GPS-30579, GPS-30581, GPS-30879 Compatibility with SurvPC/FieldGenius

GPS/GNSS
1

Hi everyone,

I’m evaluating tilt-compensated survey-grade GNSS receivers and need advice on full native compatibility with SurvPC or FieldGenius (no custom drivers/NMEA hacks).

Which of these SKUs works seamlessly (plug-and-play RTK/tilt support) in either software?

  • GPS-30579: Tilt compensation with Quectel LG290P module

  • GPS-30581: Tilt compensation with Septentrio mosaic-X5 module

  • GPS-30879: Tilt compensation with u-blox ZED-X20P module

Has anyone tested these specific models?

Thanks!

2

I doubt you will get an answer for these specific models and software combinations. The Hardware is brand new.

I believe SurvPC and FieldGenius have settings for Generic NMEA Devices (when you select Manufacturer). You would then configure the Sparkfun device to output the specific NMEA Messages that the App is looking for, such as GGA, GST, RMC, etc.

I will caution you that Tilt Compensation can be a pain unless you are using an application that has a specific driver/config for the device.

Normally, a GNSS device’s NMEA output is the Antenna’s Phase Center - where the data collector app subtracts the Rod Height. When Tilt Mode is active on a SparkFun Device, the NMEA output is the Rod Tip (not the antenna). Any data collector app would need to receive a NMEA message stating the transition to IMU compensation. Otherwise, the user will need to temporarily set the Rod Height to 0m while Tilt Compensation mode is active, and switch it back/forth, etc.

Tilt Mode workflow is an easy way to get tripped-up in the field, but that’s just a personal opinion :smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

2 Likes
3

Thank you,

Still waiting for feedback from someone who’s actually tested the tilt functionality. to choose the right set.

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4

I run survpc now with a carlson brx7 and I can tell you I was unable to get tilt natively working with like the facet mosaic

Most of the devices by sparkfun will correct and send the tilt corrected coordinates to for example to survpc without it knowing

All in all I had a hard time trusting what like the torch was giving me with tilt.

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5

"Thanks for the feedback! That confirms my suspicion regarding the ‘Native’ vs. ‘Transparent’ tilt handling.

To clarify for the group, it sounds like these SparkFun/Open-source SKUs operate in Transparent Mode. Instead of sending raw IMU data for SurvPC to calculate (which usually requires a proprietary driver), the receiver’s onboard processor does the math and outputs a ‘corrected’ NMEA string. To SurvPC or Fieldgenius, it just looks like the pole is perfectly vertical even when it isn’t.

My follow-up questions for anyone who has used one of those units versions:

  1. Reliability: For those who ‘had a hard time trusting’ the results, was it a calibration issue or did the tilt compensation drift significantly during the day?

  2. Driver Selection: When using these in SurvPC/FieldGenius, are you just using a Generic NMEA profile, or is there a specific manufacturer driver (like ‘Septentrio’ or ‘Generic RTK’) that successfully unlocks the tilt toggle in the software?

  3. Initialization: How long are you finding it takes for the IMU to ‘fix’ (initialize) compared to a high-end unit like the BRx7?

If anyone has a side-by-side comparison of thses 3 units regarding tilt stability in the field, I’d love to hear it."

6

Not exactly… RTK Everywhere Firmware will output the position of the Rod TIP in the NMEA message. The data collector software will still subtract the Rod Height from the position (causing an error in elevation = to the Rod Height), in the absence of a hardware specific driver.

2 Likes
7

Survpc and field genius use generic nmea to operate. I didn’t like how field genius averaging routine when to zero spread after a little bit of time, much prefer Carlsons gnss averaging with visuals.

I didn’t audit tilt because I don’t generally turn it on my brx7 for most boundary work. I will say on the lg290p it needed some tweaks to not hold false fixes. I am doing licensed work and this is what caused me once I stopped just doing pin searches to buy a real gnss receiver because I am stamping stuff. But Everytime I took sparkfun stuff And checked into stuff I observed with commerical receivers it checked really really good.

3 Likes
8

So what is the final verdict now on GNSS hardware compatibility?

Does a ‘unicorn’ set exist that offers 100% seamless, native integration with Carlson SurvPC or MicroSurvey FieldGenius?

I need a kit where all features—including tilt compensation and internal radio config—work flawlessly across both platforms without jumping through hoops.

Thanks a lot for sharing your feedbacks