Activating your SPS GNSS Smart Antenna

SPS985 only

Before you can use your SPS GNSS receiver, it must be activated with an Activation code. Usually your Trimble dealer will do this for you. If you need to do it yourself, you can connect to the receiver using Wi-Fi. See Wi-Fi settings for the SPS985. Once connected through Wi-Fi and the web interface, select Receiver Status / Receiver Options – Details. In the Option Code field, enter the Activation code provided to you by your Trimble dealer and then click Install Option. The Activation code enables Bluetooth® wireless technology in your SPS GNSS receiver. You can also connect a computer that has the Trimble WinFlash utility installed to the SPS GNSS receiver, and then use the WinFlash utility to load the Activation code onto your receiver. For more information, see below.

SPS smart antenna

The SPS smart antenna is shipped with Wi-Fi wireless technology services enabled. To activate the smart antenna and to enable Bluetooth wireless technology services we recommend using the Wi-Fi connection. However if you want to use a cabled connection then follow these steps:

  1. The SPS smart antenna only has a USB interface. Use cable P/N 80751-HH to connect the smart antenna to the computer and the USB port.

  2. Download and install the WinFlash utility. See The WinFlash utility

  3. On the computer, load a virtual COM port driver to emulate a serial port. Ensure that you follow all the instructions in the topic, Configuring a PC USB port as a virtual serial port.

  4. In the Device Configuration screen, select Trimble SPSx8x Receiver and then select the virtual serial COM port set up in the previous steps. The following example shows COM16 is allocated to the Trimble-USB connection:

  5. Click Next.

  6. In the Operation Selection screen, select Update Receiver Options and then click Next.

  7. In the Upgrade Option Password Entry screen, select the Option key option and then in the Option Password field enter the password. Click Next.

  8. In the Settings Review screen, check that settings that you want to make and then click Finish.

You can now continue to use the WinFlash utility or use the Wi-Fi and web interface to make any changes to the settings (see below).

SPS modular receivers

The SPS855 and SPS55H modular receivers have Bluetooth wireless technology and Ethernet, but do not have Wi-Fi .

To activate the modular receiver and to turn on Bluetooth wireless technology services:

  1. Connect the modular receiver to the computer either with a serial or USB cable connection or using the Ethernet. With a cabled connection, you must use the WinFlash utility to load the Activation code. With the Ethernet you can directly access the web interface of the receiver and then load the Activation code using the Options page (Select Receiver / Options).

    To configure the receiver using the Ethernet, see Configuring Ethernet settings.

  2. Once the WinFlash utility has loaded the Activation code, it will reset the receiver. At this stage, the SPS receiver still cannot be used as a Base, Rover, or in Heading mode. It will show all modes as Off.

Loading the Operating mode code

The next task is to load the Operating Mode code into the SPS GNSS receiver. The Operating Mode will be one of the following depending on your receiver and the option you have purchased:

  • DGPS Base

  • Precise Base

  • Location RTK Rover

  • Precise RTK Rover

  • Precise Base/Rover

  • Moving Base/Heading mode

  • Heading mode

Using the WinFlash utility

  1. In the Operation Selection screen, select Update Receiver Options and then click Next.

  2. Enter the option code and then click Next to load the option code.

Using the web interface

  1. Log in to the web interface, select Security / Login and then enter the password.

  2. In the web interface, select Receiver / Options). The Operating mode is set to Off.

  3. Install the Operating Mode option. To do this, in the Option Code field, enter the information provided to you by your Trimble dealer and then click Install Option.

  4. You must now do a full receiver reset to set it back to the factory defaults. Hold the Power button down for 30 seconds or use the web interface and select Receiver Configuration / Reset. Select Clear all receiver settings. The following screens show Precise Base and Rover modes loaded and that MovingBase/Heading mode is not loaded.

Loading extra options

After you have activated the receiver and loaded the Operating mode code, you can then load extra options you have purchased such as GLONASS.

Using the WinFlash utility

In the Operation Selection screen, select Update receiver options and then click Next.Enter the option code and then click Next. In the Settings Review screen, click Finish.

Using the web interface

  1. Select Receiver Status / Receiver Options.

  2. Install the option. To do this, in the Option Code field, enter the password provided to you by your Trimble dealer and then click Install Option.