USER GUIDE

GPS Pathfinder Pro series

NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA Trimble Navigation Limited 7401 Church Ranch Blvd Westminster, CO 80021 USA +1-720-887-4374 Phone +1-720-887-8019 Fax

EUROPE, AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST Trimble GmbH Am Prime Parc 11 65479 Raunheim GERMANY +49-6142-2100-0 Phone +49-6142-2100-550 Fax

ASIA-PACIFIC Trimble Navigation Australia PTY Limited 120 Wickham Street Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006 AUSTRALIA +61-7-3216-0044 Phone +61-7-3216-0088 Fax

www.trimble.com

USER GUIDE

GPS Pathfinder Pro series

Version 1.00 Revision A May 2005

Contact Information Trimble Navigation Limited 645 North Mary Avenue PO Box 3642 Sunnyvale, CA 94085 USA www.trimble.com Trimble Navigation Limited Mapping & GIS Business Area 7401 Church Ranch Blvd Westminster, CO 80021 USA +1-720887-4374 Phone +1-720-887-8019 Fax www.trimble.com E-mail: trimble_support@trimble.com Copyright and Trademarks 2005, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights reserved. Trimble, the Globe & Triangle logo, GPS Pathfinder, and VRS are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited, registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. EVEREST, GPS Analyst, GPScorrect, H-Star, ProXT, ProXH, TerraSync, and Zephyr are trademarks of Trimble Navigation Limited. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Trimble Navigation Limited is under license. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Mobile are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The following limited warranties give you specific legal rights. You may have others, which vary from state/jurisdiction to state/jurisdiction. Patents The GPS Pathfinder Pro series is protected under the following USA patents: 5,187,450, 5,311,149, 5,345,244, 5,402,450, 5,493,588. Release Notice This is the May 2005 release (Revision A) of the GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide. It applies to version 1.50 of the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers (ProXT and ProXH receivers). Hardware Limited Warranty Trimble Navigation Limited warrants that this hardware product (the Product) will perform substantially in accordance with published specifications and be substantially free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year starting from the date of delivery. The warranty set forth in this paragraph shall not apply to software products. Software License, Limited Warranty This Trimble software product, whether provided as a stand-alone computer software product, built into hardware circuitry as firmware, embedded in flash memory, or stored on magnetic or other media, (the Software) is licensed and not sold, and its use is governed by the terms of the relevant End User License Agreement (EULA) included with the Software. In the absence of a separate EULA included with the Software providing different limited warranty terms, exclusions and limitations, the following terms and conditions shall apply. Trimble warrants that this Trimble Software product will substantially conform to Trimbles applicable published specifications for the Software for a period of one (1) year, starting from the date of delivery. Warranty Remedies Trimble's sole liability and your exclusive remedy under the warranties set forth above shall be, at Trimbles option, to repair or replace any Product or Software that fails to conform to such warranty (Nonconforming Product) or refund the purchase price paid by you for any such Nonconforming Product, upon your return of any Nonconforming Product to Trimble in accordance with Trimbles standard return material authorization procedures. Warranty Exclusions and Disclaimer These warranties shall be applied only in the event and to the extent that (i) the Products and Software are properly and correctly installed, configured, interfaced, maintained, stored, and operated in accordance with Trimble's relevant operator's manual and specifications, and; (ii) the Products and Software are not modified or misused. The preceding warranties shall not apply to, and Trimble shall not be responsible for defects or performance problems resulting from (i) the combination or utilization of the Product or Software with hardware or software products, information, data, systems, interfaces or devices not made, supplied or specified by Trimble; (ii) the operation of the Product or Software under any specification other than, or in addition to, Trimble's standard specifications for its products; (iii) the unauthorized, installation, modification, or use of the Product or Software; (iv) damage caused by accident, lightning or other electrical discharge, fresh or salt

water immersion or spray; or (v) normal wear and tear on consumable parts (e.g., batteries). Trimble does not warrant or guarantee the results obtained through the use of the Product. The warranties above state Trimble's entire liability, and your exclusive remedies, relating to performance of the products and software. except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the products, software, and accompanying documentation and materials are provided as-is and without express or implied warranty of any kind by either Trimble Navigation Limited or anyone who has been involved in its creation, production, installation, or distribution including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, title, and noninfringement. the stated express warranties are in lieu of all obligations or liabilities on the part of trimble arising out of, or in connection with, any products or software. some states and jurisdictions do not allow limitations on duration or the exclusion of an implied warranty, so the above limitation may not apply to you. Trimble Navigation Limited is not responsible for the operation or failure of operation of GPS satellites or the availability of GPS satellite signals. Limitation of Liability Trimbles entire liability under any provision herein shall be limited to the amount paid by you for the product or software license. To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, in no event shall Trimble or its suppliers be liable for any indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages whatsoever under any circumstance or legal theory relating in any way to the products, software and accompanying documentation and materials, (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other pecuniary loss), regardless whether trimble has been advised of the possibility of any such loss and regardless of the course of dealing which develops or has developed between you and trimble. Because some states and jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, the above limitation may not apply to you. Note: The above limited warranty provisions may not apply to products or software purchased in the European Union. Please contact your Trimble dealer for applicable warranty information. Notices USA Class B Statement Notice to Users. This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC rules. Contains FCC ID Q23104001. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communication. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. Changes and modifications not expressly approved by the manufacturer or registrant of this equipment can void your authority to operate this equipment under Federal Communications Commission rules. Canada This digital apparatus does not exceed the Class B limits for radio noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the radio interference regulations of the Canadian Department of Communications. Le prsent appareil numrique nmet pas de bruits radiolectriques dpassant les limites applicables aux appareils numriques de Classe B prescrites dans le rglement sur le brouillage radiolectrique dict par le Ministre des Communications du Canada. Europe This product has been tested and found to comply with the requirements for a Class B device pursuant to European Council Directive 89/336/EEC on EMC, thereby satisfying the requirements for CE Marking and sale within the European Economic Area (EEA). Contains Infineon radio module ROK 104001. These requirements are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a residential or commercial environment. Australia and New Zealand This product conforms with the regulatory requirements of the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) EMC framework, thus satisfying the requirements for C-Tick Marking and sale within Australia and New Zealand.

