Sokkia GCX3 GNSS Receiver
W-9 and vendor pack with every quote
Shipped direct from the manufacturer
The GCX3 ships with a standard GPS/GLONASS L1, 1-Hz static license only; RTK, dual-frequency positioning, BeiDou and Galileo are separate licenses you buy and load afterward.
01
This receiver ships static-only, and RTK is a license you buy and load afterward
Sokkia's own operator manual states the GCX3 ships with a standard Option Authorization File, the license file that switches on features. As shipped, that license covers GPS and GLONASS tracking, single frequency, static positioning only. BeiDou, Galileo, dual-frequency L1+L2 positioning, and RTK in any mode, whether a Bluetooth base-and-rover pair or Network RTK, are separate Option Authorization Files. You buy and load each one onto the receiver after you own it. An independent dealer sells seven distinct GCX3 license upgrades, confirming this split in granular detail. The hardware itself is capable of dual-frequency, long-range and Network RTK operation once the matching licenses load, per the same manual. If you expect an RTK rover working straight out of the box, call us first so we can confirm exactly what your unit ships licensed to run.
02
Sokkia's own page mislabels its featured accuracy figure, and its brochure and manual carry the correct one
Sokkia's current live product page prints 'Static/Fast Static Accuracy: H: 10 mm + 0.8 ppm, V: 15 mm + 1.0 ppm.' That figure is actually RTK accuracy, confirmed by Sokkia's own brochure and operator manual, which both list it separately under 'RTK (L1+L2).' The receiver's genuine Static/Fast Static figure, tighter and printed in both fuller documents, is H: 3.0 mm + 0.4 ppm, V: 5.0 mm + 0.6 ppm. The brochure states no separate observing condition for that row. A third row, Precision Static, tightens further, to H: 3.0 mm + 0.1 ppm, V: 3.5 mm + 0.4 ppm. It needs nominal conditions Sokkia spells out: dual-frequency GPS, precise ephemerides, a calm ionosphere, an approved antenna calibration, and clear sky above 10 degrees. Observation must run at least three hours too. All three figures need the paid static or RTK license; none ships on the standard OAF.
03
Every unit ships with the same core kit: receiver, charger, cable and a reference card
Sokkia's own manual, backed by its own product photograph, lists a fixed core kit on every GCX3. It includes the receiver, an AC/DC power charger, an international adapter wall folding clip kit, a Micro-AB USB cable, and a printed reference card. No soft case and no separate physical object for the license appear in that photographed contents list. The Option Authorization File is a license loaded onto the unit's firmware, not a physical item you unbox.
04
We sell three named variants, and no source maps their names to which licenses ship on each
My Surveying Direct sells the GCX3 as three named variants: Fusion Search, in the Box, and with Soft Case. No manufacturer or dealer source we checked maps any paid license upgrade, RTK, BeiDou, Galileo or dual-frequency, to any of those three variant names. We cannot tell you today whether the entry-level Fusion Search variant includes any RTK capability at all. Call us before you order, and we will confirm exactly what license your specific unit carries.
05
IP67 and a 2-meter pole drop survive the field; the battery runs 10 hours in any single mode
The aluminum-alloy body, capped in Lexan, carries an IP67 rating: fully dust-proof, and rated for one meter of submersion. It survives a 2-meter pole drop and a 1-meter handling drop onto concrete, vibration-tested to MIL-STD-810G. One internal, non-removable 3.6 V, 5,800 mAh battery runs the receiver for up to 10 hours in any single operating mode, measured at 20 degrees C. That covers a Bluetooth RTK base, an RTK rover, a MAGNET Relay base, or a static logger alike. Charging takes under 5 hours with the unit off and an external 2-amp power source, through the receiver's one Micro-AB USB port. Actual charging time depends on the external charger and cable used. That same port handles communications and power too, with no separate serial port and no internal radio or cellular module fitted.
06
Sokkia does not publish a warranty term for the receiver; it ships on a printed card instead
Sokkia's own manual states only that the GCX3 is guaranteed for the period printed on the warranty card shipped inside the box. That card is not published anywhere we could check, so we cannot print a number here. The one figure Sokkia does publish in the same warranty chapter covers the battery, charger and cable specifically: 90 days. Keep the card that ships with your unit; it is the only place the receiver's own term is written down.
07 FOR UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
My Surveying Direct accepts purchase orders from universities, colleges and government agencies
My Surveying Direct is an authorized Sokkia reseller, and every GCX3 ships direct from Sokkia. Two things about this receiver are worth confirming before you commit a budget line. Which license file your specific unit carries, and which of our three variants matches what you actually need. Call us at +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time. We will confirm what your kit includes and exactly what it is licensed to run before you order.
