New VS old Uniden gps

[dimaxxxl]

Hello all,
I am looking to buy a gps setup for my sds100 and see that Uniden is discontinuing the old setup and now offering a new setup. Does anyone have a recommendation on of I should go with the old setup of the new setup? Some vendors still have the old one in stock so I wanted to get some user opinions. Thank you!

 

[Hit_Factor]

The old one is a mish mash of wires and probably works with lots of scanners. You end up with 12 feet of cable when you need just a couple.

Hopefully the new one isn't such a kludge.

If you are at all handy with a soldering iron, search up building your own GPS for the SDS100 or send it to Jon for the internal GPS mod. I have both of these GPS solutions.

 

[jonwienke]

Uniden Scanner Internal GPS Installation

Eliminate the hassle and wiring clutter of the Uniden GPS kit by installing the GPS inside your scanner! Scan on the go without having to manually toggle channels on and off while driving! The installation requires a 1" square cutout in the...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[n1chu]

Hello all,
I am looking to buy a gps setup for my sds100 and see that Uniden is discontinuing the old setup and now offering a new setup. Does anyone have a recommendation on of I should go with the old setup of the new setup? Some vendors still have the old one in stock so I wanted to get some user opinions. Thank you!

Call Scanner Master and ask them. I learned the one they offered for the BCD536HP will not connect to the SDS200. The connections are different. Don’t know about the SDS100 but Scanner Master does. They can advise.

 

[jonwienke]

The SDS200 GPS is not compatible with any other scanner model. It uses TTL signaling, and all the others use RS232, including the SDS100.

So you can use various cable/plug adapters to get a RS232 GPS to work with any scanner except the SDS200. But to go from TTL to RS232 or vice versa, you need a level converter circuit as well. It's not worth the hassle.

 

[fourthhorseman]

With all due respect...

WHY...oh Why....are you cutting gaping holes in all these peoples scanners?
Seriously..Ive done almost 40 internals on various radios...Never would I EVER
have thought that was an option...

Let me just dremmel a nasty hole in this fellows 3..4..5..600 dollar radio...

And Ill charge them too....
I feel bad taking a C Note for my retrofit.., But I just pull pics of your work for 80...
and SOLD...

DO NOT -F- Your radio up and Let this guy Play Texas Chainsaw Massacre with your
rigs case..

Im not just talking crap..
I was doing Before & Better than You.

BCD436HP/BCD536HP: - What pins on the bcd436hp can I tap to get 3.3V

Not have have all my parts here. Quick question. Would removing the metal shield to accommodate this gps module have a significant effect on signal receptions. OH MY! The first thing I thought of seeing everything all spread out was Heathkit! :) There is another thread on shielding the...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[fourthhorseman]

Sorry ..Ive just stayed hushed for too long..

Do Better Work John..
What do the internals look like when your fin?..
Why not post those pics..
How about your work station, static strap?...
Shielding...

Your ripping people off..

 

[Hit_Factor]

I've had my SDS100 apart after Jon's upgrade.

My impression was a clever design of the wiring harness, addition of shielding, and use of available space.

 

[N9JIG]

Hello all,
I am looking to buy a gps setup for my sds100 and see that Uniden is discontinuing the old setup and now offering a new setup. Does anyone have a recommendation on of I should go with the old setup of the new setup? Some vendors still have the old one in stock so I wanted to get some user opinions. Thank you!

First, a little background:
The original GPS (BC- GPSK) unit comes in multiple parts, the receiver, the power/DB-9 cord and an optional GPS Accessory Cable for handheld and HomePatrol scanners. It requires 12VDC via a cigarette lighter plug but does not power the scanner.

Later, after the BCD325P2 and SDS100's came out a fourth part was added, the GPS Adapter Cable, this took the puck part and had a USB A plug for powering the radio AND GPS as well as a USB Mini plug to connect to the scanner.

When the SDS200 came out the GPS setup was greatly simplified with a new receiver in a square matchbox size package (CB-GPSK) with a single telephone style cable. This GPS was powered by the SDS200 and is the same unit that is supplied with the BC885 CB/Scanner.

Uniden has introduced a Universal GPS kit, the BC-SGPS that includes the same GPS receiver itself that comes with the SDS200, as well as an adapter box and a whole bunch of different cables: Power (Cigar plug), Mobile (for BCT15, 996 and 536's) Portable (436, HP1, HP2, 396 etc.) and USB (SDS100, 325) as well as the SDS200 phone style connector.

Comparisons:
The BC-SGPS kit is actually cheaper than the original setup even though it contains more stuff and connects to more radios. It does have quite a mish-mash of cables to go thru the adapter box (except for the SDS200).

While modifying your radio and inserting an internal GPS receiver is an option, it is kind of drastic and invasive IMHO. The problem with the external solutions is (again, other than the SDS200) that there is gonna be a bunch of wires and adpater cables strewn about and possibly coming loose. The new kit is cheaper and works for any Uniden GPS-capable scanner but potentially has more wires and devices.

For your SDS100 you would pay $80 for the new kit at the expense of an extra cable and adapter box. For $110 for the GPSK and Adapter Cable combination you have less of a mess.

 

[phask]

First, a little background:
The original GPS (BC- GPSK) unit comes in multiple parts, the receiver, the power/DB-9 cord and an optional GPS Accessory Cable for handheld and HomePatrol scanners. It requires 12VDC via a cigarette lighter plug but does not power the scanner.

Later, after the BCD325P2 and SDS100's came out a fourth part was added, the GPS Adapter Cable, this took the puck part and had a USB A plug for powering the radio AND GPS as well as a USB Mini plug to connect to the scanner.

