Any advice on Mobile Mappers and Submetre GPS?

[Hannah Cobb]

Evening All!
I was just wondering if anyone out there had any advice on a good, industry standard Mobile Mapper and Submetre GPS? Is there a make and/or model that is used commercially by a variety of units? I'm only just starting to research this so am a tad clueless at the moment, but I know I'm looking for something that is quite straight forward as it will be used for teaching purposes - but I also want to find something that will enable students to be prepared for using one in professional practice. Any advice welcome...!
Many thanks,
Hannah.

[Antipesto]

Trimble GeoXH (sub-decimeter or sub-cm) or GeoXT (sub-meter), or if you want a simpler version (smartphone style interface apparently but only 2-4m accuracy) the Trimble Juno might be a better shout for a cheaper (I assume) teaching/introductory machine.

Leica Zeno 10 or 15 might be worth investigating as well though I havent used those models myself, and you might want to pick up a mushroom on a pole to go with them.

[Hannah Cobb]

Thank you ever so much - That's really helpful!
Sub-decimeter?! Wow! I didn't even know that was possible! You learn a new thing every day!
Many thanks,
Hannah.

[Antipesto]

Most on-site kit will probably be using +/-2cm accuracy nowadays though obviously that stuff tends to cost more (when you add in all the optional extras).

[John Wells]

Does anyone know more about GNSS, the ability to track GLONASS satellites, being available on mobile phones in the near future for sub-metre dual system accuracy? I read somewhere that they were in the pipeline.

[Oxbeast]

Does anyone know more about GNSS, the ability to track GLONASS satellites, being available on mobile phones in the near future for sub-metre dual system accuracy? I read somewhere that they were in the pipeline.

There are a few, including the iPhone 4S
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2068339

but the cool thing about phones is that they use GPRS to look up the location of the satellites so that they lock on faster than other devices. Plus Galileo turns on next year and and we all get sub-meter accuracy. The Americans hate it though...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_%28...igation%29

[Sith]

This very interesting but unless you're going to place your phone (or hand held device) directly on the point to be recorded, I can't see how you can acheive sub decimetre accuracy (allowing for operator wobble, hand-eye-ground perception etc) with any precision.

[CARTOON REALITY]

This very interesting but unless you're going to place your phone (or hand held device) directly on the point to be recorded, I can't see how you can acheive sub decimetre accuracy (allowing for operator wobble, hand-eye-ground perception etc) with any precision.

Well, if you promise not to tell anyone Sith, neither will we.

[Antipesto]

well, I did suggest the mushroom and pole. Any old stick will do really as long as you know what height off the floor the antenna is and have a level bubble on it so you can check you're holding it upright over your point (they should all have a variable setting for antenna height within the software). You could probably make one for £5 from a hardware store or just spring for the 'official' kit.

[kevin wooldridge]

I would think the important lessons to impart to students who might use any form of locating equipment in professional practice, is the degree of accuracy that can be achieved by various devices, conditions where that might or might not be possible and the degree of accuracy required by curators etc. None of that is specific to any one device....it is also quite important ( speaking with my site surveyor hat on) that students are aware of techniques for achieving accurate survey through means other than GPS....could save your bacon one day down the line!!