Leica GPS System 500 User manual

Version 2.0
English
50403020
Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys
GPS System 500

2Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Congratulations on your purchase of a
new Leica System GPS500.
System GPS500

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Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Contents
Contents
Introduction to this book .............................................. 5
Centimeter-accuracy RTK ............................................................... 5
30cm-accuracy code only or DGPS with RTCM............................ 5
The equipment ............................................................. 6
Real-time reference......................................................................... 6
Real-time rover ................................................................................ 7
Real-time rover with mini-pack ..................................................... 7
Real-time rover all-on-the-pole ..................................................... 8
Getting to know the terminal ...................................... 9
Keyboard and display ..................................................................... 9
Status icons ................................................................................... 10
List boxes ...................................................................................... 11
Configuration - setting the receiver for the radio
modem .........................................................................12
Preparing for exercises ..............................................13
Prepare an exercise field ............................................................. 13
Preparing the equipment ............................................................... 13
Formatting PCMCIA cards ........................................................... 13
Setting time zone and initial position ........................................... 13
Setting the units for the display .................................................. 14
Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84 .............15
Starting the real-time reference .................................................... 15
Introduction to surveying with the real-time rover ...................... 17
Introduction to stake out with the real-time rover ....................... 20
Summary of exercise 1 ................................................................. 23
Exercise 2  Real-time surveying in local coordinates
......................................................................................24
Real-time surveying in local coordinates ..................................... 24
Local coordinates of exercise field ............................................. 24
Fast access in menus and list boxes .......................................... 24
Starting the real-time reference .................................................... 25
Entering the local coordinates into the real-time rover ............... 26
Measuring control points with the real-time rover and computing
transformation parameters ........................................................... 27
Measuring the control points ...................................................... 27
Computing transformation parameters between WGS84 and local
coordinates ................................................................................. 27
Surveying in local coordinates ..................................................... 29
To see the active coordinate system .......................................... 29
Surveying new points ................................................................ 30
Staking out from local coordinates ............................................... 32
Summary of exercise 2 ................................................................. 33

4Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Contents
System 500 operating system....................................34
Introduction .................................................................................... 34
Main Menu ...................................................................................... 34
Configuration sets ......................................................................... 36
Exercise 3 - Create a new configuration set to use when
browsing through panels ........................................................... 36
Main Menu > 6 Configure ........................................................... 37
The CONFIG key ......................................................................... 37
Standard and Advanced Operation Mode................................... 39
The difference between Main Menu > 6 Configure and the
CONFIG key ................................................................................ 39
To make temporary changes to a configuration set using the
CONFIG key ................................................................................ 39
To store changes made to a configuration set using the CONFIG
key .............................................................................................. 40
User-definable hot keys ................................................................ 40
Summary of System 500 operating system ................................. 41
Transferring coordinates from the PC to the receiver
......................................................................................42
Transferring coordinates from SKI-Pro to the card .................... 42
Exercise 4 - Transferring coordinates directly from the PC to the
card ................................................................................................ 42
On the PC .................................................................................... 42
On the receiver - Example for stake out ................................... 43
Stake out from ASCII file .............................................................. 44

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Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Introduction to this book
Introduction to this book
This book is designed to help the System 500
user to get started quickly with real-time GPS
surveying. It is also a general guide to
centimetre-accuracy real-time surveying and
to sub-meter DGPS surveys.
The book contains several exercises. By
carrying out these exercises you will learn the
most important aspects of real time with
System 500 easily and quickly.
Once you can work confidently with real time,
you will find that you will be able to explore
the more advanced features of the system by
yourself and to study the Technical Reference
Manual for full details.
Centimeter-accuracy RTK
This book is written primarily for centimeter-
accuracy RTK with the Leica SR530 receiver.
For centimeter accuracies, carrier-phase
measurements are used and ambiguities
must be resolved.
30cm-accuracy code only or DGPS with
RTCM
This book can also be used as a guide to
sub-meter work using code-only real-time
surveying or DGPS with RTCM code
corrections. Positional accuracies as high as
30cm rms are achievable. In order to work
with code-only real-time surveying or DGPS
with RTCM, certain settings have to be
changed at the reference and/or rover. Once
the required settings are made, operation is
essentially the same as for centimeter-
accuracy real time.
·The SR530 can be used for code-only
real-time surveying and for DGPS with
RTCM.
·The SR520 and SR510 receivers require
the DGPS/RTCM option.

6Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
The equipment
The equipment
This book assumes that you have two sets
of equipment, one for a real-time reference
and one for a real-time rover. Setting up the
equipment is easy. If necessary refer to
section 2 of the Technical Reference Manual
and/or to the Equipment List.
Charge the batteries.
Real-time reference
Set up the real-time reference on a tripod as
shown in the diagram.
1. GPS antenna
2. Carrier
3. Tribrach
4. GPS receiver
5. Terminal
6. Cable to GPS antenna
7. Tripod
8. Radio antenna
9. Arm for radio antenna
10. Cable to radio antenna
11. Height hook
12. Radio modem in housing
13. PCMCIA flash card
14. Two plug-in batteries
15. Container

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Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Real-time rover
The equipment
Set up the real-time rover either using the
mini-pack or all-on-the-pole.
Real-time rover with mini-pack
Set up the real-time rover with mini-pack as
shown in the diagram.
1. GPS antenna
2. Pole upper part
3. Grip for pole
4. Holder for terminal
5. Pole lower part
6. 1.2m cable to GPS antenna
7. 1.6m extension cable
8. Terminal
9. Plug-in batteries
10. GPS receiver
11. Radio modem in housing
12. PCMCIA flash card
13. Cable receiver to terminal
14. 1.2m cable to radio antenna
15. Radio antenna
16. 3cm arm for radio antenna
17. Telescopic rod
18. Mini-pack

8Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Real-time rover all-on-the-pole
2. The equipment
Set up the real-time rover all-on-the-pole as
shown in the diagram.
1. GPS antenna
2. Pole upper part
3. Grip for pole
4. Holder for GPS receiver
5. Pole lower part
6. Radio antenna
7. Arm for radio antenna
8. 1.2m cable to radio antenna
9. Plug-in batteries
10. Terminal
11. GPS receiver
12. Radio modem in housing
13. PCMCIA flash card
14. 1.2m cable to GPS antenna

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Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Note the following:
·F1 to F6 are softkeys
·SHIFT + F1 = HELP
·SHIFT + F6 exits to main menu
·ESC steps back one screen
·CE clears last character entered
·ENTER confirms an entry
·STATUS accesses the status menu
Note the following although you will not need them initially:
·CONFIG allows you to change configurations
·F7 to F10 are user definable keys
·Additional softkeys arrow:
Arrow in bottom right-hand corner of display indicates that additional
softkey options are available. Touch SHIFT to view additional softkey
options. Touch SHIFT again to revert to original softkey options.
·Use up and down arrows to scroll through menus and list boxes to
required item.
Getting to know the terminal
Getting to know the terminal
Touch F4 HIDE/SHOW to hide and recall main-menu selections
4 to 7.
This section provides a short introduction to the terminal. For full
details see section 4 of the Technical Reference Manual.
Keyboard and display
Plug the terminal and two charged batteries into the receiver. Insert a
PCMCIA card into the slot in the receiver and close the door.
Switch ON. The Main Menu appears.

10 Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Getting to know the terminal
Status icons
Accuracy Status
High Precision Navigation (cm level)
Precision Navigation (0.5 - 5m level)
Navigation (<100m)
Position Mode
Static - the GPS Antenna should be
held stationary.
Moving - The GPS Antenna may
move.
Radio Status
Radio Transmitting (blinks)
Radio Receiving (blinks)
Memory Status
Internal Memory selected
PC-Card selected
Safe to remove PC-Card
Memory level Indicator. Has 12 levels
between:
Memory Empty and
Memory Full
Observation Recording Status
The Receiver is recording raw GPS
observations in Stationary mode. The
Receiver should be held stationary.
The Receiver is recording raw GPS
observations in Moving mode. The
Receiver may move.
Auto Position Recording Status
Positions are being recorded
according to distance.
Positions are being recorded
according to time.
Battery Status
Battery Voltage OK
Battery supplying 2/3 peak voltage
Battery supplying 1/3 peak voltage
Battery empty
Accuracy Status
Position Mode
No. visible
Satellites
No. Sattelites
used on L1/L2
Radio Status
GSM Status
Memory Status
Auto Position
Log. Status
Observation
Log. Status
Local Time
Battery Status

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Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
List boxes
When using the terminal you will find two types of list boxes, full-
screen list boxes and drop-down list boxes.
Full-screen list boxes
Use the up and down arrow keys to highlight your selection then press
ENTER. A scroll bar at the right of the display indicates that there are
more lines (selections) than fit on the screen. Scroll with the up and
down arrow keys.
Getting to know the terminal
Drop-down list boxes
A small arrow at the right of an input field indicates that there is a
drop-down list box. Press ENTER to access the list box. Use the
arrow keys to highlight your selection then press ENTER.