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REFERENCE
Specifications
Licensing
| Standard factory OAF | GPS/GLONASS L1, 1-Hz StaticSokkia's own words: 'The GCX3 receiver ships with standard GPS/GLONASS L1, 1-Hz Static OAF option. Upgrade OAFs are available for purchase.' Confirmed independently: an authorized dealer's own base-kit part list includes a 'GCX3 Standard OAF' as a shipped item |
| What requires a paid upgrade OAF | BeiDou tracking, Galileo tracking, dual-frequency (L1+L2) positioning, and RTK operation in any form (Bluetooth base/rover, Network RTK, or both)An independent dealer lists seven separate GCX3 OAFs for sale: a BeiDou add-on, a Galileo add-on, a static-only L1+L2 post-processing upgrade, and four distinct RTK-mode upgrades. |
| Receiver capability the OAF system gates | The manual itself states the hardware is 'capable of Dual Frequency Static, Long Range, Network RTK, and MAGNET Relay operation' once the corresponding OAFs are loaded |
Positioning
| Static / Fast Static (post-processed, L1+L2) | H: 3.0 mm + 0.4 ppm, V: 5.0 mm + 0.6 ppmCarries no stated observing condition in Sokkia's own brochure table. Requires the L1+L2 static OAF, which is not part of the standard factory license |
| Precision Static (post-processed, L1+L2) | H: 3.0 mm + 0.1 ppm, V: 3.5 mm + 0.4 ppm, under nominal observing conditions and strict processing methods: dual-frequency GPS, precise ephemerides, calm ionospheric conditions, an approved antenna calibration, unobstructed visibility above 10 degrees, and an observation duration of at least 3 hours, dependent on baseline lengthThis is the tighter of the two post-processed static figures Sokkia's own brochure publishes; requires the L1+L2 static OAF, which is not part of the standard factory license |
| RTK (L1+L2) | H: 10 mm + 0.8 ppm, V: 15 mm + 1.0 ppmSokkia's own current live product page mislabels this figure as 'Static/Fast Static Accuracy'; it is the RTK figure. Requires a paid RTK OAF, which is not part of the standard factory license |
| DGPS | H: 0.4 m, V: 0.6 m |
| SBAS | H: 1.0 m, V: 1.5 m per the operator manual's engineering table; Sokkia's brochure instead states H: 0.8 m, V: 1 m for the same figure, an unresolved contradiction in the manufacturer's own published documents |
| RTK Time-to-First-Fix | 2 to 8 seconds |
| Start times | Cold start under 60 seconds; warm start under 35 seconds; reacquisition under 1 second |
| Maximum data rate | 10 Hz, for RTK position and raw measurement data |
| Correction formats | TPS proprietary, RTCM SC104 v2.x and 3.x (including MSM), CMR/CMR+The manual's own caution: CMR/CMR+ is a third-party proprietary format, its use is not recommended and performance on it is not guaranteed; industry-standard RTCM 3.x is Sokkia's own recommendation |
| Network RTK correction path | Ntrip via an external cellular-enabled data collector or field controllerThe GCX3 has no internal cellular module; corrections reach it only through a paired external device |
| ASCII/NMEA output | NMEA 0183 versions 2.x and 3.0 per the operator manual's engineering table; Sokkia's brochure instead states versions 2.x, 3.x and 4.x for the same product, not resolved between the manufacturer's own documents |
Mechanical
| Enclosure | Aluminum alloy with a Lexan capA different material from the sibling GRX3, which uses a magnesium alloy enclosure |
| Color | Sokkia Gray and Blue (base configuration) |
| Dimensions | 47 x 47 x 197 mm (w x d x h) |
| Weight | Up to 440 g including batteries, depending on configurationSokkia's brochure and an independent dealer both print a flat 440 g with no configuration caveat. |
| Operating temperature | Battery charging: -0 degrees C to +45 degrees C; battery operation: -20 degrees C to +63 degrees C; external/cable power: -40 degrees C to +63 degrees CSokkia's brochure prints only a two-condition simplified version of this, omitting the charging condition. |
| Storage temperature | -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C |
| Humidity | 100%, condensing |
| Ingress protection | IP67, stated by the manual as IPX7 (1 meter submersion) plus IP6X (fully dust proof) |
| Drop and vibration | 2.0 m pole drop, 1.0 m handling drop. Random vibration to MIL-STD-810G Method 514.6, Category 4; shock to MIL-STD-810G Method 516.6, 40 g / 11 ms |
| Tilt compensation | Not offered on the GCX3Sokkia's live product page, its brochure and its 63-page manual do not mention tilt anywhere, and none of the seven purchasable OAF upgrades an independent dealer lists unlock it. This is a hardware difference from the sibling GRX3, which carries a factory-fitted Hybrid IMU for tilt compensation, not a licensing gap on identical hardware. |
Electrical
| Battery | One internal, non-removable Lithium-ion battery, 3.6 V, 5,800 mAh |
| Operating time | Up to 10 hours in any single mode, measured at 20 degrees C. The modes are MAGNET Relay base, Bluetooth RTK base, Bluetooth RTK or Network RTK rover, and static logging |
