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Alpha 5i RTK User Guide

Alpha 5i GNSS RECEIVER QUICK GUIDE

Alpha Surveying and mapping

Keep this manual safe for reference and future maintenance

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1、GNSS Receiver

1.1 Alpha 5i Description

Indicator Lights

Power On/Off

TNC Interface
SIM Card Slot

Height-measurement Line

Charging Port（
s type-C）
1.2 Indicator Light

Indicators color Description

Green light on: power 30%-100%

green&red
Green light flashing: power 10%-30%
Power Red light flashing:power＜10%
Red light on：charging

Light off：no stars found

Red light flashing：
few stars found
green&red without positioning
Green light flashing: effective
Satellite
positioning but don't get fixed
Green light on: fixed
Red light on:GNSS mainboard abnormal

Green light flashing: data transmission

green&red Red light flashing: recording static
Data link Red and green lights flash alternately :
record static and transmit data

Light off: no connection

blue Light on: being connected

Bluetooth Flashing: being connected and

downloading differential data

1.3 Self-test Function

The self-test is used to examine whether each module of the
receiver is working healthily. When the instrument is working
abnormally, you can use the self-test function to test the receiver.
Operating instruction:
Two short press plus a long press until a long beep sound is heard,
the instrument will begin the self-test process. If there is nothing
wrong with the machine, there will be two short beep as a
reminder, otherwise，the warning alarm will sound for a longer
period of time.

2、Alpha Bi Controller

2.1 Red Positioning Button

a.Turn on the DiMap: You can directly turn on the DiMap by
pressing the red button when the controller is powered on；
b．Measuring: When the DiMap is in the survey or stakeout
interface, press the red button to collect and store the data.(
1st press for gathering data, 2nd press for confirming the
storage coordinates.)
2.2 Dat Button
a．Show point database. The Dat button is connected to the
point database when doing survey or stakeout work. The Dat
button coordinated with the red positioning button makes
possible a fast and direct interaction between measuring and
stakeout work.
b．Open the output folder. Press the Dat button can get quick
access to the data output folder once the user logs out the
DiMap.

2.3 Fn Button
The Fn button is used to switch the working mode of the key
2,4,6,8: Direction control mode / Digital mode.
When the Fn button is activated, there will be a start prompt at
the top of the controller.

3、Guide For Outdoor Surveying

The following instructions are easy-to-follow tips for new surveyors.
For detailed guidance,please read the user manuals. (Note:The
manuals can be downloaded on the official website:alpha-survey-
ing.com)
3.1 General Working Process Of Base & Rover:
(1) Set up the base.
(2) Open the controller and DiMap, connect them to the base station
in a new project and set the parameters of the coordinate system
and base station for sending differential data.
(3) Connect the controller to the rover and prepare it for receiving
differential signals from the base and getting the fixed solution.
(4) Move the rover to a certain place in the measurement area to find
out the original coordinates of the place. Calculate and apply the
transfer parameters.
(5) Go to another known point to check whether the coordinates are
right after coordinate transformation.
(6) Start the work.
*If the start-up coordinate or the position of the base station change,
you need to perform a maker point calibration process.
(7) Finish the work and export the data file as required.

3.2 Detailed operation instructions of RTK：

3.2.1 Set up the base

Set up the base,and install the UHF antenna when using the radio
mode. Press the power button to turn on the receiver, and wait for
the base to target the satellite.
When the controller is connected to the reference station, click
[Device] - [Base Mode] to select the configuration set required in the
measurement work.
Requirements of of
Requirements thethe
place you
place setset
you upup
thethe
base：
base：
a. Cut-off angle
a. Cut-off larger
angle than
larger 1515
than degrees; Open
degrees; area
Open area
without large
without obstructions.
large obstructions.
b. No electromagnetic
b. No interference(No
electromagnetic microwave
interference(No microwave
stations, radar
stations, stations,
radar or or
stations, cellcell
phone tower
phone within
tower within
200200
meters; And
meters; nono
And power lines
power within
lines 5050
within meters.)
meters.)
c. Base station
c. Base should
station bebe
should setset
upup
in higher places.
in higher There
places. There
should bebe
should nono
large obstructions
large between
obstructions thethe
between base
base
and thethe
and rover or or
rover thethe
differential data
differential transmission
data transmission
distance would
distance bebe
would shorter.
shorter.
*Normally, it isit recommended
*Normally, to to
is recommended setset
upup
thethe
base stations
base in open
stations in open
areas or or
areas onon
thethe
toptop
of of
high buildings.
high buildings.

