Mixing Low-Cost GPS Receiver With Standard Surveying Receiver

Abstract

A GPS survey generally uses two or more GPS receivers. The normal trend is to use the same brand of receivers (or vendor) for data collections which will then processed through software supplied by the same vendor. Mixing different receivers, although theoretically possible through RINEX data formatting, are still not without problems. Even if it is to be done, normally the same 'standard' of receivers will be used. Mixing low-cost GPS receivers with standard surveying one will posed a more delicate challenge. Nevertheless, the economic potential of doing this exercise is great, for one, the use of low-cost receivers will enable cheaper expansion of receiver fleet within an organisation. At the moment, this exercise is only intended for the medium or intermediate accuracy type of applications. This paper discusses the technicality involved in this exercise, and results from an ASHTECH-ASHTECH and a NovAtel-ASHTECH 4 km baseline is analysed and presented.