GPS Units and Connections

Technical Requirements

Any GPS receiver meeting the following requirements:

• Female, 9-pin serial connector
• NMEA-0183 ver.3.01 compliant, including GGA and RMC sentences.

General Information

Some installations may require a gender changer to mate DB-9 connections. In the case of either portable scanner, if you use the cable that came with the scanner a null modem/gender changer is a requirement. A null modem adapter is not required if you purchase the optional GPS adapter cable designed for use with the HP-1 and other DMA scanners.

Wiring Schemes

• The wiring here is shown for the BCT15X and presumably the BCT15. The BCD996T and 996XT should be identical (verification wanted)

Radio connection            Kenwood D-700                         GPS connection

DB9 Serial end #5-----------------Shield------------------------------GPS  ground

DB9 Serial end #3-----------------Ring-------------------------------GPS transmit data

DB9 Serial end #2-----------------Tip--------------------------------GPS receive data

GPS unit should have separate power supply. Beware most GPS units do not use the same voltage as the BCT15X. You can use the GPS on its battery or supply a fused power lead at the proper voltage for the GPS. The DB9 connector on the radio does not supply power to run the GPS

GPS Units

Uniden Products

• Uniden BC-GPSK via ScannerMaster
  • Be sure to read the linked blog post and article for important information
  • Unboxing Uniden Univeral GPS (ZipScanners)

Other Manufacturers

• GlobalSat BR-355S4 GPS Receiver (Black) via Amazon
  • You will need the BC-UTGP cable along with the above unit
• SDS200 and the GARMIN eTreX Thread
• Another Way to Feed GPS to BCD436HP Thread
• This thread covers using
  • Garmin 60CSx
  • Garmin 176c

Other GPS units

• Delorme Tripmate (with modification for autostart)
• GARMIN eMap
• GARMIN eTreX Legend Note: Now discontinued
• GARMIN Rino110
• GARMIN GPS18
• GARMIN GPS18PC
• GARMIN 12XL
• GARMIN GPSmap 60CS (needs Garmin 010-10141-00 or equivalent cable)
• GARMIN GPS2 Plus
• Lowrance iFinder GO2
• MAGELLAN Meridian Marine
• HOLUX Mouse GR-213 (when ordered with a serial cable)

GPS Internal Power Feed Modification

The BCT15X and other scanners with rear mounted DB-9 serial connections can be modified to supply power to the Byonics puck style GPS reciever. You will need to disassemble the scanner and find the 5 or 6 volt regulator. Solder a wire from the output of the regulator to pin 4 of the DB-9 connector. Reassemble your scanner and plug in the Byonics GPS reciever. The LED on the receiver should start flashing, and the GPS icon on your scanner should start flashing. Both lights will glow steady once the receiver acquired a position fix.

Additional Information

RadioReference Threads

• GPS Cable Mod for Uniden Scanners Thread
• SDS100 GPS Data Interface Thread

RadioReference Wiki

• BCD996T Lat-Lon
• Freescan Advanced Options
• FreeSCAN-GPS

Uniden TWiki

• GPS Support
• Connecting a GPS Receiver to Uniden Handhelds
• Connecting a GPS Receiver to Uniden mobiles

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