Internet setup using a separate smartphone

You can connect the controller to the Internet using a separate smartphone. Connect the smartphone to the controller using a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. The controller then uses the smartphone's connection to the 3G or 4G mobile broadband network to connect to the Internet.

In general, Wi-Fi connections have faster data connections but use more battery power on both devices than Bluetooth connections.

You can have only one Wi-Fi connection active at a time so if you have connected the controller to a Trimble SX10 or SX12 scanning total station using Wi‑Fi, you will need to connect to the smartphone using Bluetooth.

  1. On the phone, enable the Mobile hotspot or Portable hotspot setting.

    This turns off Wi-Fi on your phone so that the phone is now in Access Point mode. A notification shows the name of the created AP and the required passkey.

    To locate this setting on your phone, open the main Settings app and enter hotspot in the Search field.

  2. Connect the controller to the phone.
    • If the controller is a Windows device:
      1. Press the Windows key to display the Windows taskbar and tap the Wireless network icon .
      2. If the Wi-Fi tile is gray, tap it to enable it. The tile changes to blue.
      3. In the list of Wi-Fi networks, select the name of your phone's Access Point and enter the required passkey.
      4. Tap Connect.
    • If the controller is an Android device:
      1. Swipe down from the notifications area at the top of the screen.
      2. If the Wi-Fi icon is gray, tap the icon to enable it and then set the Wi-Fi switch to On.
      3. In the list of Wi-Fi networks, select Android AP and enter the required passkey.
      4. Tap Connect.
  3. Open your Internet browser and enter a URL to confirm the controller can connect to the Internet.
  4. To use this Internet connection for an Internet RTK data link, when configuring the GNSS contact in Trimble Access, tap in the Network connection field and select Controller Internet. See To create a GNSS contact for a rover Internet data link.

  5. To disconnect the controller from your smartphone, tap the Wireless network icon in the Windows taskbar, select the phone access point and tap Disconnect.

    The next time you want to use the phone's Internet connection, re-enable the Mobile hotspot or Portable hotspot setting on the phone and then on the controller select the wireless network and tap Connect.

If the controller is a Windows device:

  1. Pair the smartphone with the controller. To do this:
    1. Enable Bluetooth on the phone.

    2. On the controller, press the Windows key to display the Windows taskbar and tap the system tray arrow. Tap the Bluetooth icon and select Add a Bluetooth Device. Make sure Bluetooth is set to On.

      The name of the controller is shown just below the Bluetooth On switch.

    3. On the controller, tap Add Bluetooth or other device. Select Bluetooth as the device type. In the list of devices on the controller, select the name of your phone.

    4. When prompted, tap OK or Connect on each device to confirm the passkey is correct.

      If there is a long list of Bluetooth devices on the controller, swipe down (scroll) to see the passkey confirmation prompt and buttons. The prompt times out after a few seconds, so if you miss it, tap Cancel and repeat steps (c) and (d).

    5. On the controller, tap Done.

  2. On the phone, enable the Bluetooth tethering or Internet tethering setting to allow your phone's Internet connection to be shared with another device.

    To locate this setting on your phone, open the main Settings app and enter tethering in the Search field.

  3. To use the phone's Internet connection on the controller:

    1. Press the Windows key to display the Windows taskbar and tap the arrow to display the system tray. Tap the Bluetooth icon and select Join a Personal Area Network.

      The Windows Devices and Printers window opens. Wait for a moment for the connected phone to appear.

    2. Tap the phone and from the options at the top of the window, select Connect using / Access point.

  4. On the controller, open your Internet browser and enter a URL to confirm the controller can connect to the Internet.
  5. To use this Internet connection for an Internet RTK data link, when configuring the GNSS contact in Trimble Access, tap in the Network connection field and select Controller Internet. See To create a GNSS contact for a rover Internet data link.

  6. To stop using the phone's Internet connection, return to the Windows Devices and Printers window, select the phone and tap Disconnect from device network.

    The next time you want to use the phone's Internet connection, connect the devices using Bluetooth and then repeat the steps in step (3) above.

If the controller is an Android device:

  1. Pair the smartphone with the controller. To do this:
    1. Enable Bluetooth on the phone.

    2. On the controller, swipe down from the notifications area at the top of the screen and tap the Bluetooth icon.

    3. On the controller, tap Pair with new device. In the list of devices on the controller, select the name of your phone.

    4. When prompted, tap OK or Pair on each device to confirm the passkey is correct.

    5. On the controller, tap Done.

  2. On the phone, when prompted to allow Bluetooth tethering, tap Allow. If this notification does not appear automatically, enable the setting on your phone.

    To locate this setting on your phone, open the main Settings app and enter tethering in the Search field.

  3. On the controller, open your Internet browser and enter a URL to confirm the controller can connect to the Internet.
  4. To use this Internet connection for an Internet RTK data link, when configuring the GNSS contact in Trimble Access, tap in the Network connection field and select Controller Internet. See To create a GNSS contact for a rover Internet data link.

  5. To stop using the phone's Internet connection, return to the Windows Devices and Printers window, select the phone and tap Disconnect from device network.