooth and just in time for the long three day weekend.

Note: Adding the additional delays will make a couple of RR members very happy.

 

[NDRADIONUT]

Well i'd say it could be set up differently for the 2 different system types..or have all of the type be large....omg indeed lol