Trimble and the Environment At Trimble, we recognize the importance of minimizing the environmental impacts of our products. We endeavor to meet your needs, not only when you purchase and use our products, but also when you are ready to dispose of them. That is why Trimble is actively pursuing, and will continue to pursue, the expanded use of environmentally friendly materials in all its products, and why we have established a convenient and environmentally friendly recycling program. As Trimble makes additional recycling facilities available for your use, we will post their locations and contact information to our Recycling Instructions web page. For product recycling instructions and more information, please go to www.trimble.com/environment/summary.html. Europe To recycle Trimble WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment), do one of the following: call +31 497 53 2436, and ask for the WEEE Associate mail a request to: Trimble Europe BV c/o Menlo Worldwide Logistics Meerheide 455521 DZ Eersel, NL Taiwan - Battery Recycling Requirements The product contains a removable Lithium-Ion battery. Taiwanese regulations require that waste batteries are recycled. End User License Agreement

IMPORTANT, READ CAREFULLY. THIS END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT (AGREEMENT) IS A LEGAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED (TRIMBLE) AND
APPLIES TO THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROVIDED WITH THE TRIMBLE PRODUCT PURCHASED BY YOU (WHETHER BUILT INTO HARDWARE CIRCUITRY AS FIRMWARE, EMBEDDED IN FLASH MEMORY OR A PCMCIA CARD, OR STORED ON MAGNETIC OR OTHER MEDIA), OR PROVIDED AS A STAND-ALONE COMPUTER SOFTWARE PRODUCT, AND INCLUDES ANY ACCOMPANYING PRINTED MATERIALS AND ANY ONLINE OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION (SOFTWARE). THE SOFTWARE ALSO INCLUDES ANY SOFTWARE, (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, UPGRADES AND UPDATES), THAT YOU DOWNLOAD FROM TRIMBLES WEB SITE. YOU HAVE ACQUIRED A TRIMBLE PRODUCT (DEVICE) THAT INCLUDES SOFTWARE, SOME OF WHICH WAS LICENSED BY TRIMBLE FROM MICROSOFT LICENSING INC. OR ITS AFFILIATES (COLLECTIVELY MS). THOSE INSTALLED SOFTWARE PRODUCTS OF MS ORIGIN, AS WELL AS ASSOCIATED MEDIA , PRINTED MATERIALS, AND ONLINE OR ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTATION (MS SOFTWARE) ARE PROTECTED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND BY COPYRIGHT LAWS AND INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT TREATIES, AS WELL AS OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND TREATIES. THE SOFTWARE IS LICENSED, NOT SOLD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THE MS SOFTWARE INCLUDES SOFTWARE ALREADY INSTALLED ON THE DEVICE (DEVICE SOFTWARE) AND MS SOFTWARE CONTAINED ON THE CD-ROM DISK (COMPANION CD).

BY INSTALLING, COPYING OR OTHERWISE USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT, DO NOT USE THE DEVICE OR COPY THE SOFTWARE. INSTEAD, PROMPTLY RETURN THE UNUSED SOFTWARE AND ACCOMPANYING TRIMBLE PRODUCT TO THE PLACE FROM WHICH YOU OBTAINED THEM FOR A FULL REFUND. ANY USE OF THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO USE ON THE DEVICE, WILL CONSTITUTE YOUR AGREEMENT TO THIS AGREEMENT (OR RATIFICATION OF ANY PREVIOUS CONSENT).

Safety and Warnings

Safety and Warnings

.1

Battery Safety
The rechargable Lithium-ion battery that is used in the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers (the ProXT and ProXH receivers) is supplied partially charged. Charge the battery completely (see Charging the Battery, page 10) before using it for the first time. If the battery has been stored for longer than six months, charge it before use (see Storage, page 32). See also Disposing of the battery, page 8.

WARNING Do not damage the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. A damaged battery can cause an explosion or fire, and can result in personal injury and/or property damage. To prevent injury or damage: - Do not use or charge the battery if it appears to be damaged. Signs of damage include, but are not limited to, discoloration, warping, and leaking battery fluid. - Do not expose the battery to fire, high temperature, or direct sunlight. - Do not immerse the battery in water. - Do not use or store the battery inside a vehicle during hot weather. - Do not drop or puncture the battery. - Do not open the battery or short-circuit its contacts.

WARNING Avoid contact with the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery if it appears to be leaking. Battery fluid is corrosive, and contact with it can result in personal injury and/or property damage. To prevent injury or damage: - If the battery leaks, avoid contact with the battery fluid. - If battery fluid gets into your eyes, immediately rinse your eyes with clean water and seek medical attention. Do not rub your eyes! - If battery fluid gets onto your skin or clothing, immediately use clean water to wash off the battery fluid.

WARNING Charge and use the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery only in strict accordance with the instructions. Charging or using the battery in unauthorized equipment can cause an explosion or fire, and can result in personal injury and/or equipment damage. To prevent injury or damage: - Do not charge or use the battery if it appears to be damaged or leaking. - Charge the Lithium-ion battery only in a Trimble product that is specified to charge it. Be sure to follow all instructions that are provided with the battery charger. - Discontinue charging a battery that gives off extreme heat or a burning odor. - Use the battery only in Trimble equipment that is specified to use it. - Use the battery only for its intended use and according to the instructions in the product documentation.

GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide

Safety and Warnings

C
.2

WARNING When the battery is charged outside the receiver, the contacts may become very hot and there is a risk that you could burn yourself on the exposed metal.

AC Adaptor Safety
An international AC adaptor kit is provided with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers.

WARNING To use AC adaptors safely: - Use only AC adaptors intended for the ProXT and ProXH receiver. Using any other external power source can damage your product and may void your warranty. - Make certain that the input voltage on the adaptor matches the voltage in your location. - Make certain that the adaptor has prongs compatible with your outlets. - AC adaptors are designed for indoor use only. Avoid using the AC adaptor in wet outdoor areas. - Unplug the AC adaptor from power when not in use. - Do not short the output connector.

.3

Magnetic mount
The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver can be mounted on top of a magnetic mount and placed on top of a vehicle.

WARNING If you mount a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver on top of a vehicle, make sure that the retaining screw is firmly fastened. If the receiver detaches during travel, it could seriously injure you and other road users.

