Is there an Ashtech Support Forum?

Ashtech Forum Still Over At RPLS

Practically the only reason I check in there from time to time. The legacy forum data is still available. Questions over there take days, weeks, months or even years before they are replied to. Phil is now under Trimble control. You must register with Trimble to get an official response in a roundabout way. Not like the old days when you could ring Phil up and have a chat. Trimble does not care to support products they no longer sell or have an annual maintenance fee for.

On this board Mark Silver, a dealer, maintains the faith.

Otherwise it is info sharing from long time users.

If you have not been paying attention, GNSS Solutions will no longer be updated. I was kind of shocked when looking at the alternatives.

Paul in PA

Kelly

keep in mind that a large number of the posters and antagonists are now here, which means you have a relatively good chance at getting an answer(right and/or wrong), beginning a fun-engaged argument and otherwise maybe getting more than you bargained for.......

now..........what's your question?

There are posters here that have the PM2.

I have the PM3 and Mark Silver's input has been a valuable resource.

A unit should be usable until they turn off L1, which with sequester, who knows when exactly.

Scheduled switch off was around 2019.

:-@

Thanks guys for the replies.

Phil's out until the 29th.

Out of the (4) ProMark2 successful data collecting sessions on Friday, one unit has stubbornly refused to part with its observations by not connecting to the PC. The other three, no problem, business as usual.

I've tried everything I could think of:
change batteries
clean contacts on PM2
clean contacts on receiver cradle
slightly bend up the contacts on the cradle
overtly change Baud rates; 115200, 19200, etc. on both PM2 and the download interface.

Still, no dice.

Any thoughts?

Kelly

Never Had That Problem with my PM2s. The only thing is those odd files that you are never able to delete.

Have you done a total clear of memory before collecting?

I'm assuming you are now registered with Trimble?

Paul in PA

If you have memory left, go out and collect a new additional file. Sometimes that will make a difference??

I have one unit that needs to actually be held fast(squeezed) to the bracket while I'm downloading.

Cleaning the contacts for that one didn't work either.

I have some Locus receivers, one of which was having a problem similar to what you describe with Your PM2. Someone on the old board suggested putting it in the freezer for a couple of hours. I tried it and it worked!

Thanks guys for posting.. which confusingly I never received an email notice despite checking that little box for notifications.

@Paul - yes.. in fact I'm pretty anal about always doing that unless there's some compelling reason not to. And yes, I've got some of those odd lingering files too that even defy the the old CODE 32 purge. - As for registering with Trimble, yes over a year ago; and your earlier comment regarding "roundabout" comes perilously close to triggering a rant. But you guys are too nice, so I'll stay quiet (that and I've still got an open Service Work Order outstanding since November 😉

@Bob - yes.. that's exactly what we did this morning using the other PM2s (though I haven't processed that data yet).

@Retired69 - wow - how in the world did you discover that solution?

@Dave - sounds no crazier than squeezing I guess - now, where's my gloves...

Okay, so the offending unit is in the freezer. If that route works, I'll let you know. If that doesn't work (nor putting the "squeeze" on it), I guess I'm SOL for that one session with an unshakeable dark cloud forever connected to that particular unit much like those odd lingering files.

Hi,
I meant to fire up the offending unit and cycle it one more time to get an additional file. My theory is that sometimes it spots a session in a bad place and may cause a problem. As nuts as that sounds I have had it happen with a locus, so just throwing it out there.
Bob

Okay – here's the report from this morning's experiments in regards to the reanimation of Unit PM20308000 prompted by it having earlier refused to communicate with the PC (Win7 64-bit) despite it never having a problem before and all other units never showing similar issues.

Placed unit in chest freezer for 16.5 hours and replaced batteries – no luck
Tried squeezing during Download session – only made my wife laugh
Used a second cradle (we'll call cradle2) – BINGO

While squeezing the data out of the receiver sounds comical, it could in fact improve surface area contact between the cradle1 and the unit, though apparently not enough in this instance if that was indeed related. Also, my previous attempts in cleaning the cradle1 contacts and the contacts on the unit may have been impotent... ?

