March 7, 2009

Create a System 500 Codelist from a System 1200 Codelist

In the Codelists section of Management in Leica Geo Office, create a new codelist making sure that the Instrument Class is set to GPS 500. Click on the 1200 codelist's name and you will see the code groups listed in the right panel. Select the code groups you want to copy to the new codelist (Click and Shift-Click to select all). Then right-click on the selected group(s) and select Copy from the pop-up menu. Then click on the new codelist's name, right-click in the right panel (with the heading Code Group Name) and select Paste from the pop-up menu. You now have a copy of your codelist that will work on the SR 530 receiver.

June 27, 2008

OPUS won't give me a solution

The message below was given for a file with 2 hours of 1 second GLONASS data.

6019 Your input dataset is too short. OPUS-RS will not attempt
6019 a solution with less than 7.2 minutes of data.

The real problem was the 1 second GLONASS data. OPUS does not like 1 or 5 second data with GLONASS. Either thin the file to 30 second epochs, or window out the GLONASS satellites prior to creating the RINEX file. I haven't tried other epoch intervals like 15 seconds.

Sometimes, OPUS just doesn't seem to like GLONASS data. Select Satellite Windows in the GPS Processing page, and "window exclude" to window out the Russian satellites prior to exporting the RINEX File. 

Sometimes OPUS just doesn't have the information it needs. No rapid or precise orbit info, or not enough stations with downloadable data at the moment. The answer to these problems is just try again tomorrow. In this case, the message may contain a number of items, with the last one telling you to try again tomorrow.

If you choose Export to RINEX from the Export pull-down menu, it will create a RINEX file containing all the stations which have raw GPS data. For OPUS use, we do not want this to happen. If you have more than one station in the project with GPS data, right-click on the gray bar indicating the interval of data in the GPS-Proc view, and select Export to RINEX. This will only export the data for the one station into the RINEX file.

Another problem is sometimes (with 530s I think) the data type changes between epochs, and LGO indicates this with a comment and changes the observation list. OPUS cannot handle this. Search your RINEX file for the word "changed" and remove these sections. A before and after image are shown below.

  Before Editing Changed data type record

  After Editing Changed data type record

In summary, these are the five most common problems with OPUS.

1. Short interval GLONASS

2. Any GLONASS satellites.

3. Not enough information today

4. Change in data type

5. Creating a RINEX file with more than one station

June 11, 2008

Don't leave the rover turned on when you move the base

If you leave the rover turned on when the base is moved, it can lead to vectors being tied to the wrong reference. This is easy to fix if all the points tied are tied from one reference, but if some points in the group are tied to the other reference it becomes very difficult, if not impossible, to fix. In short, save yourself some grief and always turn the rover off if you move the base.

October 22, 2007

Setting up the System 1200 GPS for WAAS

From the main menu select 5 Configure... | 4 Interfaces... Then with Real-Time highlighted, press the F3[EDIT] key. With the R-Time Mode: set to Rover, press the SHIFT key and then press the F5[SBAS] key. Set the SBAS Tracking: field to WAAS and press the F1[CONT] key. Highlight the R-Time Data: field, select WAAS as the format, and then press F1[CONT]. You should now be back in the Interfaces page. Press F1[CONT] to make the configuration active.

February 19, 2007

Setting up Intuicom radios for the System 900 GPS

You cannot configure the Intuicom base radio at the base receiver. This needs to be done at the rover, and should only need to be done once. Label and connect the base Intuicom radio to the rover receiver. Set the channel to 14 for base operation, and then set the channel to the frequency pattern (0-9) you wish to use. Disconnect the radio from the rover and connect it to the base receiver. It is ready to use. Now, connect the rover radio to the rover receiver and set the channel to 15 for rover operation. Then set the channel to the same frequency pattern you selected for the base (0-9) and your ready to go.

Thanks to Tim Kerr for the tip.

February 08, 2007

Using OPUS with less than 2 hours of data

You can now use OPUS-RS with 15 minutes or more of data. There is a link on the main OPUS site.