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Contents
Safety and Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
Battery Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v AC Adaptor Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi Magnetic mount. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Related information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Technical assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Your comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Getting Started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver. . . . . . . 2

Whats in the box? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software provided with the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GPS Controller software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bluetooth Activation Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software used with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver . Parts of the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers . . . . . . . . Using a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 6

Batteries and Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Safety warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AC adaptor safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Disposing of the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removing and replacing the battery . . . . . . . Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charging the battery in the receiver . . . Charging the battery out of the receiver. Power status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conserving power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . 7 . 7 . 8 . 8 . 9 10 10 11 12 12

General Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Turning on the receiver and the Bluetooth radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turning off the receiver and the Bluetooth radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Turning on or turning off the Bluetooth radio independently of the receiver. Status information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 14 14 14

Mounting the GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver. . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Mounting the receiver on top of a backpack, range pole or magnetic mount. . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Mounting the receiver on the belt clip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Mounting the ProXH receiver on the side of a range pole with the Zephyr Antenna . . . . . . . 17
GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide vii

Contents

Connecting the GPS Receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Connecting to the GPS Receiver with Bluetooth Wireless Technology. Setting up the Bluetooth radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting to the receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Field software (Bluetooth connection) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Multiple Bluetooth connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting to the GPS Receiver using a Serial Port . . . . . . . . . . . . Field software (serial connection) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting a real-time device to the GPS receiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 20 20 21 21 21 23 23

Collecting GPS Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

What is GPS?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GPS COM Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Configuring a GPS Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Getting a Clear View of the Sky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GPS Quality Control with the GPS Controller Software . . . . . . . . . . . GPS Settings form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Planning a data collection session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) corrections . Using Real-time Corrections from other sources . . . . . . . . . . . Antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Factors that affect accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Differential GPS positioning techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Factors that affect postprocessed DGPS accuracy . . . . . . . . . . Factors that affect real-time DGPS accuracy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Resetting GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 25 25 26 26 27 28 28 29 29 29 30 30 31 31 31

Caring for and Storing the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers . . . . 32
Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Storage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

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Introduction

Introduction
Welcome to the GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide. This manual describes how to use a Trimble GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver (a ProXT or ProXH receiver). The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers are high-performance GPS receivers. They have an integrated antenna and receiver, a user-removable battery, and Bluetooth wireless technology for connectivity with field computers.

1.1

Related information
Sources of related information include the following:

Help - the GPS Controller software that is provided with the receivers has builtin, context-sensitive help that lets you quickly find the information you need. For more information on other software and hardware, refer to the documentation provided with the product as well as the product pages on the Trimble website at www.trimble.com/product.shtml.

For more information on GPS, go to www.trimble.com/gps. For more information on Bluetooth wireless technology, go to www.bluetooth.com. Trimble training courses consider a training course to help you use your GPS system to its fullest potential. For more information, go to the Trimble website at www.trimble.com/training.html.

1.2

Technical assistance
If you have a problem and cannot find the information you need in the product documentation, go to the Trimble technical support website (www.trimble.com/support_trl.asp), which contains extra support documentation. If you cannot find the information you need, you can purchase Priority Support by going to www.trimble.com/mgis_rqst_home.asp. If you already have Priority Support, you can also use this link to request support from your Trimble Dealer.

1.3

Your comments
Your feedback about the supporting documentation helps us to improve it with each revision. E-mail your comments to ReaderFeedback@trimble.com.

GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide

Getting Started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

Getting Started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

This section describes how to set up and get started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver.

1.4

Whats in the box?

When you receive a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver, check that you have received all the components, as detailed on the packing list, see Figure 1.1. The standard components are shown below. Depending on the system that you have purchased, you may have received additional components.

Power supply Null modem cable CD (User Guide and software)

Screwthread adaptor

GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver

International AC adaptor kit

Battery pack

Belt clip

Figure 1.1

GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver components

Inspect all contents for visible damage (scratches or dents). If any components appear damaged, notify the shipping carrier. Keep the shipping and packaging material for the carriers inspection.

GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide

Getting Started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

1.5

Accessories
The following optional accessories are available:

Backpack Range pole Range pole bracket Zephyr GPS antenna kit External patch antenna with 1.5 meter cable External patch antenna with 5 meter cable Hard carry case Serial port splitter cable Spare battery pack Spare belt clip Spare screwthread adaptor Spare power supply and adaptor kit

For more information, go to the Trimble website at www.trimble.com/.

1.6

Software provided with the receiver

GPS Controller software
The GPS Controller software runs on a desktop or field computer and enables you to:

16.1

configure a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers GPS settings, for example PDOP, Elevation, and Signal-to-Noise ratio masks configure the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver to use real-time DGPS sources configure the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver to output NMEA data view status information about the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers, satellites, and real-time correction sources view satellite prediction information in the field to help you plan your data collection session

See also the GPS Controller Software Quick Reference Guide.

GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide

Getting Started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

Installing the GPS Controller software To install the GPS Controller software on an office computer or field computer, follow the installation instructions provided on the GPS Pathfinder Pro series CD. The software provided with the receivers will run on the following Microsoft platforms:

Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 software (or later) Windows CE .NET version 4.0 or later Windows 2000 Windows XP Home, Professional, and Tablet PC Edition

16.2

Bluetooth Activation Manager

The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers are shipped with Bluetooth wireless technology activated. The Bluetooth Activation Manager runs on the desktop only and enables you to:

deactivate the Bluetooth radio in a GPS Pathfinder Pro Series receiver to prevent it being accidentally turned on in the field. deactivate the Bluetooth radio on a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver if you have to turn it off due to the country or area in which you are working reactivate the Bluetooth radio if it has been deactivated

Note Once you reactivate Bluetooth, turn on the receiver and then turn on the Bluetooth radio. For more information, see Turning on or turning off the Bluetooth radio independently of the receiver, page 14. Installing the Bluetooth Activation Manager Follow the installation instructions provided on the GPS Pathfinder Pro series CD. This utility runs only on a desktop computer.

1.7

Software used with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver

You can use the following software with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers:

TerraSync software, version 2.50 or later GPS Analyst extension for ESRI ArcGIS software, version 1.10 or later GPScorrect extension for ESRI ArcPad software, version 1.10 or later GPS Controller software, version 2.00 or later NMEA applications Applications developed with the GPS Pathfinder Tools SDK, version 2.00 or later

GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide

Getting Started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

1.8

Parts of the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers

The hardware features of a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver are shown in Figure 1.2 and Figure 1.3, page 6.

Integrated Bluetooth radio

Integrated GPS receiver and antenna

Power button

LED status lights External antenna connector

Figure 1.2
Feature

Top view of a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver

Description Integrated SBAS receiver EVEREST multipath rejection technology ProXT - L1 internal antenna and receiver ProXH - L1 internal antenna, L1/L2-aided GPS receiver using H-Star

Integrated GPS receiver and antenna

technology
Integrated Bluetooth radio Power button External antenna connection LED status lights Cable-free connections to a range of Bluetooth-enabled field computers Press to turn on or turn off the receiver and the Bluetooth radio (if enabled) Connect to the optional external antenna Power, GPS, and Bluetooth

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Getting Started with a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

Accessory interface

Serial port

Power - battery connector Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery

Figure 1.3
Feature

Bottom view of a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver

Description Common interface to accessories (belt clip or range pole) Serial (COM) connection to a field computer or real-time source. Contains two bi-directional serial ports (requires a splitter cable) Charge the battery in or out of the receiver User-replaceable - no tools required All-day operation with GPS and Bluetooth wireless technology Own LED (not shown) shows charging status when the battery is charged outside the receiver.

