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Trimble Access connection to other Non-Trimble GNSS Recievers
Hello,
I am interested in potentially making a change to my GNSS equipment, which is currently all Trimble. The biggest reason is I’m finding that there are many newer products out there that surpass even the R12i in regards to battery life, amount of channels and even precisions at a significantly lower price point from a hardware standpoint. That being said, I am a diehard Trimble fan and understand the price premium you pay for their products is warranted as I have nothing but good things to say about the reliability of their equipment and user-friendliness. At this point I am potentially interested in buying GNSS receivers that are not Trimble, but keeping my TSC7 data collectors running Trimble Access as my basis of operations to survey in the field which leads me to my question to the community.
I am interested in potentially pairing either a Carlson BRx7 or a StonEx S980+ with Trimble Access. In reviewing the survey styles, I do see an option to connect “unknown external” for the antenna. I would think since GNSS recievers are all connected via Bluetooth typically, theoretically you could connect any GNSS System to Trimble Access, not just the units I’m interested. Has anyone tried to connect another brands GNSS equipment to Trimble Access and been able to obtain the same quality of survey as Trimble based hardware? My intention is to use integrated surveying with the alternative GNSS unit, but still use my Trimble S-Series Robots with the MT1000 while still utilizing Trimble Access. I’ve been unable to find any definitive information on if Trimble Access can take other GNSS units on the internet so this is why I’m posing the question. Has anyone tried this with Trimble Access and had any success? Would you still see the same precision information using a different GNSS unit as you would for an R-Series Trimble unit?
Thanks so much for all of your input!
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12 Replies
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As far as I know Trimble gear does not talk to Carslon equipment but I’m all ears and willing to investigate more.
I run TA on TSC7 with S6 and Carlson SurvPC on the TSC7 with a BRx7.Tell me more about the survey styles and the unknown external.
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I guess it would be no different than connecting a new Trimble GNSS unit. You would have to pair the BRx7 under Connections then Bluetooth in Trimble Access to search for the BRx7 and see if you can set it as a Rover (assuming you use internet corrections rather than a base). From there you would go in the survey style and select “unknown receiver” in the rover options and go from there.
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I don’t know about GNSS but I currently run at Leica tcrp1203+ with access 2022 on a tsc7. I normally use the s5 but if I have to tie in corners reflectorless I use the Leica. So it is possible to use Trimble software with other gear, depending on the gear.
Most functions work fine except powersearch, which was one of the main reasons I disliked the Trimble robots.
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I’ll have a look at this and report back.
We’re using VRS over an internet connection in Belgium.
Now leaving to the coast for a couple of days during our Easter holidays. -
That would be great! Enjoy your Easter holiday! I’ll keep my fingers crossed Trimble Access will play nicely with other survey gear!
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I had half an hour. Pairing the TSC7 and BRx7 by bluetooth in Access is no problem, this is standard Win10 settings. I can select the BRx7 in TA and made a survey style to connect to our VRS system.
When starting a Measure Topo the software says it will connect to the receiver but nothinG happens. TA cannot send the correct commands to the BRx7 to start the bluetooth connection and start the survey. Tried the same with a cable connection but no joy, TA can’t start the BRx7 to do anything.
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Darn that’s what I was afraid of! Seems silly to even have an option to use an “unknown receiver” in the survey styles to run another manufacturer’s equipment. Might as well just be Trimble products only if you aren’t willing to let your survey software communicate to other equipment, although I am surprised 350RocketMike was able to get an older Leica total station to work. Maybe other total stations can play with the software just not GNSS units.
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I’ve found GNSS more tricky to get working, with radio settings, frequency and baud rate. Even when using all Trimble gear and borrowing someone elses base you may have to get connected to the radio to get things matched up to work. Vrs took a bit of messing around to get up and running initially too.
The Leica 1203+ honestly runs better on Trimble than the Sokkia ix-503 I used to use did with Microsurvey field genius which are both supposed to be compatible with third party stuff. There are glitches and idiosyncrasies with every robot I’ve used but that setup was ridiculous how bad it worked.
Even using our sx12 it requires a cable to get it to connect initially and then you can switch to wifi or LR radio. Pretty annoying for a $70,000 machine when I can connect to the 14 year old Leica robot faster than the Trimble s5.
Unfortunately anything newer than the 1200+ series Leica is likely a no go. With have a couple Leica ts07 conventional ts at our office and they won’t work with it. It’s possible that GNSS has gone the same way. More features makes more complicated software and it’s probably not worth it for them to build in the compatibility.
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I have read your post TSC7 and non Trimble receivers, and note that you have connected a BRx7 via Carlson. I am trying to connect a Foif A90 (same receiver as BRx7) via Field Genius to a TSC7 and the bluetooth connection keeps failing after a while. I thought that the lack of bluetooth pin code was the problem. Trimble user guide (To pair the TSC7 controller with a Bluetooth device, it must have a Bluetooth PIN. Some old Bluetooth devices do not require a PIN. For security, the TSC7 controller cannot connect to these older devices that do not require a PIN.)
Did you encounter this problem with Carlson?
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Sorry guys.
Christ-lambrecht is quite correct
It won’t work.
Access will work many ‘off-brand’ total stations
And gnss antennae
But not the receivers.
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No, I am not trying to connect Access with non Trimble receiver. I am having issues with Field Genius keeping Bluetooth connection with Foif A90. Works fine on TSC3, but not TSC7. Christ-Labrecht said he was using Carlson with BRx7 on a TSC7. Should be the same.
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We have had no problems with bluetooth pairing, that’s pure win10 stuff. Not sure if we needed a code to pair, don’t think so.
SurvPC 7 works fine on the TSC7.
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