January 18, 2007

NGS antenna phase center definitions

New Leica antennas have been added to the NGS list. Both for CORS postprocessing, and for OPUS use. To import the new list into LGO, get the text file from the NGS site, delete the existing NGS antennas in the Antennas management section, and import the new antennas. The ATX1230 is included, but not the ATX1230GG. The list is available here http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/ANTCAL/images/ant_info.html

December 20, 2006

Using Geoid06 in Alaska

This tip has been superceded. The Geoid06 files for Alaska are directly available on the Leica Geo Office DVD in the Common\Geoid\America\USA\Geoid03_06a directory.

Download the Geoid06 .bin files from NGS into a Geoid06 directory. Select the NGS Geodetic Toolkit link from my links page and then select Geoid06. Copy the Geoid99.exe file into the same directory.

Rename the g2006*.bin files to g1999*.bin. Rename Geoid99.exe to Geoid06.exe.

November 26, 2006

I want to clear the entry field on the instrument when I activate it.

With the cursor in the entry field, press the CE key. This will activate the entry field and clear it.

Pressing the yellow left-arrow key will activate the entry field and place the cursor to the left side. Pressing the yellow right-arrow key, or the Enter key, will activate the entry field and place the cursor on the right side.

November 26, 2006

Points not visible on map

I can't see my points in the SmartWorx Map view, and I have a valid coordinate system attached.

While viewing the Map screen, press Shift-F2[CONF] and set Show Points to Yes.

November 26, 2006

Upgrading firmware

When upgrading GPS firmware, don't mix the GPS1200 firmware with the RX1250 SmartRover firmware. They are not the same. Please read the upgrade notes in the firmware release notes.

June 14, 2006

Intermittent Bluetooth operation

If you don't have a solid Bluetooth connection, check the timer settings as described below:

Timer Setting of ATX1230 It is necessary to have the Bluetooth timer setting within the ATX1230 correctly set. 1. Ensure that the SmartRover software is not running. The means to exit the SmartRover soft-ware with shift F6(EXIT) from the main menu- do not simply use shift F3(MINIM)). 2. Start the SmartAntenna Tool software. From the WinCE desktop, press the flying Windows icon in the bottom left corner of the screen and choose Programs and then Leica Geosystems and then Tools and then SmartAntenna Tool. 3. With the ATX1230 turned on use the USB cable GEV173 (733 299) to connect the RX1250 and the ATX1230. Then press the Connect button to open the connection to the ATX1230 SmartAntenna. Upon a successful connection, the Bluetoothaddress and Timer Settings will also be shown. 4. The timer setting can be changed with the button Toggle Timer. Ensure that the Timer Settings is set to: on (for SmartRover). 5. Once the correct timer setting is selected, then the application can be exited with the Exit button.

June 14, 2006

SmartRover Bluetooth connections

There are two new guides on the Leica Advantage Website for the RX1250. One for connecting to the PC and one for connecting to a cell phone. Use the link below:

http://www.leicaadvantage.com/support/GPS1200/GPS_System1200_QuickGuides.cfm

June 14, 2006

Gem files (geoid model field files) on a System 500

The tip below has been superceded. When creating geoid field files for System 500 using LGO, set the Interpolation method: to Default(for System 500)

When creating a gem file for a System 500 receiver using LGO 4.0, make sure the interpolation method selected is Bi-quadratic. The other methods are not available except in System 1200 4.0+ versions.

6/15 Hold the fort...this doesn't seem to work either...news at 11:00 XM

6/21 An issue has been identified, and will be fixed in LGO 5.0. In the meantime, if you have to create gem files for System 500, use LGO 3.0.

March 07, 2006

NGS antenna calibration

The information below has been superceded. LEIAX1202 is for H/W Rev. 1.04 LEIAX1202A is for H/W Rev. 1.01. See the NGS website at http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/ANTCAL/

NGS has recalibrated the AX1202 antenna. The original calibration remains, but the LEIAX1202B definition has been added. If you need to use the NGS antenna definitions, for OPUS and CORS processing, you should use the updated definition LEIAX1202B.