Accessory interface Serial port Power - battery connector Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery

1.9

Using a GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

To start using a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver, complete the following steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Charge the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (see page 10). Install the GPS Controller software on your office computer and/or field computer. Turn on the receiver and the Bluetooth radio (see page 13). Mount the receiver (see page 16). Connect the receiver to a field computer (see page 20). Connect the receiver to a real-time device, if required (see page 23). Collect GPS data (see page 25).

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Batteries and Power

Batteries and Power

1.1

Introduction
The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers use a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that is user replaceable. Additional battery packs can be carried and quickly changed in the field. When fully charged, the internal battery of the receiver provides enough power for a full working day. The rechargeable Lithium-ion battery is supplied partially charged. Use the AC power adaptor to charge the battery completely before using it for the first time. If the battery has been stored for longer than six months, charge it before use. See Charging the Battery, page 10.

1.2

Safety warnings
Battery safety

12.1

WARNING Do not damage the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. A damaged battery can cause an explosion or fire, and can result in personal injury and/or property damage. To prevent injury or damage: - Do not use or charge the battery if it appears to be damaged. Signs of damage include, but are not limited to, discoloration, warping, and leaking battery fluid. - Do not expose the battery to fire, high temperature, or direct sunlight. - Do not immerse the battery in water. - Do not use or store the battery inside a vehicle during hot weather. - Do not drop or puncture the battery. - Do not open the battery or short-circuit its contacts.

WARNING Avoid contact with the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery if it appears to be leaking. Battery fluid is corrosive, and contact with it can result in personal injury and/or property damage. To prevent injury or damage: - If the battery leaks, avoid contact with the battery fluid. - If battery fluid gets into your eyes, immediately rinse your eyes with clean water and seek medical attention. Do not rub your eyes! - If battery fluid gets onto your skin or clothing, immediately use clean water to wash off the battery fluid.

WARNING Charge and use the rechargeable Lithium-ion battery only in strict accordance with the instructions. Charging or using the battery in unauthorized equipment can cause an explosion or fire, and can result in personal injury and/or equipment damage.

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Batteries and Power

To prevent injury or damage: - Do not charge or use the battery if it appears to be damaged or leaking. - Charge the Lithium-ion battery only in a Trimble product that is specified to charge it. Be sure to follow all instructions that are provided with the battery charger. - Discontinue charging a battery that gives off extreme heat or a burning odor. - Use the battery only in Trimble equipment that is specified to use it. - Use the battery only for its intended use and according to the instructions in the product documentation.

12.2

AC adaptor safety
An international adaptor kit is provided with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series. This is used to charge the battery both in and out of the receiver.

WARNING To use AC adaptors safely: - Use only AC adaptors intended for the GPS Pathfinder Pro series. Using any other external power source can damage your product and may void your warranty. - Make certain that the input voltage on the adaptor matches the voltage in your location. - Make certain that the adaptor has prongs compatible with your outlets. - AC adaptors are designed for indoor use only. Avoid using the AC adaptor in wet outdoor areas. - Unplug the AC adaptor from power when not in use. - Do not short the output connector.

1.3

Disposing of the battery

Discharge the Lithium-ion battery before disposing of it. When disposing of the battery, be sure to do so in an environmentally sensitive manner. Adhere to any local and national regulations concerning battery disposal or recycling. See Trimble and the Environment, page iii

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Batteries and Power

1.4

Removing and replacing the battery

The GPS Pathfinder Pro series has a replaceable Lithium-ion battery. To remove the battery: 1. 2. Turn off the receiver (press and briefly hold the Power button). Firmly press the ridges on both sides of the battery (1) and then pull the battery out of the cavity (2), see Figure 1.4.

1 (Press)

1 (Press) 2 (Pull)

Figure 1.4

Removing the battery

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Batteries and Power

To replace the battery:

Align the battery and then push it carefully into the battery cavity. The spring clip holds the battery in position. See Figure 1.5.

Align and push

Figure 1.5

Replacing the battery

Note If you accidental short the batterys output terminals together, the battery will shut down for self-protection, and the output voltage will be zero. To reset the battery, plug it into the wall charger for a few moments to supply current, which resets the internal protector.

1.1

Charging the Battery

The battery takes approximately five hours to charge fully. You can charge the battery while it is in the receiver, or you can remove the battery and charge it out of the receiver. Note Trimble recommends that you charge the battery in the receiver with the receiver switched on. If the receiver is on, the battery reporting is recalibrated at the end of the charging process.

11.1

Charging the battery in the receiver

1. 2. Insert the battery into the receiver. Turn on the receiver.

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Batteries and Power

3.

To connect the battery to power, plug one end of the power connector into the battery connector, and use the appropriate wall plug adaptor to connect the power supply to mains power. See Figure 1.6. Charge the battery fully until it is running on external power. The power LED will be solid amber when the battery is fully charged and running on external power.

4.

5.

Disconnect the power adaptor.

Battery connector

Power connector

To mains power

Figure 1.6

Charging the battery

10.1

Charging the battery out of the receiver

WARNING When the battery is charged outside the receiver, the contacts may become very hot and there is a risk that you could burn yourself on the exposed metal.

1.

Connect the battery to power. Plug one end of the power connector into the battery connector and use the appropriate wall plug adaptor to connect the power supply to mains power. Charge the battery fully until it is running on external power. The power LED will be solid amber when the battery is fully charged and running on external power.

2.

Note The battery has its own LED which flashes when charging, and then becomes solid when fully charged. See Power status (see page 12).

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Batteries and Power

3. 4.

Disconnect the power adaptor. To replace the battery, align the battery and then push it carefully into the battery cavity. The spring clip holds the battery in position.

1.1

Power status
There are three indicators of the power status of the receiver:

The power LED on the front of the receiver, see Status information, page 14. The battery icon in the status bar of the field software ( for example the GPS Controller or TerraSync software or the Trimble GPScorrect extension for ESRI ArcPad software). The left half of the battery icon indicates the charge level of the receiver battery (the right half indicates the charge level of the field computer battery). When the receiver battery is fully charged, the left half of the battery icon appears green. The level of green drops as the battery charge level drops. When the receiver battery level is low, the left half of the battery is yellow. When the receiver battery level is critical, the left half of the icon is red and the icon flashes.

