Does the Locus gather enough data for a solution faster than a PM2? If so how much faster does the Locus typically gather enough data for a solution than a PM2? And why is it faster? Curious...

Bob Manley

Bob,

You're comparing a Locus 8 channel receiver to a Promark 2 10 channel receiver. You would think, and occassionally has been my experience, that the PM2 would reach the data threshold first. Consider though you have to have a really good constellation in the sky to notice a difference in the 8 channel and 10 channel receivers. Not a common everyday luxury.

J.D.

The 8 channel vs 10 channel issue is why I could not understand why some people are saying that a Locus will get a solution faster...Maybe it just tells you it does sooner than the PM2 does...I was just wondering if there was anything to the idea that one was faster than the other...Thanks JD

Bob

I am of the understanding (perhaps mistaken) that the Locus receiver was able to reach that threshold first typically because it has the ephemeris data to know where to look for the satelites and thus the Locus gets off to a faster start.

PM2 also has ephemeris information stored, it just doesn't currently store a downloadable almanac (used for mission planning). For now, almanacs may be obtained from Ashtech's ftp site. The PM2's length-of-observation indicator has been changed from the one used in Locus to a more precise version.
Modified By Brian Ewing, PLS on 1/14/2002 at 12:36 PM