Mapping and GIS Solutions Community

Hey all,

I'm fairly new to GIS mapping and have several questions about the Geo7X. The community I work at has talked about starting into doing our own data collection and some recommended a Geo7X as a start point. Before I go all in on one:

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

How accurate is the range finder? 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

Thanks in advance!

------------------------------
Curtis Hoffman
------------------------------

The Geo7x was discontinued. You should look into the new TDC650 coming out.

------------------------------
Kara O'Neill
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-22-2022 15:18
From: Curtis Hoffman
Subject: Geo 7X for GIS Mapping

Hey all,

I'm fairly new to GIS mapping and have several questions about the Geo7X. The community I work at has talked about starting into doing our own data collection and some recommended a Geo7X as a start point. Before I go all in on one:

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

How accurate is the range finder? 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

Thanks in advance!

------------------------------
Curtis Hoffman
------------------------------

Hi Curtis

The Geo7x Is/was an excellent Integrated GNSS handheld/rangefinder but has now reached end of life, so like @Kara O'Neill mentions, for a new purchase, we would recommend the Trimble TDC650 which is the modern replacement and runs on the Android 10 OS​ as opposed to the now unsupported Microsoft Windows Embedded Handheld OS on the Geo7x

With that in mind, I've posted a few answers and resources to help you with your questions below concerning the Geo7x.
Beyond this I'd recommend you contact your local Trimble reseller who can provide more detail and help with things like setup/configuration and software as well as the new Trimble TDC650

Q&A

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

• A mobile connection is not required to run the device with GNSS.
• A mobile connection is required If you want to utilise some correction services such as VRSNow/RTX or a local NTRIP which send corrections over IP OR If you want to send/receive data/emails etc..
• Typically without a mobile connection you can track SBAS which will give submetre accuracy under the right conditions, otherwise you can use post processing workflows with Trimble Terrasync and GPS Pathfinder Office to improve the accuracy of your captured assets back in the office

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

• Take a look at the datasheet here -page 2 GNSS, ORIENTATION, AND DISTANCE section for all the GNSS performance specifications
• This type of accuracy is possible under the right conditions with a Centimetre enabled Geo7x and Centimetre level software (Typically Terrasync), via real-time corrections or post processing
  

How accurate is the range finder? 

• Again take a look at the datasheet for the specs
• The main source of error comes from the orientation sensors so for maximum accuracy we would recommend utilising distance only offsets (this is offered in the software as part of the offset workflows) otherwise expect submeter accuracy for your asset, depending on the distance to your target and your current GNSS accuracy
• Take a look at the Rangefinder Utility User guide for a better idea of the practical applications/modes of this tool 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

• The camera is 5MP but does not have a flash/light so you would probably need to provide an additional light source inside the manhole cover

For more details you can refer to the  Geo7x product page and I would also recommend looking at the modern replacement Trimble TDC650

If you contact your local Trimble reseller they can help with all of this

------------------------------
Tom Harrison
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-22-2022 15:18
From: Curtis Hoffman
Subject: Geo 7X for GIS Mapping

Hey all,

I'm fairly new to GIS mapping and have several questions about the Geo7X. The community I work at has talked about starting into doing our own data collection and some recommended a Geo7X as a start point. Before I go all in on one:

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

How accurate is the range finder? 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

Thanks in advance!

------------------------------
Curtis Hoffman
------------------------------

One point to add to Tom's almost-comprehensive answer - to get 1cm accuracy from a Geo7x (cm) device you'll need to be using an external antenna like a Trimble Zephyr 2 / Zephyr 3 (that's footnote 3 in the datasheet).  Internal antenna is typically 3 to 5 cm horizontally.

And I definitely have to support using laser rangefinder only in distance-distance mode if you want accuracy - the moment you use distance-bearing mode the angular errors mean you're at sub-meter accuracy levels or worse depending on environment and distance.

------------------------------
Norman Smart
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2022 03:28
From: Tom Harrison
Subject: Geo 7X for GIS Mapping

Hi Curtis

The Geo7x Is/was an excellent Integrated GNSS handheld/rangefinder but has now reached end of life, so like @Kara O'Neill mentions, for a new purchase, we would recommend the Trimble TDC650 which is the modern replacement and runs on the Android 10 OS​ as opposed to the now unsupported Microsoft Windows Embedded Handheld OS on the Geo7x

With that in mind, I've posted a few answers and resources to help you with your questions below concerning the Geo7x.
Beyond this I'd recommend you contact your local Trimble reseller who can provide more detail and help with things like setup/configuration and software as well as the new Trimble TDC650

Q&A

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

• A mobile connection is not required to run the device with GNSS.
• A mobile connection is required If you want to utilise some correction services such as VRSNow/RTX or a local NTRIP which send corrections over IP OR If you want to send/receive data/emails etc..
• Typically without a mobile connection you can track SBAS which will give submetre accuracy under the right conditions, otherwise you can use post processing workflows with Trimble Terrasync and GPS Pathfinder Office to improve the accuracy of your captured assets back in the office

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

• Take a look at the datasheet here -page 2 GNSS, ORIENTATION, AND DISTANCE section for all the GNSS performance specifications
• This type of accuracy is possible under the right conditions with a Centimetre enabled Geo7x and Centimetre level software (Typically Terrasync), via real-time corrections or post processing
  

How accurate is the range finder? 

