Trimble Survey Controller ™

Release Notes

■ Installation

■ Product Information

Version 7.71

F
Revision A
April 2002
Corporate Office Warranty Remedies

Trimble Navigation Limited Trimble's sole liability and your exclusive remedy
Engineering and Construction Division under the warranties set forth above shall be, at
5475 Kellenburger Road Trimble’s option, to repair or replace any Product
Dayton, Ohio 45424-1099 or Software that fails to conform to such warranty
U.S.A. (“Nonconforming Product”), or refund the
purchase price paid by you for any such
Copyright and Trademarks Nonconforming Product, upon your return of any
Nonconforming Product to Trimble in accordance
© 2002, Trimble Navigation Limited. All rights with Trimble’s standard return material
reserved. The Globe & Triangle logo, Trimble, authorization procedures.
Trimble Survey Controller, Trimble Geomatics
Office, Trimble Link, TSC1, Trimble Total Warranty Exclusions and Disclaimer
Control, TRIMMARK, and VRS are trademarks
of Trimble Navigation Limited. Elta, Geodimeter, These warranties shall be applied only in the event
GPS Pathfinder, GPS Total Station, Terramodel, and to the extent that: (i) the Products and
and Tracklight are trademarks of Trimble Software are properly and correctly installed,
Navigation Limited, registered in the United configured, interfaced, maintained, stored, and
States Patent and Trademark Office. All other operated in accordance with Trimble’s relevant
trademarks are the property of their respective operator's manual and specifications, and; (ii) the
owners. Products and Software are not modified or
misused. The preceding warranties shall not apply
Release Notice to, and Trimble shall not be responsible for defects
or performance problems resulting from (i) the
This is the April 2002 release (Revision A) of the combination or utilization of the Product or
Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes. They Software with products, information, data,
apply to version 7.71 of the Trimble Survey systems or devices not made, supplied or specified
Controller™ software. by Trimble; (ii) the operation of the Product or
Software under any specification other than, or in
Software and Firmware License, Limited addition to, Trimble's standard specifications for
Warranty its products; (iii) the unauthorized modification or
use of the Product or Software; (iv) damage
This Trimble software and/or firmware product caused by accident, lightning or other electrical
(the “Software”) is licensed and not sold. Its use is discharge, fresh or salt water immersion or spray;
governed by the provisions of the applicable End or (v) normal wear and tear on consumable parts
User License Agreement (“EULA”), if any, (e.g., batteries).
included with the Software. In the absence of a
separate EULA included with the Software THE WARRANTIES ABOVE STATE TRIMBLE'S
providing different limited warranty terms, ENTIRE LIABILITY, AND YOUR EXCLUSIVE
exclusions, and limitations, the following terms REMEDIES, RELATING TO PERFORMANCE OF
and conditions shall apply. Trimble warrants that THE PRODUCTS AND SOFTWARE. EXCEPT AS
this Trimble Software product will substantially OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED HEREIN,
conform to Trimble’s applicable published THE PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE, AND
specifications for the Software for a period of ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION AND
ninety (90) days, starting from the date of MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED “AS-IS” AND
delivery. WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY
OF ANY KIND BY EITHER TRIMBLE
NAVIGATION LIMITED OR ANYONE WHO HAS
BEEN INVOLVED IN ITS CREATION,
PRODUCTION, INSTALLATION, OR
DISTRIBUTION, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A Limitation of Liability
PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND
NONINFRINGEMENT. THE STATED EXPRESS TRIMBLE’S ENTIRE LIABILITY UNDER ANY
WARRANTIES ARE IN LIEU OF ALL PROVISION HEREIN SHALL BE LIMITED TO
OBLIGATIONS OR LIABILITIES ON THE PART THE GREATER OF THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU
OF TRIMBLE ARISING OUT OF, OR IN FOR THE PRODUCT OR SOFTWARE LICENSE OR
CONNECTION WITH, ANY PRODUCTS OR U.S.$25.00. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT
SOFTWARE. SOME STATES AND PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO
JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATIONS EVENT SHALL TRIMBLE OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE
ON DURATION OR THE EXCLUSION OF AN LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL,
IMPLIED WARRANTY, SO THE ABOVE INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. WHATSOEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE
OR LEGAL THEORY RELATING IN ANY WAY TO
TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED IS NOT THE PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE, AND
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION OR ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION AND
FAILURE OF OPERATION OF GPS SATELLITES MATERIALS, (INCLUDING, WITHOUT
OR THE AVAILABILITY OF GPS SATELLITE LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF
SIGNALS. BUSINESS PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION,
LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION, OR ANY
OTHER PECUNIARY LOSS), REGARDLESS OF
WHETHER TRIMBLE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF
THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SUCH LOSS AND
REGARDLESS OF THE COURSE OF DEALING
WHICH DEVELOPS OR HAS DEVELOPED
BETWEEN YOU AND TRIMBLE. BECAUSE SOME
STATES AND JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW
THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTALDAMAGES,
THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
4 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes
Installation 1

