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Handheld GNSS devices
Posted by richard-imrie on April 12, 2018 at 2:21 amFor many years we have used Garmin (GPS only) devices purchased in 2008 for things like recording the location of geotech drillholes. One of the many good things about these Garmin units is the ability to setup and spit out local grid coordinates. The units are physically worn out and we are considering buying new ones. New Garmin units do have GPS + GLONASS for say $400, but an alternative would be to get a GNSS bluetooth receiver for $100 and pair it to a smartphone app – all the staff these days have their own smartphone. Anyone else doing this?
richard-imrie replied 6 years ago 6 Members · 13 Replies- 13 Replies
I??d be interested in hearing more on this….
This is about handheld GPS, not exactly GIS, but I think the same may apply to you.
So about a year ago I tried using an app on my phone to do recon in the woods, mainly as I was able to use sat photos in the background. I was packed up with large heavy backpack, gloves on and hiking through the woods. In the office it seemed like a fantastic idea. In practice, I was constantly worried about dropping the phone in water/snow, losing it, just dropping it in general. In/out of the pocket became a huge pain. I went back to a dedicated recon GPS as they are $150, and my phone would cost $600 to replace. If the employee is using their own phone, are you ok replacing it if they drop it in the course of doing your project? If it is a company phone, sam principal, are you OK with them using a more fragile device then one that maybe better suited for the task?
Not saying it can’t work, and again I have even thought about a better phone for a DC , so much I asked Carlson about an android version (which they were supposedly working on 2-3 years ago). But in practice, there are pros/cons to weigh.
Thanks. I agree with the liability issues with using staff personal equipment, and also the issues with having two pieces of kit to do one job. So leaning towards, one of these:
It is GPS + GLONASS and also has a 8MP camera, so we wouldn’t need to provide the staff with a separate camera.
Having said that, we could still go down the 2 piece kit track and give the staff a GLONASS BT antenna like Bad Elf, plus a (cheap) smart phone, plus a good camera – so that’s a 3 piece kit.
I’M AFRAID TO GOOGLE “BAD ELF’, ESPECIALLY ON A WORK COMPUTER….. ? SOUNDS NEARLY AS DANGEROUS AS CLICKING A LINK FROM ROADHAND….
Here you go:
- Posted by: hpalmer
… Seems to me that someone will be building phones with GNSS shortly.
H
The X-pad Android app is actually pretty good but you need an extrenal reciever if im not mistake . Also with newer phones like the pixel 2 you can use rtkGPS+ all on your phone without another receiver with a little messing around with the settings. Took me a couple weeks and still don’t fully trust it yet. But has a lot of promise.
FYI: Most newer phone are GPS+GLONASS.
As far as the Garmin, that is close to what I am using for recon. I use the GPSMap 64st. A quick review is is it OK. Accuracy is decent, screen is a little small but usable. I tis rugged, so like that. I just may not have the correct programs to use, but getting points into/out for recon is a multi-step and awkward process. It is better the the previous recon I had though.
Richard – thanks for zd article. Now aware that phones were tracking L5. Still, to get to the accuracy surveyors need, the cell towers will need a GNSS antenna with a precise position. With a stable cell tower network and some data processing, it is possible. Not sure what to do with those 250′ monopoles swaying in the wind.
Richard, I’ve been a fan of Garmin PND (personal navigation devices) since inception – our ologists in USFWS, NPS, BLM have been ardent fans for the things you mentioned. For low power (2 AA’s), $100 decent maps of the entire US and free DNRGPS software for transfer of shapefiles, GPX, KML/KMZ make it not only super cheap to run, but reliable. I use a monthly archive statewide shapefile of control from NGS to have ready access to all of Alaska for no overhead, free of subscription and the GPS is comparable to any bluetooth on the market at $600 or less for yield and accuracy. We use them for simple tracking and geotagging with external cameras to make a low-end GIS device. Importing a survey tract as a backdrop keeps our ologists aware of the surroundings.
I have not seen anything after the Map76CSx or Map62Csx to give anything more to the persons who do serious mapping. The S stands for sensors making the barometer and compass valuable, the little x for SIRF chip.
Joel
Joel. Yes, our first piece of x, y, z “survey” equipment was a Garmin GPSMap76CSx with external antenna, bought in 2008, the only other thing we had was automatic optical levels. Combined with free online processing software (like the ability to do custom maps for making bathymetric survey run grids), that thing enabled us to do projects that we would never have dreamed of, in places we would never have dreamed of. I know everyone scoffs at them for survey, and that is correct, but say for things like finding a control point in a local grid (“user” transformations are possible in the Garmin) we could, without the need to setup a TS or RTK, with a bit of patience, we’d be straddling it, and with a bit of scratching and digging, find the mark. It looks like the latest Garmins don’t have the ability to connect an external antenna, which is a shame as it is useful, among other things for sticking on the roof of the car – so that got us the ability to speed/elevation profile 2 alternative 40km routes to a $4B mine – try doing that with RTK or TS in a day.
We now have robotic TS and RTK, but the need for 1,2,3,4,5m quick fire positioning in any locale, is still there.
Richard. Same page, different occupations. Setting the Garmin to meters, allows me to find a well managed RTK point anywhere in the open in seconds. Several surveyors thought I was nuts, but after the tenth rebar i found in a swamp, they were impressed. Garmin dropped the ball IMHO, making more money with the geocaching crowd and fitness circles. There is a gap no one is filling with industry making more money with monthly subscription, or overly complex data transfer scenarios when GE is right there for free. The 78 and 64 are last in line with external antenna ports, and both are GNSS giving a bit more yield under canopy.
I would stick with a used 76CSx for floatation, or the 78Sc. Also, have you tried the Rhino’s? They hold up very well, slightly better performance under canopy then the 76 models, and the two-way radio is nice for teams.
Thanks. I didn’t realise the 64 had external antenna capability, which was the one thing putting me off, but a check online confirms you are correct:
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