Supported equipment

The Origin software can be used with the equipment listed below.

To test, demonstrate, or deliver training with Origin using a simulated connection to a GNSS receiver, see To simulate a connection to a GNSS receiver. To simulate running the software on a supported controller, see To simulate a controller.

Windows devices

The Origin software can be installed onto the following Spectra Geospatial controllers running the Windows® 10 operating system:

  • Spectra Geospatial Ranger 7 data collector
  • Spectra Geospatial ST10 or ST100 tablet
  • Supported third-party tablets

For more information on supported third-party tablets, refer to the support bulletin Spectra Geospatial Origin on 64-bit Windows 10 & 11, which can be downloaded from the Support bulletins page.

Android devices

The Origin software can be installed onto the following Spectra Geospatial controllers running the Android operating system:

  • Spectra Geospatial Ranger 5 data collector
  • Spectra Geospatial MobileMapper 6 handheld
  • Spectra Geospatial MobileMapper 60 handheld
  • Spectra Geospatial SP30 handheld GNSS receiver
  • Spectra Geospatial FOCUS controller

Origin is designed to be used in Portrait mode or in Landscape mode on the MobileMapper 6 and MobileMapper 60 handheld. There are small differences in the UI to accommodate the portrait screen and the Android operating system. See Screen orientation.

The Spectra Geospatial SP30 handheld GNSS receiver can only be used with Origin subscriptions - it cannot be used with Origin perpetual licenses. The SP30 is designed for GNSS‑only surveying and does not support connections to total stations. For more information on using the SP30 with Origin, refer to the Supported GNSS receivers section below.

Conventional instruments that can be connected to the controller running Origin are:

  • Spectra Geospatial FOCUS® 50 total stations
  • Spectra Geospatial FOCUS 35/30 total stations
  • Supported Nikon and third‑party total stations

The functionality available in the Origin software depends on the model and firmware version of the connected instrument. Spectra Geospatial recommends updating the instrument to the latest available firmware to use this version of Origin.

GNSS receivers that can be connected to the controller running Origin are:

  • Spectra Geospatial integrated GNSS receiver with a built-in inertial measurement unit (IMU): SP100
  • Spectra Geospatial integrated GNSS receivers: SP85, SP80, SP60
  • Spectra Geospatial modular GNSS receivers: SP90m
  • Spectra Geospatial SP30 handheld GNSS receiver

  • As noted in the Supported controllers section above, the Spectra Geospatial SP30 handheld GNSS receiver can only be used with Origin subscriptions, not perpetual licenses. When used with Origin, the SP30:
    • Can connect to an external antenna but cannot connect to another GNSS receiver.
    • Can connect to other survey equipment such as an echo sounder or laser rangefinder.
    • Can be used as a GNSS RTK solution only, providing accuracy at the following levels:

      • Centimeter accuracy - Horizontal: 10mm, Vertical: 15mm

      • Decimeter accuracy - Horizontal: 70mm, Vertical: 20mm

      • Sub-meter accuracy - Horizontal: 300mm, Vertical: 300mm

    • Cannot be used with RTX and cannot be used for postprocessing.

    • Does not support camera-based eLevel.

  • The communication protocols the Spectra Geospatial Origin software uses to communicate with older Spectra Geospatial GNSS receivers do not support all of the features available when using the same receivers with Survey Pro software. For more information, refer to the support bulletin SP60, SP80 and SP85 Receiver Support with Spectra Geospatial Origin, which can be downloaded from the Support bulletins page.

If required, you can use additional devices when surveying, such as:

  • laser rangefinders
  • echo sounders
  • barcode readers

If your controller supports a barcode reader you can use it to fill out the current field, for example a Code field. When using a Ranger 7 fitted with the EMPOWER barcode reader module, use the EMPOWER Asset settings application on the controller to enable the barcode reader and select the trigger button.

To use a laser rangefinder or echo sounder, you must configure the survey style. See Additional survey equipment.