… found another tool that I wished for.
Got myself an Emlid RS2 so now I can set out GCP’s and measure other stuff without using my employers tools.
Compared to my gnss receiver at work with a price tag of €15000 it’s actually on par with it if we talk accuracy and the RS2 is just €2000!
I like to be self sufficient so that’s why I got my own gnss instead of just using the one at work.
Love it! That is super fun. I wonder how long “professional” GPS units will hold the line at those prices. The lower cost units have definitely stepped up the game.
Hi Andreas,
How is the Elmlid RS2 working so far?
It works well
Not sure if this deserves another thread, but I have wondered how the typical prosumer ODM user with a ~$1k drone would properly set out GCPs, and whether that would mean buying a nice piece of gear like yours or some other method. High Accuracy Ground Control Points with GCP as a Service looks like the best balance between quality, ease-of-use, and cost but I honestly don’t know. Thoughts?
If you know you’re going to do it often then get an Emlid. You do need some knowledge about coordinate systems and gnss in general.
I’m thinking about the less expensive Reach M2 for GCP geolocation.
If you can get an RTK service than RS2 is the best choice in my experience, only 16 years as a surveyor. 
Multiband is best, gives faster fix and is less sensitive to obstruction of the sky and it can have a long baseline.
Indeed it is, especially in less than ideal locations with trees and buildings in the vicinity.
The M2 is a multiband receiver, but you need to purchase an antenna and buy or make up a pole or other mounting arrangement.
I think M2 is better for mobile applications like on a drone or car. The RS2 can take some beating and it can happen. My Trimble R12i at work has taken some beating because me walking under low hanging things.
Got an RS2, pole and phone holder (RAM mount). Got a field collector under way and going to purchase Surpad 4.2.
Being self sufficient is a life goal.
I would like a lidar drone but that a bit expensive
I’ve been using a Trimble TSC5 for GCP’s (For my company, I don’t have the money to own one personally!) and have been wanting to get my own unit as well. I stumbled across the Polaris GNSS unit while l’ve been looking. Has anybody seen/heard of this before? Or even bought one? It’s peaked my interest.
TSC5 is a field collector not a gnss receiver.
Sorry… I meant to say my TSC5/SPS986 Combo. I always just refer to it as the TSC5 at work because we have them in dedicated kits/groups…
Ah, okay.