12 Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Your receiver will have been delivered with a radio modem. Your
Leica representative should have defined two CONFIGURATION
SETS, one for a real-time reference and one for a real-time rover.
Assume that these are called:
·MY-R-REF My real-time reference
·MY-R-ROV My real-time rover
To see the configuration sets defined in your receiver:
ON > Main Menu
Press the CONFIG key
Press CONF F5
Panel CONFIG SET\ lists the configuration sets in receiver
Press ESC to return one panel
Press ESC to return to Main Menu
Switch OFF
Only view the list of configuration sets. Please do not carry out any
manipulations on configuration sets at this stage.
Configuration - setting the receiver for the radio modem
MY-R-REF should be a copy of the factory-default configuration
RT_REF but modified to make your SR530 operate with your radio
modem as a real-time reference in standard mode.
MY-R-ROV should be a copy of the factory-default configuration
RT_ROV but modified to make your SR530 operate with your radio
modem as a real-time rover in standard mode.
If your representative has not defined the required configuration sets
for a real-time reference and real-time rover for your radio modem,
ask him to do so.
Otherwise, you will have to define the two configuration sets
yourself as explained sections 5.3 and 5.4 of the Technical
Reference Manual. The configuration sets should be defined before
you use real time and continue further with this book.
Configuration - setting the receiver for the radio modem

13
Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Preparing for exercises
Setting time zone and initial position
Preparing the equipment
Formatting PCMCIA cards
Plug two fully-charged batteries into each receiver. Insert a PCMCIA
card into the PCMCIA slot of each receiver and close the door. When
starting with the equipment it is easiest if there is no data on the
cards.
Format the cards as follows:
ON > Main Menu
4 Utilities
CONT F1
Panel UTILITIES\ Menu
2 Format Memory Module
CONT F1
Panel UTILITIES\ Format Memory Module
Device: PC-Card Quick format: YES
CONT F1 > Main Menu
Card is formatted. Switch OFF.
Preparing for exercises
REF 1 2 3
45 6
78 9
Prepare an exercise field
Select a small, open area such as a parking lot, sports field, park or
flat roof. Mark ten points. Call them REF and 1, 2, 3  to 9. The
points need not be more than about 10m apart.
When you receive the receiver it should have the correct GPS date
and time. You have to input the time zone so that it displays local date
and time.
Setting the time zone
ON > Main Menu
Press the CONFIG key
3 General
CONT F1
4 Time and Initial Position
CONT F1
Panel CONFIGURE\ Time & Initial Pos
Scroll to Time Zone. Press ENTER to open box. Scroll to select time
zone, e.g -3. Press ENTER.
CONT F1 > Main Menu
Time zone is set. Switch OFF.

14 Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Initial position: using the receiver for the first time
The receiver always stores its last position as an initial position. The
initial position helps the receiver to acquire satellites very quickly.
If you move a very long distance (1000km or more) to another
location, the initial position will be wrong and the receiver may take
longer to acquire satellites and calculate a new position. If the initial
position is totally wrong (other side of world) it may need up to about 5
minutes.
When you use the receiver for the very first time, remember that it
may have a wrong initial position (possibly Switzerland) and that you
may have to wait for a few minutes for it to acquire satellites.
Setting the units for the display
You can determine in which units information is displayed.
To set the units
ON > Main Menu
Press the CONFIG key.
3 General
CONT F1
1 Units
CONT F1
Panel CONFIGURE \ Units
Toggle with up and down arrows
Set required units. Example:
Angle: Press ENTER to open box.
Select 360o   . Press ENTER.
Press ANGLE F6
Panel CONFIGURE \ Angle Formats
Direction Ref: Press ENTER to open box.
Select North Azimuth. Press ENTER.
Direction Base: Press ENTER to open box.
Select True. Press ENTER.
CONT F1
Panel CONFIGURE \ Units
CONT F1 > Main Menu
5. Preparing for exercises

