GPS for 996

[kevnerd486]

How many people that own a 996 are using a GPS with them? I had an old handheld Garmin12 connected to mine in the car but it did not have an external antenna so not the best setup. Just bought on a ebay auction for $26 a Garmin 16, which is a self contained GPS engine in as external antenna setup (no display but you don’t need one for this use) Software to configure the gps is still available free from Garmin. I have seen a lot of these units popping up second hand on the net. They have been going for buy now prices of around $50.00. prefect unit for a 996 or APRS.

Regards

Kev

[Chrisco]

I was going to put a 996 in my car but it got very complex for me. finding all the extras, car antenna and the mounting of the unit.

[Commshack]

Hi Kev, was thinkg about getting one of these GPS16 units myself, have you got it working with your 996 yet?

Regards,
Gordon

[JAFO]

How many people that own a 996 are using a GPS with them? I had an old handheld Garmin12 connected to mine in the car but it did not have an external antenna so not the best setup. Just bought on a ebay auction for $26 a Garmin 16, which is a self contained GPS engine in as external antenna setup (no display but you don’t need one for this use) Software to configure the gps is still available free from Garmin. I have seen a lot of these units popping up second hand on the net. They have been going for buy now prices of around $50.00. prefect unit for a 996 or APRS.

Regards

Kev

Hi Kev,

I’ve been using a Garmin GPS18x PC (Serial) Engine since I got my 966T. http://www.ja-gps.com.au/GPS18_Technica ... cation.pdf

The GPS18x PC (Serial) Engine sits up on the dash next to the "A" Pillar, and is connected to my 996T which is mounted behind the back seat via a 2m Serial extension lead.

I have all NSW GRN Sites, southern Ambulance & NSWFB PMR sites programmed in for GPS use. The GRN once you work out the distance settings works well and the Ambo’s & NSWFB PMR Sites worked a real treat when travelling down to Albury during my last annual leave, so yea I am really happy with the GRN side of things, no more weak signals most of the time.


Grant

[kevnerd486]

Hi Kev, was thinkg about getting one of these GPS16 units myself, have you got it working with your 996 yet?

Hi Gordon,

I have tested the unit on the bench at it works fine. The one I bought is the GPS16-LVS (the low voltage version) it needs a 3v-6v supply. There is a high voltage version (the 16-HVS) which will accept 8V to 40V. I have a 12V to 6V circuit in a jiffy box which will power the unit.

Have mounted on the roof of the rear canopy of my dual cab, very easy to mount (3 holes for screws a one hole for the cable). Just need to feed cable through to cab and terminate, probably finish this of during the week.

Regards

Kev

VK2KEV

[kevnerd486]

Hi Kev,

I have all NSW GRN Sites, southern Ambulance & NSWFB PMR sites programmed in for GPS use. The GRN once you work out the distance settings works well and the Ambo’s & NSWFB PMR Sites worked a real treat when travelling down to Albury during my last annual leave, so yea I am really happy with the GRN side of things, no more weak signals most of the time.


Grant

Hi Grant,

What distance radius have you set for GRN sites? I'm still playing with this in my setup and have not really decided on the best approach yet.

Regards
Kev

[JAFO]

Hi Grant,

What distance radius have you set for GRN sites? I'm still playing with this in my setup and have not really decided on the best approach yet.

Regards
Kev

Kev,

I used Google Earth to measure the distance between sites and set the 996's distance radius setting by the Google Earth measurement, trying to have 996T radius overlapping neighbouring sites.

As far as the Metro area goes: Sydney, Newcastle, C/Coast, Blue Mtns and the Illawarra, most of the Metropolitan GRN sites are set at 8klm to 16 klms and 16 or 32Klm for the “Outer Metro Fringe Sites” such as Glenbrook, Kurrajong, Horsley Park and Razorback etc.

Most of the Country GRN Sites are between 16 to 32klm while those way out west are between 32 to 50klm. Some areas it works well and others not so great, a bit of a hit and miss situation.

I also have the 996T setup for “Control Channel Only” TalkGroup searching as well, and where the GPS settings are not that great, the “Control Channel Only” picks up where the GPS Settings misses out.

[kevnerd486]

Hi All,

Just an update on the GPS and 996 topic, have finished the setup in the dualcab and it works great. Went out to Dubbo last weekend and just left the 996 on the GRN bank and it locked sites in and out on the way, worked great. If you monitor the GRN and travel a fair distance this is a brilliant feature. The Garmin 16 locks up signal very quickly. This morning I was loading the car to go to work and noticed that it was receiving a signal even though parked in the garage, that’s pretty good sensitivity.

An interesting note, I was driving along and heard the unit beep (indicating the gps had locked or unlocked a site) I looked at the unit and saw it had added the Mount Lambie site. Scanning the hills in the distance there was a stack of towers which I presume was Mt Lambie

Regards

Kev

[JAFO]

I love the GPS feature Kev,

I even have NSWFB & ASNSW Southern PMR sites added with GPS activation, works a treat while travelling but wish you could add them as a system - like "Trunk Systems" and not just as individual sites.

[Chrisco]

okay who on scanSydney has a GPS connected to the scanner?
what POI have you put in?
how far have you set the range for your NSWGRN sites
does it take a fair amount of time to before the scanner connects with the gps
I use google earth and RR for the gps lat and long in DMS format