Garmin GLO2 works with Survey123 but not Field Maps on same device

Question

Hello. I have Garmin GLO2 external GPS receiver (two of them, actually). I've tried them on two iOS devices my personal iPhone 8 (iOS 16.77) and my work iPad (iPadOS 16.6)

The receiver works fine in Survey123 on both devices, both receivers. I typically get better displayed accuracy than the iPhone's onboard receiver. However, Field maps gives me an error on both devices with both receivers:

"Garmin #xyzxyzx is not sending accuracy information. Location accuracy of your current receiver will be estimated"

It shows typically 10m-ish "accuracy".  Same time and place, Survey123 sees 1-3 meters w/Garmins. Stock iPhone/iPad is 5-6m.

I've run the webupdater and updated the firmware on the Garmin devices. This looks to be a Field Maps issue since the receivers work fine in Survey123 and I have no Bluetooth connectivity issues with either device.

Am I missing a setting somewhere? I've googled this and I think I am the only one on the planet with this issue. TIA.

necurri_VC_SSO · Answer

So, I just tried using Field Maps with the Garmin unit today and magically... I'm getting the GPS error info now. I'm glad it's working now, but I wish I knew why. Since I was getting GPS error information in Survey 123 and not Field Maps, I don't see how it's an issue with the Garmin. I did not update the firmware on the device or change anything. It didn't work three weeks ago. It works now.

Y_Chau · Answer

Does GLO output Field Maps compatible NMEA sentences. You can see the list here.

If you see the note below this NMEA list, it says -

"The internal GPS of some Android devices outputs NMEA. If a device outputs invalid NMEA, Field Maps uses the accuracy reported by the device's location service."

Sincerely

necurri_VC_SSO · Answer

I'm having the same issue with my Garmin GLO 2 in Field Maps. I was getting this information and recording it in a Field Maps survey a few months ago. But I recently took it out again for some testing and now I'm getting the same error. However, and perhaps crucially -- before I took the iPad and GLO 2 out for some testing again this time, I updated iOS on the iPad. It was after that when I started having this issue.

I am also finding that Survey 123 is receiving accuracy information from the GLO 2, but on the iPad and my iPhone. I have 3 other iPads of the same model and the behavior is consistent on them as well. See attached screenshots/photos. I have an open support case on this with Esri. Will report back what I find out.

iPhone_Field_Maps.PNG

iPhone_Survey123.PNG

iPad_Field_Maps.jpg

iPad_Survey123.jpg