ScoutMaster GPS
I received some info on the new Trimble ScoutMaster GPS today. The following
are some of the new features. The physical characteristics are the same as the
Scout.
* New price – $995
* New map coordinate system – "Topo GPS" Will tell you by name and state which
one of the 53000+ USGS 7.5' topos you are on and which 2.5' quadrant of that
topo you are in. It automatically sets the SE corner of that quadrant for
over & up calculations.
* Diff GPS capable
* S/A filter which keeps the ScoutMaster from wandering around when it is
standing still (I guess we won't need the supplied lanyard any more).
* Acu-Lock – The brochure says "10 meter static solution without differential
correction" – Trimble tech support had no info on this feature as it will not
be shipping until Oct.
* RS-232 interface with a software utility to swap data between the
ScoutMaster's library and a spreadsheet.
For $1395, you get all of the above plus the external antenna/battery
eliminator package and the Scout It Out software package. SIO provides the
capability to graphically view locations on a computer (from the ScoutMaster's
library or created with a spreadsheet) and to plot location data to scale for
printing overlays on any topo map. SIO will also allow the use of a portable
computer for real time data collection. All software is for IBM compatibles
with Mac versions to be released "soon".
There are a couple other features available. One is an Apple Newton PDA
interface and the other has to do with SMTE time codes (whatever that is) for
the A/V industry.
— Bill