This chapter shows how to use the Trimble Survey Controller™

version 7.71 CD.
It covers:
• installing the Trimble Survey Controller software
• installing language and help files
• installing the Trimble Data Transfer utility (version 1.07)
Note – You must install version 1.07 of the Data Transfer utility
to transfer files to and from Trimble Survey Controller 7.71. For
more information, see Installing Trimble’s Data Transfer
Utility, page 10.

1.1 Installing Trimble Survey Controller

Trimble Survey Controller version 7.71 communicates with particular
versions of other Trimble products.
Before using any new Trimble products with Trimble office software,
install the office software and then run the installation program on the
product CD. This will update all relevant office software.
Note – If you have GPS Pathfinder® Office software 2.51 (or later)
installed, make sure that the Connection Manager utility is closed
before running the update software.

Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes 5

 Table 1.1 shows the office software, receivers, and conventional
instruments that Trimble Survey Controller 7.71 communicates with,
and the required or recommended minimum version of each.
Table 1.1 Trimble Survey Controller compatibility

Trimble product Version

(or later)
Software Trimble Geomatics Office™ 1.60
Trimble Link™ 3.00
Data Transfer 1.07
Trimble Total Control™ 2.70
Terramodel® 10.1
Receiver GPS Total Station® 5700 1.20
GPS Total Station 4800 1.30
GPS Total Station 4700 1.30
Conventional Trimble™ 5600 Series 696-03.04
Instrument
Trimble 3600 Series 1.15
Trimble 3300 Series 5.62

1.1.1 WinFLASH
Use WinFLASH to upgrade or reload the software in a TSC1™
controller.
When you install WinFLASH, it automatically updates any Trimble
office software files that are used to communicate with Trimble
Survey Controller. You must install WinFLASH before transferring
files to or from the TSC1.

6 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes

Installing WinFLASH
To install WinFLASH from the Trimble Survey Controller CD, close
all Trimble applications on your office computer, then do the
following:
1. From the main menu, select Trimble Survey Controller.
2. To start installing WinFLASH, select Install Survey Controller
and Update Office Software.
3. Follow the instructions on the screen.
4. When the WinFLASH setup is complete, the Setup Complete
dialog appears. Do one of the following:
– If you are a new user, click Finish. (Do not select the check
box to launch WinFLASH.)
– If you want to upgrade your Trimble Survey Controller
software now, select the check box to launch WinFLASH.
Click Finish.
If you selected the check box to launch WinFLASH, see the
instructions in the next section. Otherwise, skip the next section.

Using WinFLASH to Upgrade the TSC1

When you have installed WinFLASH on your office computer, you
can use it to upgrade the software on the TSC1.
Note – If you are a new user, the software that you need is already
installed on the TSC1.
Before you begin the upgrade, save your files by transferring them to
the office computer, or by copying them to the PC card. All data in the
main memory is lost when you upgrade the TSC1 software.
Please note the following file compatibility:
• Version 7.70 files compatible with 7.71 are: Job, Style, Feature
and Attribute library, Geoid, Digital Terrain Model, and Help.
• Version 7.70 files not compatible with 7.71 are: Language.

Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes 7

 • Version 7.71 files not compatible with 7.70 are: Job, Style, and
Language. Please reinstall version 7.71 language packs to
overwrite the version 7.70 files.
Use an external power source for the TSC1 while you carry out the
upgrade.
To upgrade the TSC1 software:
1. Connect the TSC1 to the office computer.
2. Turn on the TSC1.
3. Start WinFLASH on the office computer and follow the
instructions on the screen to perform a TSC1 upgrade.

