|
the GNSS engine
As additional Galileo
and BeiDou satellites come online, under-canopy performance
for matched base-rover pairs will be best if you can track every
available signal on all satellite
constellations. The iG8a receivers track every signal out of the
box. There are no additional options to purchase, there is no fine
print, you don't have to wait for a future firmware version, the iG8a
tracks and uses these signals today:
GPS: L1-C/A, L2E, L2C,
L5
SBAS: L1-C/A, L5
GLONASS: L1-C/A, L1P, L2-C/A, L3
Galileo: E1, E5-A, E5-B, E5-AltBOC
BeiDou: B1, B2
QZSS: L1-C/A, L1-SAIF, L2C, L5
Be careful comparing the
iG8a to other receivers
that claim to track 4 constellations (GPS+GLO+GAL+BDU) but only
track 3 constellations at once. Don't be fooled by receivers that
require expensive options to enable L2C, L5, Galileo and BeiDou
tracking. Don't consider purchasing devices that promise future
activation availability.
The iG8 receivers track and use everything out of the box--standard--today.
faster update rates
The iG8
Linux CPU core is really fast. Your SurvCE data collector update rate can
be 5 Hz, this makes for faster staking and easier navigation.
iG8's are nearly 10-times faster than some of the other receivers
that we sell! fully modeled GNSS
antenna
iG8 receivers have a fully
modeled [
Absolute Type Mean Robotic Antenna Calibration].
This results in better static occupations for OPUS and other
post-processed work flows.
high sensitivity UHF radio
The Satel 1-watt internal radios included in the
iG8 receivers have the highest sensitivity
and the best range of any UHF radio alternative. With the high-gain
end-fed dipole UHF antenna and the included antenna
extension cable and we routinely get 4 to 9 miles of coverage - in town
- in real-world situations.
Our
reasonably priced 35-watt high-powered repeater kit fills in
coverage holes for even longer distance operation. APIS, our free
online correction forwarding service will extend the range to
wherever internet data coverage is available.
static observation memory, easy
OPUS submittal
The iG8 includes
27-gigabytes of internal memory
for storing static observations. This is important if you are going
to post-process your base location using OPUS or other online
processing systems.
The
iGx Download tool (the same one used with the X90-OPUS, X900S-OPUS
and [ iG3s
] static receivers)
automates the submission process for OPUS, RTX, AusPos and IBGE is
included with every iG8 receiver we sell.
SurvCE
allows for [
time-tagging ] observations.
printed user manuals
We
include full color printed User Manuals that
simplify both RTK and Static use. Most configurations are shown with
step-by-step configurations that include details about why you are
making each selection. Hopefully anyone can follow the manual and
have a working RTK pair or network rover with no additional help.
The
complete User Manual is available here [
User Manual ].
batteries
Expectations of battery life for
various operation modes are detailed [
here ].
iG8's uses two standard sized Lithium-Ion battery
packs that are available both from iGage and from nearly every online
battery source. Checkout this link to [
Amazon ] for examples of reasonably priced, compatible
batteries.
We
supply 3,400 mAh cells, the highest capacity battery cells
available. We include a 4-bay charger so you can simultaneously charge a complete
set of 4 batteries for a Base - Rover pair.
Our
receivers don't use proprietary, hard to find batteries that cost
hundreds of dollars each.
financing
Our factory sponsored financing program is a great alternative to paying
cash. Approvals are quick and the process is easy [
iGage 10-24 Details
]. We may also offer discounts for other payment terms.
support - service
If this is your first RTK GNSS Receiver purchase or
you already have lots of GNSS experience, we know that the most
important
factor for a successful purchase is service and support.
Purchasing
iG8 RTK pairs is simple. The
kits include everything you need to get going. Ground shipping
is included for all USA destinations (including Alaska and Hawaii.)
iG8 kits are almost always available from stock and we can ship the same day
if you order before 2 pm.
If you
don't have poles and tripods, ask us for help finding the
accessories that best fit your operation.
Our
software tools include direct online support links so we can view
your screen and help you work through issues including operation and
firmware/software updates.
Checkout actual
feedback cards for our popular X90-OPUS and iG3 static receivers [
here
]. warranty
Perhaps best of all
iGage backs iG8a
receivers with a 1-year warranty. (Cables and accessories are 1-year; batteries are
90-days.) We service iG8as here in Salt Lake City
Utah. When you have problems, we typically provide loaner equipment
while your equipment is serviced.
why does iGage have such great
pricing on RTK and Static receivers?