The LED on the battery pack. This LED is only visible when the battery is removed from the receiver.

The battery pack LED status modes are as follows:

Mode Long flash On Off
1Long

Status
1

Charging Fully charged and on external power No status shown when the charger is not connected.

flash - one flash per second

1.2

Conserving power
The battery can usually operate for a full day without recharging. However, if you are away from the office for an extended period, you may require a spare battery pack. To conserve battery power as much as possible:

Use the software or the Power button to turn off the receiver when it is not in use. Turn off the integrated Bluetooth radio whenever you are not using it (see page 14).

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General Operation

General Operation

If you use Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to the receiver, then you must use the Power button to turn on and turn off the receiver.

1.3

Turning on the receiver and the Bluetooth radio

Do one of the following:

Press the Power button briefly, see Figure 1.7. If you use Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to the receiver, you must use this method. Use the software ( for example GPS Controller or TerraSync software) installed on your field computer to turn the receiver on. For details, refer to the software documentation.
Power button

Figure 1.7

Front panel - Power button

On startup, the three LEDs on the front panel should light up briefly. If they do not light up, check that the battery is installed correctly and is charged. After startup, the LED patterns show the Status information (see page 14) of the receiver. When you first receive the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver, the Bluetooth radio is activated by default. If the receiver is turned on, the Bluetooth radio is on and ready to be used. If the Bluetooth radio is deactivated, the Bluetooth LED will not be lit after startup, and you must first activate the radio, see Bluetooth Activation Manager, page 4. When the receiver is turned off and back on again, the Bluetooth radio will be in the same state it was in before the power was turned off. For example if the Bluetooth radio was turned off when the receiver was turned off, then when the receiver is turned back on, the radio will still be off.

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General Operation

1.4

Turning off the receiver and the Bluetooth radio

Do one of the following:

Press and hold the Power button briefly. If you use Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to the receiver, you must use this method. Use the software ( for example GPS Controller or TerraSync software) installed on your field computer to turn off the receiver. For details refer to the software documentation.

Note If a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver is connected to a field computer with a cable, and has been turned on or off by the software, you can still use the Power button to independently turn on or turn off the receiver.

1.5

Turning on or turning off the Bluetooth radio independently of the receiver

If the receiver is turned on, press the Power button and hold it for 5 seconds to turn on or turn off the Bluetooth radio. Note If you toggle Bluetooth off, this turns off the radio, but does not deactivate Bluetooth. For more information, see Bluetooth Activation Manager, page 4.

1.6

Status information
When you turn the receiver on, the Power, GPS, and Bluetooth LEDs on the front panel light up as the receiver starts up, see Figure 1.8.

Power

GPS LEDs

Bluetooth

Figure 1.8

Front panel - LEDs

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General Operation

During operation, the LEDs provide the following status information:

LED Power Color Green Red Amber Amber GPS Bluetooth Green Green Blue Blue Blue Blue
1 2 3 4 5

Mode Solid Short flash1 Short flash Solid Long flash2 Rapid flash3 Waiting heartbeat flash4 Long flash Off Toggle flash5

Status Good Low Charging Fully charged and on external power Generating positions Too few satellites or poor geometry Activated and waiting Activated and connected Bluetooth has not been activated or has been turned off Bluetooth toggled on and off event

Short flash - one flash ever three seconds Long flash - one flash per second Rapid flash - two flashes per second Waiting heartbeat flash - one flash every three seconds Toggle flash - five short flashes over two seconds

The battery also has an LED, which is visible only if the battery is charged out of the receiver. See Power status, page 12.

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Mounting the GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

Mounting the GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

The receiver has an accessory interface that enables you to mount the receiver on a range of equipment, and easily change between them. The receiver can be mounted:

on a screwthread adapter (a standard accessory, provided with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver) for use on a backpack, range pole, or vehicle magnetic mount on a belt clip (a standard accessory, provided with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver) on the side of a range pole, with a Zephyr antenna on top of the pole

1.7

Mounting the receiver on top of a backpack, range pole or magnetic mount

WARNING If you mount a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver on top of a vehicle, make sure that the retaining screw is firmly fastened. If the receiver detaches during travel, it could seriously injure you and other road users.

Note The rangepole bracket contains an insert, which can be reversed to allow the bracket to attach to 1" or 1 1/4" diameter poles. 1. 2. 3. Make sure that the insert in the rangepole bracket is the correct size to allow the bracket to be used with 1" or 1 1/4" diameter poles. Attach the screw thread adaptor to the pole on a backpack, range pole, or magnetic mount. Slide the receiver onto the screwthread adaptor, see Figure 1.9.

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Mounting the GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

4.

If you are mounting the receiver onto a vehicle roof, make sure that the retaining screw is firmly fixed.

Slide

Figure 1.9

Mounting the receiver onto the screwthread adaptor

To unclip the receiver, lift the tab of the accessory interface to release the receiver and then slide the receiver off the mounting attachment.

1.1

Mounting the receiver on the belt clip

If you use the internal antenna, you can mount the receiver horizontally with the antenna facing toward the sky. If you use the external patch antenna, you can mount the receiver vertically. 1. 2. Position the belt clip for vertical or horizontal use. Slide the receiver onto the belt clip.

To unclip the receiver, lift the tab of the accessory interface to release the receiver and then slide the receiver off the mounting attachment.

1.1

Mounting the ProXH receiver on the side of a range pole with the Zephyr Antenna
1. 2. Fix the range pole bracket to the side of the range pole. Slide the receiver onto the bracket.

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Mounting the GPS Pathfinder Pro series Receiver

3.

Attach the Zephyr antenna to the top of the pole and then connect the antenna cable to the antenna and the receiver, see Figure 1.10.

Figure 1.10

Attaching the external antenna

To unclip the receiver, lift the tab of the accessory interface to release the receiver and then slide the receiver off the mounting attachment.

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Connecting the GPS Receiver

You can connect devices to a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver using Bluetooth wireless technology, or through the serial port, or by a combination of the two methods. To access both receiver serial ports, use a splitter cable. Connection options are as follows:
Receiver port Port 1 (serial cable) Port 2 (splitter cable) Bluetooth Port 1 Bluetooth Port 2 Description TSIP (default), NMEA, or RTCM NMEA (out) or RTCM (in) These settings are Off by default NMEA or TSIP NMEA or TSIP

Note the following:

You cannot have more than one TSIP or RTCM connection. To configure the receiver to output NMEA on port 1, use the GPS Controller software. To configure the receiver to use RTCM on port 1 when you use Bluetooth wireless technology, use the GPS Controller or TerraSync software, or the GPScorrect extension.

