Greetings,
As many may be aware, perhaps the last of the 3G service providers AT&T will sunset their equipment, support and service for 3G in February 2022. While where not a fan of screen issues with Leica CS15's, we've been using Leica GS14/CS15 solutions here and don't see any reason to put a hard working and functional multi-constellation GNSS solution to bed when many of the CORS and other Network RTK are still fully compatible - this isn't solely an RTK issue, these receivers are also fully compatible with static/full-wave solutions. So this is essentially an inner-connectivity component/part retirement problem related to the cellular quest to keep abreast with higher throughput speeds. While we all benefit from the unmistakable coverage that cellular systems provide, at the same time we have to yield to the neck breaking changes that the services provide. No true complaints, just need to move forward without breaking the bank replacing 6-GNSS receivers at once. Changing cellular inter-connectivity doesn't necessarily mean that good working equipment (or the operator for that matter) needs to be sent to an early retirement.
Does anyone on the forum have experience with using Leica GS14/CS15s to connect to cellular using any of the following:
a) Intuicom RTK Bridge in both 1) Base to Socket Mode, and 2) Socket to UHF/Radio Mode.
b) Dedicated 5G Hotspot/Puck Solutions with something like Netgear's NightHawk 5G (any service provider such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.).
c) Cellular telephone to hotspot connection.
Thank you for your time and interest.
Tim
I have a couple Intuicom bridges and have used with Leica 1200 gear, it is pretty much plug and play and works well. You will need a static IP on the bridge SIM to access over the internet. As a side note, I bought my first bridge from Robert Asher when he was still at Intuicom.
I have mostly retired the 1200's using as static units only and have tested a UHF bridge as a base radio hooked to the Leica 1200 for a new GS18i rovere and that works too. When I initially bought a bridge, it was the 900mhz version and I was using the 900 mhz housing for the 1200 from Intuicom.
It isn't inexpensive getting Bridges but they are pretty flexible in both configurations you point out. AFAIK, they don't have a 5g version yet, but do support a lot of 4g and down bands.
SHG
Connect the CS15 to internet via wifi instead of the internal gsm/gprs module from the GS14/15.
CS15 needs a WLAN module. Look in battery compartment if you see WLAN module nr xxxx.
You can use mobile hotspot on your phone or a seperate mobile hotspot/mifi. In viva smartworks change setting internal gsm/modem of the GS14/15 to internet on CS15.
Settings for wifi/internet on CS15 can be found here: https://blog.mainetechnical.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/QG_Viva-CS-WLAN-Connection.pdf
Last week changed my South G1+ Gnss receiver from internal gsm to internet on CS15 (with SurvCE) with mobile hotspot on my iphone. Much better internet connection. If you turn your mobile hotspot on phone or seperate mifi hotspot on first and then the CS15, the internet connection is automatically done. Powerbank or smartphone with a good battery or backup battery may be necessary for Mobile hotspot use for the entire day??
This is if you have cellular coverage where you are working off course??
An update for iphone users. With iOS 15 there could be a problem using your phone as mobile hotspot and pairing it to your (older) controller since WPA3 is used as security. I had to dug up my old iphone?????ÿ
@ttt242 I Have a 2014 Leica CS15 3.5G (with GS12).
In the settings (about leica viva) it states WLAN: No, CS 3.5G Modem: yes.
In the Battery combartment, It says it contains 802.11b/g wireless LAN module.
I would like to connect this CS15 to a netgear nighthawk via wifi instead of CS15 modem as 3G is going to be shut down in Australia in 2024.
I have Viva version 5.60 on the CS15.
How do turn on the WLAN to connect to Nighthawk. All information I can only find seems to show how to connect to WLAN if already shown as yes in WLAN screen. Do I need to update viva to version 5.70?
Thanks.