Hi Corinne
The electronics of the EM100 GNSS receiver are very similar to the GNSS receiver fitted to the Geo 7x, the antennas used are different types but have similar performance, so I'd expect to see similar performance and similar accuracy estimates if you operate them side-by-side
as long as they are configured similarly. One difference is that the EM100 was generally sold as a single-frequency receiver so the best accuracy it will give is sub-meter, while Geo 7x was sold as a single-frequency (with sub-meter accuracy) but it also had options for dual-frequency operation with decimeter or CM-level accuracy.
To get sub-meter accuracy on either device you need to be using real-time corrections (SBAS or NTRIP or RTX, etc.) - the real-time correction options are the same for EM100 and Geo 7x, except that EM100 supports satellite RTX which is not available on Geo 7x.
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Norman Smart
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-25-2022 05:23
From: Corinne Steinmuller
Subject: Nomad 5
Hi Norman -
Thank you for your response! The issue seems to be fixed now.
I do have another question, which you may not be able to answer. I was sold the EM100 as being submeter accuracy. IN the field the other day, however, it seemed to read consistently between 2-3m accuracy when I took points. I've yet to upload my data yet, but is there a way to correct this? I wonder if I need to but another attachment in order to get true submeter accuracy, or if it's just that much more sensitive than the Geo7x.
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Corinne Steinmuller
Original Message:
Sent: 04-19-2022 20:20
From: Norman Smart
Subject: Nomad 5
Hi Corinne
I've just done a check with a factory-reset Nomad 5 and EM100, I didn't have any problems. Here's what I did:
- Installed TerraFlex v5.6.1.1 from Play Store onto the Nomad 5
- Ran TerraFlex, logged in using TID
- Under TerraFlew Settings / Location Service, selected Internal
- Confirmed that TerraFlex / Location Status got positions from the internal GNSS receiver within a minute
- Attached an EM100 to the Nomad 5
- Got a prompt from TerraFlex saying EM100 had been attached and asking if I wanted to change to the EM100, accepted this
- Within about a minute, TerraFlex got positions from the EM100
Additional information:
- The EM100 is more accurate than the Nomad 5 internal GNSS, but it's also more sensitive to GNSS signal quality - in my office near a window the internal GNSS will give me a (terrible accuracy) positions but EM100 will not track any satellites at all. Try to work outside in good open-sky GNSS conditions if you can, to check that EM100 is working.
- If it's the first time you are using the EM100 or if you have loaded new firmware, the EM100 can take a few minutes to track the first satellites even in good conditions. Not more than 5 or 10 minutes, though.
- If you have any problems of any kind, it's always worth restarting the OS to see if that changes the behaviour
- If you have an external mini-patch antenna from an R1 or any antenna and cable suitable for Geo7x / Geo 6000 / Geo2008, etc, these will work with the EM100. That would rule out a bad antenna in the EM100 unit.
- There are a few configuration options for the EM100 which you can get to via the pre-installed Empower Hub application, by opening the hub and clicking on the "EM100 Settings" icon. Most users will never need to change any of these.
- The EM100 is power up automatically when the Nomad 5 OS is started or woken from a sleep state
- To save power, the EM100 turns off after 1 minute (default) if it is not being used by an application, you can change this behaviour
- When the screen turns off, the EM100 keeps on running to allow applications to collect position data even though the screen is off
Edit: The above was done on the original Android 8.1.0, build number 20190603-0229. I realised there was an update available so I updated to Android 8.1 build 20191030-0602 and then to Android 9 build number 20200331-0239, TerraFlex still connects to EM100 and gets positions.
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Norman Smart
Original Message:
Sent: 04-18-2022 05:18
From: Corinne Steinmuller
Subject: Nomad 5
Hi all -
My firm recently purchased a Nomad 5 unit with the EM-100 module for submeter accuracy. However, I have yet to be able to link up to any satellites using the module. Are there tips/tricks that I'm not aware of?
As this unit is to be used for GPS capabilities...it's a major problem. I haven't figured out how to log points on Terraflex yet, either (which obviously I can't do if it's not functioning as a GPS unit...)
Thanks!
Corinne
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Corinne Steinmuller
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