HP-1: HomePatrol II GPS

[KG5HHS]

Hello Everyone,
I just recently purchased a 2019 Ford Fusion Energi Special Service Plugin Hybrid that I will be using to commute to work with. There is not much room to add anything on the interior. I am planning on installing a Home Patrol 2 with GPS, External Speaker, and NMO mount scanner antenna on the trunk lid. I haven't quite decided on where I want to mount the HP2 (Windshield/Suction cup mount OR in the middle console under the A/C controls.
Anyway, I have looked up some info and understand that with the GPS attached, systems will turn on/off depending on the ranges set. My intention is to drive from the county I live in, to the county I work in (and back home again). I am wanting the system to turn off my home system when I leave that county and turn on the next counties system. I know there will need to be some homework done to figure out ranges.
My question is, is this how the GPS unit is intended to be used or do I have it completely wrong? Also, how easy is this to set up and is it even worth doing so? I should also include that this will all be from a favorites list. I don't use the database at all as I like to pick and choose what I listen to. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

 

[doovenator]

It can work the way you mentioned. By default when GPS is plugged in the range will be set to "0", and it just knows based on the database info if it falls under the coverage area of whichever system your monitoring. You will need to go into your favorites list under your profile in the Sentinel software and enable "Location Scanning" on the favorites list for it to use the GPS. I commute between two counties as well, however our systems are analog so I'll just do a temporary avoid on each county or department as I leave/enter. A bit more manual but it works for me.

 

[KG5HHS]

It can work the way you mentioned. By default when GPS is plugged in the range will be set to "0", and it just knows based on the database info if it falls under the coverage area of whichever system your monitoring. You will need to go into your favorites list under your profile in the Sentinel software and enable "Location Scanning" on the favorites list for it to use the GPS. I commute between two counties as well, however our systems are analog so I'll just do a temporary avoid on each county or department as I leave/enter. A bit more manual but it works for me.

Thanks for the reply!

When the scanner is programmed like you mentioned above and the GPS is unplugged, does it revert to scanning as usual where you just turn on and off your favorites?

 

[doovenator]

Not sure on a favorites list, but when I've used GPS from the full database it will remember its last location if the GPS is turned off/unplugged.

 

[hiegtx]

When the GPS is unplugged or turned off, the scanner will retain the last location provided by the GPS, until you either update the location manually, or reconnect the GPS. If your Favorites list has Location Control enabled, the scanner will use the last location to determine what is actually scanned. That's the same action it would take if only scanning using the main database.

 

[KG5HHS]

Okay, I don't think that will be an issue. If it does, I think a work around would be to just make an identical favorites list with the GPS not enabled.

My next question is about the Location Type. I see there is "Circle" or "Rectangle". I think I understand how circle works. It sounds to be like you find a fixed point and go out X miles. (IE. for Tarrant County I would put: Latitude: 32 45'21.1 / Longitude: -97 19'09.6 / Range: 20.0). The counties I am most concerned about as far as GPS goes are pretty much squares (Tarrant, Dallas, and Denton counties in Texas). If I wanted to do Tarrant County under rectangles, would it be like this: Latitude1: 32 59'38.5 / Longitude1: -97 32'36.4 / Latitude2: 32 32'55.3 / Longitude2: -97 02'18.8?
My idea is just to get the coordinates from the most NW and SE corners of the counties. would this be correct?

 

[AJAT]

My idea is just to get the coordinates from the most NW and SE corners of the counties. would this be correct?

Yes. You can also make multiple boxes depending on how accurate you want.

 

[nessnet]

Okay, I don't think that will be an issue. If it does, I think a work around would be to just make an identical favorites list with the GPS not enabled.

My next question is about the Location Type. I see there is "Circle" or "Rectangle". I think I understand how circle works. It sounds to be like you find a fixed point and go out X miles. (IE. for Tarrant County I would put: Latitude: 32 45'21.1 / Longitude: -97 19'09.6 / Range: 20.0). The counties I am most concerned about as far as GPS goes are pretty much squares (Tarrant, Dallas, and Denton counties in Texas). If I wanted to do Tarrant County under rectangles, would it be like this: Latitude1: 32 59'38.5 / Longitude1: -97 32'36.4 / Latitude2: 32 32'55.3 / Longitude2: -97 02'18.8?
My idea is just to get the coordinates from the most NW and SE corners of the counties. would this be correct?

Google "Bounding Box".
There are a number of on-line tools that are very helpful in this regard.
Also, as someone else stated, multiple boxes are possible when the area in question isn't a square or rectangle.