GPS mic HMN4080A

[fire_master_21]

Anyone using this thing? if so how well does the GPS part work out.

[Wile E. Coyote]

This looks like something that I would like to play with and learn about. Unfortunately where I am at we are still in the land of analog control points and ht1250 radios (not by my choice).

~WEC

[jmr061]

I am sure someone else will pipe up who knows more but if memory serves me right this only works with a particular digital trunking system.

Jason

[escomm]

All you need is firmware ver 6.x or higher to get the coords to show up on your radio. If you want to be tracked then about $11,000 worth of software is necessary

[Bruce1807]

our marine guys use them on their XTS5000R radios.
When they are on the jet skis if they go out out looking for a boat or something they find it great. Shame we dont have the 7.x infrastructure to support it properly. But they are happy with it on the screen as its one less thing to carry

[Motofanatic]

For the individual joe-blow-hamsexy user, it's pretty nifty but the novelty wears off fast. I have one just to play with and it works as long as you are in a nearly open area (like a parking lot or standing in the middle of a residential street).

If you are standing right next to a 1-2 story house/building, even with the clear unobstructed 180 view of the sky to horizon opposite of the house/building is not enough view of the sky to get it to acquire. Don't expect it to work in a car with the microphone clipped to something to keep it high on the dash. Unless you're in a convertible, the roofline of the car obstructs the sky from it enough to still stop it from tracking while in motion.

The antenna is a small patch antenna embedded in the plastic on the top of the microphone next to the channel select button. Obviously there is a compromise in its size vs. performance.