ArcPad 10 Settings

[AndrewShafer]

If I am planning on using ArcPad 10 and want good accuracy without needing to do any post processing, what should I set my GPS preferences too?

[BrettBlack1]

ArcPad is only receiving NMEA (or similar format) data, so beyond point averaging and your datum, you are not increasing accuracy of the data being collected by adjusting settings. The hardware that ArcPad is being deployed on will provide the accuracy. What type of unit are you using? Is it only using SBAS for corrections or do you have access to a real-time network to increase accuracy?

Answers to these questions will help provide additional information.

[AndrewShafer]

The unit we have is the Trimble GeoXT 2005 Series. (The terrasync program is what the company was using, and I was thinking about switching over to ArcPad.  The previous GIS person never did any post processing, and I just wanted to make sure that the ArcPad/GeoXT were going to be as accurate without having to spend the extra couple thousand dollars for the GPScorrect and GPS Analyst extension.)

The GPS preferences on the unit are as follows...
GPS TAB:
Protocol: NMEA 0183 or SiRF
Port : COM2:NEMA Serial Port
COM3 : TSIP Serial Port
COM4 : DGPS Serial Port
Baud Rate: 110 up to 256000

QUALITY TAB:
DGPS Only, RTK Float or Fixed, RTK Fixed, PPS Only

DATUM:
D_WGS_1984

Let me know if you need any other information.

Thanks.

[BrettBlack1]

The GeoXT is capable of real-time sub-meter accuracy when receiving SBAS corrections and real-time sub-foot accuracy if receiving differential corrections from a real-time network.

You datumr will depend on which correction source you are using (ITRF 2000 if using SBAS, if using a network then the datum will depend on what the network is providing). This may also take some adjustments to the projection file of your data in ArcGIS.

Your protocol would probably be NMEA 0183, then port 2, but you should be able to consult the reference manual to be sure.

I would make certain you are only storing DGPS Only, this would insure you are at sub-meter accuracy if using SBAS.