What is the difference between an R8 and an SPS780? They look identical, and seem to have the same features.
The R8 runs off a 450 mhz radio while the SPS series are all 900 mhz.
AH, thanks for the info. After looking into a bit more last night, it looks like the "R" series is market towards surveyors, and the SPS series is marketed towards contractors/machine control. Do you happen to know if TDS Survey pro will run them the same (There is no SPS option in TDS, Just R8)? The SPS series seems to have it's own line of Trimble DC software, as well, geared towards contractors.
I'm not sure if TDS will work with SPS series. I'll try and dig into that today. You can take a 450MHz radio from a R and put it into a SPS to make it 450 its only a couple screws holding them in I have a couple of local contracrors that do this to run on the city base
> AH, thanks for the info. After looking into a bit more last night, it looks like the "R" series is market towards surveyors, and the SPS series is marketed towards contractors/machine control. Do you happen to know if TDS Survey pro will run them the same (There is no SPS option in TDS, Just R8)? The SPS series seems to have it's own line of Trimble DC software, as well, geared towards contractors.
Yes, you are correct in saying the Trimble R8 is a surveyor's unit and the SPS units are for construction. We currently have two R8 units and one SPS 880 with Glonass that we purchased cheap just for the Glonass, however it has turned out to be a mess.
The SPS unit is designed to be used with SPS software which is very easy to use but very limited in what can be done. The SPS units CANNOT be used with TDS Survey Pro. If you dig and dig and dig you will find that the SPS units CAN be used with Trimble Survey Controller but you will have to pay about $200 for an "upgrade" to the software to add the functionality to talk to the SPS unit IF you can find a salesman that knows about this feature. It took us awhile to find someone who investigated how to actually sell us this feature. But Survey Controller is garbage. And I find that the SPS unit's fixed positions for the same point can vary from a very reasonable 0.02' to a wtf 3' difference. I tend to take +/- 6 shots on the same point with the SPS unit just to give me more confidence in the point location. It's junk. And because of the difference in radio frequency you can't use it along with an R8 base or even use the same external radio if you have a Pac Crest or whatnot.
However we may just have a lemon unit--but that doesn't change the fact that the radio and software is different and won't jive with R8 units. Also, our SPS unit does not have internal memory for static data storage. Don't buy an SPS.
I have been using a SPS 881 with 450 mhz receive radio and Survey controller for 4 1/2 years now with no problems. Someone above is correct that the SPS series is intended for contractors and the R series is for surveyors. Most contractors get the 900 mhz so they don't have to mess with the license. The only difference I know of is the SPS does not come with internal memory for logging/post processing. I had it added to mine.
The newest thing is the SPS 985:
http://www.trimble.com/construction/heavy-civil/site-positioning-systems/sps985_gnss_smart_antenna.aspx?dtID=overview&
The company I work for bought two last week.
I haven't seen the survey version of it yet.
Thanks for the info, this helps out a lot.
Have you seen the new R10?
No, but I just googled it. WOW. I want one.
It appears the R10 is the survey version and the SPS 985 is the construction version of basically the same receiver. I see a few differences but not much.
James
The quick release appears to be well design on this new unit.
Hopefully, the battery compartment has a better design than previous models.
> Have you seen the new R10?
Great stuff.
$25K...each.
> The quick release appears to be well design on this new unit.
>
> Hopefully, the battery compartment has a better design than previous models.
I like the new quick release, it adds less height than the old style which helps for us short people.
The battery compartment is completely different. I had the 985 sitting on the desk when I typed the message above but didn't pay much attention to the battery. One thing I really like is the receiver sits in the case sideways with the antenna still attached.
James