Well, iGage
i-G
products have great performance, support and service too. We are
not providing equipment based on price alone. If you consider some eBay sales and gray market
sources, we don't
have the best prices in the USA.
However if support, service,
repairs, warranty fulfillment and finance options mean anything
to you, iGage will be very difficult to
beat. Our standard website [
pricing ] often is significantly less
than purchasing on eBay from an unknown source. Plus we
routinely run seasonal sales on RTK that are really great
deals--look for our advertisements in the survey trade
publications and online.
When comparing, ask:
Are the radios legal for use
as a transmitter in the USA? (Many new and used devices
offered for sale on
eBay have non-FCC-approved UHF radios and are illegal to import
and illegal to use in the USA.)
Does the device have a FCC
approval as an assembled device (not just the stand-alone
radio modules)?
Does the device have a
'Absolute Type Mean GNSS Antenna Calibration'? Many
receiver's offered for sale have relative calibrations,
calibrations that are not specific to the exact device or no
antenna calibrations at all.
How does the device perform
under moderate and heavy canopy? How does the device compare
when used as a network rover. See the tracking discussion
above.
Does the device have a 3.75G
cellular modem that is currently supported by USA GSM
carriers?
Does the device have a great
high-sensitivity UHF radio built in? You can't beat the
Satel radios that we use.
Are all of the
GNSS
tracking options enabled or do they cost extra? Beware of
receivers that promise future tracking or have the
ability to track all of the constellations, just not at the
same time.
Is it possible for the
receiver to fix with GLONASS only? Is it possible for the
receiver to fix with a mixture of GLONASS and Galileo SV's
today without purchasing additional options? The iG8 has Any-Mix-Fix.
(If the
receiver is advertised to support these additional signals in the
future, you need to understand that they have been available
and contributing to RTK solutions in other equipment for
years.) Of course the iG8 will do all of this, today, out of
the box.
If Galileo tracking & use is
not available today will the supplier warrant that support
will be available soon, what are the options if Galileo is
never functional?
How difficult is it to store
static observation data for a base? The iG8 always records
files and has enough internal memory to last for a
very-very-very long time. (27 Gigabytes.)
How difficult is it to get an
OPUS solution for Base observation data? The iGage iGx
Download tool (the same tool we provide with the iG3s
receiver) is legendary for it's simplicity and is included with the iG8
receivers. It is fully described in the [
User Manual
] and you can download a copy [
here ].
Is the device dependably
waterproof? Do the battery bay doors fully close and seal?
If the battery door leaks, is the battery compartment sealed from the
device electronics? The iG8 is water-resistant with the
battery door open! And the battery door closes and latches completely
and dependably.
The iG8 is IP68 rated!
Are the characters on the
display easy to read? The iG8 has large, bright, easy to read
alphanumeric characters.
One or two year warranty? What is the repair process? Do
you need to return to device to a China
or Hong Kong address for service? The iG8 repair facility is in Salt Lake
City Utah.
Will the supplier provide you
with a loaner while your device is being serviced?
Is there a defined
pre-purchase evaluation
process? Check out the iGage process [
iGage Equipment Evaluation Agreement
]. What is the return policy? Is
it in writing?
Can you purchase spare parts
like cables, display windows, chargers, wall transformers and cases?
What is the price of spare
batteries? Are they available from 3rd party sellers (like
Amazon)?
Can you easily determine the address of the supplier? Are
they a real company or just the brother-in-law of a offshore
supplier who is leaking gray-market equipment into the USA?
(See eBay for examples.)
Does the company have a business license (are they real) or
just a website?
What options are available for factory
finance? iGage has great financing options [
iGage 10-24
] fully supported by the factory (us).
Does the User Manual include detailed setup and
troubleshooting information? Are you confident that you can
get the receiver running with the User Manual alone? Can you
call for support?
Our
pricing is good because we design and specify the receivers we sell under
the
i-G
brand (currently the iG3s and iG8.) We have complete control
over the sourcing, supply and distribution. There are no
middlemen. Our model is efficient with static receivers (the
X90-OPUS, X900S-OPUS and iG3s) and it scales to RTK.
iGage won't always have the best price for RTK equipment.
However we will have a great offering when you include the value
of dealing with a real company that has been providing service
and support for decades.
|
RTK GNSS
why purchase an
iG8 RTK receiver from iGage?
