Leica VIVA GS10 - Frequently Asked Questions

I need to leave a GS10 receiver out on a long deployment, can I use solar power?

Yes, the GEF have a number of solar panels and regulators suitable for powering the GS10 receiver. You will need to provide a suitable 12V lead-acid battery for the panels to charge. The GEF panels are 24W nominal output and up to three of them may be connected to our solar regulator.

Is the GS10 waterproof?

Yes, it is waterproof to IP68 standards and can withstand temporary immersion to 1.4m. It is also sand and dustproof.

How long do the batteries last and how much data fits on the card?

See the specifications page.

What is the range of the radios for RTK?

Line of sight is essential to get the maximum range from the radios. It is possible to get up to approximately 10km range under ideal conditions, but this is heavily influenced by any obstructions (trees, hills, buildings etc.) and may drop to only 1 or 2km in urban environments.

Should I refer to these systems as "dGPS" in my scientific report?

No, the term "dGPS" has a specific meaning when it comes to the processing of the raw data. "dGPS" uses only the "code" data from the GPS signal (for further information see this tutorial from Trimble), allowing sub-meter measurement accuracy. The instruments supplied by the GEF make use of carrier phase data from the GPS signal which allows measurement to centimetre level and is known as "relative" positioning.

The correct way to refer to the use of these instruments in your report would be "relative carrier phase positioning".