1.2 Transferring Survey Controller 7.71 Language Files

The Trimble Survey Controller 7.71 CD contains language and help
files for Trimble Survey Controller. Before you transfer a language or
help file, install the Trimble Data Transfer utility from the CD. For
more information, see Installing Trimble’s Data Transfer Utility,
page 10.
To transfer a language or help file:
1. Connect the TSC1 to your office computer, as described in the
Data Transfer chapter of the Trimble Survey Controller
Reference Manual. From the main menu of Trimble Survey
Controller, select Files then Import/Export.
2. Select Trimble PC communications. The following message
appears: Waiting for PC connection.
3. From the main menu on the CD, select Survey Controller v7.71
and then Upload Language/Help Files. The Data Transfer
utility automatically tries to connect to the TSC1 through the
COM 1 port.
If the TSC1 is not connected to COM 1, click Disconnect to
stop the connection, and select another device using the
appropriate port.

8 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes

 Select another Survey Controller device from the list in the
Device field. If necessary, click Devices then New in the
Devices dialog to run the Add Device wizard.
4. When Data Transfer has connected to the TSC1, click the Send
tab.
5. Click Add. The Open dialog appears.
6. Do one of the following:
– To transfer a language file, select Language Files (*.lng)
from the Files of type field and highlight the file you want
to transfer.
– To transfer a help file, select the Help Files (*.hlp) from the
Files of type field and highlight the file you want to
transfer.
Note – Transfer the language file before you transfer the
corresponding help file.
Note – If you are using Windows 98, the default path to the
language and help files cannot be automatically set. Navigate to
the files located in the \SurvCont\Language folder on the CD.
7. Click Select. The Open dialog closes, and the Data Transfer
window appears.
8. Click Transfer All. When the transfer is complete, click Close.
9. Click Close in the Data Transfer window to exit Data Transfer.
To change the language on Trimble Survey Controller:
1. From the main menu, select Configuration / Controller /
Language.
2. Select the required language and press \.
3. Turn the TSC1 off, and then turn it on again.
4. To display the online help in the language you have selected,
press ?.

Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes 9

1.3 Installing Trimble’s Data Transfer Utility
To transfer files to and from Trimble Survey Controller 7.71, you must
use Trimble’s Data Transfer version 1.07 utility, which is supplied free
with Trimble Survey Controller. You can install it as many times as
you need from the Trimble Survey Controller installation CD.
To install Data Transfer:
1. From the main menu on the Trimble Survey Controller CD,
select Data Transfer 1.07.
2. Select the appropriate language—this starts the Data Transfer
Setup program.
The Setup program guides you through the rest of the installation
process.

10 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes

Product Information 2

This chapter describes the Trimble Survey Controller software.

2.1 Major Features

Trimble Survey Controller 7.71 contains the following features. For
more detailed information, refer to the Help and Trimble Survey
Controller Reference Manual.

2.1.1 Trimble 5700 GPS Receiver Support

You can now use Trimble Survey Controller with the Trimble™ 5700
GPS Receiver.
For information on connecting the receiver to the TSC1 and setting it
up for use with different survey techniques, refer to the 5700 GPS
Receiver User Guide.
In addition, the following changes have been made in Trimble Survey
Controller for when you are using a 5700 GPS receiver:
• Trimble Survey Controller supports 10 Hz (0.1 second) data
logging to the receiver.
• Trimble Survey Controller does not support the copying of
receiver files from the Instrument menu. You can still delete and
undelete receiver files from the Instrument menu.
Use Data Transfer to transfer files from the receiver, or from the
Survey data card, to the office computer.
You cannot use Trimble Survey Controller to copy receiver files
from the data card when it is inserted in the TSC1.

Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes 11

 • To carry out a WAAS survey with the receiver, use GPS
Configurator to set the receiver to Ignore WAAS correction
health. This allows the receiver to use the WAAS satellites
before they are enabled by the FAA (Federal Aviation
Administration). For more information on using GPS
Configurator, refer to the 5700 GPS Receiver User Guide.
• If you have reset your Trimble 5700 receiver, connecting using
the top port on the TSC1 now works the first time.
• Cellphone base station support is improved.

