Nate The Surveyor
Well-Known Member
I started out with a Topcon Legacy E GPS system. This was actually a Javad Legacy E, with Yellow paint, during the time that Javad was being marketed by Topcon. I regularly got 4 Miles out of it. I have gotten 7 miles with it. It had a PAC Crest 35 watt radio.
It had a 1/2 wave WIRE antenna, at BASE and RADIO. I found out later, that this was one of the BEST radio combos for RANGE and PENETRATION of woods.
When NARROW banding came out, 12.5 wide band width, instead of 25, this cut our range. maybe in half.
Javad is compliant with this protocol.
However, I REGULARLY get 2 miles out of my Javad 35 watt radio, and LS, without the external antenna. This in mountainous terrain. Now, I do try to set the BASE up on a BALD hill top, with 100% sky view. I can get 4 miles, typically, with no obstructions.
Radio is funny. It can be in a NOISY area, (Read lots of cell towers, lots of City RF sources, and this will reduce range).
However, I can get a mile pretty well all the time, unless I have a huge mountain, BETWEEN me and base, and the base is in a VERY poor place. IF it is on a hill, I usually get the shot. Anyway, I have a Javad buddy, @Mitchell D Lane , who told me that EVER SINCE he had his System, 4 yrs ago, that he has basically had a 1/2 mile range limit, with a 35 watt radio. One other user has mentioned a similar short range. @avoidthelloyd , and he is in Eastern Oklahoma. His mountains are a little higher than most of mine, but I cringe to hear of anybody with short radio penetration. IF you are getting short range, find the problem. There is a list of many things that it could be. But, don't go for 4 years with 1/2 mile limit. There is something wrong with that picture. My radio has been home to momma, for repair twice. Mitchel's problem seems to be in his LS.
Remember to turn on and off the radio, WITH THE LS.
This means don't unplug, and plug the radio, several times in a row, to scrape the connections, and get good contact. (I did this once). The old PAc Crest radio was as tough as a rock. It could take that. Not the Javad radio.
Remember the old air conditioners? IF you turned them off, and then back on, 30 seconds later, it COULD stall the motor, because it is starting the electric motor, AGAINST all the head of pressure in the unit.
Something like that seems to happen inside the LS, IF it is up and running, and you unplug and plug it, it can blow the DIODE, inside. (I was an "expert" in GPS, and did NOT need to read the INSTRUCTIONS on my Javad radio). It seems that there are some kind amplifiers inside, or capacitors inside, that hold some energy. When you shutdown through the LS, you don't run the risk of this backfeed of energy.
My current shutdown protocol is:
Return to base, and CONNECT the LS to the base, via bluetooth.
Then, after initiating the DOWNLOAD of Base data to the LS, (Which shuts down the radio PROPERLY), then I can unplug the radio, and put it away.
I suggest that you NOT use alligator clips to power the radio, but use the FLAT connector.
You don't want anything intermittent in the power supply. Keep your connections clean, and crisp.
I'm writing this with the goal in mind of all of us getting the MOST out of our equipment.
OK, that's all. I hope this helps somebody. And, I apologize if there are any errors in my post.
Nate
It had a 1/2 wave WIRE antenna, at BASE and RADIO. I found out later, that this was one of the BEST radio combos for RANGE and PENETRATION of woods.
When NARROW banding came out, 12.5 wide band width, instead of 25, this cut our range. maybe in half.
Javad is compliant with this protocol.
However, I REGULARLY get 2 miles out of my Javad 35 watt radio, and LS, without the external antenna. This in mountainous terrain. Now, I do try to set the BASE up on a BALD hill top, with 100% sky view. I can get 4 miles, typically, with no obstructions.
Radio is funny. It can be in a NOISY area, (Read lots of cell towers, lots of City RF sources, and this will reduce range).
However, I can get a mile pretty well all the time, unless I have a huge mountain, BETWEEN me and base, and the base is in a VERY poor place. IF it is on a hill, I usually get the shot. Anyway, I have a Javad buddy, @Mitchell D Lane , who told me that EVER SINCE he had his System, 4 yrs ago, that he has basically had a 1/2 mile range limit, with a 35 watt radio. One other user has mentioned a similar short range. @avoidthelloyd , and he is in Eastern Oklahoma. His mountains are a little higher than most of mine, but I cringe to hear of anybody with short radio penetration. IF you are getting short range, find the problem. There is a list of many things that it could be. But, don't go for 4 years with 1/2 mile limit. There is something wrong with that picture. My radio has been home to momma, for repair twice. Mitchel's problem seems to be in his LS.
Remember to turn on and off the radio, WITH THE LS.
This means don't unplug, and plug the radio, several times in a row, to scrape the connections, and get good contact. (I did this once). The old PAc Crest radio was as tough as a rock. It could take that. Not the Javad radio.
Remember the old air conditioners? IF you turned them off, and then back on, 30 seconds later, it COULD stall the motor, because it is starting the electric motor, AGAINST all the head of pressure in the unit.
Something like that seems to happen inside the LS, IF it is up and running, and you unplug and plug it, it can blow the DIODE, inside. (I was an "expert" in GPS, and did NOT need to read the INSTRUCTIONS on my Javad radio). It seems that there are some kind amplifiers inside, or capacitors inside, that hold some energy. When you shutdown through the LS, you don't run the risk of this backfeed of energy.
My current shutdown protocol is:
Return to base, and CONNECT the LS to the base, via bluetooth.
Then, after initiating the DOWNLOAD of Base data to the LS, (Which shuts down the radio PROPERLY), then I can unplug the radio, and put it away.
I suggest that you NOT use alligator clips to power the radio, but use the FLAT connector.
You don't want anything intermittent in the power supply. Keep your connections clean, and crisp.
I'm writing this with the goal in mind of all of us getting the MOST out of our equipment.
OK, that's all. I hope this helps somebody. And, I apologize if there are any errors in my post.
Nate
