Chapter 05 - Using the Trimble GeoExplorer CE

The Trimble Geoexpolore CE offers a wide range of tools while we work in the field. Pathfinder Office functions discussed earlier have equivalents in the software on this unit (such as a planning utility to view position, number and accuracy of satellites for the next twelve hours). The accuracy of this unit is sub-meter before differential correction, and with differential correction it is possible to get readings within tens of centimeters.

Before we start looking at functions and the practical use of the GeoExplorer CE, we need to make sure that it is fully charged. The standard charging time for a unit that hasn’t been used recently (within a couple of weeks) is about four hours. Ask the people or department from whom we borrowed the unit to ascertain the last time it was used, if nobody is sure how long it has been, be safe and place the unit in the charging cradle for a few hours before doing anything else.

There are a number of ways to transfer files between the GeoExplorer CE unit and a computer (desktop or laptop), but we will concentrate on free ways of doing it. In fact, we can go ahead and secure the software that we need before doing anything else.

The first piece of software you need in order to manipulate the data collected is Pathfinder Office, which you will already have installed and know how to use (see Chapter #). Next, you need to install Microsoft Active Sync software that is included with the GeoExplorer CE, but if you can’t find it, then it can be downloaded from

Finally, the last piece of software that you will need is a data transfer utility to convert files from the GeoExplorer CE to a usable Windows format for use with Pathfinder Office. This software can be downloaded from

Now that you have ensured that these programs are installed on the computer, we can start to learn how to use the GeoExplorer CE.

As we begin to explore this unit, we can quickly see how much more user friendly this unit is when compared with older (and often larger) units. You will begin this overview with a quick look at what programs come standard on the unit.

The programs that we see once the unit is switched on are pretty standard programs, and there may be some that have been added by users before we use the unit.

Turn the unit on by pressing the power button, and if the screen is too dark or bright, we can press the display button to turn the backlight on or off.

You can see in the photo to the left a microphone, that’s correct, we can take voice memos in the field to supplement our measurements, but more about that later.

As with any Windows operating system, there is a “Start” button in the bottom left hand side of the screen, go ahead and press that, and we can see the same Windows style start menu that we are accustomed to seeing on laptops and desktops.

Getting the data dictionary onto the GeoExplorer CE is a little different from transferring one to the other Trimble units, we have to use the Trimble Data Transfer utility talked about above.

Now we are ready to connect the device to our computer. To be honest, this part can be a little tricky, and there are a few different ways to accomplish it, and it seems that each computer you attach the unit to behave slightly differently. Basically, you need to have the unit turned on, place it into the Charging/Data Transfer cradle, and then attach the USB cable to your computer. Unfortunately, you may have to do this each time you want to transfer files. You will know that the computers are communicating when the “Set Up a Partnership” screen opens on your computer,
Always choose “No” and click next, this will allow the GeoExplorer CE and our computer to begin communicating with one another.

Troubleshooting – There are two things we can try if the above isn’t proving successful. First, open Active Sync when the GeoExplorer CE isn’t connected, and select File:Connection Settings and make sure that the “Allow USB connection with this desktop computer” is checked. If that didn’t work, after you attach the USB cable to the machine, open ActiveSync on the GeoExplorer by selecting Programs:Communication:ActiveSync in the Start menu. This will prompt the GeoExplorer CE to establish a connection with the computer.

The first step to transfer files is to start the Trimble Data Transfer utility. Make sure that ActiveSync is still showing an active connection. The Trimble Data Transfer Utility will look like this after connecting

This utility is designed to be used with several of Trimble’s GPS receivers and data loggers, so we have to make sure that we have GIS Datalogger on Windows CE selected in Device dropdown menu.

To transfer files to the GeoExplorer from our computer, we have to click on the Send tab, then click on the add button to the right, and select what type of file to transfer. In this case we select Data Dictionary, and navigate through our computer to select the correct file, and hit transfer all. You have now loaded our data dictionary onto the GeoExplorer CE. As we can see, we have many choices of what types of files to transfer, some of them will not be important to us and others will be discussed later.

Turn the unit on, and begin the TerraSync Software by clicking the icon on the desktop, or by selecting Programs:TerraSync from the Start menu.

Important, to enter information in the GeoExplorer CE, we need to activate the keyboard icon at the bottom of the screen, it looks like a little keyboard, and once activated it will bring up a virtual keyboard on the screen, this keyboard can be closed by clicking the “x” in the upper right hand corner of the virtual keyboard.

The main parts of the TerraSync window are now visible. The Main Menu button lets us switch between different screens. The Sub-Menu button lets us choose features within each screen. The Data Screen will also change with each menu selection to allow us to make change or, as is our goal, to record data. The satellites indicator shows us how many satellites are visible to the receiver currently.

Now we will look at some of the settings in order to make sure that our receiver is ready to take measurements.

Select settings under the Main Menu button, and we will be able to see several different buttons used for adjusting the settings of the GeoExplorer CE.