15
Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84
Set up the real-time reference at point REF as shown in section
"Real-time reference".
Centre and level up.
Switch ON > Main Menu
Select 1 Survey
Press CONT F1
Panel SURVEY\Begin
Config set: Press ENTER to open list box.
Select config set "MY-R-REF". Press ENTER.
Job: Press ENTER to open list box.
Select job "Default". Press ENTER.
Coord sys: "WGS84 Geodetic", cannot change.
Antenna: "AT502 Tripod". Correct, do not change.
Press CONT F1.
Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84
Panel SURVEY\Default (default is job)
You now have to input point id, antenna height and coordinates. Do
this in the following order:
Ant. Height: Input height hook reading, e.g. 1.335. ENTER.
Lat, Lon, EHgt: Press HERE F4. Last navigation position coordinates
are accepted.
Point Id: Type in REF. Press ENTER.
Press STORE F1.
Press CONT F1.
You have now started the real-time reference. The panel shows:
Navigation position icon
Static mode icon
Number of satellites tracked
Radio-transmitting arrow, blinking
Point Id: REF
Ant Height: 1.335m
Static Obs: 0 (not recording)
GDOP: Will usually be <5
Starting the real-time reference

16 Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84
The real-time reference will continue transmitting until you press
STOP. However, as you want to work with the real-time reference,
please do NOT press STOP now!
Note on antenna height
In panel SURVEY\Begin the antenna is defined as AT502 on Tripod.
You have only to input the height hook reading, e.g. 1.335m. The
vertical offset 0.360m from the white line of the height hook to the
mechanical reference plane (bottom of antenna mount) will be added
automatically. Thus the total height of the antenna above the ground
will be 1.335 + 0.360 = 1.695m. For more details see section 2.11 of
the Technical Reference Manual.
The STATUS key
Press the STATUS key to explore the status panels while the
reference is transmitting. The status panels provide information only.
You can look through them without affecting the real-time reference.
Press the STATUS key.
Toggle with the up and down arrows.
Use CONT F1 to continue.
Use ESC to step back one panel.
Use SHIFT + F6 to return to the SURVEY\Default panel.
STATUS panels
1 Survey
1 Real Time: information on real-time output.
2 Stop & Go Indicator: not required for real-time reference. For
rover and rapid static.
3 Position: navigation position.
4 Logging: you are not logging data.
5 Satellite: satellite status, note SKY plot.
2 Logs
1 Point Log: Information on points.
2 Code Log: you are not using codes.
3 Message Log: list of messages.
3 General
1 Memory/Battery: memory and battery status.
2 Sensor: information on receiver.
3 Software Version: information on firmware.
4 Interfaces
Lists all interfaces and devices.
The CONFIG key
Do not use at this stage!
Configuration sets can be changed via the CONFIG key. Configuration
set MY-R-REF is set to make your SR530 operate with your radio
modem as a real-time reference. Do not change it.
Removing the terminal
You can remove the terminal and attach it again while the receiver is
operating. You do not need to switch off and on.
The real-time reference is transmitting. If you have only one terminal,
remove it from the reference for use with the rover. The SR530 will
continue to operate and transmit as a real-time reference.

17
Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84
Panel SURVEY\Begin
Config set: Press ENTER to open list box.
Select config set "MY-R-ROV". Press ENTER.
Job: Press ENTER to open list box.
Select job "JOB 1". Press ENTER.
Coord sys: "WGS84 Geodetic", cannot change.
Antenna: "AT502 Pole". Correct, do not change.
CONT F1
You are now in panel SURVEY \ JOB 1. You have started the real-
time rover. The antenna height is set automatically to 2.000m.
The panel shows:
Number of satellites Radio receiving arrow, blinks Moving mode icon
Wait for a minute or so. The position mode icon will change from:
Navigation to Precise Navigation to High Precision
Introduction to surveying with the real-time rover
®®
Set up the real-time rover as shown in section "Real-time rover". Hold
the pole in your hand.
Switch ON > Main Menu
Select 5 Job
CONT F1
Panel JOB \ PC-Card lists jobs
Press NEW F2 for new job
Panel JOB \ New Job
Name: input name "JOB 1". Press ENTER
(Ignore Description and Creator)
CONT F1 (JOB 1 now in list)
CONT F1 > Main Menu
You have created a new job.
Main Menu
Select 1 Survey
CONT F1