Lastly, and the secondary experiment of the morning, the much revered Code 32 was also suggested as possibly clearing things up, but one Trimble source stated what would result from the maneuver: “The receiver will shut off normally. No data files, maps or features libraries will be deleted.” and another Trimble source stated: “If you lose the data files in that process they were lost anyway”.

Post-operation Code32
Placed unit in cradle1 – BINGO
Confirmed: Files were not deleted <- explains a tiny clue why those odd lingering files still linger

Thanks to anybody who cared 🙂

Ignore this if it doesn't apply, but have you told us that the receiver does or does not connect.

In other words is this a problem with connection, or is it a problem with getting the file after connection?

Last fall I had a PM2 that stopped seeing satelites. Navigation or Survey, nothing.
Tried all the usual, code 32, batteries, rubber chickens... Finally, with a tear in my eye, I took the batteries out and stuck it a desk drawer and forgot about it. Fast forward about 5 months. What the heck, one more try. Much to my surprise and delight, it worked like a champ, still using it today.

Oops - my bad.

BINGO = PM2 now connects with PC

My mail list (ashgps.com) is a pretty good resource for ashtech information. You can sign up at www.ashgps.com (on the right-hand side, down just a bit). There is a link to all of the old messages too.

There are so many list members that I can't speak as freely as I used to. I have to couch all my notes with the knowledge that 75% of the 1,900 readers speak english as a second language.

Here are some corrections to other notes in this thread:

1. You do not need to register to ask Phil (Stevenson) questions. You can send email to [email protected] without registering. Typically your questions will get answered by Phil, however Jean-Pierre and Charlene will fill in for Phil when he is asleep or on holiday. Both Jean and Carlene are fantastic resources. Also, between the three, we can usually get a more rounded perspective than from one person alone. And I know for a fact that Phil's cell phone number is not a secret, the other day when the NGS CORS FTP site was down, Phil's phone almost melted.

2. ProMark 2 EOL. Yup. And I don't think that Phil is supposed to / allowed to answer questions on the PM2 anymore. Of course, most of the questions can be phrased as general 'GNSS Solutions' questions. That said, we still have brand new PM2's in stock! Uggh.

3. GNSS Solutions is not dead, nor is it end of shipping. (I stand slightly corrected on this myself.) There are a limited number of L2 dongles for GNSS Solutions available, however GNSSSol is still supported, still ships with ProMark 120's ProMark 800's and other receivers. Not to put too fine of point on this, but I think the distinction is L1 vs. L1/L2.

4. You can always contact me directly by email or via my blog (ashgps.wordpress.com). I get lots and lots of questions and I usually can come up with a good answer. I even answer questions in other languages (assuming I can interpret the Google Translations 🙂

5. Don't forget that repair service is still available for most legacy equipment at very reasonable prices.

Good surveying to you!

Mark

The question that should be really asked, is there an Ashtech anymore?
The realistic answer is NO unfortunately, The morphology of Ashtech > Magellan > Thales Navigation > Ashtech Precision Products has faded into the annals of the GPS history books. Most recently, Ashtech was aquired by Spectra Precision, the Survey/Construction Division of TN.

Slowyly, but surely, the renown Ashtech moniker has disappeared, as well as all the Ashtech products that the Ashtech user community has purchased, loved and supported over the years. As a long time, Ashtech-er, (7-years as a customer) using Blue-Boxes in SoCal with LD-XII, P-12, Z-12's and a 8-years as an Ashtech employee, supporting & training customers on Z-12, Z-Surveyor, Z-Xtreme, Reliance, Z-Max, Locus, PM2 and the various Post-Proc S/w's)those days are in my rear-view mirror and memories, no one can take away our memories, but alas, the GNSS Industry continues to move ahead and move forward. The Ashtech/SP product offerings continue along, but nothing lasts forever, Ashtech products keep getting further away in the rear-view mirror, the next generation SP products replace the old, as does the product life cycle in the GNSS Industry. RIP Ashtech, you were a true and loyal old friend.

It's truely a shame Ashtech's fate/headstone was written by TN.
There's an old saying, if you can't beat them, buy them, and bury the bones deeply.

There a new GNSS Hemisphere out there...
A place I call my happy home these days.

Purely just my 25cents, (for what's it worth),
25 cents used to buy a guy a cup of coffee, but not @ Starbucks.

-BbB B-)