March 02, 2006

Entering a + sign

The <-+> key on the 1230 keyboard will only enter a - sign in a text entry field. To enter a plus sign use the special characters associated with the F1-F6 hot keys. This can be configured in Config.. | General Settings.. | Display, Beeps, Text | Text Page. Select the string with "#$% characters in it. Now when you are in a text entry field, pressing F4, F2 will enter a + sign.

The <-+> key functions as a toggle in a numeric entry field, such as the antenna height field.

February 24, 2006

530 on a network

If you are using a 530 on a network, you have to use RTCM 18,19 version 2.2. Version 2.3 is not implemented on the 530s.

You'll also likely have to change your port address. Most networks will have ports supporting data in the older format so that customers with older receivers can use the system.

Thanks to Doug Redlin

Jul 17, 2005

Position icon disappears

When I go to Survey, the position icon disappears and I only have one satellite showing. Check your base position. You may have forgotten to change E to W in the Longtitude field. Your on the other side of the world. Before entering the longitude, press the F3 [WEST] key to change the E to a W. If you have already entered the longitude, you need to make sure the longitude field is highlighted and then press the F3 key (I didn't do this correctly in a hurry, and it took me an hour to figure out what I'd done wrong...looking like an idiot with a group waiting.)

Jul 17, 2005

Ortho heights won't display on my rover

Check your geoid model field file. You may have forgotten to change E to W in the Longtitude field when you specified the center or extents positions. In both cases, it would nice for the receiver to let us know that we are on the opposite side of the world. It is on the wishlist.

Aug 5, 2004

CSCS model is not being found on the receiver

Disassociate the CSCS model from the coordinate system in LGO before transferring the coordinate system to the receiver. After you have transferred the coordinate system and the CSCS model field file to the receiver, associate the field file with the coordinate system and it should work properly.

Thanks to Greg Hazelquist for this tip.

July 15, 2004

Clean up your System RAM when installing System 1200 firmware upgrades

When installing new firmware, you might the take the time to clean up your System Ram. A clean machine is a healthy machine, and it runs faster.

Before formatting the CF Card and installing the new firmware, Transfer your coordinate systems, codelists, configurations, etc. to the card, and back your card up on the computer. Delete any unneccessary coordinate systems, configurations, codelists, etc. in the System RAM. Alternately, you can just format the System RAM and then reload the necessary items.

Install the new firmware according to the steps in the Release Notes. Remember to remove the old application programs first.

After the firmware upgrade is complete, copy back the current jobs (and geoid models if they are kept on the card) from your backup on the computer. If you formatted the System RAM, you'll want to copy the relevant files from your backup and transfer the needed coordinate systems, configurations, codelists, etc. back to the System RAM.

June 21, 2004

OPUS is rejecting the Ofiles I created in LGO

Use the following link:

http://www.leicaadvantage.com/support/GPS1200/GPS_System1200_FAQs.cfm

and then select the topic Why is OPUS rejecting my RINEX data from System 1200 GPS data?

Follow the steps, paying particular attention to making sure the Ignore Windows box is not checked in step 5.

June 02, 2004

How can I find the job name for a set of DBX files?

The file with the .xcf extension contains the job name.

Open this file with a text editor that can read binary files (www.ultraedit.com). The job name is in the second line.

November 13, 2003

Using a System 300 Base for a System 500 Rover

If you are going to use a System 300 receiver as a base for a System 500 receiver, make sure that the 344 controller has firmware version 3.7. This firmware is not on the Advantage site. It is not general release, but is needed only when using the System 300 as base for a System 500 rover. Email me or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you need a copy of this firmware.

