Using High Precision External GPS Unit

When enabled with the appropriate subscription, the InfraMarker mobile application can integrate with high precision external GPS units. Both Android and iOS devices support most external Bluetooth GPS units. One of the officially supported devices, and the best integrated with InfraMarker, is the EOS Arrow 100.

Android

InfraMarker integration with external bluetooth GPS devices on the Android platform is very simple.

To work with EOS Arrow 100 unit:

• Install the EOS Tools Pro on your Android device
• Pair your device (using Bluetooth) with the EOS Arrow 100 unit
• In the EOS Tools Pro application, open the drop-down menu in the top-right of the screen.
• Select the GPS Device.
• Enable "mock location".
• Start GPS.

For another generic external GPS unit: 

• Install a vendor provided Bluetooth application or any generic Bluetooth GPS application.
• Connect it to the GPS unit.
• Enable "mock location".

After that, start the InfraMarker application, it should use the positioning information from the external GPS unit.

With any generic external GPS unit, InfraMarker will be able to receive latitude, longitude, and accuracy data for geometry creation in manual or recording mode. Also, this data will be used when recording a track. With the EOS Arrow 100 unit, the InfraMarker application will also be able to extract additional fields when recording a track. Data will be recorded per point and include latitude, longitude, altitude, horizontal accuracy, bearing, and speed along with following additional fields:

• Vertical accuracy.
• Number of satellites.
• PDOP.
• HDOP.
• VDOP.
• Fix.
• Fix3D.
• Satellite fix.

iOS

The external bluetooth GPS unit should be paired with the iOS device using System Settings. InfraMarker application has a Settings view to configure the GPS mode.

The options for "Use external GPS" include:

• Internal GPS ON. The internal GPS is used. Latitude, longitude, accuracy, bearing and speed will come from the internal GPS unit.
• Internal GPS OFF. The internal GPS unit is turned off to improve battery life. If the external GPS unit is paired and connected using one of the available Bluetooth GPS applications, the InfraMarker application will receive latitude and longitude data from the external GPS. All other position information fields including accuracy, bearing, and speed will come from the internal Location Manager. This means only the latitude and longitude is valid and useful location information. It is preferred to use vendor specific Bluetooth GPS applications.
• High Precision External GPS. This mode is defined specifically for the EOS Arrow 100 GPS unit. The Configure external GPS Settings are enabled in this mode

In the Setup view, select the paired EOS Arrow 100 unit and the protocol "com.eos-gnss.positioningsource". The Connect button will perform the bluetooth connection to the external GPS.

Before the InfraMarker application is started, the EOS Tools Pro app should also be running on the device. The EOS Tools Pro will connect and configure the EOS Arrow 100 unit to use an RTK correction.

With any generic external GPS unit, InfraMarker will be able to receive latitude, longitude data for geometry creation in manual or recording mode. Also, this data will be used when recording a track. With the EOS Arrow 100 unit, the InfraMarker application will also be able to extract additional fields when recording a track. Data will be recorded per point and include latitude, longitude, altitude, horizontal accuracy, bearing, and speed along with following additional fields:

• Vertical accuracy.
• Number of satellites.
• PDOP.
• HDOP.
• VDOP.
• Fix.
• Fix3D.
• Satellite fix.