CHCNAV i85 GNSS Receiver

Data Sheet | User Guide
Training Videos

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What’s Included

The CHCNAV i85 Rover Kit – Part Number 8001 010 460 includes:

• 1× 1101 020 029 – CHCNAV i85 GNSS Receiver
• 1× 1300 120 001 – SMA Whip Antenna, 410–470 MHz
• 1× 4103 010 096 – USB Type-C Cable
• 1× 160051000H – Rover Transport Hard Case
• 1× 4106 080 439 – i85 Transport Hard Case Foam / Pocket Insert
• 1× 4106 040 152 – Rover Hard Case Inner Carton
• 1× 4106 040 158 – Rover Hard Case Outer Carton
• 1× 0103 051 069 – CHCNAV GNSS Receiver Case Label
• 1× 4102 020 026 – Range Pole
• 1× 4102 070 001 – Auxiliary H.I. Tool, Silver
• 1× 4104 060 069 – Power Adapter

CHCNAV’s i85 user guide also identifies the rover package as including the receiver, UHF antenna, power adapter, USB Type-C cable, 2 m range pole, auxiliary H.I. tool, and transport hard case.

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Overview

The CHCNAV i85 is a compact Laser IMU-RTK GNSS receiver designed to combine professional RTK positioning with long-range laser measurement, visual stakeout, tilt compensation, and satellite-delivered PointSky corrections.

At the heart of the i85 is an 1892-channel GNSS engine with CHCNAV iStar technology, providing multi-constellation tracking and RTK accuracy of 8 mm + 1 ppm horizontal and 15 mm + 1 ppm vertical. The receiver also incorporates a 200 Hz AUTO-IMU, allowing survey points to be collected with the pole tilted as much as 60°.

The standout feature is its integrated industrial-grade green laser rangefinder, which can measure hard-to-reach points at distances of up to 150 meters under favorable conditions. Dual cameras, including an 8 MP high-definition camera, help the operator aim precisely at distant targets and also support Visual Navigation and CAD AR Visual Stakeout through LandStar.

At only 800 g (1.76 lb), the i85 combines GNSS, IMU, laser, cameras, UHF communication, and PointSky support in a compact receiver designed for topographic surveying, utility mapping, mining, forestry, construction, and other applications where conventional pole occupation may not always be practical.

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Key Features

• 1892-channel multi-constellation GNSS
• CHCNAV iStar GNSS technology
• Integrated green laser rangefinder
• Laser measurement range up to 150 m under favorable conditions
• Designed for remote measurement of inaccessible points
• Dual cameras with 2 MP + 8 MP sensors
• Intelligent autofocus and zoom for distant targeting
• 200 Hz AUTO-IMU
• Pole tilt compensation up to 60°
• CAD AR Visual Stakeout
• Visual Navigation with LandStar
• RTK accuracy of 8 mm + 1 ppm horizontal
• CHCNAV PointSky satellite correction support
• Integrated 410–470 MHz UHF Tx/Rx radio
• CHCNAV DistLink radio protocol
• Up to 20 hours RTK rover battery life
• Up to 15 hours of Laser Survey operation
• Lightweight 800 g (1.76 lb) design
• IP68 environmental protection
• Designed to survive a 2-meter pole drop
• 8 GB internal storage
• Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity

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Integrated 150 m Green Laser

The i85 incorporates an industrial-grade Class 3R green laser designed for surveying points that cannot easily or safely be occupied with a GNSS pole.

Instead of physically placing the pole directly on the target, the operator can aim the laser at the desired point and calculate its 3D coordinates using the receiver’s GNSS, IMU, and laser measurement system.

CHCNAV specifies a laser range of up to 150 meters under favorable conditions, such as nighttime operation and highly reflective targets. Actual usable range depends on target reflectivity, ambient light, weather, and other environmental conditions.

For everyday field use, the i85 user guide recommends measurement distances of less than 20 meters where possible, with approximately 10 meters described as an optimal working distance.

The laser is designed to remain visible in ambient light levels up to 50,000 lux, helping operators target surfaces outdoors even in bright conditions.

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Measure Hard-to-Reach Points Remotely

Laser Survey allows the i85 to collect points where conventional GNSS pole positioning may be difficult, unsafe, or impossible.

Typical examples include:

• Across water
• Across fences
• Building corners
• Utility structures
• Slopes and embankments
• Excavations
• Roadways
• Stockpiles
• Trees and vegetation
• Restricted-access areas

By combining the laser distance with GNSS positioning and IMU orientation, the receiver can calculate a remote 3D coordinate without requiring the surveyor to physically occupy the point.

CHCNAV states that this workflow can increase efficiency by more than 50% in suitable applications.

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8 MP Camera with Intelligent Auto-Focus

Accurately aiming a laser becomes increasingly difficult as measurement distance increases, so the i85 incorporates a high-resolution camera system specifically designed to assist remote targeting.

The receiver includes dual global-shutter cameras:

• 8 MP primary camera
• 2 MP secondary camera
• 91° field of view
• Up to 30 fps adaptive video

The 8 MP camera functions much like a digital telescope, allowing distant objects to remain clear while the operator aims the laser.

Automatic focus and zoom help simplify point targeting, while manual zoom control is also available when needed.

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Laser Survey Modes

LandStar supports dedicated Laser Survey workflows with the i85.