| Charging | Under 5 hours for a full charge with the unit off and an external 2 A power source, via the Micro-AB USB port. Charging time depends on the external charger and cable used |
| External power input | 4.5 to 5.5 VDC, USB standard, normal ambient conditionsThe receiver requires input in this exact range to power on; the same range charges the internal battery |
| Power consumption | 1.5 W, RTK rover with Long-Range Bluetooth, running on the internal battery at 20 degrees C |
| External power supply adapter | Input 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz, 0.8 A; output +5 VDC / 2 A |
Connectivity
| Radio | No internal UHF radio moduleA genuine hardware difference from the sibling GRX3, which offers factory-fitted UHF radio options. Sokkia sells a standalone R4S-BT external radio modem as a separate product, not fitted to the GCX3 |
| Cellular | No internal cellular moduleThe GCX3 reaches Network RTK only by pairing, over Bluetooth, with an external cellular-enabled data collector or field controller. This differs from the GRX3, which offers an internal cellular module as a factory option |
| Bluetooth | Long-Range Bluetooth, v2.1 + EDR, reaching up to 300 meters with clear line of sight, and up to 3 simultaneous rover connections when the GCX3 is used as a base. Range depends on environmental and field conditions |
| Ports | One Micro-AB USB port, used for communications, charging and powerNo serial port, unlike the GRX3, which carries a separate RS-232 serial port |
Data
| Update rate | Up to 10 Hz, for real-time position and raw measurement data |
| Internal storage | 8 GB pre-installed, non-removable memory; up to 3,000 filesNeither the brochure nor either independent dealer states a file count; the manual is the only source for the 3,000-file figure |
| Logging interval | Not stated on Sokkia's product page, in its brochure, or in the operator manualSokkia publishes a logging-interval figure for the sibling GRX3. |
GNSS
| Tracked signals (consumer-facing list) | GPS L1 C/A, L1C, L2P, L2C; GLONASS L1 C/A, L1P, L2 C/A, L2P; BeiDou B1, B2; Galileo E1; SBAS L1 C/A WAAS/MSAS/EGNOS/GAGAN; QZSS L1 C/A, L1C, L2CThe manual's own deeper engineering table (Table 10) instead omits GPS L1C, and additionally lists QZSS L1-SAIF, with a note that QZSS L1C support 'will be available through firmware upgrade,' i.e. not yet active. Which signals are actually enabled on a given unit further depends on its licensed OAF, see Licensing above |
| Number of channels | 226, Sokkia's own optimized satellite tracking technology |
| Antenna | Integrated, second-generation POST2 (Precision Orbital Satellite Technology) antenna |
| Multipath reduction | Code and carrier multipath reduction, adjustable PLL/DLL bandwidth and order |
Software and services
| Field software | MAGNET Field is Sokkia/Topcon's field data-collection application, and the manual also references generic 'Sokkia Field' software. The GCX3's interface is described by the manufacturer and dealers as open architecture, compatible with third-party field softwareNeither ships pre-installed or included with the receiver; both run on a separate field controller or data collector, sold apart from the receiver |
| Configuration utility | Sokkia Receiver Utility (SRU), used to configure the receiver and antenna, load OAFs, update firmware, and perform a factory reset. Runs on a field controller or a PC |
| Correction service, one bundle only | TopNET Live Subscription, North America, 100-hour GEO/MC, named by one independent dealer as part of its own 'Fusion Search' bundle onlyNot confirmed as included with any specific MYSD-sold variant; dealer-sourced, not manufacturer-confirmed for our own SKUs |
Delivery scope
| Standard kit components, per Sokkia's own manual and its product photograph | GCX3 receiver, power charger (AC/DC desktop adapter), international adapter wall folding clip kit, Micro-AB USB cable, and a printed reference/LED cardNo soft case and no separate physical object for the OAF appear in the manufacturer's own photographed contents; the OAF is a license loaded onto the unit's firmware, not a physical item. |
Warranty
| Receiver warranty term | Not published by Sokkia; stated on the physical warranty card that accompanies each unitThe manual's own Warranty chapter states only that the product 'is guaranteed for the period indicated, on the warranty card accompanying the product' - the term itself lives on a physical card. Genuine, tested absence |
| Battery, charger and cable warranty | 90 daysStated explicitly in the same Warranty chapter as a footnote to the general warranty text |
Ordering
| Dealer status | Authorized reseller |
| Purchase orders | Accepted from universities, colleges and government agencies |
| Shipping | Shipped direct from the manufacturer |
| Speak to us | +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain Time |