November 13, 2003

Base receiver losing lock

If your base receiver has lock on satellites, then beeps and a "complete loss of lock" message appears, and this repeats regulary, your radio antenna may be causing the problem, especially if the radio is cranked to 35W. Move the radio antenna away from the receiver setup and see if the problem disappears.

July 03, 2003

Geoid and CSCS field files

With version 4.0 and above of the firmware, you do not need to transfer geoid field files or CSCS field files to the system RAM. They can remain on the PC card. Do not use the transfer routine on the receiver for these models.

See the Leica Advantage LGO/SKI-Pro and RTK Data Questions section and click on the "Can I make a geoid model or a CSCS model field file large enough to encompass my entire state/province?

Friday, June 13, 2003

Transferring the System RAM to other receivers.

Saving the system RAM (7 Transfer/19 System) to the PC card and transferring it to other receivers is a quick way to make sure all receivers have the same contents. However, if you do this, be sure to change the sensor identification back to its normal value in the receivers that have uploaded the transferred system, otherwise all receivers will create the same file names. To do this: * Press the CONFIG key. * Highlight 3 General and press the F1 key. * Highlight 7 Sensor Identification and press the F1 key. * Enter in the correct Sensor ID and press F1. The Sensor ID is usually the last four digits of the serial number, but can be any four characters, e.g. 1111.

05/27/2003

Want a quick grade between two points on the 530?

Hit the Status button and select Survey | Position. Then press the F5 [GRADE] key. You can select any Known Point or the Last Point and get the following information from the selected point to the current position: Grade [1:] Grade [%] Hgt Diff Horz Dist Slope Dist

Thanks again to Hans Haselbach for this tip.

04/04/2003

Lots of satellites but no fix

Lots of satellites, but having problems fixing at longer distances.

Raise the elevation mask to exclude low satellites. Use the CONFIG key and select Survey | Satellites. Raise the mask angle until you fix. In an example scenario there were 10 satellites but the system did not want to fix. Raising the mask to exclude the 3 lowest satellites solved the problem and the system fixed.

12/21/2002

Use the power of the Leica database when collecting points

When collecting large points, such as a 2" open iron pipe, use the Hans method. Instead of trying to estimate and occupy the center, take four shots around the perimeter to get the averaged value. You can force the software to use the points if they are outside of your normal averaging limits.

Thanks to Hans Haselbach for this tip.

11/04/2002

Adding a point to a coordinate system transformation.

If you need to extend your work beyond the limits of your coordinate system, you should add a point (or points) to the transformation by following the steps in Section 11.2 of the 530 Technical Reference Manual.

10/16/2002

How to Transfer any file to the 500 sensor serially using SKI-Pro

If you need to transfer a .GSI file, or a .DXF file, to the sensor using a serial connection, do the following steps.

* Select Tools/Sensor Transfer * Right-click on Sensor * Click on Transfer any file... * Select Files of Type as GSI * Navigate to directory containing the GSI files * Select the file to transfer * Set Sensor Device to PC-Card * Set Directory to GSI * Click the Transfer button

Do the same for the DXF file, just put it in the DTM directory.

09/04/2002

Using DTM Stakeout on the 530

Using DTM Stakeout, you must correctly enter the name of the layer that contains the 3DFACE triangles in the DXF file. This name must be entered in the "DTMSO\ SET DTM FILE" panel in the "DXF Layer:" field.

This layer name should be 8 characters or less. If not, rename it in the DXF file.

08/05/2002

RTK State Plane Base Position

An easy way to provide State Plane coordinates to your RTK positions is to configure the base to record data. Then in SKI- Pro, export this data to a RINEX file and upload it to OPUS. Change the base Reference Class position to the OPUS position and all the attached RTK positions will change accordingly.

07/29/2002

Firmware Upgrades

If you have trouble locking to satellites after upgrading your firmware, recreate your configuration sets.

07/08/2002

RTK Base position

Make sure you enter your antenna height before using the HERE function or getting an average position (SPP) at your RTK base. Leaving out the antenna height positions the antenna, not the mark on the ground.