We have a Hiper II GPS system.?ÿ Its a base rover system with two identical units.?ÿ We have both the internal radios and an external 35 watt radio and use a nearly brand new Ranger running Survey Pro.
About 6 weeks ago when hooking up the data collector to the rover it would say unable to execute that command.?ÿ We have an older Ranger that gave the same results.?ÿ We sent it in for repair and I think all they did was update the software in the receiver.?ÿ When it was returned it would work for a period of time, say 10 minutes to a half hour and then go autonomous.?ÿ It?ÿwould show the radio at 100% when this happened.?ÿ
We tried updating the software in the base also, same results.?ÿ Same results when switching the base and rover around.?ÿ Same results when using the high power radio.?ÿ We took?ÿit to our dealer and he played with some settings and it seemed to be working when we left, but of course when using it again it went autonomous again.?ÿ Sometimes turning the?ÿrover off and on gets it working for a short period of time again.?ÿ It also doesn't seem to matter if you are?ÿ50 feet from the base or a half mile, same problem.
I have spent enough time messing with it and feel like I have sunk enough money into it that it is no longer worth trying?ÿto fix unless someone had a brilliant idea on what exactly is wrong with it.?ÿ Dealer says most likely a bad board.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ Its 6 years old and had a lot of use, almost daily.
Thanks in advance for answers.
I've been using 3 ProMark 700 Ashtech/Spectra receivers for a few years along with a newer Spectra SP60 while connecting them each to 2 MobileMapper 20's and 2 NOMADS, all running different versions of SurveyPro. The PM700's run with no problem on the MM20's, and the SP60 runs with no problem on the NOMADs, which are newer SurveyPro versions than the MM20.
For some reason, the PM700 with the NOMADs is not a good mix. the NOMADs will not hold a fix for very long. It's almost as if it was designed to "encourage" an upgraded receiver purchase.
Perhaps it is SurveyPro?
Some software require a Legacy module or OAF.
Did your dealer try using Topcon Software such as Magnet??ÿ
Lee, I don't think that's the problem.?ÿ He did not use magnet.?ÿ It had been working with the exact same setup for a few months.?ÿ We got the new data collector in February and we started having problems ?ÿtowards the end of June.
They still be could for static.
Odd that both are bad.
Its hard for me to figure out if its a radio board on one or both, although you would think the radio wouldn't show 100% when it goes autonomous.?ÿ I'm leaning more on the fact that it more related to the GPS receiver board or antenna.?ÿ I'm just guessing at this point. ?ÿ
I may have fixed the issue.?ÿ A few months ago we got an e-mail saying they were going to put a leap second in place and we had to update the firmware in our GPS receivers.?ÿ After we did that our GPS wouldn't work so we rolled back our firmware and it worked fine.?ÿ It appears our dealer updated our firmware when sent in our GPS a month or so back with problems.?ÿ I'm not sure but I think the only thing that was wrong with it to start with was the BAUD rate somehow got changed.?ÿ He fixed that issue but then updated the firmware which may have caused our latest problem.?ÿ
A lot of this is an issue running Survey Pro on a Spectra Precision data collector, both owned by Trimble, with our Topcon system. ?ÿIf we were running Magnet it would probably work a little smoother.?ÿ The first Spectra Precision data collector we got was a nightmare.?ÿ It would lock up and would have to reboot it all the time, sometimes as many as 10 times a day.?ÿ We have been renting a Trimble R10 VRS system the last month or so and this data collector worked even worse with it.?ÿ We finally got them to give us a brand new data collector but I can't help but wonder if the previous one wasn't the cause of the BAUD rate getting screwed up on the Topcon receiver.?ÿ The new data collector appears to be much better than the first one, so far no issues with it.
Its hard for me to figure out if its a radio board on one or both, although you would think the radio wouldn't show 100% when it goes autonomous.?ÿ I'm leaning more on the fact that it more related to the GPS receiver board or antenna.?ÿ I'm just guessing at this point. ?ÿ
By the time you have had it to the dealer service as many times as you have I'd think you would at least know WTF was wrong with it. I think maybe you need a new dealer more than you need new receivers.?ÿ
?ÿ
I agree.?ÿ Who is your dealer??
My company has merged with a much larger company and we are moving to Trimble I??m told. ?ÿHence the Spectra Precision data collector. ?ÿA different dealer for the GPS and the data collector. ?ÿIt seems to me from talking to more than one dealer they have moved completely away from Survey Pro on the Topcon side. ?ÿI??m not going to point my finger at either dealer.?ÿ
Since they don't work for you, I'd be glad to take the receivers off your hands. I'll pay you $600 plus shopping for you loses.
I'm not a fan of Survey Pro. It was one of the first ones out there and it has been around forever. So it is ubiquitous. There is a large user base. It is nice that it runs with most manufacturers.?ÿ But Trimble Access is far superior software. If you are running Trimble gear you will be happy with it.?ÿ ?ÿ
Well I??m hoping I have them working again. ?ÿIt seems I rarely get to pick my own gear or dealer.?ÿ
I used the Topcon all day today and it worked fine. ?ÿApparently to use the newest firmware in the Hipers I would ?ÿneed an OAF file to work with the Ranger. A $1000 cost of course. ?ÿRolling back to firmware dated 2010 fixed it.?ÿ
That is the Legacy mode I spoke about.
Yep live and learn. ?ÿIt would be nice if the dealer knew more than me.?ÿ
Lol.
?ÿ
