Shawn, so you are saying it's not practical to add optional constallations to T2 (to use all constellations that the T2 is capable of tracking for signal variablility)? With or without the LS+.
I know with the LS and T2 using RTPK I am required to set the signal variability to zero or it will never find a solution. Does adding options for more constellations to the T2 solve this problem?
If you have a Triumph-2, I think it makes sense to update the OAF and the firmware to be able to track BeiDou and Galileo signals and to be able to send corrections for those signals. It won't be nearly as good as sending all of the signals that a Triumph-1M or a Triumph-3 or another LS, can send, but it will be better than GPS + Glonass only.
The best way I can describe the Triumph-LS Plus RTK engines is to equate it to a high-performance sports car. You don't put regular gas in a high-performance sports car, you put in the high-octane fuel. If you put regular gas in a high-performance car, you're likely to get less performance out of it that a regular car using regular gas. Similarly, the Triumph-LS Plus absolutely out-performs the standard Triumph-LS in both points under canopy and in longer baselines, provided that it is fed multi-constellation corrections. If it gets GPS +Glonass only corrections, you're better off with a standard LS, at least with the LS Plus engines as currently configured.
For this reason, I recommend if you need to stage your path to upgrading, that you start with the base. Get a Triumph-3 or Triumph-1M or simply buy a Triumph-LS Plus and use your current standard LS as a base for it. From a financial standpoint this approach may make the most sense for you. The standard LS cannot connect to an external radio (HPT401BT, HPT404BT, HPT435BT) by Bluetooth. It can connect to a J-Link radio by WiFi. So if you need long range radio, then you might need to consider buying a new radio. If you are satisfied with 1-watt range, then the LS already has that built-in (except in cases of the so-called "Two Kings Radio" that receives UHF and Spread Spectrum - this radio has no ability to transmit). So then all you would require is a new Triumph-LS Plus which sells for $16,990. If you upgrade your existing Triumph-LS to LS Plus, you'll also need a new base. The upgrade cost for the LS is $5,450. You'll also want to consider what you'll do in the downtime. We offer rental standard Triumph-LS's for $1,000. For those who have not upgraded to RTPK, this option is now standard with new LS Plus's but is not included in the upgrade from standard LS to LS Plus, so if you didn't already have RTPK you'd be looking at $1,000. The new Triumph-LS Plus has the cellular modem activated automatically. The standard LS has an optional upgrade to activate the internal modem for $1,000. Also, regarding the cellular capability, the new LS Plus has a cellular modem that supports both Verizon (CDMA) and AT&T (GSM). Most standard LS receivers were sent with a modem that only supports GSM. The modem can be upgraded for around $360 if it is done during an LS to LS Plus upgrade.
So depending on if you need to (1) add RTPK and cellular to your current LS, and (2) if you want to upgrade to the GSM and CDMA modem in the current LS, and if (3) you need to rent a Triumph-LS while yours is being upgraded, you may be looking at more than the $5,450 upgrade cost for the LS.
Second, you will still need to buy a base if you upgrade your LS. The Triumph-3 is priced at $12,490 and includes all constellations and a UHF radio and cellular modem (GSM and CDMA). The Triumph-1M with all constellations and internal UHF radio is $10,490, and is available with a GSM cell modem for an additional $1,000.
Just the base price of the LS to LS Plus upgrade together with the Triumph-1M is $15,940. No cellular included. I am making the Triumph-1M comparison because the standard Triumph-LS shares the same receiver board as the Triumph-1M. If you used your standard LS as your new base, you would have similar performance as you would expect from a Triumph-1M. The Triumph-3 and Triumph-LS Plus share the same receiver board. They both track a few more signals than the LS/1M. I cannot speak to whether there is a significant performance in a Triumph-LS Plus being fed corrections from the Triumph-3 vs. corrections from a LS/1M. Anecdotally I have heard that those who have compared them have seen a slight edge in getting corrections from a Triumph-3, but I've done no testing to confirm this nor am I aware of any testing by others to confirm this.
Whew. I think that covers all of my thoughts on upgrading a Triumph-LS with Triumph-2 system to a Triumph-LS Plus with ______ base. I know that was long, but perhaps you can connect some dots and find a path that makes sense for your circumstance. There is no doubt that the LS Plus is an incredible advancement over the Triumph-LS. I've not had anyone make the upgrade and later express regret for making the upgrade. They have all been extremely pleased with the true improvement in performance.