3G Options come January 1

It's my understanding that the 3G band width will be abandoned all together.?ÿ If I am correct, any 3G devise relying on cwll signals will be dead in the water.

I discussed this issue not too long ago with my Leica tech guy.?ÿ We have two Leica GPS RTK kits and I was nervous.?ÿ It turns out that both of our units are 4G so we are good to go for a while.

What system do you have??ÿ My understanding is that the only 4G devices in the Leica arsenal are the newer CS20 and the GS18.?ÿ Everything else is 3.5G, what ever that is, and they are not compatible.?ÿ I'm going to have to start using a wifi hotspot for the CS on the rover.?ÿ Unfortunately I us a GS16 with GSM as a base occasionally I need to figure out something for that.

@john-putnam?ÿ

I use Microhard cell modems. I have one for AT&T (or T-Mobile) and one that works on both AT&T and Verizon, which I use with Verizon. The AT&T modem has a serial port, wifi, and a couple of RJ45 ports. I originally bought it to use with a Trimble R7 that can only output serial. I now use it with a Trimble Alloy via ethernet cable. I have also used it with Trimble R10's over wifi. The other is ethernet cable only.?ÿ

Trimble users are facing a similar issue...?ÿ There are a ton of very angry TSC3 owners.?ÿ The only thing that I have seen is using a wireless hotspot.?ÿ?ÿ

I would recommend an external MiFi hotspot through your preferred carrier. The big issue is going to be the battery life of the hotspot with an internal battery. That said, there are a number of external battery options available that can be cable connected to the MiFi device. I believe SECO still makes a small bag that you can connect to the GNSS pole to secure the MiFi device.

@john-hamilton?ÿ

Thanks for the idea.?ÿ I use Microhard modems with our real time monitoring system.?ÿ I'll have to play around with one to figure out the configuration for a GS16.?ÿ How are you keeping yours out of the weather??ÿ For monitoring I keep it in cabinet but that is a little bulky for mobile field operations.

@john-putnam

When running a base (Alloy) I keep everything in the plastic transport case (Pelican), which can be locked and chained to a post or pole (usually not necessary). I have a splitter cable to power the receiver and the modem from the same external 7Ah brick battery, and I also bought a microhard UPS Brick ( https://microhardcorp.com/UPSBrick.php) to put inline as well. I usually use an external antenna for the modem since I am often in rural areas, but the small antenna on the modem works pretty well. The plastic case has a hole drilled in the side to pass the antenna cables through.?ÿ

I sometimes use the microhard modem as a hotspot in my vehicle, I can wifi to it and also plug my laptop in to the ethernet port. The advantage of that over the mifi (which I also use) is that I can connect directly to it and use an external antenna roof mounted. Actually, the mifi that i bought does have an external antenna port, and I have an antenna, but I have not seen a big gain from using that.?ÿ

I assign a port address of 80 (default web) to the alloy and 8080 to the modem so that I can access the web interface of either one remotely.?ÿ

I haven't heard of many people using the alloy as a portable base but to me it is ideal because it has lifetime subscription for RTX, which means a very accurate ITRF position is available about 1 minute after start, and it has an RJ45 port, wifi. And two battery slots as well as two lemo ports which are power and serial, and also two DB9 serial ports. I think Trimble mainly developed it for use as a CORS, but I really like it as a portable base. And, it can be set to alert via email when battery is low, or if the position changes by a set tolerance. Since it has RTK it can detect a change at the centimeter level.?ÿ?ÿ

AFAIK @john-putnam is correct on current Leica gear in the GS18 and the 4gLTE versions of the data collectors. Note that older CS20's likely have a 3G modem.

Any newer Leica gear that wifi could use a modern hotspot. Older gear like 1200's are not going to be able to do that, no wi-fi onboard.

I have two Intuicom bridge units and those can work as a base radio or as a bridge from cell networks to radio and you run the rover as normal with the "last mile" of the RTN corrections over radio rather than cell. I used this method with circa 2007 Leica receivers for a while before upgrading to the GS18.

SHG

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was hoping to hear someone opening up their equipment and changing out the modem - that likely will not work.?ÿ Spent another few hours this morning for options.?ÿ Will add a 4g modem to our Mesa2 tablet and move a sim card from a handheld to a GNSS sensor that is 4G compatible.

gotta be careful as there is a LTE-FDD which requires two bands and a TDD which requires one band.?ÿ?ÿ

Is any survey equipment (handhelds, GNSS) 5G?

Posted by: @hpalmer

Is any survey equipment (handhelds, GNSS) 5G?

Yes, South Instrument has several 5G GNSS receivers like Galaxy G7 and Inno7.

https://www.southinstrument.com/product/index/pro_tid/3.html

ok how many of you have equipment using 3G??ÿ I know if have some that I don't plan to update.?ÿ I have others that I will cobble together to make work.?ÿ Have one handheld data collector (3G) that I will take sim card out and place in GNSS (4G) sensor.?ÿ Another sensor is 3G so I sent off our tablet (Carlson/Mesa 2) to have a 4G LTE modem installed.?ÿ Hope to be ready for the change.

Who is out there without a solution? Or am I the only one using antique GNSS?

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@hpalmer?ÿ

I think a lot of us have 3G, 3.5G etc.?ÿ It wasn't that long ago that they were placing 3G in new units.

I will be connecting to the internet through an internet hotspot.?ÿ Your phone can probably work as a hotspot, and it may be something to test out and see if that will work for you.?ÿ Depends on how much you use RTK.

As for a battery, most of the hotspots use a USB port to charge, so you can buy an inexpensive external battery from Amazon for extra juice.