Mobile Hotspot for GPS

I think you want a mifi that your data collector can connect to rather than your receiver. Or you could put an AT&T sim card in the GNSS receiver. Verizon mifi 6620L should work. If it will not connect using WPA2 or something like that, and has to be open, you can configure the hotspot to only accept connections from that particular MAC address so that unauthorized users cannot get in and use the modem. Just be sure to also include the mac address of your laptop so that you can still get in to reconfigure.?ÿ?ÿ

I use that mifi, but I also have a Microhard bulletPlus-NA2 cellular modem that runs on Verizon. It has wifi, serial port, and an ethernet port. The serial port is useful when a receiver does not have the capability to connect to an access point (like a mifi).?ÿ

@john-hamilton Thanks, I'll look into the 6620L, or other Verizon mifi units

Does your controller have a sims card slot. This will serve as a dual benefit allowing internet for network rover services and to get internet on the DC to send files through email and retrieve deeds.?ÿ

@ferg2655 I'll have to take a look

As John Hamilton mentioned, the Verizon mifi 6620L is a good option.?ÿ I've been using one for about three years and the battery life is great.?ÿ I can get a few days of work out of it without charging.?ÿ I've noticed that it picks up cell signal better than any cell phone.

Why not just collect static data and post process?

As @just-a-surveyor suggested, could you consider running an OPUS rapid static session?

It doesn't appear that Verizon currently sells a MiFi with external antenna ports.?ÿ We currently use a box with external ports and a 2.5x antenna on it for most work.?ÿ I do have high gain antennas for problem areas, but, the 2.5x works for most.?ÿ Hopefully, they add one back in as ours are getting long in the tooth.

I agree that if you are running into that many dead zones for cell coverage, having a workflow for static or base-rover operations makes much more sense than regularly spinning your wheels trying to establish a connection. Many a crew has spent an hour or two trying to get observations under canopy when it would have taken them twenty minutes to set up a total station and observe with a prism pole...

RTNs are awesome, but not foolproof. and sometimes are not necessarily the best solution. I much prefer the ability to adapt to site conditions.

?ÿ

We are starting to upgrade our gear company-wide, and we had some within the organization pitching the idea of getting receivers without any UHF radios because "all we need is the RTN". Not smart. What happens when the network is down or you can't get a great solution in a remote area, or cell coverage is nonexistent? The receiver turns into a paperweight.

?ÿ

@norm-larson

I have two 7730L mifi's which do have an external antenna port. I had to special order them because the people at the verizon store had no idea when I asked about the external port. Like, why would I need something like that? I bought mine on Amazon, they are still available there.?ÿ

According to the manual, that receiver does have a sim card slot, I keep active sims in all three of our R10's. Only one has a static IP, that is used as the base. The other two are less expensive, I think $20/month versus $50/month for the static IP.?ÿ

I have found that the R10 on a 2 m pole out of the vehicle often gets better reception than a hotspot inside the vehicle (makes sense). So if I am in a marginal reception area I will use the sim card in the receiver.?ÿ

@john-hamilton

Cool, the last thing I want is to not have those ports!

@norm-larson Hi Norm, I have Verizon/Netgear 791L wifi that has external antenna port.  I often find myself tying it to a 12' pole when working in weak cell areas or setting it on my truck roof when working near a road.    Thinking an antenna on it might help, can you send me the make/model of the antennas you are using?  The 791L has excellent battery life and is rugged... survived two flips off my truck roof after I forgot it was up there!   Costs $20/month to use. 

@dave-tlusty

I can do better than that, how about an entire thread?  It is like all of my early thread in that my picture host just disappeared, so, I have added pictures to the end

https://surveyorconnect.com/community/computers-tech/mobile-hotspot-antennas/

@norm-larson Thanks Norm!

@just-a-surveyor No idea what that's all about 🙂