The defaults area is not important for our purposes, we will be checking the setting as they stand currently, and adjusting only the ones that are necessary for our project. The adjustments we cover in this manual do not include the wide variety of possible ones, but will be sufficient for the purposes of conducting the type of surveys most commonly needed by us in the field (no matter what your specific discipline may be). Of course, feel free to explore the settings (looking certainly never hurt anyone, right?), but if you want to change something and its not covered in this manual, then please ask the person or department where the unit is kept.

· Log Velocity Data – this setting allows you to store velocity data, usually unnecessary, choose no.

· Log SuperCorrect Data – choose yes.

· Log QA/QC Data – choose no.

· Antenna Height – measure the distance of the antenna from the ground when held, and enter here.

· Allow Position Update – select Confirm, this allows us to retake a previous measurement.

· Confirm End Feature – choose no.

· Filename Prefix – do not adjust.

· Between Feature Logging – two choices, for style select Time and for Interval select 5s.

· Follow the screen examples at the right to fill in values for Point, Line and Area features.

Select Ok

· GPS Receiver Port – COM1

· Productivity/Precision Slider – put slider bar in the middle so that Max PDOP reads 6.0 and Min SNR reads 4.0.

· Min Elevation – select 15, this is the angle below which no satellites will be read, this helps reduce error due to poor satellites angles (for more information about the importance of angles, see page # in Chapter # about errors that result from poor angle alignment).

· Velocity Filter – choose off.

Choose Ok

The Real Time Setting and External Sensor buttons should be left alone, they are mainly for use if we are going to be connecting specialty equipment to the GeoExplorer CE.

Here we have a series of selections that will be determined by the type of measurements that we want, this is usually decided by our specific discipline backgrounds. Since, this manual is intended for a wide audience, we will leave the determination of which setting you need up to each individual, if you are having trouble determining which system is the most appropriate for your work, you can ask the department or person from whom this unit came from.

Again, simply choose the types of units you wish to measure with. Usually, since New Zealand is metric, and most international standards of measurements are metric, sticking to metric units is very advisable. After all, even scientists in the States use the metric system nowadays.

Okay, that’s it, you have set-up the GeoExplorer CE, and it is now ready to start mapping.

If you haven’t done so already, take the unit outside (remember, we can’t pick up the radio waves sent by the GPS satellites indoors), turn the unit on and start TerraSync. You can watch the Status screen for a few minutes as the unit locks onto different satellite signals. Once the PDOP is at an acceptable level, usually 4-5 (although the lower the better), we can begin taking measurements.

To take measurements, we have to use the Menu button and select the Data screen. Type in any name you wish to use in the File Name, the shorter the better. If you have loaded a Data Dictionary, go ahead and select that one from the dropdown menu now.

Here we have the data collection screen, it is where we will take all of our measurements. The GeoExplorer CE’s user friendliness can now be fully appreciated. If you have used any Windows based system at all, you will find this very easy. To begin recording, select a feature type (you can see the default features that are included in the Default and any other Data Dictionary). After selecting the type of feature you want to measure, click create, and you are shown a new screen where you can see the status of the measurement for that feature. There are two basic methods for collecting positions, one for points and a second one for line and area measurements. Collecting for points simply involves letting the unit measure at least five positions (as defined in the Settings section above), and collecting for Lines and Areas all we have to do is pause between the points that we are wanting to collect, and for both, when we have finished taking the measurement, we simply select Ok and we are returned the above screen in order to begin taking the next measurement.

The Sub-Menu button in the Data screen allows us to manage the measurements that we are working with. If we select the Update Sub-Menu, we can see a list of measurements that we have previously taken, and also make adjustments to them if necessary. To update a feature, highlight that feature in the list and click begin. Then let the new position information be recorded by the unit and select okay, Its that simple!

The Map menu lets us see the measurements we have already taken in relation to one another as well as our current position. This screen is most useful for checking where and what you have already mapped, in the case that you are mapping many similar features close together, this screen will allow you to avoid duplicating measurements, and given the units accuracy, we can be assured that it is going to give us a precise view of features recorded.

The sub-menu of the Status Menu allows you to take full advantage of some of the special features that the Geoexplorer offers. For instance, if you look under the plan utility, you will see a map of the sky above you with the satellites. You can animate this view and watch the satellites move into and out of the receivers view over the next 24 hours. This may be useful if you aren’t picking up many satellites presently, you can determine when (perhaps in as little as half an hour) more satellites will come into view or how much longer you will be reading signals from 8 satellites.

Feel free to explore the Geoexplorer, it’s a fascinating piece of technology and can do amazing things, not to mention its sub-meter level of accuracy in the field before differential correction. The use of the Geoexplorer as a Rover and the Pro-XR as a Base Station will compensate for any position data that may be recorded in the more remote sections of Otago and the South Island in general.

Chapter 5 Using the Trimble Geo-Explorer CE

Chapter 5
Using the Trimble Geo-Explorer CE