Setting up a permanent base

[Tyler]

We are thinking about setting up a permanent base at our office. Does anyone have experience doing something similar? We would be using a Triumph 1-m or T-3 with Internal Cellular Modem and Verizon Sim Card w/ Static IP.

What other equipment would we need in order to make this possible? We currently have LS+ without the verizon sim cards.. so I know we would need to get those.

What range should we expect to get before losing accuracy?

Are these units capable of using cards from other providers like AT&T or T Mobile?

This is all new information to me so any tips would be useful.

 

[nusouthsc]

Tyler,
We are in the process of doing the same thing which I am thinking of as "semi permanent". We are building a bracket that a 2 meter rod can clip into with the unit on top. We will be using an older Spectra SP80 and a LS+ depending on whos going out. Ours will be mounted close enough to the office that it can work off the office wifi. We will be taking it down daily and during bad weather. From everything I have read 10 miles is a very doable range in most canopy. Shawn Billings done fair amount of discussion on this at the recent seminar and in this post https://support.javad.com/index.php?threads/rtpk-long-range-short-observation-test.4704/post-45518. Following...

 

[Adam]

If it is truly going to be permanent you might look at the Delta 3S paired with an external antenna. The T3 paired with an external antenna would be pretty cool too because you could use it in a semi permanent fashion and it could stay inside instead of outside so weather wouldn't be an issue.

DELTA-3S

DELTA-3S is a powerful and reliable receiver built on the latest-generation TRIUMPH technology from JAVAD.

javad.com

 

[Matt Johnson]

We would be using a Triumph 1-m or T-3 with Internal Cellular Modem and Verizon Sim Card w/ Static IP.

Why not use the WiFi at your office?

 

[Tyler]

Why not use the WiFi at your office?

That may be a better option for us depending on where we decide to place it by the office.

We are not sure if the more permanent option is better for our situation or if we should be thinking about a semi-permanent option like nusouthsc had mentioned. The range is important to us but it sounds like if we are utilizing the RTPK on our LS units then the range at which we can collect accurate measurements should be increased significantly from the 10 miles mentioned.

I will also look into the Delta 3s and check the workshop video that has recently come out on that subject.

 

[Adam]

I worked today at 7 miles and it worked great. Much further than 12 miles I set a local base. I have semi permanent setup using a solid post and my LS base with TCP.
Eventually I'd like to add a permanent base but my office is in a bad location for it.

 

[nusouthsc]

Adam,
Do you still see good results at that range even in terribly think canopy? Or do you set up a local base for particularly awful jobs?

 

[Adam]

Worked great today at 7 miles even in canopy

 

[Sdrake14]

Hi Tyler, I will share some of my experience setting this sort of thing up, and have to say that the trouble, time, and learning curve in getting it right was worth it and exceeded my expectations on the benefit. (all the while the Triumph was also evolving and adding many features that totally enhanced the benefits)

I always thought having my own CORS would be cool, but dreamer, until I get my hands on the Triumph system and the Triumph 2 with it's ability to wifi to a router and port forward TCP corrections, which I learned about in conversations with folks like Michael Glutting, and Shawn Billings, both of which initiated me in talking me through setup menus until I finally (light bulb) started being able to configure alone. I had moved several times from 2015-2017 and needed set-up/re-setup at different sites and routers etc, but started to feel okay about it. This since primarily using the T2 meant setting it up/take down every session. But it was a fixed base! Secure in my yard.

I eventually decided to make it even more permanent (not on tripod in yard) by mounting to a building (as done prior at one office) so I got up on my house and tore down an unseemly satelite dish left by former owner, that I wanted down, and retrofitted it to be the mount. See picture...

 

[nusouthsc]

Hi Tyler, I will share some of my experience setting this sort of thing up, and have to say that the trouble, time, and learning curve in getting it right was worth it and exceeded my expectations on the benefit. (all the while the Triumph was also evolving and adding many features that totally enhanced the benefits)

I always thought having my own CORS would be cool, but dreamer, until I get my hands on the Triumph system and the Triumph 2 with it's ability to wifi to a router and port forward TCP corrections, which I learned about in conversations with folks like Michael Glutting, and Shawn Billings, both of which initiated me in talking me through setup menus until I finally (light bulb) started being able to configure alone. I had moved several times from 2015-2017 and needed set-up/re-setup at different sites and routers etc, but started to feel okay about it. This since primarily using the T2 meant setting it up/take down every session. But it was a fixed base! Secure in my yard.

I eventually decided to make it even more permanent (not on tripod in yard) by mounting to a building (as done prior at one office) so I got up on my house and tore down an unseemly satelite dish left by former owner, that I wanted down, and retrofitted it to be the mount. See picture...

Do you leave the base outside all the time?

