Hello All,
I've been wracking my brain for days trying to make this work, and I am stumped! I finally remembered that maybe someone here would know, as this could be the greatest single collection of survey minds on the planet 🙂
Anyway, The Firm finally broke down and bought an R8 for GNSS work. We've rented one before with great results. However, when we rent, it comes with a cell phone and Trimble data collector. All we got is the R8. So, I'm stuck with trying to make it work with our Nomad (GNSS has been added) running SurveyPro 4.9.2. The P.T.B. decided that "we don't need no stinkin' cell phone to make this work, and the salesman agreed, so they got a Verizon MiFi, which is a nifty little device that creates a WiFi space around itself as long as there's cell coverage. Well, the MiFi works, I can surf the web on the Nomad. The Bluetooth from the R8 to the Nomad works too. BUT, I cannot get SurveyPro to "see" the WiFi and use it to contact via the web the RTK realtime corrections site. I believe I have the receiver set up properly, as the Nomad "sees" it and records its model number and serial number. I have the website and port set up, but I can't even find where I'm supposed to set up the username and password info(?!?).
Has anyone used this setup before that could offer some tips? I don't have much hair left to lose and I'm afraid this is going to cost me the rest of it! Thanks.
should be able to put the username/password in the data collector
First make sure you are in the GNSS module of Survey Pro
-then go to "manage instruments"
-then tab over (I think the tab is at the bottom on a Nomad) to "networks"
-then "add a network"
-enter your information and you should be good.
Hope this helps J.T.
We use a Mifi when we do our VRS work and it works out great. We just tape the MIFI to the top of the TSC2. Not sure about Survey Pro. Good Luck.
In the Receivers tab, to the right of the Rover's name, there should be three buttons Bluetooth, Data Modem and General. Tap the Data Modem button and make sure that Windows Networking is selected and Dail-Up Connection is set to Current Internet. Also, if your software warranty is current, I suggest upgrading to 5.0.
You might want to make sure that the "tethering" option is enabled through your verizon dealer on the mifi also.
In Survey Pro, be in the GNSS mode as mentioned.
Go to Jobs>Settings...where it shows your receiver, see the second symbol to the right? Does it look like a radio or a globe?
If a radio, tap on it and choose "Windows Networking" OK that and where it says Dial-up Connection, choose "Current Internet"
That will allow you to use the MiFi as your device.
OK out of that...(green check mark)
Then tap on Networks at the top tool bar. Add Network. that is where you enter your IP address and port and username and password.
Dan was quicker than me!
When using a MiFi, you do not need any "tethering" options.
Thanks everyone! Still not there though Tom. When I set up the connection, it still does not ask me for username and password, only address and port. It seems like I'm almost there: it's trying to connect instead of booting me out, but then I get a message that "the number dialed did not answer". ??
YeeeHawwww! I'm not quite sure how I got there, but some of the tips got me close, then I somehow turned on the WiFi in Survey Pro, and now I'm connected to the correction site. It's still sitting there with a message saying "Waiting For Base Position", but that's a heck of a lot further than yesterday. Thanks everyone!:-)
UPDATE!!! Trimble R8, Survey Pro & MiFi
After playing around in the office for a few weeks, I finally got to take this setup out to a job site: NOT GOOD! Most of the work the firm does is in fairly marginal areas, at least in terms of cell coverage. It turns out that the MiFi is not backwards compatible, and only works with 3G and 4G coverage/networks. I was in areas of great cell coverage, 1G and 2G, but it wasn't at least 3G so it dropped the signal. Tough lesson to learn as it looks like even though the Verizon rep said, and I quote, "if you can get a cell signal, the MiFi can create a WiFi bubble", they are not going to let us out of the two year contract, even though we want to upgrade to either a cell phone or a smart phone, both of which we're promised will work. We'll see: I met up with the salesman who sold us the stuff today, and he's willing to let me try one of their rental cell phones for the weekend with our R8/Nomad. I'm going back to the same place at the job site just to make sure it was the MiFi and not something else before we commit to another purchase. Wish me luck!
UPDATE!!! Trimble R8, Survey Pro & MiFi
Well that was disappointing! The cell phone was just as bad as the MiFi in the exact same locations. The only time I could get corrections was when I had a 3G signal. My personal cell phone, just a regular old 2G cell phone, was showing 3 to 5 bars. The cell/data phone from my vendor was showing "1X", with the occasional bar or two added to that, except of course when it read "3G". Does anyone know if in fact these types of corrections can only be done over a 3G or 4G connection?
Help?
This whole thing is turning in to a nightmare. The PTB figured, why pay for a dumb cell phone (which is what I carry with me in the field) that is voice only, plus a MiFi, that is data only? Why not get a Smart Phone that can do both for the same price: create its own WiFi and double as a phone, plus internet and everything else that comes with a smart phone. Brilliant! Verizon actually allowed us to get out of the MiFi contract and transfer the number and plan to a shiny new SmartPhone, and we got a good one: The Droid Razr Maxx! Huge battery, big screen, everything we'd need. Only problem: when in WiFi mode, the Maxx kills the battery, drains it super fast! OK, let's try it in dial up mode, that should work too, right? Wrong. The Nomad cannot make the Maxx dial out. The Nomad can make the rental flip phone dial out just fine, but not the Maxx. They pair, the Maxx shows them as being connected, but the Nomad says Cannot Connect for unknown reason.
Is anyone out there using a smart phone as a dial up modem for RTK with a Nomad and an R8? I've burned out my welcome at my local Verizon store, and I've already bewildered Verizon tech support, who insist these phones were not designed for these types of uses. Our salesman says it should work, but no one seems to be able to make it happen. Any helpful info would be much appreciated.
Help?
It's not going to work in areas that don't have 3G coverage, period. The mifi is the best route to go, because like you said, it drains the battery on the phone. We use 3 of these types of setups but if you are in an area that doesn't have 3G coverage, you have to resort to regular ol' RTK. But, if you only bought one R8, you can't do that either.
Help?
> It's not going to work in areas that don't have 3G coverage, period. The mifi is the best route to go, because like you said, it drains the battery on the phone. We use 3 of these types of setups but if you are in an area that doesn't have 3G coverage, you have to resort to regular ol' RTK. But, if you only bought one R8, you can't do that either.
Thanks for your info. I'm getting the part about needing 3G, but it's the battery draining part I'm trying to get around. If I can get the dial up to work, the battery will last all day. Have you had any success with getting dial up to work on a smart phone, or did you just go straight to the MiFi?
Help?
One of the party chiefs got it to work with his phone but we went to the MiFi pretty quick. It will work with a smart phone, just make sure the tethering option is enabled and keep a couple extra batteries.
Help?
Thanks David!