We recently purchased a Sokkia GRX3 (i.e. Sokkia branded Topcon Hiper VR) base and rover system and are feeling a bit of buyer's remorse.?ÿ The field performance of the system just doesn't wow us like we were hoping coupled with some other very annoying "issues" back in the office side of things.?ÿ (I can go into details if anyone wants.)?ÿ So I am wondering what other users are experiencing and how they deal with the office "annoyances".
-Garry
I did the same I actually think my hiper v worked better seems to take forever to fix and radio signal in wide is good but if there is a few trees it want go far at all?ÿ
What problems have you been having maybe I have a setting wrong because other people seem to love them but I don??t seem to think there any better than my hiper v that I had?ÿ
Garry, the best way to deal with office annoyances is to go solo.
My Topcon VR's w/ Magnet Field v6.2 are much more accurate than the older Hiper V's. If you are not seeing 25 -30 SV's then you need to update your firmware.
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I measure control points with 60-second RTK observation, then occupy and backsight the points with Robot TS. The checks are constantly ?ñ0.01ft
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Where are you having trouble?
What software are using?
At another employer I used Hiper II's and Hiper V's and was quite happy with them.?ÿ I was hoping these units adding the additional constellations would see a big boost in performance under tree cover or even simply better performance along a simple rover of trees (i.e. row of trees between two open farm fields).?ÿ So far their use seems a little better, but not mind blowing.?ÿ I have to say that I am also comparing them to a set of Spectra SP80's (which also use Galileo & Beidou) which I saw phenomenal results with so long as I could maintain radio signal with their pathetic radios.?ÿ These GRX3 radios have been fine, but we've not pushed them far/hard yet.?ÿ
Quick list of "problems" or "Annoyances":
- Not the "mind-blowing" performance I expected from the additional constellations.?ÿ (We have an old set of Hiper GA's and in some instances they only seem slightly better rather than blowing them away - i.e. being able to fix, how quickly it will fix, having bad fixes with "blown" results.)
- In wide open conditions we would see fewer satellites in use than expected.?ÿ For instance, the other day we saw 13 in use out of maybe 26 in view during the entire time of a 3-minute observation.?ÿ We then went to a point in worse conditions and saw something like 20 in use out of 26.?ÿ It seems those "satellites in use" jump in groups rather than individually, as if the RTK engine is waiting for 4 or 5 satellites of the same constellation before it will even use them.
- Having to charge them with the antennas connected because they power on as soon as you plug them in (even apart from the antenna having to be connected, just the fact that they turn on and have to be turned back off)
-USB connection to a PC to download static files using a Windows file browser will sometimes result in corrupt files that can't be used.?ÿ Downloading in TRU instead results in usable files, but then you have the additional hassle of having to use TRU.
-Using windows file browser you can't delete static files.?ÿ No option to delete (as if Windows sees it as read-only).?ÿ You have to delete the files using TRU.
-Static files initiated using SurvCE result in files without a file extension.?ÿ (I believe this is Carlson's issue as static files initiated with the power button do have the file extension.
- No user swap-able battery.
- Base will only run 6hrs on internal battery (so you pretty much have to use a 12v battery to guarantee it won't go dead on you during a big survey
-Garry
We're using Carlson SurvCE v.6.09.?ÿ We will see high 20's, maybe even 30 satellites at times, but it seems to like to run in the low 20's most often.?ÿ My experience with a set of SP80's was that I would hold high 20's and even about 32 pretty consistently.?ÿ Accuracies have been pretty respectable.?ÿ Units were supposedly all gone over and setup by our Topcon dealer prior to delivery.
-Garry
No need to leave battery on when charging.?ÿ Topcon confirms this. I plug in charger then immediately power off units.
I've never lost or seen a corrupted static file. This must be a Carlson issue. Since Windows has read only access, it is impossible to be corrupted.
Yes, these newer recievers will not fix as quickly in tree areas as older Hipers did.?ÿ When it does fix, it will be at a higher confidence and more accurate due to enhanced logarithm.
The drop in SV's in open is also something I have not seen.
That should say
"no need to leave antenna on when charging Hiper VR's".
The same file that downloaded corrupt through a windows file explorer downloads fine through TRU. And we have seen "bad fixes" under light tree cover (while getting good fixes under even thicker cover - same experience as with other receivers). Honestly, now that I think of it, I don't remember ever seeing a bad fix with the SP80's (i.e. worse than a few tenths).?ÿ
We do power the units off immediately after plugging in to charge. I would guess that few seconds wouldn't harm the boards, but our dealer recommends connecting the antennas.?ÿ With the SP80s I would run the units without antennas connected all the time on VRS.?ÿ I was told it wasn't an issue on those.?ÿ
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-Garry