2.1.2 Additional Conventional Instrument Support

Support for Trimble and Geodimeter® servo and robotic conventional
instruments has improved with the addition of the following new and
enhanced features.
• New Trimble conventional instrument support – Trimble
Survey Controller supports the expanded line of Trimble
conventional instruments. Geodimeter and Zeiss instruments
have been renamed into Trimble’s new line of conventional
instruments. However, Trimble Survey Controller still supports
the old model names. Table 2.1 shows the changes made to the
names.
Table 2.1 Changes to Trimble conventional instrument model
names

New Trimble conventional Former model name

instrument model name
Trimble 3300 Zeiss R Series
Trimble 3600 Zeiss Elta® C
Trimble 600M Geodimeter 500/600
Trimble 5600 Servo Geodimeter 500/600 Servo
Trimble 5600 Robotic Geodimeter 600 Robotic

12 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes

• Radio support for Trimble and Geodimeter robotic
instruments – You can now configure the radio settings for a
Trimble 5600 Series / GDM instrument from Trimble Survey
Controller.
To configure the radio:
a. Select Survey Style / Instrument.
b. Set the Radio channel, Station address, and Remote
address fields as required.
c. Remove the control unit from the instrument.
d. Connect the TSC1 to the instrument. When you turn on the
instrument, it automatically connects to Trimble Survey
Controller.
e. Press the ò softkey to set the radio at the instrument.
When you connect the TSC1 to the remote radio, Trimble
Survey Controller establishes the radio link between the
instrument and remote radio, using the specified settings.
• Trimble 5600 Series DR200+ and Geodimeter System 600S
DR200+ support – Trimble Survey Controller now supports
the use of the Trimble 5600 Series DR200+ and Geodimeter
System 600S DR200+ instrument in servo mode. To enable
servo mode:
a. In the Survey Style, set EDM precision to Instrument
default.
b. Configure the instrument for Direct Reflex (DR)
measurement mode.
• Tracklight® support for Trimble and Geodimeter robotic
instruments – When you use a Trimble 5600 Series / GDM
instrument that is set up with a Tracklight unit, you can use
Trimble Survey Controller to set the intensity of the guide-light.

Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes 13

 To set the Tracklight unit, connect the TSC1 to the instrument then do
the following:
a. From the main menu, select Instrument / Instrument
controls.
b. Press ".
c. Do one of the following:
– Press # to emit the guide-light at a high intensity.
– Press $ to emit the guide-light at normal intensity.
– Press % to turn the Tracklight unit off.
• Continuous topo measuring option – Trimble Survey
Controller now has a continuous topo data collection option for
use with a Trimble 5600 series / GDM instrument in a robotic
survey. This option gives faster data collection as it puts the
instrument in tracking mode and lets you store the latest
measurement taken while continuing to track your prism.
To use this option, select a Trimble 5600 Robotic or Geodimeter
600 Robotic survey style, and then select Survey / Continuous
topo.
• Measurement speeds – The styles Trimble 5600 Servo, Trimble
5600 Robotic, Spectra Precision Geodimeter 600 Servo, and
Spectra Geodimeter 600 Robotic now take measurements faster.

2.1.3 Wide Area RTK Support

Wide area RTK systems consist of a distributed network of reference
stations communicating with a control center to calculate GPS error
corrections over a wide area. Real-time correction data is transmitted
by radio or cellular modem to the rover receiver within the network
area.

14 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes

The system improves reliability and operating range by significantly
reducing systematic errors in the reference station data. This lets you
increase the distance at which the rover receiver is located from the
physical reference stations, while improving on-the-fly (OTF)
initialization times.
Trimble Survey Controller supports broadcast formats from the
following wide area RTK solutions:
• SAPOS FKP
• VRS™ (Virtual Reference Station)
To use a wide area RTK system, first check that you have the
necessary hardware and firmware.
• Hardware requirements – All rover receivers must have
firmware that support wide area RTK.
Real-time correction data is provided by 2m-band radio or
cellular modem. For details about the delivery option for your
system, please see your service provider.
• Configuring the survey style – Before you start a survey using
a wide area RTK system, configure the RTK survey style.
To select a wide area RTK broadcast format:
a. In the Survey Style, select Rover options.
b. In the Broadcast format field, select one of the following
options from the list:
– SAPOS FKP
– VRS
To select a radio solution:
a. In the Survey Style, select Rover options.
b. In the Type field, select your radio from the list.
Note – If you are using a radio in a VRS system, you must
select a two-way radio. You cannot use Trimble internal
radios.

Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes 15

 • Starting a rover survey – Starting a rover survey is the same as
for a real-time survey. For more information, refer to the
Trimble Survey Controller Reference Manual.
To start a survey using a VRS system, you must send an
approximate position for the rover receiver to the control
station. When you start a VRS survey, this position is
automatically sent through your radio communications link in a
standard NMEA position message. It is used as the virtual base
position for which the RTCM correction data is valid. For more
information, please see your service provider.

2.1.4 TRIMMARK 3 Support

Trimble Survey Controller now fully supports TRIMMARK™ 3
radios.

2.1.5 SC Exchange .dc File Format

You can now transfer job files in the new Survey Controller (SC)
Exchange .dc file format directly to and from the PC card or an
external device.
In an SC Exchange .dc file, all observations are reduced to GPS and
grid positions (coordinates). This reduced format makes it simpler to
process in third-party applications.
In addition, you can use Data Transfer to transfer a Survey Controller
job as an SC Exchange file.
Note – If the job file to be transferred references a *.ggf, *.cdg, or
*.pgf file, this referenced file must be located in the
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Trimble\GeoData folder on the PC.
To send or receive an SC Exchange format file from Trimble Survey
Controller:
1. From the main menu, select Files / Import/Export.

16 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes

 2. Do one of the following:
– To transfer a job as an SC Exchange format file, select
Send ASCII data.
– To receive an SC Exchange format file, select Receive
ASCII data.
3. In the File format field, select SC Exchange.
4. Select the device you are sending to or receiving from. If
necessary, change the required settings.
Note – If you do not have a PC card in the TSC1, the option to
transfer to and from the PC Card is unavailable.
5. Press = or _, then follow the instructions on the screen
to complete the transfer.

2.1.6 Coordinate System Changes

This section outlines the changes made to the coordinate system
library.
Trimble Survey Controller has the following new coordinate systems:
• United Kingdom: new OS National Grid (OSTN97) zone
• Germany:
– new Bayern 12 zone
– new BW 9 zone
• Belgium: new Lambert 72 zone
The following changes have been made to the existing coordinate
system zones:
• Denmark:
– Zone 34 (Zeeland) has been renamed to System 34
(Zeeland)
– Zone 34 (Jutland) has been renamed to System 34 (Jutland)
– Zone 45 (Bornholm) has been renamed to System 45
(Bornholm)

Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes 17

 • US State Plane 1927:
– Alaska Zone 7 5007: false easting has been corrected from
213360.643496 m to 213360.4267 m (700,000 USft)
• Singapore:
– PSA Grid: datum transformation has changed from Kertau
1948 (seven parameter) to Kertau 1948 (molodensky).
The following coordinate system zone is not supported:
• Irish map grid: Ireland zone

2.2 Additional Information

Trimble Survey Controller 7.71 includes the following changes:
• Transferring a job – The setting for the quadrant bearings
angle unit is now retained in the version 7.71 .dc file when you
transfer a job from Trimble Geomatics Office 1.50 or later.
• Robotic instrument display – When you stake out a road or a
slope from a line or curve, using a robotic instrument operated
remotely from the target, the graphical display indicates the
direction of the arrow from the target (prism) to the instrument.
• Road deltas – When you stake out a road defined only as a
horizontal alignment, using the Station and offset method, the
Road deltas in the graphical display are shown.
• Calculating spirals – When your road definition includes a
spiral that begins and ends on arcs that have radii differing by
less than 2%, the spiral is calculated correctly.
• Report button – The [Report] key on the Confirm staked deltas
form in GPS Road stakeout now reports the staked deltas for the
measured point instead of the current position.
• Trimble 4600 GPS receiver files – You can now receive file
information, and copy and delete files from a
Trimble 4600 GPS receiver.

18 Trimble Survey Controller Release Notes