1.1

Connecting to the GPS Receiver with Bluetooth Wireless Technology

Bluetooth wireless technology is an industry standard specification that eliminates the need for cables between Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices. See Figure 1.11, page 20. To communicate using a Bluetooth connection, a field computer (a client) scans the Bluetooth radio frequency to discover other Bluetooth devices. Once it discovers a host ( for example a GPS receiver), the client selects the service that it will use. A service defines what type of information can be transferred to or from the host, and how to transfer it. The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers use an integrated Bluetooth radio to establish a short-range wireless connection to a Bluetooth-enabled field computer that is within range. The receivers support only a serial port profile (SPP). When you first receive the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver, the Bluetooth radio is activated by default. If the receiver is turned on, the receiver is on and ready to be used. This means that a Bluetooth-enabled field computer can connect to a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver.

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Connecting the GPS Receiver

Field device (client) Figure 1.11 Bluetooth wireless connection

GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver (Host for GPS data)

11.1

Setting up the Bluetooth radio

On the field computer, configure the computer to not require authentication or secure connection. The receiver cannot exchange a password during connection to authenticate, bond, or pair devices. Make a note of the field computers COM port that you use for this connection.

11.2

Connecting to the receiver

Note Before you can start using Bluetooth technology, you must ensure that it is set up on your field computer or office computer. Use the Bluetooth Manager software provided with your field or office computer to set up the serial port connections on your field or office computer. On the field computer: 1. 2. 3. Scan for devices. Select the Pro series receiver from the list of devices. Depending on the software that is running on your computer, you may need to select the service to connect to. The Pro series receivers offer two Bluetooth ports for NMEA or TSIP. If required, double-click to access the list of services. As required, confirm the connection to the device and the service.

4.

Once you establish this connection between the field computer and the receiver, configure the field software to use the connection. The Bluetooth LED shows that Bluetooth technology is connected to the port but you must set the software to use this connection and data.

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10.1

Field software (Bluetooth connection)

1. 2. 3. 4. Open the field software. Select the COM port assigned on the field computer for this Bluetooth connection. If required, select NMEA or TSIP. Connect to the receiver.

Note Unless the software is a TSIP application, the system automatically outputs NMEA. Note If you use Bluetooth technology to connect to the receiver, then you must use the Power button to turn on and turn off the receiver. For more information, refer to the documentation for your software.

10.1

Multiple Bluetooth connections

You can connect to both Bluetooth ports on the receiver but you cannot have more than one TSIP connection.

1.1

Connecting to the GPS Receiver using a Serial Port

You can connect devices to a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver using the serial port. To access both receiver serial ports, use the optional splitter cable, which contains two bi-directional ports. 1. Make sure that you have all the required accessories to enable a serial connection. If you are using a splitter cable, make sure that it is connected to the correct port. To connect to the receiver TSIP or NMEA serial port, connect the system as shown in Figure 1.12 to Figure 1.14. a. Connect the null-modem cable supplied with your receiver (or the custom serial cable supplied with your field computer) into the serial (COM) port of the office computer or field computer. Select the appropriate COM port on your field computer.

2.

b.

CAUTION Using a null modem cable to provide NMEA output from port 2 of a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver can cause serial communications to jam on some field computers. The communications problem can cause the field computer to slow down or stop responding. To provide NMEA output to another device, Trimble recommends that you connect the optional NMEA/RTCM splitter cable (P/N 55443-00) to the receiver, connect the receiver to the field computer and then enable NMEA output.

Note If you use the software to turn on the receiver, then you can use the software or the Power button to turn off the receiver. If you used the Power button to turn on the receiver, and then used the software to connect or disconnect the receiver, you must use the Power button to turn off the receiver.
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Connecting the GPS Receiver

Null-modem cable

GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver

Field computer with standard serial port

Figure 1.12 Connecting a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver to a field computer with a standard serial port

Field computer with standard serial port

Custom cable supplied with field computer

GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver

Figure 1.13 Connecting a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver to a field computer with a custom serial port

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Connect to a real-time device or TSIP

Connect to an NMEA device Splitter cable

Null-modem cable GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver

Field computer with standard serial port Figure 1.14 Connecting a GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver to a field computer using a serial port splitter cable

10.1

Field software (serial connection)

The settings on the field software are similar to those made when connecting to a field computer using Bluetooth wireless technology. See Field software (Bluetooth connection), page 21.

1.1

Connecting a real-time device to the GPS receiver

You can configure the receiver to use RTCM from an external source on port 1 (serial cable) if you are using Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to your field computer, or on port 2 (splitter cable) if you are using a serial connection to your field computer. 1. 2. Make sure that you have all the required accessories to enable a serial connection. Do one of the following: If you are using Bluetooth wireless technology, connect the serial cable between the device and port 1 on the receiver. Connect the serial cable between the device and the Data In port on the splitter cables port 2.

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Connecting the GPS Receiver

3.

In the GPS Controller or TerraSync software, or the GPScorrect extension: a. b. c. d. Select Setup from the Status list button. Tap Real-time Settings. The Real-time Settings form appears. In the Choice 1 field, select External Source. To open the External Source Settings form, tap the setup button next to the Choice 1 field. In the Connections Method field of the External Source Settings form, select Receiver Port. To open the Receiver Port Settings form, tap the setup button Port field. Select the port to which your real-time device is connected: Port 1 (serial), if connecting directly with a null modem cable Port 2 (splitter), if connecting to the Data In port on the splitter. next to the

e.

f. g.

4. 5.

Configure the Baud rate, parity, stop bits, and flow control as required for the real-time source. Tap OK.

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Collecting GPS Data

Collecting GPS Data

1.1

What is GPS?
The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based positioning system operated by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). A constellation of operational NAVSTAR satellites orbit the earth every 12 hours, providing worldwide, all-weather, 24-hour time and position information. For more information about GPS concepts, refer to the Mapping Systems General Reference at www.trimble.com/gps/. This section provides information on using GPS in an application:

GPS COM Ports, page 25 Configuring a GPS Application, page 25 Getting a Clear View of the Sky, page 26 Configuring GPS quality control settings to suit your requirements and the current GPS conditions, see GPS Quality Control with the GPS Controller Software, page 26 Using mission planning to identify the best times of the day for working with GPS, see Planning a data collection session, page 28 Using Real-time Corrections from other sources, page 29

1.2

GPS COM Ports

The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers have four COM ports for communicating with software field computers or external devices. Each port is used for a particular type of communication, but some protocols can be used on different ports. The Bluetooth radio and the serial ports can be used concurrently to output NMEA data. For more information on which protocols can be used on each port, see the table on page 19.

