SDS100 and BC-SGPS--Does it automatically update as I drive along?

[k5xs]

Just got a BC-SGPS kit for my SDS100.

Plugged everything up, went to "SET YOUR LOCATION."

- Configured the serial port for 9600bps.

- Set range to 0.0

- Selected "Set Manual Location." Accurate lat & long coordinates appeared.

Started scanning, and all is good. GPS icon showing on the display screen.

My question is, do I need to periodically hit "Set Manual Location" as I drive along the highway? Or does the scanner automatically pulse the GPS module and reset my location as I move along?

Thank you.

 

[Trucker700]

Short answer, no. I used the same setup in an18 wheeler with no problems.
James

 

[k5xs]

James,

Thanks for the response. But I’m not sure whether your short answer “No” was in response to “Do I need to periodically hit ‘Set manual location’,” or if you were answering “No” to “Does the scanner automatically pulse the GPS module and reset my location as I move along?"

 

[buddrousa]

It updates your location as you drive you can set your display to show lat and lon and see it update.

 

[k5xs]

" It updates your location as you drive you can set your display to show lat and lon and see it update. "

Thank you.

 

[eaf1956]

And you don't have to SET Location either

 

[Patch42]

I would encourage you to program a detailed screen with lat/long. It's not well documented, but this is the lat/long reported by the GPS. It's the only reliable way of knowing the scanner is receiving from the GPS. The GPS icon only means the scanner is receiving data, not that it can extract a lat/long from it. I learned this the hard way. If you put lat/long on one of the detailed displays and see "No GPS", change the format in the GPS configuration. Mine had been set to DD MM' ss.sss" while the GPS was sending DD.ddddd. Once I changed the scanner config it all started working.

 

[eaf1956]

I would encourage you to program a detailed screen with lat/long. It's not well documented, but this is the lat/long reported by the GPS. It's the only reliable way of knowing the scanner is receiving from the GPS. The GPS icon only means the scanner is receiving data, not that it can extract a lat/long from it. I learned this the hard way. If you put lat/long on one of the detailed displays and see "No GPS", change the format in the GPS configuration. Mine had been set to DD MM' ss.sss" while the GPS was sending DD.ddddd. Once I changed the scanner config it all started working.

I can set my GPS to either, it only changes the way the DATA is displayed on the screen. I tried both ways just to verify that the Scanner gets GPS data set to either DD MM' ss.sss or DD.ddddd as you call it. The only difference since I have a detailed screen with LAT/LONG displayed is it changed from DEG MIN SEC to Decimal Degrees in the readout.

 

[ofd8001]

I was thinking the SDS 100 uses 4800 baud for GPS devices, or actually most GPS devices are 4800. (SDS 200 with the Uniden GPS device is 9600, however).

Above information is correct - it's pretty much an autopilot thing.

 

[Patch42]

I can set my GPS to either, it only changes the way the DATA is displayed on the screen. I tried both ways just to verify that the Scanner gets GPS data set to either DD MM' ss.sss or DD.ddddd as you call it. The only difference since I have a detailed screen with LAT/LONG displayed is it changed from DEG MIN SEC to Decimal Degrees in the readout.

If the GPS I have has some way to change the output format, I have no clue what it is. I just plugged it into the SDS100. The GPS apparently outputs in DD.ddddd format. My SDS100 was originally configured for the other format and it displayed "No GPS" even though the GPS icon was displayed. I eventually figured out there was a problem and changed the format on the SDS100, then it started understanding the coordinates being sent by the GPS.

Perhaps there's some "auto" setting that I overlooked in the SDS100, but I got no GPS data until the format on the SDS100 was set to match what the GPS was sending. My SDS100 definitely did not automatically adapt. I'd certainly agree that it should since it would be simple to program, but mine doesn't.

 

[eaf1956]

If the GPS I have has some way to change the output format, I have no clue what it is. I just plugged it into the SDS100. The GPS apparently outputs in DD.ddddd format. My SDS100 was originally configured for the other format and it displayed "No GPS" even though the GPS icon was displayed. I eventually figured out there was a problem and changed the format on the SDS100, then it started understanding the coordinates being sent by the GPS.