18 Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84
When the high precision icon appears, the coordinate Quality should
be between 0.01 and 0.05m. You can now start centimeter-accuracy
real-time surveying. Proceed as follows:
Hold pole steady on point 1:
Panel SURVEY \ JOB 1
Point Id: Input 1. ENTER
Press OCUPY F1
Wait for about 5 seconds
STOP F1
STORE F1
You have recorded real-time WGS coordinates of point 1.
Hold pole steady on point 2:
Point Id: Input 2. ENTER
OCUPY F1
Wait for about 5 seconds
STOP F1
STORE F1
Measure the other points 3, 4,  to 9 in the same way.
Note the sequence at each point:
·Input Point Identifier
·OCUPY > STOP > STORE
Number of positions between OCUPY and STOP is shown .
When you press OCUPY the icon changes to "static".
You should hold the pole steady on the point.
When you press STOP the icon changes to "moving".
You can move.
As the position update rate is set to 1 second in configuration set
MY-R-ROV, you must stay on a point for at least 1 second between
OCUPY and STOP. If you stay longer on a point, the result (recorded
coordinates) will be the mean of all real-time positions between
OCUPY and STOP.
Now measure points 1, 2, 3, 4 again
Use exactly the same point identifiers: 1, 2, 3, 4.
After measuring a point twice, the message "2 measurements on
point" appears.This shows that the two results agree to within set
threshold values (0.05m in position and 0.07m in height in
configuration set MY-R-ROV).
Take a third measurement to point 4 but place the pole about 20cm
from the point. A box "MANAGE \ Average" appears showing the
three results, e.g.
Two measurements are flagged Y = use. One measurement is flagged
N = do not use. (You can override with USE F5). Press CONT F1 to
accept the two Y measurements. The N measurement is not
accepted.
Summary: if you measure a point two or more times the system will
check that the results agree. Average coordinates are calculated.
Time Date DPos Dheight Use
14:26 03.01 0.203 -0.008 N *
14:20 03.01 0.008 -0.007 Y
14:10 03.01 0.008 +0.007 Y

19
Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84
Note on Quality
The CQ Coordinate Quality of the position is displayed, e.g. 0.02m.
On pressing STORE, the coordinates are recorded provided that the
Quality value does not exceed a set threshold (0.05m in configuration
set MY-R-ROV).
If the Quality exceeds the threshold value a warning message is
displayed. You are given the option to store or not to store.
To change the threshold values
Press key CONFIG.
1 Survey
CONT F1
6 Point
CONT F1
Panel CONFIGURE \ Point
1 Threshold Settings
CONT F1
Panel CONFIGURE \ Threshold Settings
You could now change the threshold settings.
But do NOT do so at this stage.
The values set are suitable for learning the system.
CONT F1
Note on the CONFIG key
Configuration sets can be changed via the CONFIG key. Configuration
set MY-R-ROV is set to make your SR530 operate with your radio
modem as a real-time rover. Do not change change settings via the
CONFIG key at this stage.
Note on antenna height
In panel SURVEY\Begin the antenna is defined as AT502 on Pole.
The antenna height is set automatically to the correct height of
2.000m. For details see section 2.11, Technical Reference Manual.
Hidden features
Press the SHIFT key.
Press GRAPH F3.
Plot of measured points recorded in JOB 1.
Try the other keys.
Press ESC to return to panel SURVEY \ JOB 1.

20 Getting Started with Real-Time Surveys-2.0.0en
Exercise 1 - Real-time surveying in WGS84
The real-time reference should continue to operate. In section
"Introduction to surveying with the real-time rover" you surveyed with
the real-time rover. Now try to stake out.
ON > Main Menu
Select 5 Job
CONT F1
NEW F2 for new job
Create new job JOB 2. ENTER
CONT F1
CONT F1 > Main Menu
Main Menu
Select 2 Stake-Out
CONT F1
Introduction to stake out with the real-time rover
Look at the STATUS panels
1 Survey
1 Real Time: real-time input and rover status.
2 Stop & Go Indicator: not used.
3 Position: real-time position.
4 Logging: number of points occupied (positions recorded)
5 Satellite: satellite status
2 Logs  look at the point log
1 Point Log
CONT F1
Panel STATUS \ Point Log
List of measured points, scroll through.
Press INFO F5
Shows time, coordinate source, CQ quality, class.
MEAS = 1 measurement. AVRG = averaged.
CONT F1 > return to SURVEY panel
Return to Main Menu
SHIFT + F6 to return to Main Menu
Switch OFF Panel STAKE-OUT \ Begin
Config Set: Press ENTER to open box.
Select MY-R-ROV. Press ENTER.
Stake Pts: Press ENTER to open box.
Select job JOB 1. Press ENTER.
Store Pts: Press ENTER to open box.
Select job JOB 2. Press ENTER.
Stake Type: Press ENTER to open box.
Select Point. Press ENTER.
Antenna: AT502 Pole
Ant Height: 2.000m
CONT F1