User's Manual

SPSx80 Smart GPS Antenna User Guide 35
Setup Guidelines 4
• Make sure that the rover receiver does not lose power. An SPSx50 is typically
powered by its internal battery. You cannot change the battery, but the charge
typically lasts for longer than a working day. The batteries in the SPSx80 can be
changed when flat. (See Chapter 3, Batteries and Power).
If you do not use the
rover receiver very often, ensure that it is charged at least every three months.
For vehicle operation or marine vessel operation, Trimble recommends that you
use an external power source so that the internal battery can be saved for times
when the receiver is being used off the vehicle or vessel.
• Do not locate the receiver or antenna within 400 meters (1312 ft) of powerful
radar, television, cellular communications tower, or other transmitters or GPS
antennas. Low-power transmitters, such as those in cellular phones and
two-way radios, normally do not interfere with receiver operations. Cellular
towers can interfere with the radio and can interfere with GPS signals entering
the receiver. High-power signals from a nearby radio or radar transmitter can
overwhelm the receiver circuits. This does not harm the receiver, but it can
prevent the receiver electronics from functioning correctly.
• Do not use the rover receiver directly beneath or close to overhead power lines
or electrical generation facilities. The electromagnetic fields associated with
these utilities can interfere with GPS receiver operation. Other sources of
electromagnetic interference include:
– gasoline engines (spark plugs)
– televisions and computer monitors
– alternators and generators
– electric motors
–equipment with DC-to-AC converters
– fluorescent lights
– switching power supplies
• Trimble recommends that, wherever possible, all GPS receiver equipment is
protected from rain or water. Although, the receivers are designed to withstand
all wet weather conditions, keeping the receivers dry prolongs the life of the
equipment and reduces the effects of corrosion on ports and connectors. If the
equipment gets wet, use a clean dry cloth to dry the equipment, and then leave
the equipment open to the air to dry. Do not lock wet equipment in a transport
case for prolonged periods. Wherever possible, avoid exposing the GPS receiver
to corrosive liquids and salt water.
• If you are using the rover receiver in open spaces, Trimble recommends that you
stop work during electrical storms where the risk of lightning strike is high.
• Where cables are involved, Trimble recommends that you use cable ties to
secure the cables to the rod or other equipment to avoid inadvertent snagging
while moving about the jobsite. Be careful not to kink, twist, or unnecessarily
extend cables, and avoid trapping them in vehicle doors or windows. Damage to
cables can reduce the performance of GPS equipment.