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SPSx51 Modular GPS Receivers User Guide 33
Setup Guidelines 4
Base station setup guidelines
For good performance, observe the following base station setup guidelines:
• Place the GPS receiver in a location on the jobsite where equal range in all
directions provides full coverage of the site. This is more important on larger
jobsites, where the broadcast range of the base station radio may limit the
operations of the GPS system.
• Place the GPS antenna in a location that has a clear line of sight to the sky in all
directions. Do not place the GPS antenna near vertical obstructions such as
buildings, deep cuttings, site vehicles, towers, or tree canopy.
• Place the GPS and radio antennas as high as practical. This minimizes
multipath from the surrounding area, and enables the radio to broadcast to the
maximum distance.
Note – The GPS antenna must have a clear line of sight to the sky at all times during
operation.
• Choose the most appropriate radio antenna for the size and footprint of the site.
The higher the gain on the antenna, the longer the range. If there is more focus
on the transmission signal, there is a reduced coverage area. A 3 db or 5 db gain
antenna provides a mix of good range and reasonable directional coverage.
• Make sure that the GPS receiver does not lose power. The GPS receiver has an
integrated battery, which has to be charged. To operate continuously for more
than a day without loss of power at the base station, provide external power.
Sources of external power include:
–AC power
– 12 V car or truck battery
– Trimble custom external battery pack
– Generator power
–Solar panel
When you use an external power supply, the integrated battery provides a
backup power supply, enabling you to maintain continuous operation through a
mains power failure.
When the GPS receiver is connected to a power source greater than 15 V, the
integrated battery is continuously charged from the connected power source.
This helps to ensure that the battery stays charged (SPSx51 only).
• Do not locate a GPS receiver, GPS antenna, or radio antenna within 400 meters
(about 1,300 feet) of:
– a powerful radar, television, or cellular communications tower
–another transmitter
– another GPS antenna