Triumph LS Plus and Triumph 3 new user

I am reading the user's manuals first. From what I can tell, I need an FCC license to operate the UHF 406-470 MHz radio that came with the paired special stimulus deal they had this past June for the LS+ and T3 units. I have been using GPS and a field controller for 9 years, and I recognize many similarities, but this system is different.

First, I understood from previous units to never operate the UHF radios without an antenna attached. However, the Javad Triumph 3 unit has an internal modem UHF 406-470 MHz with no mention of an internal antenna, and the LS+ unit has a GNSS Geodetic Antenna that is a built-in microstrip (Zero Centered) antenna, acting as if on a flat ground plane with a LNA Gain of 32 +/- 2dB. In the Quick Start Guide for the LS+, information is lacking as to whether or not to attach an external antenna. The T-3 came with three antennas, two 2.4/5.8 GHz RP-SMA, and one 400-470 MHz 2.5 dB SMA antenna. The LS+ unit came with two: a little LTE antenna, and a larger UHF 400-470 MHz 2.5 dB antenna like the T-3 antenna. I have connected all three antennae, turned it on, downloaded and connected the NetView & Modem software, uploaded the new OAF file for the T-3, connected wireless to the LS+ unit and uploaded the OAF file to it, and I am still reading. I have set up the Mississippi State Plane Coordinate System and the recommended related settings.

From what I can gather, I need an FCC license to operate the UHF radio in the T-3. I read the article by Mark Silver referenced in the LS User's Guide and it got my attention real fast on violations and daily fines. I will get the license. So, I logged on to the FCC website, waded through the acronyms, found a form to fill out and get my FRN, my FCC Registration Number, and I got it and a password to log onto the FCC website to apply for a license.

Now, the dilemma: both units have telephone SIMM card slots, and the LS+ actually has two slots. I need one in the LS+ to connect to a RTN in Mississippi (GCGC Network) (single leg base). Through ATT, I get pretty good cell coverage in most places. I plan to keep using the same methodology to collect one point with a GNSS Network Rover, then set up my base station with an OK-usable SPCS point and rock -n- roll from there. I can collect OPUS or its equivalent for a better point and adjust later. The RTN is not good enough for network work, and a subscription to another network is prohibitively expensive.

Next? The Base/Rover setup has UFH or "Frequency Hopping 915 Spread Spectrum) radio. AHA.....here it says to always connect an antenna to the radio on page 33 of the Quick Guide and on page 19 of the User's Manual. OK. Got it.

The setup for the UHF radio requires a specific frequency, modulation, bandwidth, output power, and call sign from the FCC, which I do not have quite yet.

Well, here I am stopped. ATT shared data plans are $20/card. FCC license is about $5/month for 10 years. When/why should I use the Frequency Hopping method? Is it license free?

I am a new Javad system owner, as you can tell. I would like to get a range of about 1-2 miles with my system, and if I get an FCC radio license, I want to make sure I can increase the range later if my work demands it. I am not sure I can carry around a 4-meter antenna for a radio antenna, but I can fit a 2-meter antenna in my truck. The T-3 can output 2 watts ERP, so does it need a longer antenna with a higher dBd gain to get more distance from the radio? Most of my work is done within a one-mile radius of my base station in Northeast Mississippi. Half the territory is semi-flat, and the other half is rolling hills, with lots of timber. I get about one mile with my existing 10-year-old GPS units, and I rarely have to leapfrog my base station.

At this point, I am looking for advice, suggestions, recommendations on how to proceed. I am going to the seminar in Hot Sprints at the end of next month. I am currently looking at and reading the manuals, and working on comprehending this new technology and the methods used to operate these units. I have not called anyone yet to get me started on the right foot - I am must reading and thinking out loud. I would appreciate any input as to what I need to look out for, pay attention to, and make sure you do this stuff.

Thanks in advance. And please be nice. I am a newbie with Javad.
 

Matthew D. Sibole

Well-Known Member
5PLS
First off Harold, I commend you for jumping in with both feet!

We do recommend getting a FCC license for any UHF radio that is 1 watt or more.

The T3 should have the UHF antenna on it if you plan to use the internal radio of the T3. I also recommend using the external antenna on the LS if you plan on using UHF.

If you have good cell phone coverage using TCP corrections (over cell service) is the way to go. You will not need the radios at that point and can get the most range (up to 10 miles) as long as you have good cell service.

Shawn has some good videos on using the system and you will learn a lot about GPS and Javad in Shawn’s class.

There are a lot of good guys on here that I am sure will provide a lot of advice. What I recommend is spend time with it. You will learn a lot more by using it. Don’t worry about hitting the wrong buttons. You can’t break anything that we can’t fix (on the software side) .
 

Nate The Surveyor

Well-Known Member
While you are at it, discuss screen shots with someone. At certain phases, it takes screen shots automatically, if they are on.
This provides a future record of quality.
N
 
Javad LS+ and Triumph 3 with GSM SIM card in the LS and UHF radios in both.
Well, here's a few things learned these past few days. Please feel free to offer suggestions and how-to's.

1. If you plan to use the LS+ as a GSM network rover using a telephone SIM card with a data plan, you need to have the little telephone antenna attached. The girl at the ATT store needed the IMEI number on SIM1 to punch into her system to get me going. I needed the antenna in so I could get into the support portal for remote assistance from Javad.
2. I have a user name and password already set up for the GCGC RTN in Mississippi. We put in the parameters at the ATT store in Houston (Mississippi, not Texas), and Matt Sibole walked us through completing the setup. Thank you, Matthew!
3. I was on the phone this afternoon with Shawn Billings to ask a short question. I was leveling my pole and bipod for a few seconds as he was going over the steps and menus and completely missed the solution to that problem: how to get corrections via cellular connection. I cannot find that menu anywhere! This is my own shortcomings in learning a new menu structure. Once he picked that little button on that particular screen and went to the Action - Collect - GNSS screen, I got an "RTK fixed" right away. Now, how did he do that? For my own information, where is the screen you go to in order to tell the system to get RTN corrections using cellular data?
4. When using the GSM and data plan, and you tap the cell "power bars" at the top of the home screen, you open the GSM status screen. Picking on configuration, you open up the 4G/LTE screen. When you pick on the 4GLTE MiniCard ON button, confirm YES you want to turn it on. Then, GIVE IT TIME TO CONNECT. Maybe over a minute or two. When it does, then you can then confirm that the Cellular Data ON button has automatically been highlighted, and a connection has successfully been made. Three green balls on the left side of your screen.
5. For a while there, I had trouble getting a bluetooth connection between the T3 and the LS+ when I was working on UHF radio connections with base and rover configuration. We found out that they had to be only a few feet apart for it to connect. About 8 feet away is too far! They have to be right next to each other! What is up with that? No bluetooth antennas were attached to either unit.

Thanks, guys. I will be posting more exciting and frustrating "newbie blues" in later posts. I want to "raise the hood and look at the engine" on this system, and I want to know how it works and how to use it with all its capabilities.
 
AHA! found it!


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