Ashtech z-12

Hello,

I have just joined this forum and was after anyone with z-12 experience.  I cannot seem to get a reply from ashtech via e-mail. 
I have two z-12's with the following details

P/N 700845-1 (D), OPT - -1 2 - - - -, SLP S0, Nav 1L00, CHN 1D04
P/N 700845-1 (E), OPT - - 1 2 - - - -, SLP S0, NAV 1L00, CHN 1D04

Both have been used for static work, however we would like to progress into RTK work or PPK work with these sets.  
The work requires processing of a slow moving track approx 2-3 kts for hydrographic work in a small remote community.
Questions are:
How can I load the Real time option onto the the sets and activate RTCM and on the fly resolution for the rover (ie set up the RTK function)
If this is not poissible can I transmit the MBEN, PBEN and DBEN data real time over serial to a laptop in the rover vehicle and process both inputs using software.
If not could I increase the memory and use them in PPK mode, if so what epoch interval, or download intervial is recommended if I require posiional data every second.
We are working in remote locations with antique equipment so any support would be grateful.

I have a few Z-12s but no RTK experience with them.

First, have you read the manual? Do you have the manual?

The last time I loaded anything in a Z-12 I fired up an old DOS computer, never tried it with a Windows one.

What version software do you have? Lower right corner of screen.

I note only 1 megabyte of memory, which limits static work.

The radios and radio setups are out of my league and the useable choices are limited.

Paul in PA

Paul,

Thanks, the firmware version is 1L00 and I only have a Windows 98 machine.  I have downloaded the manuals and done some basic static work, however it seems that I will have to connect the sets up to a small laptop or PDA with more memory in order to record the output streams.  
I have managed to download all the ashtech programmes from their legacy site.
If there is any way I can increase the memory and get them to work in RTK mode by installing the right firmware and options I would be content.
The only additional info on the setup screen is OPT set 002, MCF 12, CFG ZL- - ZL- -.

Jeev

i have 2 units of the z12 somewhere in storage. bought them in 1990s i think. get them out once in a while when i need some extra units for static work.
i once was able to connect the z12 to a data logger and was able to download data stream for a whole day directly to a pc.
i think you could do this for hydro work if your pc or laptop has an RS232 port. i remember i had to thinker with the comm port settings on the dos prompt data logger software before it started to log the data. it was a miss or hit for each attempt. but you will eventually get it to work. i was using a desktop running win2k and using the dos prompt to run the data logger program in dos mode. downloaded at 1 sec interval if i remember it correctly.
HTH

I'm not going to be perfect help on this, but we had the Sokkia branded version of the Z-12's (GSR 2300 rovers or was it the 2200 base?).  I understand there to have been some changes somewhere in the late 90s with Microsoft Windows and serial port communications.  For sure XP and I think possibly 2000 (but if Benc got it to work)?  I think Windows 95/98 still used hardware data control flow like DOS, but current versions of Windows use software control for serial communications.

Your device likely needs hardware control.  It can appear to work with software flow, but we found data transfers using our old Sokkia SDR33s would randomly drop part of the datastream.  Backing down the baud rate seemed to help, but we finally gave up and setup a dedicated Windows 95 PC with ProLink. 

Back to the Z-12s, absolutely make sure you use a DOS or old Win 95 box if you flash bios.  I "bricked" one of our backup 2200 bases.  There is one Ashtech (Magellan) support guy who was still very up on these units, it  took a phone call and a few transfers but he was a great help.  That was more than 3 years ago and I don't have his contact anymore.  Their FTP website still had all of the cabling and pin out diagrams if you need to make your own patch cables.  Also sounds like you may already have their controller software?  It was something like RSC Commander for the Sokkia units?  I think Ashtech had an update for their version.  I found it on their FTP site, but again don't run it under a newer OS using software flow control.

Many thanks to all of you for the great advice, the two sets are working fine and it seems such a shame to break them or not use them. 
I understand that the best solution is to load up windows 98 and use this via RCS to update the set. 
Does anyone know if you can update from 1L00 to 6J00 firmware direct.

Jeev

I got an email today from Mark Silver. Come January 1, 2013 you will have to have a new RTK radio capable of 12.5 bandwith. They are no longer recoding older equipment to the narrower width. Plus an update to an existing license or purchase of a new license is required.

Paul in PA

Paul,

That sounds like the FCC's narrowbanding mandate for the entire country.  I wonder if one could swap the full bandwidth Blue Bricks out for current narrow bands?  L1/L2 static with OPUS sounds like we still have through the end of the decade (or longer with the LightSquared ruling).

Jeev,

I think our 2300's were all running 6J00.  You should be able to flash up without a problem.  We seemed to have had the most problem keeping the BIOS revs in-step between the SDR33's, the 2200 and the 2300s.  Since you are going Z to Z and serial laptop collection of the raw data, I don't see where that would be an issue?

Thanks,
Ed