Has anyone had success finding a narrow band compliant data link radio that will operate with Lecia System 500 GPS? We cuurently operate two system 500 setups using Pacific Crest's PDL4535. Per Pac Crest, and research on this forum, our PDLs are not upgradeable to meet the narrow banding requirements. Per our Leica dealer, running the PDLs at 19200bps will not work effectively, and the newer ADLs will not work properly with our System 500s. Their solution, of course, was to offer to sell us new GPS systems.
Any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks Shelby. Email sent to both companies you provided the links for.
Per or Leica Dealer, and all I can talk to is sales not tech directly, Leicas tech department tells him they've tested them and "trust them it doesn't work". I can get no further technical explanation that that. I requested a better explanation and I'm still waiting. I'm pretty much fed up with dealing with our Leica dealer and am pursuing on my own. My assumption is that it has to do with the data packet lengths on the older systems.
We have a System 1200 in office also, that's attempting to use a new ADL. Works fine in 25 kHz. Switch the ADL to 12.5kHz and we have to disable GLONASS to get it to operate. Leica/Pac Crest is working on that as well.
We just bought a new ADL 35 watt base for our system 500 and after working out a few bugs about the frequencies, it works fine.
That's encouraging news Steve. Have you noticed any issues like decreased range and/or trouble obtaining lock?
Hi Steve, wondering what your protocol and settings are in your leica 500 base to get it to broadcast in narrowband?? I have one that I need to get operating...I heard it wasn't possible. Any help you have would be great.
Thanks.
We were successfully able to reprogram our PDL transmitter and receiver to a radio link rate of 19200 bps, with Transparent EOT/EOC protocols, and 4FSK modulation - you can download the radio programming software from Pacific Crest's site. This new configuration appears to work correctly, and according to Pacific Crest, is narrow band compliant.
We have not used this new setup in a "real" project situation yet,only tested it for a couple hours after reconfiguring. In our initial test we were able to obtain lock at a little over 2 miles (we do expect descreased range, but 2 miles is adequate for our use). We checked some control points established around our area for previous projects and hit our existing horizontal postions within a couple hundredths (I forget how the vertical checked). For now, it appears to work well. However, with use, time will tell.
We've purchased a new ADL (along with a new Epoch 50.) Our next attempt will be to set up the System 500 to operate with the ADL, allowing us to get more range if needed.
Thanks for the reply, I'm going to try this out on Friday, I'll let you know how it goes. Do you use a Leica 500 Rover as well? Did you need to make any specific changes to it? Our Rover still uses the old RFM radio, I'm hoping I can get it all working.
Yes, we use a System 500 for a Rover and Base. Our rover radio is a Pacific Crest PDLGFU6. Both the base transmitter and rover receiver have to be reconfigured. Please let me know how your expericence works out, as this is a learning experience.