Perhaps there's some "auto" setting that I overlooked in the SDS100, but I got no GPS data until the format on the SDS100 was set to match what the GPS was sending. My SDS100 definitely did not automatically adapt. I'd certainly agree that it should since it would be simple to program, but mine doesn't.

OK to be honest, I checked on the SDS 200 not the SDS 100. I sold my SDS 100 a while back. Therefore, it is possible the 100 is different than the 200 in that regard.

 

[jonwienke]

The GPS format only affects displayed coordinate data. It has zero impact on communication between the GPS and scanner, which is defined by the NMEA standard. The only setting that affects communication with the GPS is port speed.

 

[WX4JCW]

Both pretty much work the same, Set it and forget it I usually set the GPS readout on conventional channels in the detail screen so I know its picking up a GPS signal, the GPS is not an indicator of a signal as said above, I have used it all across the Lower 48 and it works well, oh and update the database and make sure to only use the services you want to hear or it will slow it down a bit, I also set range to 0

 

[Trucker700]

James,

Thanks for the response. But I’m not sure whether your short answer “No” was in response to “Do I need to periodically hit ‘Set manual location’,” or if you were answering “No” to “Does the scanner automatically pulse the GPS module and reset my location as I move along?"

I'm sorry about . Cold weather makes old brain cells slow!
Longer answer, no, to your first question. And to the second question that I apparently overlooked, yes, the scanner periodically checks your current location thru the GPS module and updates what you are scanning.
I used one of my SDS100's in an 18 wheeler, along with a good Larsen antenna, with great results.
I didn't use Favorites lists, just turned on services that I was interested in.
Again, my apologies for the short, unclear response.
James

 

[Patch42]

The GPS format only affects displayed coordinate data. It has zero impact on communication between the GPS and scanner, which is defined by the NMEA standard. The only setting that affects communication with the GPS is port speed.

I never said it had anything to do with communication between the GPS and the scanner. I said it impacted the scanner's ability to understand what the GPS was sending. If somebody calls me from Greece and starts speaking Greek, our communication connection might be fine but that doesn't mean I know what the person is saying.

With port speed set at 4800 I got the GPS icon displayed on the SDS100, but lat/long on the detailed display said, "No GPS". Only after I changed the format to DD.dddd on the SDS100 did the SDS100 begin displaying lat/long.

 

[jonwienke]

I never said it had anything to do with communication between the GPS and the scanner. I said it impacted the scanner's ability to understand what the GPS was sending. If somebody calls me from Greece and starts speaking Greek, our communication connection might be fine but that doesn't mean I know what the person is saying.

With port speed set at 4800 I got the GPS icon displayed on the SDS100, but lat/long on the detailed display said, "No GPS". Only after I changed the format to DD.dddd on the SDS100 did the SDS100 begin displaying lat/long.

Yeah no. The format setting does NOT affect the communication between the scanner and the GPS in any way, shape, or form, under any circumstances. ever. The only setting that has any effect is the port speed. I just checked, and changing the format setting does not affect the communication between the GPS and scanner. It ONLY affects the format in which GPS coordinates are displayed.

"NO GPS" means you have communication between the scanner and GPS, but the GPS doesn't have a satellite fix yet.

 

[Patch42]

So the GPS failed to get a satellite fix for over an hour and then suddenly got one the instant I changed the format. Okay, sure, that makes complete sense.

 

[jonwienke]

The Uniden GPS puck won't necessarily even get a fix indoors. So regardless of whether it makes any sense to you or not, the GPS display format setting has no effect on communication between the GPS and scanner under any circumstances, and that fact is easy to prove.

Add location coordinates to your detail screen layout, wait until your GPS has a fix, then toggle the format setting a few times. The coordinate format will change back and forth, but the scanner will not lose the GPS connection.

 

[JoeBearcat]

It's also possible the disruption caused by the menu changed (reset) the satellite search. But yes, changing a display mode has nothing to do with GPS comms directly.

 

[Qwerty7]

Hi,
How do I get the Lat Long to appear on my SDS 100 Display. That is very cool you can do that.
Thanks