*E.g. Base station set at the top of a building

3.2.2 Create A New Project

Open the DiMap, select [Project]-[Project management]-[New ] and

then name the new project;
Select the coordinate system in the“
Preset coordinate system”to
confirm the new project in the new interface.

Click the positioning button to get the local central meridian

in the Projection interface of the Coordinate system setting.
Then go back and click [Confirm] to keep the settings.
 3.2.3 Connection Between Controller And Receiver

Click[Device]-[Connect Receiver], then search for correspond-

ing serial number to connect the receiver.

①Click [Search] on the bottom

left.
② Choose the corresponding
Alpha device.
③ Click[Connect] to connect the
instrument (bottom right)
(If there is only one Alpha device
nearby, click [Quick connect] on
the middle and the controller will
automatically search and connect
the receiver)

3.2.4 Setting Rover Mode

After bluetooth connectivity, click [Device]- [Rover Mode]. The
settings are as follows according to the datalink mode:

【Built-in Radio】In this mode,

the radio antenna needs to be
inserted, click [Rover
Mode]-[Default:Rover UHF 1]，
Click [ Apply] to open the
built-in radio. After setting,
the data link indicator light on
the recriver flashes once per
second, indicates that
differential data is received
normally.
【Network of the instrument】
The mode is connected to
the Internet by the network
of RTK. Open the rover mode
interface, click[New] to
create a new config set. As
for the data link, select the
NETWORK,connection mode

As for the CORS setting,

provider choose“custom”-
type the right IP address and
ports, username and
password first and then click
[GET MOUNT COORDINATE
BY PHONE] to connect to
the network. Pick the correct
mount point and click
[Save&Apply] to begin
using the network. Wait for
the initialization process of
the rover. The datalink light
on the receiver is green and
flashes once per second,
indicating that the receiver is
able to receive differential
【Network of the controller】Insert the SIM card into the
controller, and select PHONE in the data link, the same
way as setting network for the instrument. In general,
when the rover gets differential solution and fixed
solutions successfully, it is suggested that the rover has
been set up.
3.2.5 Calculating Transformation Parameters
Taking four parameters as an example, the operational steps
are as follows:：
1、Get fixed solution by setting the mobile station properly.
Click [Survey]- [Point survey] to get the coordinates of two
known controlling points.

Known controlling point:

Northern :2909040.268
Eastern :480802.662
Altitude: 11.901

Looking for the two already-known control points

Measuring point
Northern:2909040.332
Eastern:480802.657
Altitude: 11.579

Measuring the point to get its coordinates

2、Click [Project]-[Localization]-[Add] (bottom left) and input
the coordinates of the control point and the measuring point.
3、Repeat the above operation
and add another point. When two
points are recorded, the coordinate
calculation can be done.
Then switch back to the transforma-
tion parameters interface and click
[calculate] at the bottom, you will
get the transformation parameter
results. When there are 3 or more
points in the calculation, users can
not only check the horizontal or
altitude accuracy, but also take a
quick look at the accuracy of
transformation parameters in the
calculation result interface.
3.2.6 Data Exporting
When the measuring work is finished, the results can be
exported in the format that caters to the needs of the surveyor
by clicking [project]-[data export]. The export process is as
follows.
a. Connecting the controller to a computer by Type-C cable. Set
USB computer connection to MTP mode.The computer will read
the U disk mode in the controller, open and copy the recorded
results on the computer.
Note: Users need to export the results from the app to the
controller before connecting the controller to a computer by
USB.
b. When the recorded results have been exported to the control-
ler, a share prompt will show up for users to send the results to
a computer by wireless methods through WeChat, QQ, or
Bluetooth.

File will saved in the path

 3.2.7 Point calibration
When the startup coordinates or position of the base station
has changed, users have to find a known measuring point in
the original measuring area for calibration if they
still employ the original transformation parameters.
Click [Project]-[panning and calibration] and employ the

4、Tilt compensation
Alpha 5i with the inertial navigation system is able to offer
accurate inertial measurement in real-time even in the
condition of high inclination or in highly dynamic situations.
4.1 Turn on/off the tilt compensation
When the rover gets the fixed solution, the measurement or
stakeout interface will display a turn on/off button. You can
press the button to turn on/off the function.
When the system is on, complete the initialization process
according to the pop-ups.

Please keep the device stationary

4.2 Initialization of the INS

The inertial navigation system for measuring needs to be reset
or initialized when it encounters situations such as inversion or
intense shaking. You can complete the initialization process
following the pop-ups.
Guangzhou Alpha Surveying Technology Co.,Ltd.
NO.203 Kezhu Road,Science City Huangpu District, Guangzhou
www.alpha-surveying.com
[email protected]
+86-20-82108930