• Again take a look at the datasheet for the specs
• The main source of error comes from the orientation sensors so for maximum accuracy we would recommend utilising distance only offsets (this is offered in the software as part of the offset workflows) otherwise expect submeter accuracy for your asset, depending on the distance to your target and your current GNSS accuracy
• Take a look at the Rangefinder Utility User guide for a better idea of the practical applications/modes of this tool 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

• The camera is 5MP but does not have a flash/light so you would probably need to provide an additional light source inside the manhole cover

For more details you can refer to the  Geo7x product page and I would also recommend looking at the modern replacement Trimble TDC650

If you contact your local Trimble reseller they can help with all of this

------------------------------
Tom Harrison

Original Message:
Sent: 07-22-2022 15:18
From: Curtis Hoffman
Subject: Geo 7X for GIS Mapping

Hey all,

I'm fairly new to GIS mapping and have several questions about the Geo7X. The community I work at has talked about starting into doing our own data collection and some recommended a Geo7X as a start point. Before I go all in on one:

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

How accurate is the range finder? 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

Thanks in advance!

------------------------------
Curtis Hoffman
------------------------------

Thanks for the input everyone! I appreciate the feedback.

------------------------------
Curtis Hoffman
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2022 12:57
From: Norman Smart
Subject: Geo 7X for GIS Mapping

One point to add to Tom's almost-comprehensive answer - to get 1cm accuracy from a Geo7x (cm) device you'll need to be using an external antenna like a Trimble Zephyr 2 / Zephyr 3 (that's footnote 3 in the datasheet).  Internal antenna is typically 3 to 5 cm horizontally.

And I definitely have to support using laser rangefinder only in distance-distance mode if you want accuracy - the moment you use distance-bearing mode the angular errors mean you're at sub-meter accuracy levels or worse depending on environment and distance.

------------------------------
Norman Smart

Original Message:
Sent: 07-26-2022 03:28
From: Tom Harrison
Subject: Geo 7X for GIS Mapping

Hi Curtis

The Geo7x Is/was an excellent Integrated GNSS handheld/rangefinder but has now reached end of life, so like @Kara O'Neill mentions, for a new purchase, we would recommend the Trimble TDC650 which is the modern replacement and runs on the Android 10 OS​ as opposed to the now unsupported Microsoft Windows Embedded Handheld OS on the Geo7x

With that in mind, I've posted a few answers and resources to help you with your questions below concerning the Geo7x.
Beyond this I'd recommend you contact your local Trimble reseller who can provide more detail and help with things like setup/configuration and software as well as the new Trimble TDC650

Q&A

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

• A mobile connection is not required to run the device with GNSS.
• A mobile connection is required If you want to utilise some correction services such as VRSNow/RTX or a local NTRIP which send corrections over IP OR If you want to send/receive data/emails etc..
• Typically without a mobile connection you can track SBAS which will give submetre accuracy under the right conditions, otherwise you can use post processing workflows with Trimble Terrasync and GPS Pathfinder Office to improve the accuracy of your captured assets back in the office

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

• Take a look at the datasheet here -page 2 GNSS, ORIENTATION, AND DISTANCE section for all the GNSS performance specifications
• This type of accuracy is possible under the right conditions with a Centimetre enabled Geo7x and Centimetre level software (Typically Terrasync), via real-time corrections or post processing
  

How accurate is the range finder? 

• Again take a look at the datasheet for the specs
• The main source of error comes from the orientation sensors so for maximum accuracy we would recommend utilising distance only offsets (this is offered in the software as part of the offset workflows) otherwise expect submeter accuracy for your asset, depending on the distance to your target and your current GNSS accuracy
• Take a look at the Rangefinder Utility User guide for a better idea of the practical applications/modes of this tool 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

• The camera is 5MP but does not have a flash/light so you would probably need to provide an additional light source inside the manhole cover

For more details you can refer to the  Geo7x product page and I would also recommend looking at the modern replacement Trimble TDC650

If you contact your local Trimble reseller they can help with all of this

------------------------------
Tom Harrison

Original Message:
Sent: 07-22-2022 15:18
From: Curtis Hoffman
Subject: Geo 7X for GIS Mapping

Hey all,

I'm fairly new to GIS mapping and have several questions about the Geo7X. The community I work at has talked about starting into doing our own data collection and some recommended a Geo7X as a start point. Before I go all in on one:

Does it require a continuous mobile connection for GNSS or will it work like a basic handheld GPS? 

Trimble says it has accuracy down to 1cm. Is that common or should I expect 3-5cm? Would that be for both vertical and horizontal?

How accurate is the range finder? 

How good is the camera? If we want to take photos inside manholes, would it work well in that environment?

Thanks in advance!

------------------------------
Curtis Hoffman
------------------------------