Will a zephyr antenna work with a Trimble 4000 series receiver? Specifically a 4700. My understanding was that it would not, that the older style receivers that used the compact L1/L2 and microcenter L1/L2 antennas supplied power to a pre-amp inside the antenna, and the newer receivers (i.e 5700) do not, hence the change to zephyr.
I used to have a 4700 (later stolen, never recovered), and I always used a Microcenter L1/L2 antenna with it. I also have a 5700, which uses the zephyr. So, I am familiar with both types of antennas.
I was given a 4700 to test out to see if I wanted to buy it, and a zephyr was included along with it. The cable for the zephyr does not have the lemo type antenna connector that the 4700 requires, so I cannot test it. I did test the receiver with a compact L1/L2 I have, works fine.
Before I buy a cable that will work, i am wondering if this combination (4700 with Zephyr) works. I seem to recall that a converter box was required either for the zephyr to work with a 4000 series or a compact L1/L2 to work with a 5700, can't remember which.
John, not sure how helpful this is but yes the L1/L2 works with the 5700. I use that configuration all the time. As far as the Zephyr working with the 4700; I'm not sure. I assume it's just a cable issue, but I'd call trimble before having one made. It would be a great unit to do topo's on a 4-wheeler. That's how I use the 5700/Zephyr combo. The Zephry is so lightweight that it doesn't get beat up like an R8, 5800 or even the L1/L2. And the 4700 is much more sturdy than the 5700. If you find out it can be used like that let me know. Sorry I couldn't give you an answer.
Thanks. I did get an answer from another Trimble dealer. Basically, the Zephyr draws less power than the older antennas. It will only draw what is needed, so it is not a problem with the older receiver. But, he said using a compact L1/L2 with a 5700 is pushing it, as there may not be enough juice to properly power the pre-amp.
I've got an L1/L2 on a permanent mount on the roof of the office. I hook up a 47 or 57 to it when someone needs to tie into control. Cors points are few and farrrr between. So we use it for static control mostly. We have a jumper cord that converts the 47 cord to a 57 so we can use a 47 or 57 to collect data for the day. Power isn't a problem since it sits on the work bench near an outlet. There is also a radio antenna, but it doesn't get much use. Anyway, that's how I know that the 57 would work with an L1/L2. And if you had a cowbell as power it should work fine for a base unit-as rover probably not. It would suck down those little batteries in the 57.
I used to use a zephyr antenna with old trimble gear. It wasn't a 4000 though.
receiver and antenna voltages
I found this table in a paper by Mike Jackson on the Unavco website while searching for another issue with antennas-the difference between a Compact L1/L2 and a Microcenter L1/l2:
That didn't show up so well, I will upload a pdf to here: www.terrasurv.com/antenna_voltages.pdf
It doesn't show current draw, but it does explain why it is not recommended to use the older antennas (which require 7-28V) with a 5700, which supplies 5V, and also why the Zephyr (4.8-22V) works fine on any of them.
paper is at: http://facility.unavco.org/science_tech/dev_test/power/ashtrimsnr.doc
receiver and antenna voltages
You might also want to see what gain is required, I am not sure on the newer Trimble gear, BUT the older gear required a fairly high gain from the antenna pre-amp. Leica gear requires less of a gain, I have used some high gain antennas mounted on aircraft that were specd with Trimble receivers in mind by installing an inline antenuator.
SHG
I been using a Zephyr Geodetic with a 4700 for eight years. Works fine.
Can you by chance tell me how you got it to work? We may have a bad cable, but ive hooked up our 4700 gear to both our zephyrs and I get nothing. Ive flashed them both in GPS config for the zephyr, and changed it in survey controller...any help would be nice. We may just have a bad cable...Thanks for the time.
bryan
I didn't have to do anything special other than get the right cable. The 4700 works fine with both the original Zephyr (KZ) and the Zephyr GNSS (KS).