Speed Trap Database for BCT15, BCD996T!!!

[Dave_D]

Hi all,

FYI, Trapster has added an export feature to its communal database of speed traps, speed cameras and red-light cameras. If you operate a GPS-enabled Uniden BCT15 or BCD996T, your scanner can alert you when approaching such threats.

Note that Trapster's comma-delimited POI format isn't immediately compatible with Uniden's scanners. However, an Excel spreadsheet is available at HappyLanes.com, to convert the files into Uniden's UASD file format. Furthermore, the spreadsheet simplifies assignment of scanner alert tones, volume and range by threat type and confidence; a real convenience.

Enjoy!

Dave

 

[kellykeeton]

hot!

i was gonna buy the new escort radar for the gps, however my location has gone 99% laser so i couldnt justify it.

but this uses my current technology !!! THANKS for the find !!!

 

[soupbones]

anyone have this for other formats like Navman and Tomtom files? Owuld be good if there was a way to import commonly used GPS file formats to Uniden. I looked far and wide a while ago, and this is the first one I have found.

 

[trapster]

Dave thanks for the heads up on this. I think we should make an "other detection technologies" section on our forum on our site. Then people can at least find links to sites like this one. Since we ourselves were not aware of these GPS scanners, certainly most of our users are not. I'm *definitely* going to buy one for my personal use!

Soupbones, there are links to instructions for downloading Trapster(R) data to your TomTom here: http://www.trapster.com/garmin-tomtom-instructions.php As with everything Trapster, the account and the data are free for individual users (and we don't sell it commercially). All we ask in return is that you contribute to the community (i.e. report the traps you see).


BR,

Trapster.com

 

[soupbones]

Thanks but I am after TomTom to Uniden. Unfortunately Trapster data is of little use to me, as I am located on the opposite side of the planet to you!

Would be good if someone with the know how would make up one of those excel files to convert various formats to Uniden format. I have a Tomtom navigator and I know a site where I can get updated files for the tomtom in regards to saftey cameras. But the tomtom data is very different to most comma delimited data. So I am not sure if it can be done.

Seems there is nothing out there but this trapster excel file that converts anything to Uniden format.

 

[trapster]

Thanks but I am after TomTom to Uniden. Unfortunately Trapster data is of little use to me, as I am located on the opposite side of the planet to you!

Would be good if someone with the know how would make up one of those excel files to convert various formats to Uniden format. I have a Tomtom navigator and I know a site where I can get updated files for the tomtom in regards to saftey cameras. But the tomtom data is very different to most comma delimited data. So I am not sure if it can be done.

Seems there is nothing out there but this trapster excel file that converts anything to Uniden format.

I think if you take the TomTom (OV2) speed camera file and convert it to CSV using this:
http://tomtom.gps-data-team.com/poi/ov2-to-csv.php
and then use Dave's script to convert it from CSV to Uniden you will have what you want.

Let us know if you have issues, here or contact@trapster.net, happy to help.

And then if you feel generous (and the data is unrestricted) send it to us at traps@trapster.net and all of the people in your area who _don't_ have a Uniden or TomTom can get the alerts for free on their mobile phone, and also participate in the Trapster community and help keep it updated for you (I'm sure the police move those cameras around sometimes so the power of the community can help keep it up to date!). Trapster does have some speed camera coverage in Europe and other places, but we definitely need more!

 

[kellykeeton]

hey nice to see you on the board

I did have one question how do you guys make money? its a cool technology and would like to see your company stick thru the initial start up. I notice that by default you can only get a statewide 5mb cvs file I was never able to narrow it down to just my local area.

your data combined with something like the BCT15 makes one bad ass police watchdog.

in re: to the section on your page for "crazy uses for your data" you might look at starting a bbs on your site to allow community discussion for the use of the data

 

[trapster]

hey nice to see you on the board

I did have one question how do you guys make money? its a cool technology and would like to see your company stick thru the initial start up. I notice that by default you can only get a statewide 5mb cvs file I was never able to narrow it down to just my local area.

your data combined with something like the BCT15 makes one bad ass police watchdog.

in re: to the section on your page for "crazy uses for your data" you might look at starting a bbs on your site to allow community discussion for the use of the data

Thanks for the kind words!

Yes, absolutely, you can narrow down the data to only routes that you travel, and very specific areas. You can also specify the exact kind of data you want, i.e. Red Light Cams, Speed Cams, Speedtrap/Enforcement points. In each category you can specify the confidence level you want (for example only high confidence, only from members of trusted groups you are a part of).

It also automatically e-mails you when any of the data on those routes or areas changes, so you can download new POIs.

You specify them on the map on this page: http://www.trapster.com/config-alert-sms.php (you of course need to be logged in) sort of like this:

Make money == ads at some point, like everything else Internet, but we will worry about that later.

 

[Dave_D]

Trapster's tool for choosing coverage areas and routes is surprisingly full-featured. You can choose by area or by route. The route tool permits you to draw a line of any complexity and then expand or contract the width of the line as needed to incorporate the specific highways you're after.

I was surprised to discover that the Uniden BCT15 can only import 1,000 POIs. My original export of northern CA/NV produced nearly 5,000 POIs. By reducing this to a much smaller area around my home and to routes along only those major highways I'm likely to frequent (e.g., US 80), I was easily able to get it down to 600 or so POIs. Without those tools this would've been a nuisance.

I would love to see something like this implemented in RR. Imagine drawing a route and then importing the relevant law-enforcement frequencies into your scanner.

 

[trapster]

Trapster's tool for choosing coverage areas and routes is surprisingly full-featured. You can choose by area or by route. The route tool permits you to draw a line of any complexity and then expand or contract the width of the line as needed to incorporate the specific highways you're after.

I was surprised to discover that the Uniden BCT15 can only import 1,000 POIs. My original export of northern CA/NV produced nearly 5,000 POIs. By reducing this to a much smaller area around my home and to routes along only those major highways I'm likely to frequent (e.g., US 80), I was easily able to get it down to 600 or so POIs. Without those tools this would've been a nuisance.

I would love to see something like this implemented in RR. Imagine drawing a route and then importing the relevant law-enforcement frequencies into your scanner.

That would be a welcome addition. Do you know where we would get such data? I suppose we could add another icon type to the map, but would enough people know this information to produce critical mass?

 

[Dave_D]

RR needs a native mapping submission tool

RR recently added location support to its database of radio systems, but there's still no tool available to submit location points and radii; only a textual submission form. Until a mapping tool is provided, I don't believe you'll see too many radio enthusiasts contributing location data because the process of mapping systems to their application areas is exceedingly tedious otherwise. Sure, you can use Microsoft Streets, Google Earth or other app for this purpose, but exporting the data to a list for RR is an extra chore and may require translation of lat/long values. I, for one, am waiting for a native RR applet.

Understand that its not as simple as dropping the tower location (readily available from the FCC database) and then expanding a circle in accordance with broadcast strength. Instead, mobile scanner users map the application area of a radio system (e.g., jurisdiction) so that your scanner automatically tunes out frequencies that don't relate to your location. Ideally, when you cross the county line (or a little before that), for example, relevant Highway Patrol frequencies will be automatically unlocked. It's just not helpful to know that some guy is getting a speeding ticket two counties away.

Trapster's tool is a perfect example of how I would like to see this implemented in RR for submissions - drop a point on the map and then expand the radius until it covers the radio system's application area (e.g., city, county, state). Then, it would also be nice to export data to my scanner in the same manner, but with the addition of routes, as you've done with Trapster. For example, if you're driving coast-to-coast, it'd be nice to grab all Highway Patrol on your route without the usual fuss.