Hi,
I'm in St Croix helping with a bathymetric survey using some kind of echo Sounder and a pair Spectra Sp80's. The dude that runs the echo Sounder doohickey needs to communicate with the sp80 via Bluetooth or serial cable. In the past we have used Trimble R8's connected with Trimble GPS Configurator. Is there a similar program to connect to the SP80?
Also, I've noticed in my rtk styles that I have an option to connect to an echo Sounder. The dude familiar with the echo Sounder understands the options, but would prefer using the laptop to connect to both the GPS and the echo - he is willing to tryout using Access to handle all of this if we can get it working. It looks like Trimble has a custom export stylesheet that will export X,Y,Z with or without the echo depths applied. The client wants xyz data, so it seems like running this through Access would be easier and wouldn't require a GPS Configurator type of program. Anyone ever done this? If so, I can provide more details about the exact make and model of equipment being used. Also, we are running the latest version of Access and the local crews have been using Access to run RTK with the SP80's. Again, dude understands the options and is impressed, but we are having trouble configuring the port. The echo Sounder has an RS232 serial cable that connects to the tsc3, but we aren't sure how to configure that port. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
Access can hook to the echo-sounder no problem. I assume you are using Survey Pro on the Spectra, that should also be an easy fix. If it is a Seafloor system you can download an app that will allow you to reconfigure the echosounder system via bluetooth - I had to go through this process going from am R8 to a Leica receiver and an Android device. Their 1-800 customer service line is very helpful. Don't forget a line and pole 😉
StLSurveyor, post: 426214, member: 7070 wrote: Access can hook to the echo-sounder no problem. I assume you are using Survey Pro on the Spectra, that should also be an easy fix. If it is a Seafloor system you can download an app that will allow you to reconfigure the echosounder system via bluetooth - I had to go through this process going from am R8 to a Leica receiver and an Android device. Their 1-800 customer service line is very helpful. Don't forget a line and pole 😉
App is called SonarMite+
Thanks for the reply. We are using Access to run the Spectra. I'm not familiar with Spectra, but Trimble's latest version of Access supports the SP80. Thanks for the reply.
Trimble Access will support Bluetooth comms with CeeStar and Sonar Mite echo sounders; I've used it with Sonar Mite quite a bit. You can also configure NMEA out to a laptop in Access 2017.00.
Yes, Access does now support the SP80, BUT there's a long list of functionality that works with Trimble receivers but not with the SP80; you should consult the release notes.
See the attached bulletin regarding SP receiver support in Access.
Thanks. We have the SP80s working in access. I am trying to find a way to connect the SP80s to a laptop and get the NMEA info. Is there a Spectra program that will connect the SP80 to a laptop?
You shouldn't need anything other than Access, based on that document. Is the laptop running Hypack or something similar? You should be able to configure a NMEA port in your Survey Style and just connect that port to the RS232 port on the PC, then configure that in your software.
Actually, the SP80 has a WiFi WebUI that you can use to connect it to the laptop, at which point it should be fully configurable for your needs. If you're not sure how to do that you may want to download the User Guide.
