Issues using EGPS VRS in Georgia

Wes Hand

Active Member
Customer called this morning and could not get a fix on a GEO++ network. We tried various mount points but no real success. Being aware that EGPS is migrating away from the setup the customer was using I gave the customer the contact info for Stephen Hooks with EGPS Solutions so they could get updated info. . Eventually Steven and I spoke and he said that his IT guy may have found some biases with GLONASS and created 2 new mount points for me to test. I could not get either to work properly. They might fix for a few seconds but its typically with one engine. RTPK did not agree. I sent a project called EGPSVRS to support. There are only 2 shots with different mount points. Not sure of the actual network software they use but may be CHCNAV or CPS software.

I can switch over to the Trimble VRS Now network and it works fine. They just don't have near the coverage that EGPS Solution has statewide. We have several Javad users in the state of Georgia using the EGPS network and I need some help if support has time to look at it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Steven Hooks with EGPS Solution at shooks@epgs.net would be glad to assist if he is needed.
 

Shawn Billings - Javad

Active Member
JAVAD GNSS
It might be interesting to turn off Glonass on the Triumph-LS and see if it gets a reliable fix. That would maybe pinpoint if the problem is in Glonass or not.
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
Thanks Shawn...I just tried that. Got about 30 seconds with 2 engines and stopped it. RTPK was off 8-9 feet and I quit. This was what I was seeing when I moved over to Trimble Now network.
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
I sent a project called SAMSOG to support. Point 3 was located using Trimble vrs now...no issues and worked well. Point 4 was located using EGPS vrs network. It fixed but the engines were constantly going in and out of fix. It just did not seem stable. Can you look at the data and see if you see any issues. This is a very popular network provider in Georgia and its been so inconsistent that I cant tell a user that we work well on this network. Thank you
 
I am having similar problems with eGPS (plan B subscription). This is with an older LS. Was on RAMS with A. Plumley yesterday, he felt the problem was with the mount points created by eGPS. We've been using eGPS for a few years with fairly good results, but not so now with the new subscription.
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
At one time they had 2 networks...GEO++ and Trimble VRS and they worked well. Sometimes I still had issues with the LS standard on the network collecting data terribly slow but once I turned off phase 1 verification it worked better but not always. My logic was that the RTN point was in the wide open and being set for a base point so I took phase 1 out of the equation.

I think EGPS has switched to new software by CHC or compass. I cant dance with the new network with any consistency. Engines going fixed float and some engines saying to many outliers. I'd call EGPS and make sure you have GEO++ access for now. It works much better with our units. I had to purchase a Trimble VRS Now subscription due to my issues and it works really well but I don't know your work area in regards to coverage. EGPS has great coverage for the whole state and I hope the issue gets resolved.
 
Is anyone in tech support working with eGPS to help resolve mountpoint issues?
I am still unable to use this RTN with my Javad LS+. It worked great the last few years, with my old LS until a few months back. Now I cannot get a fix in any environment (even in the middle of a 50 acre field...
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
Try mount point VRS - F9P to see if you have success. Fast initialization and all constellations. Update your GNSS firmware first. Tested that mount point late today and it was working very well. I will try to test more…the VRS MSM4 was inconsistent. At times it kicked butt but then it wouldn’t. Worked better when glonass was off.
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
Jack,

I'd like to know if you try mount point VRS-F9P for EGPS. I tested it last night and it seems to be working well this morning. It did take about 30-45 seconds for all the engines to update from red X's to displaying the signals but after that it reinitializes very quickly upon tapping the reset engines button. I don't see a difference on whether Glonass is on or off. As posted earlier, I would update the GNSS firmware to the latest first.

@jack newsome

Screen shots from this morning.


RTK-V6-PLUS_20220225-06.43.13.png
COLLECT-GNSS_20220225-06.43.05.png
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
It’s not in this screen shot is it. Only some areas of Ga will have it as all the bases are not tracking them. I’m only picking up 2-3 at most where I’m at but they were not being used this morning. Also tried NS-MSM4 mount point for nearest station and from waycross to Lakeland I had 4 engines fixed in the window of my truck driving home. Happy happy
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
Call me. 229-507-1031
The vrs solution is VRS-F9P.
Closet base is NS-MSM4

Behavior is a little different with the vrs mountpoint. It may take up to 30-45 seconds for the vrs solution and you may want to hit setup auto engines. I noticed it hanging up with several red x's on the signals upon initial connection but once I hit auto setup engines it was fine.
 

Wes Hand

Active Member
@Phillip Lancaster
@Robert Jordan
@jack newsome
@Adam Plumley
@Shawn Billings
@Matthew D. Sibole

Previous posts mentioned success using 2 mount points with EGPS but this morning they did not work. I spoke with EGPS today asking had they changed something. Regardless of what happened, tech support was eager to help and they said they removed some unintended trimble biases associated with the mount points intended to be for Javad users. I just tested those 2 mount points created for JAVAD users and its working. I think you are going to have to update to Jfield 4.0 to also get the latest GNSS firmware. Maybe Adam or Shawn can confirm this. I have updated my units to prerelease and to the latest so I dont know if these new mountpoints will work with release or not.

The mountpoints you need to choose are JAV-VRS & JAV-NS (for nearest base). I hope these work for you and please comment if they don't. I have only tried them briefly and Im not ready to sing hallelujahs just yet. I have subscriptions to both EGPS & Trimble VRS Now. The behavior is more stable with Trimble VRS and it works just fine. With EGPS, I notice that I may need to allow 30-45 seconds for it to "settle in". Sometimes I have to select auto setup engines to get all the signals to go from red x's to being used in solution. After that it works great until it doesn't. I'm hoping we are getting closer to getting this resolved. Seriously, please take the time to post success or failure or call me at 229-507-1031 to let me know how its performing. I want this to work as bad as anyone.
 
Top