Trimble Australia  announces the introduction of the new ultra-rugged Trimble SPS985 GNSS smart antennas designed to perform high accuracy construction site measurements in heavy civil construction projects.  

Made of a specially developed alloy that combines strength and durability in a compact form, the GNSS smart antennas can withstand the daily abuse of construction work.  

Its enhanced internal shock isolation allows the SPS985 to be used in high-vibration applications on all-terrain vehicles (ATV) or supervisor trucks. Trimble’s GNSS smart antennas incorporate a quick release connector and smartphone configuration for easy deployment and use as a base station or rover, mounted on a range pole or truck roof. Advanced communications including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and optional wideband radio integrate the receiver into the connected construction site.  

Being an industry-leader in GNSS grade control systems that can withstand machine vibration and harsh construction conditions, Trimble continues to push the envelope of rugged and functional housing design. The new SPS985 leverages Trimble’s engineering innovation and extensive field-testing for machine control to apply the same toughness and usability standards for an off-machine GNSS receiver.  

According to Chuck Maniscalco, director of engineering for Trimble, the Trimble SPS985 was engineered to be the toughest, smallest and easiest to use GNSS receiver built by the company. The GNSS receivers were designed based on customer feedback with the housing 50% stronger than any previous Trimble antenna to ensure they performed ideally under extreme conditions.  

The SPS985 allows for maximum flexibility for use when used as a rover on a wide variety of site measurement tasks. It can be deployed with satellite-delivered GNSS corrections without a base station for initial site reconnaissance. Higher accuracy site measurements are enabled through Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections received via the internal wideband radio, Wi-Fi or the Internet.  

Trimble SPS985 smart antennas can be easily moved from carrying case to range pole, tripod, T-bar or vehicle with a single click, allowing work to begin faster with more flexibility in operation techniques.  

Key features of Trimble SPS985 GNSS smart antennas:  

  • Incorporates Wi-Fi communications for small site projects
  • Optional wideband radio available for long-range operations on large projects
  • Automatically establishes a radio or Wi-Fi connection and transmits RTK corrections to another rover or machine control system
  • Allows construction crews to spend more time working and less time setting up and maintaining the equipment
  • Offers connectivity features that save administrative time and increase productivity as part of Trimble Connected Site solutions
  • When used with a Connected Controller, job crews can connect to a mobile hotspot in the site trailer or supervisor’s truck and receive GNSS corrections via VRS network or Trimble Internet Base Station (IBSS)
  • Wirelessly synchronises progress data to the job supervisor or head office and receives updated design information back at the job site
  • Quick start technology and ability to setup and configure the receiver using a smartphone increases flexibility and eliminates the need to use a more expensive controller for daily setup
  • Trimble Web UI optimised for small screen devices, allows a GNSS manager to monitor base station performance, availability and configuration without visiting the job site for set up
The new Trimble SPS985 GNSS smart antenna is available now through Trimble’s worldwide SITECH Technology Dealer Channel.