Has anyone tried using an external bluetooth GPS receiver with Collector? If so, how has it performed and what model/make is the receiver? We're looking to get sub-meter accuracy using Collector and am curious if anyone has had success doing this.
Thanks in advance!
This blog post could help you out: http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/2013/07/15/smartphones-tablets-and-gps-accuracy/
Russ
It doesn't seem to mention the specific GPS devices used during testing...
For iOS device, you can try Dual (http://gps.dualav.com/explore-by-product/xgps150a/ ). I heard people used http://bad-elf.com/. Or you can use GPS cable to connect other high end receivers (http://amanenterprises.com/gpscable/ ).
For Android device, any external GPS with Bluetooth module should be able to work.
As a note, all those gadgets will help smartphone to provide better location and our collector app just leverage it. We don�??t have control on it.
In conjunction with one of our clients, we hope very soon to be testing out the Geneq iSXBlue II which has just gained Apple approvaland should deliver 30cm real-time accuracy. Goes on sale in the UK next month apparently. This along with the next release of Collector enabling off-line recording could be an interesting combination.
http://sxbluegps.com/home/geneq-introduces-sub-meter-gnss-receiver-for-the-apple-ipad-and-iphone/
Will let you know how we get on.
Rob Knight
www.salford-gis.co.uk
boyle.matt;359051
We just purchased a GENEQ SXBLUE II. I just received it yesterday. We are in the process of installing the app on our iPads. My email is tkukitz@cityftmyers.com. I will post info here when I find out how it works.
tompgapro;372650
Look forward to your result. I just met one customer during this week Developer Summit. He compared the result with their pre-surveyed points. They mentioned at least 3 feet accuracy.
I have been testing a few of the Geneq blue, both the GNSS and II-B beacon model. Both are excellent and greatly increase the accuracy of the data collection. They also make repeat positioning a reality. I found that I could get meter - sub meter collections on a regular basis. I encourage people to give it a try.
Craig
I have a Bad Elf, but am unable to use it with the Collector App. Can anyone provide a step by step? I'm using an iPhone 4S running iOS 7.1. I'm able to pair the GPS via bluetooth. When I open the Collector App it still seems to be using my phone's Location Services and not the GPS. If I turn off Location Services and maintain my bluetooth connection to the Bad Elf, Collector tells me it requires Location Services to be turned on.
Thanks in advance.
crai4607;372815
Are you saying the Geneq blue worked with Collector?
Has anyone tried the Garmin GLO Bluetooth?
Garrett45;374843
Hi Garrett,
This is John over at Bad Elf Support; I was pointed to the issue you were having earlier today by another user and I wanted to drop you a note. In short - You shouldn't be having any problem, Collector works great with our line of products.
One thing I noted in your post that needs to be cleared up is what Location Services actually does. You should think of this as a valve allowing any positional data regardless of source to flow between the operating system and an app. If this is set to OFF either globally or specifically to an individual app ... the data stream is turned off. This needs to be set ON in both places ...in iOS7 it's found under SETTINGS > PRIVACY > LOCATION SERVICES
If you want to localize the data stream from the PRO we can do this:
- Under SETTINGS turn Airplane Mode ON - this turns off the internal GPS antennae, WIFI, BlueTooth, and 3/4G connection (if available
- Now Toggle Bluetooth back to an ON position ... the PRO is the only source for positional data.
(for non-elfers out there - this will work for any BT GPS receiver, we're just minimizing data sources).
Garrett, if you still need help - Please drop us a line at support@bad-elf.com it's what we are here for.
Best,
John Mc.
We have been using the Geneq iSX Blue II for around a month now, paired via Bluetooth to iPads running the Collector app. The GPS receiver works really well with collector, giving the sub-meter accuracy we were hoping for.
One issue we're having is that the accuracy indicator when collecting features through the app shows the value for the internal GPS, rather than the external receiver we're using, so there's not currently an indication of how accurate the points plotted are. The UK distributor for Geneq tells me that Geneq are in the process of releasing an app which compares the accuracy of an external receiver with that of the internal receiver, and so flicking back and forth between the two apps might give more of an indication of accuracy. Having the external GPS receiver accuracy displayed through the app would be the ideal situation.
Gareth
timmerspk;374955
We just recently got a GLO unit in for testing. So far, it does seem to improve accuracy a bit, though I'm not certain it's markedly better than what an iPhone 5S provides. One positive is that is does have much a much quicker refresh rate than the phone's GPS, and it also, like any external GPS, can be put on a pole or hat to reduce satellite interference from trying to hold an integrated GPS such as a phone. Like I said, initial testing (walking some trails with and without the GLO active) seems to indicate that accuracy is improved, but we've not done any precise calculations to quantify those results.
Of course with iOS location data is largely obfuscated, so there's no way to see specifics from the unit such as satellite signal strength, PDOP, and other raw data. We don't have Android units for testing, which could uncover more of that info with specialized apps.
Another limitation of the unit is that is appears to be bluetooth-only. It has a USB cable, but only for charging. So using it as an old school USB connected GPS for an older laptop will not work. Not a big deal for an app like ArcGIS Collector, but still nice functionality to have for older hardware.
For $99 though if it even improves our accuracy by 25% I'd say it's worth it. As we continue testing the unit I'll post any updates if they are worth mentioning.
Dominick
tompgapro;372650
Can you provide your experience? I'm interested in it getting one (or a bunch) for my organization.
We had done some testing comparing a GLO on a known fixed locations using the collector application on a iphone 5c in an urban environment. The GLO was between 1-4 feet and iphone without the GLO was 2-10 feet. We have found the combination of a 7 inch tablet running collector in disconnected mode, and using the GLO, a very cheep way to collect high quality GPS points in the field.
We are about to get an SX Blue II demo. Very interested in this subject!
Kenan,
I was able to use a SX blue with great results. I could Bluetooth it to my android phone, and to an older Trimble Juno for use in ArcPad. I have a friend who uses it with a large Samsung device with collector, and he really is happy with it. Good luck to you. Craig
We did test Collector (iOS) with Bad Elf and it does work. We connected it using a 30-pin to Lightning adaptor, not Bluetooth, because we didn't have the BT version. I don't have one right now so I can't give you the setup steps.
BTW, we were testing the Bad Elf on a WiFi only iPad (which has no GPS chip) and the iPad was reporting 5m accuracy.
Awesome! What model did you use and what accuracy were you getting?
This guy works pretty easily - https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/oem/sensors-and-boards/glo-/prod109827.html
Only tested with iPad/iPhone with Collector
I agree with Anthony above, the Garmin GLO has been working a treat on our iPad minis with Collector 10.2.4.
Also tested with the Garmin Fenix 2 - works really well... Though need to try some long hikes in varying terrains/tree cover to see how it performs.
We've got 2 iSXBlue II units out in the field this summer - so far we've been seeing ~0.7m accuracy. Since it uses SBAS I was worried we would loose the correction signal when we got too far north (survey running up to the North Slope in Alaska) but so far no issues.
I have used the Garmin GLO clipped to the bill of my ball cap (clip sold separately) and it worked great with a disconnected Collector map.
Is anyone using Altus products?
Hi Craig,
We are having trouble connecting the iSXBlue II to our Trimble Juno. Do you have the pairing process documented?
Thanks, Jon
This document was generated from the following discussion: External Bluetooth GPS Receiver