1.3

Configuring a GPS Application

Irrespective of whether you are using Bluetooth or a serial port connection, you must select the appropriate COM port on your field computer for the connection you require. See Field software (Bluetooth connection), page 21 or Field software (serial connection), page 23.

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Collecting GPS Data

1.4

Getting a Clear View of the Sky

To receive signals from GPS satellites, the receiver must have a clear view of the sky. The internal antenna is located under the Trimble logo. You do not have to have the receiver perfectly level, but keep the antenna facing upward, not downward or sideways. Anything that blocks light also blocks signals. Satellite signals can be blocked by people, buildings, heavy tree cover, large vehicles, or powerful transmitters. GPS signals can go through leaves, plastic, and glass, but these all weaken the signal. Although the receiver can be used on a belt clip, you will achieve better results when you mount the receiver on a backpack or rangepole, as this will give the receiver a better view of the sky.

1.5

GPS Quality Control with the GPS Controller Software

Note The GPS Controller software duplicates the status and setup features of the TerraSync software and the GPScorrect extension for ESRI ArcPad software. If one of these applications is installed on your field computer, it can be used instead of the GPS Controller software. Version 2.00 of the GPS Controller software also enables you to output NMEA data from the receiver. By default, the receiver is configured to receive satellite signals in most conditions. To check the current GPS status, or to configure the GPS receiver, connect your field computer using the GPS Controller software, which is provided with the receiver. The GPS Controller software also includes a Plan section for mission planning (see page 28) and a Real-time section for configuring and monitoring real-time correction sources. Use the graphical Skyplot section, see Figure 1.15, or the Satellite Info section to view detailed GPS information, and to adjust the quality and yield of the GPS positions you are receiving. Use the GPS slider to select predefined settings, or configure customized settings.

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Real-time icon

SV count
Current estimated accuracy

Battery icon, shows receiver and field computer battery levels External antenna connection icon Skyplot DOP graph (depending on configuration; either PDOP or HDOP)

SNR graph shows signal strength of the satellites that the receiver is tracking

SBAS DGPS satellite

Elevation mask Current position Current DOP Setup button - access to GPS Settings form Slider, used to adjust GPS settings

Figure 1.15

Details on the Skyplot screen

For more information on the software used on your field computer, refer to the documentation for that application.

15.1

GPS Settings form

Use the GPS Settings form in the GPS Controller software to configure the settings you require for GPS positions in either Slider or Custom mode. You can also use the GPS Controller software to configure the receiver to use velocity filtering or to output NMEA data. To open the GPS Settings form, do one of the following:

Tap GPS Settings in the Setup section. Tap in the Skyplot section, Satellite Info section, or Plan section.

Configuring GPS settings in Slider mode Select the slider check box. The slider control appears on the GPS slider, and some fields in the form become read-only. The values in these fields change as the slider control position changes. The GPS slider is the same as the slider in the Setup area of the Skyplot and Satellite Info sections. If you change the slider control position in the GPS Settings form, it also changes in the Setup area.

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Collecting GPS Data

Configuring GPS settings in Custom mode Clear the slider check box. The slider control disappears from the GPS slider, and the remaining fields change to editable numeric fields. To specify the required GPS settings, enter values in these fields. Configuring velocity filtering You can use velocity filtering to smooth GPS positions when collecting lines or areas in high multipath environments. To apply velocity filtering, you must: configure Velocity Filtering to Auto on the GPS Settings form use real-time corrections, or collect data with SuperCorrect set to On in the TerraSync software or GPScorrect extension

Configuring the receiver to output NMEA data You can configure the receiver to output NMEA data on the serial port, including Port 2 when using the splitter cable, or with Bluetooth wireless technology. You can also configure the serial port settings, the types of messages to output, and the output interval.

15.2

Planning a data collection session

To maximize productivity, plan GPS data collection around the times of the day when satellite geometry is best. The GPS Controller software has a Plan section with an animated skyplot and DOP (satellite geometry) graph for your position for the next 12 hours. In the Plan section, you can check the planning skyplot as you play a session, then use the timeline to zoom in on times when geometry is poor. As you adjust GPS settings, the Plan section is updated, so you can see the effect of different quality control settings. Note If TerraSync software or the GPScorrect extension for ArcPad is installed, you can use the planning feature in that application instead of in GPS Controller software.

15.3

Using Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) corrections

The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers have an integrated SBAS receiver that uses WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System), or EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay System) correction messages to improve GPS accuracy.

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The receiver tracks the following by default in Auto mode:

WAAS satellites between 40 West and 180 West, and between 10 North and 90 North. EGNOS satellites between 40 West and 60 East, and between 10 North and 90 North.

Note You can use the default zones, or configure the receiver to use particular SBAS satellites in the Integrated SBAS Satellite form (select GPS Controller / Setup / Real-time Settings). Refer to the GPS Controller Software Quick Reference Guide.

15.4

Using Real-time Corrections from other sources

You can use corrections from an external correction source, such as an external beacon receiver, or a DGPS radio, directly into the receivers serial ports, or you can connect a mobile phone to a field computer and pass the corrections onto the receiver. Use the GPS Controller software to set up and monitor the real-time input source that you want to use (see page 24). Note If the TerraSync software or the GPScorrect extension for the ESRI ArcPad software is installed, configure real-time settings in that application instead of in the GPS Controller software.

1.6

Antennas
The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers contain an internal antenna, which is suitable for use in most conditions. You can also connect an external patch antenna if you wear the receiver on the belt clip, or when you work in a vehicle. When you collect H-Star data with a ProXH receiver, you can connect an external Zephyr antenna for improved accuracy.

1.7

Accuracy
The GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers are high performance GPS receivers that calculate very accurate GPS positions. The GPS Pathfinder ProXT receiver provides reliable submeter (RMS) positioning with both real-time and postprocessed differential correction. The GPS Pathfinder ProXH receiver with H-Star technology provides postprocessed accuracies of subfoot (30 cm RMS) or eight inches (20 cm RMS) when used with a with an optional Zephyr antenna. In real-time, the ProXH receiver delivers submeter (RMS) accuracy. For more information about H-Star technology, refer to the white paper at www.trimble.com/PathfinderProXH_WP.asp. Note RMS means that approximately 63% of the positions are within the specified value.

