Uniden Home Patrol GPS Choices

[JASII]

Although I don't have a Uniden Home Patrol yet, I have been reading up on it and the various accessories. I was trying to decide what GPS I might go with and I see that Uniden now offers a GPS Accessory Module BC-GPSK. I have also looked through the Uniden Scanner GPS Features - The RadioReference Wiki list here. I have read a number of previous posts on the GPS issue. For those that are using the GPS feature, are you happy with the GPS you are using? Knowing what you know now, would you still select that same GPS, or would you pick a different one? I would really like to have as few wires as possible, but using the GPS sounds like I need at least two, one for power and one from GPS to the scanner. By any chance are there ANY GPS units compatible with the Home Patrol that have a USB power connector? I think all of the GPSs that I have seen so far with a GPS are not compatible and the Uniden requires a serial cable, but maybe I am misunderstanding this.

 

[ka9rxk]

I have been running a mobile HomePatrol-1 with a Garmin GPS 18x PC and it works flawlessly! I own a 2009 Jeep Liberty and I have the GPS puck hidden under the plastic trim on the right side of my windshield. It is magnetically mounted to the vehicle, and totally hidden by the plastic trim.

You will also need to have an adapter cable (which is the same serial programming cable supplied with other Uniden scanners) as well as a gender changer / null modem adapter (you can find these cheap on eBay). I've got all of my wiring neatly hidden out of sight.

The GPS unit MUST be serial - USB units will not work.

 

[WouffHong]

GPS Puck

I have been running a mobile HomePatrol-1 with a Garmin GPS 18x PC and it works flawlessly! I own a 2009 Jeep Liberty and I have the GPS puck hidden under the plastic trim on the right side of my windshield. It is magnetically mounted to the vehicle, and totally hidden by the plastic trim.

You will also need to have an adapter cable (which is the same serial programming cable supplied with other Uniden scanners) as well as a gender changer / null modem adapter (you can find these cheap on eBay). I've got all of my wiring neatly hidden out of sight.

The GPS unit MUST be serial - USB units will not work.

However, is a separate 12 VDC source required for the puck or is it powered from the HP1? (an ideal wish! )
73
Wouff

 

[OCO]

I stayed with the Uniden BC-GPSK.. works great - Checking it with a Windows app (Visual GPS) it's got a great receiver - I was getting all but one satellite sitting in the middle of the living room - a TomTom 720 needs to be setting by the window to get anything.. No power for the unit from the HP1 - gotta use the 12Volt "power port" plug.

Works great on the laptop with Netstumbler, too

 

[rwier]

However, is a separate 12 VDC source required for the puck or is it powered from the HP1? (an ideal wish! )
73
Wouff

Separate, from memory, don't want to go outside right now, lol. One of those "split" cables, I think. One to the 12 V, and one to the scanner.

 

[BearMan54]

OCO is right the Uniden BC-GPSK is the best GPS ....! It's really fast to lock on....

 

[BillyFred]

I know nothing about the Uniden model but the Garmin works great with my 996xt. As far a wires here's what I did. My truck (2010 F-150) has a plastic tray in the dash. I popped it out and mag mounted the GPS puck to a dash support. I then fished the wires down the back side of the dash and out to the radio. Then I replaced the plastic tray. The puck is completely hidden and it works great.

For the record I believe the 12V to 5V power supply is in the cigarette plug so don't cut it off and wire directly to 12V!

 

[ST-Bob]

The HomePatrol cannot provide power to run the GPS; it must have its own power source.

The HomePatrol's USB port cannot be used to connect a GPS; only the 4-pin mini serial port.

 

[Squad10]

If the 5V output cigarette lighter plug is undesireable for a 5V GPS installation, consider replacing it with this very tiny 5V output regulator.

VERY TINY Positive Voltage Regulator-Adjustable-500mA-Low Noise-Low Dropout LT1763

 

[KD8HE]

I use a 5 volt cell phone charger cig plug on mine works great.

 

[OCO]

Has anyone identified a vendor/part number for a plug to match the micro serial jack the GPS plugs into? If that is a standard jack, I haven't found it..

 

[mikewazowski]

It's some sort of micro usb cable that can be found on some of the usual parts suppliers like Digikey.

Snip the large USB connector off the other end and wire your own db9 to it.

 

[mikewazowski]

Search on 4 pin mini usb connector and you should find it.

 

[OCO]

It's some sort of micro usb cable that can be found on some of the usual parts suppliers like Digikey.

Snip the large USB connector off the other end and wire your own db9 to it

Search on 4 pin mini usb connector and you should find it.

Mike - it's not a USB jack.. The bottom picture is a micro USB plug. Note the contacts on the serial jack are in a central tongue, with 8 contacts, 4 top, 4 bottom..I've looked in most places I know of, will keep looking..

 

[mikewazowski]

It's a 4 pin mini usb connector. Take a look at this:

http://www.danreetz.com/blog/2010/0...tandard-usb-cable-and-a-source-of-connectors/

 

[OCO]

No wonder I can't find it... listed as a "unofficial connector". It may be used for a USB connection, but it's not a mini-USB form factor and doesn't conform to the official USB standards (interesting that it's listed as a 4 pin when it's actually 8 pin on the mini end).

Thank you very much, Mike !!!!

 

[wx5uif]

If the 5V output cigarette lighter plug is undesireable for a 5V GPS installation, consider replacing it with this very tiny 5V output regulator.

VERY TINY Positive Voltage Regulator-Adjustable-500mA-Low Noise-Low Dropout LT1763

Thats a very handy little regulator there.

I took my BCT15x and put a regulator inside the scanner and used one of the serial pins that wasn't used or going anywhere in the scanner to pipe the 5 volts out to my GPS. Of course, I did have to modify the connector on the GPS end to make it work correctly,

 

[Squad10]

Here's another nifty device:

Roving Networks | RN-42-SM

I've been wondering if it will fit inside any of the Uniden GPS portables with the EasyProto PCB. I only have GRE radios.

It provides a (cable free) BT connection to a BT GPS receiver. Can be powered from EasyProto 3.3V regulator version,allowing a 4-16V range input. Can be configured for 4800 RS232. Can be configured for BT Auto Master mode that will automatically connect to a BT GPS within the BT Class2 60' distance.

A double throw switch could be wired for:

SWpos1. BT GPS input off, radio program on

SWpos2. BT GPS input ready, radio program off