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FAQs

Here at Bench Mark Equipment and Supplies, we always want to ensure that you get the right equipment that will not cost you too much money. There are no shady tactics to sell you on items you do not need. We want to ensure that the solution you purchase is the right one for you, and if money is a bit tight, we have several financing options available. Just ask one of our team members.

Yes, Bench Mark can ship equipment off continent. However, if you are looking to purchase a set of batteries and nothing else, due to shipping restrictions we may not be able to send them to you. If you have any questions just let us know.

Every used piece of equipment that is for sale from Bench Mark is tested and refurbished before it is sent out. We ensure that every piece of the equipment is working properly and is performing as well as you would expect. The second a piece of equipment comes through the door, it is thoroughly cleaned and all parts that fall short of our standards are replaced. After this initial inspection, each piece of equipment is tested to ensure that all of the specifications are met.

Hemisphere GNSS offers the same technology as the big three manufacturers for one simple reason; to save our customers money. Unlike, the big three, Hemisphere prides itself in the ability to supply smaller market customers with top of the line technology at a price that actually makes sense. There is no hiding behind a brand name to artificially drive up price, everything is priced fairly. There are no hidden costs, everything is ready to go out of the box.

For most repairs, everything can be handled in house, and from the time we receive the unit you are looking at a 1-2 day repair time. The turn-around time is entirely dependent on what whether or not the unit needs to be sent to the manufacturer for repair. However, if the unit needs to be sent away for repair to the manufacturer, the repair time can range anywhere from 1-2 weeks for larger repairs. If you need equipment and cannot afford to send anything away, Bench Mark may be able to provide you a loaner or a discounted rental to keep you working.

There are several things that you can do to extend the life of your receivers. A warning card to put inside receiver cases can be found here. One of the most important things you can do to increase the longevity of the receivers is to never put the receiver into the case while on, or while a battery is inside the receiver. If the receiver turns on, or is placed inside the case while on it can overheat and damage the unit. In order to maintain the life of the radio, one should not turn the receiver on without first attaching the appropriate antenna. By doing this you help maintain the life span of the RF cable, and do not accidentally over-load the radio.

If you feel you need more range over than internal radios of the S321+ provide, there several options available to you. The more traditional of these options is a base radio kit. The Pacific Crest or Harxon radio kits both perform exceedingly well with the Hemisphere S321+. Another option to increase the range of your internal radios is Bench-Mark’s own StormCaster. With StormCaster you can get unlimited range as long as you are inside cellular coverage, as well as the ability to run an unlimited amount of rovers off the base anywhere you would like to. See Here for more information on StormCaster’s Internet RTK Service.

To see where to measure the HI to on the Hemisphere S321+ please consult this diagram.

There are several advantages to choosing a Windows 10 device over a Windows Mobile device. First and foremost, Microsoft has discontinued support for Windows Mobile and Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC). This means that as every new version of Windows is released, a fix must be found to allow WMDC to run on a Windows Computer. Also if you encounter any issues with Windows Mobile, there are no support options. Another issue that limits Windows Mobile, especially those who have to work with larger jobs is the RAM limit. With a 32 MB limit, larger jobs will not be able to be worked on in Windows Mobile units. Adopting a Windows 10 device also allows you to carry a device with all of the features of your office computer in the field. With options to run Carlson’s SurvPC and MicroSurvey’s FieldGenius, a Windows Tablet might be the solution for you.

There are a number of factors that may cause WMDC to no longer open. However, the most common source of this issue is updating using a computer that has a Windows 10 operating system. If you would like to run WMDC on a Windows 10 Device, email our team today and we will send you a patch to run the software. There are several ways that you can still remove the data off of the data collector, without having to use a computer. You can use an SD Card or a Memory Stick as seen here.

The issue is likely caused by a Windows 10 update. In order to check if this is the case, open Settings, and then Update and Security. If an update is currently being installed, it may take several minutes. It is best to plug the data collector in and stop working until the update has installed. If issues still persist after the updates are complete, contact our team.

If you are getting tight residuals but the receiver refuses to get a fixed solution, it is likely due to Hemisphere’s SureFix option. With SureFix turned on, the Hemisphere S321+ runs two solutions in parallel at board level. It is the equivalent of taking one shot, dumping the antenna, taking another shot and inversing between the two. However, the Hemisphere S321+ has incredibly stringent conditions in order to meet a fixed solution, meaning that if conditions become difficult it will not fix. If the unit still does not determine a fixed position after turning SureFix off, open the battery door and press the small grey button above the battery to reset the receiver.

To find more tips and tricks like this, please visit our YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Profiles.