Promark 3 Users,
I am looking at picking one of these up to use both static with my HIPERs as well as for post-processed sub-meter. I did have a few questions:
1 Power. For long days of static, what are you doing for power. What are the options for external power?
2 Software for Rinex Conversion. I would need to get the data over to rinex for processing in Trimble TGO. I assume there is some sort of conversion utility freely available?
3 Software for post-processed sub-meter. Would this be mobile mapper office? GNSS solutions? Are these too public domain?
Thanks in advance,
Matt
Matthew,
I think you will be very pleased. I did the same exact thing three years ago, and have since picked up another PM3 to add to the pair of Hipers and the first PM3.
To answer your questions:
1. A) Battery life. You should easily get several hours up to a day out of the new battery. One of my units lasts almost all day. The second unit lasts about four hours or so. Maybe longer. I generally use them for short baselines, no longer than 2 hours or so.
B) external power, the I/O module that you use to download and charge the unit has a plug in where you can plug in an adapter to use the unit off of an external battery. I bought two adapters, one with alligator clips, and one cigarette adapter from IGAGE. They were about $20 each.
2. Rinex conversion: There is a free rinex converter available from the Ashtech FTP site.
3, I have never used the unit for sub-meter post-processed solutions. I would think that Mobile Mapper Office would be the proper software for that, but you would need to ask someone that is more familar with that.
I hope this helps. I use my four units alot in establishing pairs of control points for jobs, and transferring elevations, etc. I usually pair up one Hiper with one PM3 on each pair of control points. I use this combination so that I can use OPUS as a check. It has saved my bacon on more than one occassion.
Good luck!
I played with the submeter function a few times. You post process in Mobile Mapper Office.
You can download all the software you need for free from whoever is the current owner. GNSS solutions for single frequency is free. It has a really nice ground coordinate system generator.
I have never run one dead but usually my days are 5 or 6 hours max in the field.
The only quirk I know of is you need to make sure they are on the correct day. I always do a GPS Reset at the beginning of the day. If that doesn't work then I set the correct day and time then go back and do a GPS reset. Getting it close seems to help it find itself. If you use them a lot this won't be as much of an issue.
They work great and the results are better than some 30k dual frequency receivers. The stop&go function works really well too. I just do on-the-fly initialization (never had a problem-just start topo'ing). I only used the initializer bar once or twice.
GNSS Solutions is the post processing software.......
Thank you for all your input gentlemen. It is very much appreciated.
Matt
Hello Matthew,
I would recommend looking into the ProMark 100 unit as well. This unit offers GLONASS tracking as well as a firmware upgrade path to a dual frequency unit if ever needed in the future. Like the PM3, the PM100 can be used as a handheld unit as well for real-time <50cm accuracy or post-processed to increase accuracy.
If you have any specific questions regarding the ProMark 3 or ProMark 100 feel free to email me at bblack@sidwellco.com.
Brett