When the SDS200 came out the GPS setup was greatly simplified with a new receiver in a square matchbox size package (CB-GPSK) with a single telephone style cable. This GPS was powered by the SDS200 and is the same unit that is supplied with the BC885 CB/Scanner.

Uniden has introduced a Universal GPS kit, the BC-SGPS that includes the same GPS receiver itself that comes with the SDS200, as well as an adapter box and a whole bunch of different cables: Power (Cigar plug), Mobile (for BCT15, 996 and 536's) Portable (436, HP1, HP2, 396 etc.) and USB (SDS100, 325) as well as the SDS200 phone style connector.

Comparisons:
The BC-SGPS kit is actually cheaper than the original setup even though it contains more stuff and connects to more radios. It does have quite a mish-mash of cables to go thru the adapter box (except for the SDS200).

While modifying your radio and inserting an internal GPS receiver is an option, it is kind of drastic and invasive IMHO. The problem with the external solutions is (again, other than the SDS200) that there is gonna be a bunch of wires and adpater cables strewn about and possibly coming loose. The new kit is cheaper and works for any Uniden GPS-capable scanner but potentially has more wires and devices.

For your SDS100 you would pay $80 for the new kit at the expense of an extra cable and adapter box. For $110 for the GPSK and Adapter Cable combination you have less of a mess.

I'd like to see that offered without the actual GPS. That way those who already have the SDS200 GPS receiver could use it on other radios.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I'd like to see that offered without the actual GPS. That way those who already have the SDS200 GPS receiver could use it on other radios.

Signaling for the SDS200 is different from most GPS pucks.

 

[RRR]

Well, I had the GPS mod from Jon (a small, roughly 1/4" hole in the back with some sealant type glue over it) -and I couldn't be happier.

Taking the '100 on trips now is fun, and I don't have to mess with locking in / out each system, it does it all for me as I travel.

Don't knock it til' you've tried it!

 

[jonwienke]

With all due respect...

WHY...oh Why....are you cutting gaping holes in all these peoples scanners?
Seriously..Ive done almost 40 internals on various radios...Never would I EVER
have thought that was an option...

Let me just dremmel a nasty hole in this fellows 3..4..5..600 dollar radio...

DO NOT -F- Your radio up and Let this guy Play Texas Chainsaw Massacre with your
rigs case..

I'm currently using a CNC router to make the cutouts, and prior to that, I used a manual mill with digital readouts, so the cutout fits the GPS within a tenth or two of a millimeter.

The Reyax GPS modules get significantly better reception than anything else I've tested, partly because they can concurrently receive the GPS and GLONASS systems to calculate position fixes for redundancy and additional accuracy.

They have the added benefit of not generating any detectable RFI that interferes with reception. Every other GPS module I've tested caused noticeable RFI interference at various VHF frequencies. IMO, there's little point to installing an internal GPS in a radio receiver if doing so degrades reception.

The physical size of the Reyax module requires a cutout for the patch antenna--there simply isn't room inside the case for the entire module without a cutout, at least in the 436, HomePatrols, and 325P2. With the SDS100, the installation can be done without cutting all the way through the case, but the projections for the belt clip stud screw and breather still have to be milled off the inside of the case to make room for the module. Now that I have the CNC, that's the approach I'm transitioning to going forward.

Im not just talking crap..
I was doing Before & Better than You.

BCD436HP/BCD536HP: - What pins on the bcd436hp can I tap to get 3.3V

Not have have all my parts here. Quick question. Would removing the metal shield to accommodate this gps module have a significant effect on signal receptions. OH MY! The first thing I thought of seeing everything all spread out was Heathkit! :) There is another thread on shielding the...

forums.radioreference.com

It's true you started doing GPS installs about a year before I did. What measures have you taken to mitigate RFI from the GPS module, if you're not using the Reyax modules? Have you tested to see what effect RFI has on reception after the mod?

What do the internals look like when your fin?..
Why not post those pics..
How about your work station, static strap?...
Shielding...

Your ripping people off..

I've done more than twice as many scanner mods as you, and none of my customers feel I've ripped them off.

Also, I've posted pics of the internals of my work on multiple occasions. I'll post a few again if it makes you happy.

The GPS module secured in the rear case of the SDS100.


The GPS data connection to the SDS100 motherboard.


The GPS and Li-ion charger board in the 436 (internal GPS and 14500 battery mods).​

 

[phask]

Signaling for the SDS200 is different from most GPS pucks.

If I read it right, that is using the 200 style GPS on the older scanners. (FWIW - I have the 200 GPS and 3 others for the 100, 536 and HP2).

from Rich's post above -
BC-SGPS that includes the same GPS receiver itself that comes with the SDS200, as well as an adapter box and a whole bunch of different cables: Power (Cigar plug), Mobile (for BCT15, 996 and 536's) Portable (436, HP1, HP2, 396 etc.) and USB (SDS100, 325) as well as the SDS200 phone style connector.

 

[jonwienke]

The kit would have to have a TTL-RS232 level converter in it somewhere to work on both the SDS200 (which uses TTL signaling) and previous models (which all use RS232).

 

[Hit_Factor]

The extra black box probably converts the signal for the other scanners. 7 piece kit, what a mess.

 

[N9JIG]

Yes, like Jon and HF say, the larger black box would contain the converter to make the TTL GPS unit work with the older RS232 scanners.

I agree, it is a messy solution.

 

[dimaxxxl]

A big thank you to everyone for their insight!