our crews are experiencing difficulty in getting any range from these new 35W radios - anyone else have this happen? is there a setting we're missing, suggestions?
I have ours on order. It will be used with hipers, I have got two suggested setting setup. Both came with a warning of possible reduced range. When the radio makes it here I can report back. If you are using hipers I can give you the suggested settings when I get back to the office.
we're using Trimble R8 GNSS Model 2's, with the new PacCrest ADL 35W radios. our local Trimble dealer is where we bought the new radios and had them set up our receivers to match. They work, but our crews can barely get one mile from base without losing signal, even in a wide-open sky.
with the HPB450's - we would usually get at least 3 miles, and often much further to check to another NGS monument. crews are VERY frustrated.
We are using Leica G15's and we have the 35w ADL's. Our experience is that range is reduced as well - probably getting about 70% of the range we were getting before. One thing you can check is to make sure if you have dual(radio/GSM) capability that your crews are using the appropriate UHF andtenna. We found during testing one of our guys was leaving the GSM anttenna attached even when using UHF so don't do that your range will be affected negatively!
Best Regards,
Terry
Joe,
The radios have Tx power level (five total levels) settings. The range from 2 Watts to full 35 watts. Make certain that the radio is set to level 5, which is 35 Watts. You should be able to scroll through the configuration menu on the front interface of the ADL to check this setting.
You may have something set wrong, BUT the fact is the range will not be as good as the old wideband PDL's even if you have all the settings correct. I got this info straight from Pacific Crest this week, no quantitative answer on what that means, BUT I think it is clear the normal range will for sure be shorter.
If a mile is it, then a spread spectrum radio appears to maybe be a very viable competitor.
SHG
I'm sending our crews back to dealer tomorrow with everything, see what can be found. I'll post back by Friday with findings.
thank you all 🙂
I have Topcon GR3's and an ADL vantage pro. If the dealer set your link rate to 9600 then you will definately have range issues. My settings are link rate=4800 and baud rate=19200 and I have at least 4 miles range probably even further. The range is comparable to the PDL-HPB I have been using for years. As a test I used my PDL-HPB radio for base and used the ADL as a repeater and we could get a range of 8-12 miles depending on terrain, did not use it for measurements just as a radio range test. From what I have learned and experienced the best settings for range and reliability are link rate=4800 and baud rate=9600(I would set mine to this but the GR3's lowest baud rate allowed by Topsurv is 19200).
The higher the frequency, the shorter the wave length, and the shorter the range with the same power output. Also, it becomes more of a line of sight situation. 🙁
The frequency hasn't changed, just the width of the channel. Still, from all I have been told, the range will be less with a narrowband radio vs. the wideband.
SHG
new ADL radios - range/distance issues UPDATE
good news - bad news, as to our range issues.
After trying different setups and techniques today at our local Trimble dealer, it was determined that our Rover “D” receiver radio module is going bad. After taking Rover “D” out of the survey equipment setup they were able to get 3 miles from base while in town, and still have lock on radio. Rough estimate is about $2500 to replace the radio module. 🙁
next I need to see if I can get that receiver to work with my phone and RTN, or will the faulty radio module affect that in a bad way?
new ADL radios - range/distance issues UPDATE
Thanks for the update, at least it sounds like the ADL's are reaching out to three miles, so that is good!
SHG