[John Robertson Posts: 5272 Status: Offline WWW]

Are any of these OK to use or does it need to be a specific module?

Not suitable - needs to be NEMA 0183 compliant as the radio spec says.

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

The GPS antenna module is no longer listed, so I searched ebay and found quite a few around the £7 mark, but they all seem to have a different number,  Are any of these OK to use or does it need to be a specific module?

[/size][size=78%] [/size][/size][size=78%]https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Car+Recorder+GPS+Navigation+Accessories+External+Antenna+Module+3.5mm+Plug+Black&_sacat=0[/size]

[John Robertson Posts: 5272 Status: Offline WWW]

I doubt that any configuration will be needed (there is no data on how to do it anyway) ) - these devices just continually send GPS data NEMA sentences.  Although there is no absolute certainty I would reckon 99% it'll work out of the box.  Fit the module under the dash somewhere for protection (it'll still work perfectly OK).

The radio requirements cannot be met anyway as it's impossible to send all of the NEMA sentences specified in the one second update period @ 4800 baud.  Most radios only need the RMC sentence as they only use location data.
A simple GPS data source can be assembled for £8 or so -see HERE

[joncurtis Posts: 2078 Status: Offline]

Looks like it yeh. Also looks like it will need configuring, so I assume it comes with some software to set it up. You will need an rs232 dongle for a laptop or pc to get it to work.


You might be lucky and the radio takes the antenna default settings though.

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

Is this what I need?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Marine-Ship-GPS-Receiver-Antenna-Module-NMEA-0183-Baud-Rate-4800-DIY-Connector/312523500070?epid=13028395662&hash=item48c3da2a26:g:NlsAAOSwowdchTGc


Picture of what it says in my manual below.

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

Thanks Jon

[joncurtis Posts: 2078 Status: Offline]

You need a GPS antenna and GPS module, these can be combined or seperate. The two wires are a differential serial input. Check the radio manual, it's likely to be rs422, then get a gps antenna/module that outputs nmea data in the correct format for your radio input, and you are good.

[Al Posts: 1008 Status: Offline WWW]

What do I need to get so my VHF radio can use the DSC function? 


from what I can gather there are two wires on the back of the radio that would go to a GPS.



I have a GPS speedo, but the GPS tracker with that has a sealed wire which screws in the back of the speedo unit, so I would rather not start cutting in to that cable.