 

[Sdrake14]

It took some basic parts from the hardware and fussing with it (added some JB Weld to stabalize L bracket), changing to a shorter pole to minimize wind effect, etc...
And I did have to use a 8' step ladder to put it up and take it down every session so I could charge it, etc. But it was awesome, I had a fixed base that provided stable corrections 97% of the time, foregoing hickups and technical issues time to time, worked out as part of the learning curve.

One big benefit was I still had my base to pack with me to sites that were to far away to use this post as a base, similar to the "semi-permanent" idea described above.
And I started being able to experiment with the fixed base and figure out what I can do at what ranges.


The draw back was the ladder thing, and the T2's constellation limitations not allowing full use of the Triumph-LS's abilities.

 

[Sdrake14]

Do you leave the base outside all the time?

no I mounted the ladder to put it up in morning, and take it down at night....

 

[Sdrake14]

Then came the LS-Plus.....oh now I was getting hungry for more and started looking at what I could do to up the game, I examined many potential options that comes with Javad world and finally settle on okay, a new LS-Plus rover, with repurposing my old rover as the base.... This turned out to be my best step up, funding wise, but increases a lot of value for me. The Delta 3 as mentioned by Adam would be more ideal, and I think I will end up there eventually, but here again one of the huge value things in Javad world is the ability to modify, morf, and adjust on the fly with all the options offered.

So I did have to do some new wiring, and moved my router from house into office room, (antenna wiring also) so I could connect the base using LAN instead of wifi, which I highly recommend, but I was able to mount permanent antenna on same post and once I grew to the new configuration, walla! more close to my CORS.

Grant G3T antenna with sno-cone, cable through attic to office.....

 

[Sdrake14]

Now I was able to loose the ladder, and keep the receiver inside, and just power on and off in my PJ's at will, plus I now have full constellation support with my base, and this LS-Plus, woah, is crazy good, my production time is shortened, and I still have two options for a local base in the field when distance is a thing. 1. I always have my Triumph-2 in the pack even if I was hoping for TCP...and it didn't work. Or if I know I am going to be too far out I just disconnect the LS in the office from antanna and take it out for a radio base and full birds on site!

 

[Sdrake14]

Speaking of birds, that is one of the reasons I decided for the expensive sno-cone, I get a little impatient when I am out and the weather is =awesome and everything is right but all of a sudden I randomly loose RTK for no apparent reason, then it comes back, don't know why until back at base I see the pigeon doodle all over it. I thinks the cone makes it less likely to be a nice perch....

 

[Sdrake14]

And also a note on range, now I am not a purist and willing to push my gear as far as I can, and will tell you the guys are right it seems ideal, no sweat up to about 12-13 miles, but I have done many jobs even in 20-25 mile ranges, I have got RTK even beyond this but it is real dicey after about 25 miles, but that range allows me to work my entire city as well as about 9 other surrounding towns.

So maybe this will help or spark some new ideas for you, the Javad system is the most versatile and expandable system I know of.

 

[nusouthsc]

Then came the LS-Plus.....oh now I was getting hungry for more and started looking at what I could do to up the game, I examined many potential options that comes with Javad world and finally settle on okay, a new LS-Plus rover, with repurposing my old rover as the base.... This turned out to be my best step up, funding wise, but increases a lot of value for me. The Delta 3 as mentioned by Adam would be more ideal, and I think I will end up there eventually, but here again one of the huge value things in Javad world is the ability to modify, morf, and adjust on the fly with all the options offered.

So I did have to do some new wiring, and moved my router from house into office room, (antenna wiring also) so I could connect the base using LAN instead of wifi, which I highly recommend, but I was able to mount permanent antenna on same post and once I grew to the new configuration, walla! more close to my CORS.

Grant G3T antenna with sno-cone, cable through attic to office.....

That is a great setup! I didn't realize you could connect that antenna to an LS. Our company is new to JAVAD but I see us taking a similar path. I appreciate your sharing!

 

[Sdrake14]

Scalable...thats the word I was fishing for...

 

[nusouthsc]

And also a note on range, now I am not a purist and willing to push my gear as far as I can, and will tell you the guys are right it seems ideal, no sweat up to about 12-13 miles, but I have done many jobs even in 20-25 mile ranges, I have got RTK even beyond this but it is real dicey after about 25 miles, but that range allows me to work my entire city as well as about 9 other surrounding towns.

So maybe this will help or spark some new ideas for you, the Javad system is the most versatile and expandable system I know of.

You are correct. The versatility of JAVAD is incredible. I have had to rethink everything since we got our units. It has been quite fun exploring the possibilities. I think I've got the crews a little nervous with will all the changes.

 

[Sdrake14]

yea in the picture of the base on the cabinet, you can see the 3 new cables dropping down from the attic behind the kayak....Internet cable to modem/router, antenna cable,
and another LAN cable, which part of a deal with a teenager to get him to run my cables through the attic....

When I moved the router wifi got wonky for him so I offer him a LAN to his room if he ran the cable....oh and run this while you are up there....