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Collecting GPS Data

17.1

Factors that affect accuracy

The accuracy that you obtain from your GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver depends on several factors, including:

Receiver type (ProXT or ProXH) Number of visible satellites Multipath Position Dilution of Precision (PDOP) Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) Satellite elevations Occupation time at a point Data collection and postprocessing techniques Type of antenna

17.2

Differential GPS positioning techniques

Differential GPS (DGPS) requires two or more receivers. One receiver, called the reference station, is located at a known point to determine the GPS measurement errors and compute corrections to these errors. An unlimited number of mobile GPS receivers, commonly called rovers, collect GPS data at unknown locations within the vicinity of the reference station. Errors common at both the reference and rover receivers are corrected with DGPS either in real time or during postprocessing. The following differential GPS positioning techniques can be used with the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers:

Real-time DGPS - in real-time DGPS, the reference station calculates and broadcasts the error for each satellite as each measurement is received, permitting rover users to immediately see differentially corrected data. Real-time DGPS sources include external beacon and radio sources, as well as Satellite Based Augmentation Systems (SBAS) such as WAAS in the US and EGNOS in Europe, and Virtual Reference Station (VRS) systems. SBAS and VRS systems use multiple reference stations in a network to calculate the DGPS corrections which are then delivered to the user from a Geostationary satellite (SBAS) or from a radio or cell phone (VRS).

Postprocessed DGPS - in postprocessed DGPS, measurements from the reference station are logged to a computer so that users can download the correction files and differentially correct their data on return to the office. Postprocessed DGPS typically uses only one reference station, however, when differentially correcting data collected with ProXH receivers with H-Star technology logging enabled, you can select multiple reference stations to correct the file against for improved accuracy.

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Collecting GPS Data

Postprocessed real-time DGPS - postprocessed DGPS positions are generally more accurate than DGPS positions obtained in real time. If you collect SuperCorrect records, or H-Star data with the ProXH receiver, as well as GPS positions using the TerraSync software or the GPScorrect extension, or applications developed using the GPS Pathfinder Tools SDK, you can postprocess your files in the GPS Pathfinder Office software or the GPS Analyst extension to improve accuracy. The accuracy using postprocessed real-time DGPS is the same as for postprocessed DGPS (see the previous section).

Note For more information about GPS and DGPS, review the All About GPS tutorial on the Trimble website at www.trimble.com/gps.
17.3

Factors that affect postprocessed DGPS accuracy

Postprocessed differential correction improves the accuracy of GPS positions. In addition to general factors that affect accuracy, there are other factors that affect the accuracy of postprocessed DGPS positions including:

Distance between reference station and rover receivers Receiver type at reference station Accuracy of the reference station position The logging interval at the reference station The reference station uses the correct antenna

17.4

Factors that affect real-time DGPS accuracy

Real-time DGPS offers similar accuracies to postprocessed GPS. However, in addition to the factors listed under Factors that affect real-time DGPS accuracy (see page 31), there are other factors that affect the accuracy of real-time DGPS positions, including:

Update rate of the corrections Corrections based on a different datum

1.8

Resetting GPS
The GPS Controller and TerraSync software, and the GPScorrect extension all have options to reset the receiver to:

delete the almanac delete information stored on the last known position restart the receiver reset the GPS receiver to factory defaults

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Caring for and Storing the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers

Caring for and Storing the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers
1.9

Servicing
If the receiver requires servicing, contact your support provider.

1.10

Cleaning
Keep the outer surface, the external antenna port, and the serial port free of dirt and dust. To clean the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receiver, wipe it with a clean dry cloth.

1.11

Storage
If you are not going to use the receiver for some time, charge the battery to approximately 30% and then turn off the receiver. To use the receiver after storage, turn on the receiver and then: 1. 2. Fully recharge the battery in the receiver, with the receiver turned on, see Charging the Battery, page 10. Check that the Bluetooth radio is activated and on, see Turning on the receiver and the Bluetooth radio, page 13.

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Caring for and Storing the GPS Pathfinder Pro series receivers

GPS Pathfinder Pro series User Guide

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Index
A
AC adaptor safety vi, 8 accessories, optional 3 accuracy 28, 29, 30, 31 animated skyplot 28 antenna internal 26 patch 3 Zephyr 3 Australia, notices to users ii connection diagram Pro sereis receiver with standard serial port 22 Pro series receiver with serial port splitter cable 23 conserving power 12

D
damaged battery v data collection, planning 28 DOP graph 28

B
Backpack 3 battery charging in unit 10 charging out of unit 11 damaged v discontinue charging v replacing 9, 12 battery pack status lights 12 battery safety 7 Bluetooth LED 14 mode 15 turning off 14 Bluetooth Activation Manager 4

E
EGNOS 28 Europe, notices to users ii European Council Directive 89/336/EEC ii

F
front panel status information 14

G
GPS LED 14 mode 15 GPS Analyst extension 4 GPS COM ports 25 GPS Controller mission planning 28 GPS Controller software functions 3 GPS Pathfinder Tools SDK 4 GPS quality control 26 GPS settings custom mode 28 slider mode 27 GPScorrect 4

C
Canada, notices to users ii carry case 3 charging battery in unit 10 out of unit 11 charging the battery v cleaning the receiver 32 configuring GPS settings 27, 28

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GPScorrect extension 4 mission planning 28 real-time setup 29

New Zealand ii Taiwan iii USA ii

H
hardware warranty ii hardware features ProXH receiver 5 ProXT receiver 5 H-Star technology 5, 30

O
online help Bluetooth Manager 1 GPS Controller software 1 optional accessories 3

P I
integrated EGNOS 28 integrated WAAS 28 internal antenna 26 patch antenna 3 planning data collection 28 planning skyplot 28 power battery life 29 LED 14 mode 15 turning off 14

L
leaking battery v LED Bluetooth 14 GPS 14 power 14 Lithium-ion battery charging v discontinue charging v using v warnings v

R
radio noise emissions Canada ii range pole 3 real-time EGNOS corrections 28 external correction source 29 WAAS corrections 28 receiver servicing 32 storage 32 turning off 14 replacing battery 9, 12

M
maintenance 19 mission planning 28 mode Bluetooth 15 GPS 15 power 15

S
safety AC adaptor vi, 8 battery 7 satellite geometry 28 serial port splitter cable 3 servicing the receiver 32 skyplot 28 software 4 warranty ii spare battery 3

N
New Zealand, notices to users ii notices to users ii Australia ii Canada ii Europe ii

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standard components 2 status information, LED 14 status lights battery pack 12 receiver 14 storing the receiver 32 support 1

T
Taiwan, battery recycling requirements iii Taiwan, notices to users iii technical assistance 1 technical support 1 TerraSync software 4 mission planning 28 real-time setup 29 training GPS system 1 turning off Bluetooth 14 power 14 receiver 14

U
USA, notices to users ii use and care 19 using GPS 25 using the battery v

W
WAAS 28 warranty hardware ii remedies ii software ii

Z
Zephyr GPS antenna kit 3

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