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Topcon Machine Control - Radio Link Intermittent

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(@mitchptd)
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Topcon firmware versions previous to 4.7 did not track Glonass properly when using the CMR+ format. This was a detriment to equipment that ran off a Trimble base. Topcon, in late 2015, reversed engineered that so they can properly track Glonass in the CMR+ format. This is from the 4.7 release notes:

  • Support for Trimble CMR+* message (decoding of GLONASS)

But, when not using any Trimble equipment, RTCM 3.x is the preferred format. This is from a white Topcon Document I have. I can send the pdf to anyone interested, just PM. It was written before the 4.7 update. But this is what it summarizes.

The initial and sole reason for using Trimbleƒ??s CMR format was that it provided a lower
bandwidth than RTCM.
RTCM 3.0 not only offers lower bandwidth then CMR+, it is an open, industry standard
supporting GPS, GLONASS and network corrections. No surprises.
Trimbleƒ??s GLONASS observation extension to the CMR format remains proprietary.

 
Posted : July 19, 2017 5:55 am
(@pipeliner542)
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Yea I have the same issue , im one of the 2 gps dozers on the fed ex job in allentown , the contractor runs the trimble base and trimble on the other dozer both are D 61 kamatsu,s mines the newer one , we have the uhf box on the base , and im programmed rite , but I can be 100 ft with a clear line of sight , and have no radio link?ÿ

 
Posted : March 25, 2018 3:37 pm
(@leegreen)
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We find it works best when a Topcon Base pushes signal to Trimble and Topcon machine control. A site that started last fall had a base pushing signal to two radios. This setup had weekly problems. I removed the Trimble radio, set every machine on the same PDL freq and it is still running fine today. For some reason, the Trimble guy didn't like me much after that.

 
Posted : March 26, 2018 1:01 am
 jaro
(@jaro)
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Well, I can't "Like", I can't "quote". and I can't "reply"

But I just gotta say, I LIKE the statement "For some reason, the Trimble guy didn't like me much after that."

 
Posted : March 26, 2018 5:09 am
(@snowshoes)
Posts: 28
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We run Topcon machines from a Trimble base all the time.?ÿ Often kilometers away from the base.?ÿ The version of software in the machine can determine whether or not the broadcast format will track GLONASS doing this though.

I would guess that Pipeliner542's Komatsu is setup just a little bit off from the base format(different baud rate/slightly different format) or is dealing with a hardware issue like an antenna cable or antenna problem.

 
Posted : March 27, 2018 6:07 am
(@hhhh1)
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Are you sure you have no radio and not a scrambled radio signal from someone else operating on the same frequency using a different radio modulation protocol and no fix as a result of that?

 
Posted : May 8, 2019 3:00 am
(@david-livingstone)
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Are you working anywhere near some source of interference??ÿ I have only worked in a couple of places I thought this was a problem.?ÿ Near an airport and near some kind of larger tower, which was most likely a cell tower.?ÿ The airport issue was years ago and we were doing static work.?ÿ The cell tower issue was just a couple of weeks ago and I'm using Topcon stuff.

 
Posted : May 8, 2019 9:01 am
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