The system provides:

• Rapid Laser Survey
• High-Accuracy Laser Survey
• Automatic zoom
• Manual zoom
• Automatic point storage
• Adjustable movement and collection timing

CHCNAV specifies Rapid Laser Survey accuracy of approximately:

• 3 cm within 5 m
• 5 cm within 10 m

 

Before laser measurement, the receiver performs an initialization procedure to establish the necessary IMU and laser orientation parameters. The operator then centers the on-screen targeting crosshair over the desired point and initiates the measurement.

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1892-Channel GNSS Performance

The i85 features a high-performance 1892-channel GNSS engine designed for professional multi-frequency satellite tracking.

Supported systems include:

• GPS: L1C/A, L1C, L2C, L5
• GLONASS: G1, G2, L1OC*, L2OC*, L3OC*
• Galileo: E1C, E5a, E5b, E5AltBoC, E6
• BeiDou: B1I, B2I, B3I, B1C, B2a, B2b
• QZSS: L1C/A(B), L1C, L2C, L5, L6D/E*
• NavIC/IRNSS: L5
• SBAS: EGNOS L1 and L5
• PPP: B2b-PPP and E6B-HAS
• L-band: CHCNAV PointSky

CHCNAV specifies RTK initialization reliability above 99.9%, with initialization typically occurring in less than 10 seconds under suitable conditions.

*Certain signals may depend on firmware and service availability.

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Professional RTK Accuracy

For conventional GNSS surveying, the i85 provides centimeter-level RTK positioning.

RTK Accuracy

• Horizontal: 8 mm + 1 ppm RMS
• Vertical: 15 mm + 1 ppm RMS
• Initialization time: <10 seconds
• Initialization reliability: >99.9%

The receiver also supports PPK, high-precision static, rapid static, code differential, autonomous positioning, and supported PPP workflows.

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200 Hz AUTO-IMU Tilt Compensation

The i85 integrates a 200 Hz AUTO-IMU for tilt-compensated GNSS measurements.

Instead of leveling the survey pole for every observation, operators can collect points while the pole is tilted up to 60°.

This is useful when surveying around:

• Walls
• Buildings
• Fences
• Vehicles
• Trenches
• Vegetation
• Utility structures
• Other obstacles

CHCNAV specifies additional horizontal pole-tilt uncertainty of typically less than 8 mm + 0.3 mm/° when tilted up to 30°.

The IMU is calibration-free for normal operation and is designed to remain unaffected by magnetic interference.

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CAD AR Visual Stakeout

The i85’s cameras are not limited to laser targeting. They also support Visual Navigation and CAD AR Visual Stakeout through LandStar.

During stakeout, the target point can be shown directly within the live camera view rather than relying only on conventional directional arrows and numerical distances.

The system uses the front camera when approaching the target and can transition to the bottom camera at close range. CHCNAV’s VPT – Virtual Pole Tip technology helps visually align the pole tip with the desired stakeout point.

This can simplify layout operations for:

• Building construction
• Foundations
• Utilities
• Site development
• Roads
• CAD-based staking
• General construction layout

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PointSky Satellite Corrections

The i85 supports CHCNAV PointSky, a satellite-delivered correction service designed to provide real-time centimeter-level positioning without requiring a local RTK base station.

CHCNAV specifies PointSky performance of:

• Horizontal: 2.5 cm CEP95
• Vertical: 5 cm RMS
• Standard convergence: under 5 minutes
• Specific regions: under 1 minute
• Correction uptime during temporary interruption: up to 300 seconds

 

PointSky can be especially useful for remote surveying or large projects where establishing a local base station or maintaining an NTRIP connection may be inconvenient.

Coverage, subscription status, convergence, and accuracy depend on region, satellite visibility, environment, and service configuration.

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Integrated UHF Rx/Tx Radio with DistLink

The i85 includes a built-in UHF Tx/Rx radio, allowing it to both receive and transmit RTK correction data.

This means the receiver can operate as either:

• UHF Rover – Rx: Receives corrections from a base
• UHF Base – Tx: Transmits corrections to compatible rovers

The internal radio supports:

• 410–470 MHz
• 0.5 W / 1 W transmission power
• CHC
• DistLink
• Transparent
• TT450
• Satel
• 9,600–19,200 bps link rates

With DistLink, CHCNAV specifies a typical communication range of approximately 6 km, with optimal range of up to 15 km under suitable conditions. Other supported protocols provide approximately 3 km typical range and up to 8 km under optimal conditions.

The receiver included in this package is supplied as a rover, but the integrated two-way radio also enables base operation when paired with the appropriate tripod, tribrach, and base accessories.

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Long Battery Life

The i85 uses a built-in 7.2 V / 4900 mAh lithium-ion battery.

CHCNAV specifies operating times of up to:

• 20 hours – UHF RTK Rover without camera
• 15 hours – Laser Survey
• 15 hours – Visual Stakeout
• 7.5 hours – UHF RTK Base using DistLink
• 10 hours – UHF RTK Base using other protocols

 

The receiver charges through USB Type-C, with a full charging time of approximately 4.8 hours.

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Compact 800 g Design

Despite incorporating GNSS, dual cameras, an IMU, laser rangefinder, UHF radio, and internal battery, the i85 weighs only 800 g (1.76 lb).

Its dimensions are approximately:

Ø134 × 86 mm (Ø5.28 × 3.39 in)

This compact design helps reduce pole weight while maintaining the advanced measurement capabilities needed for remote laser surveying and conventional GNSS work.

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Rugged Field-Ready Construction

The i85 is designed for demanding professional field environments.

It features:

• IP68 dust and water protection
• Designed to survive a 2-meter pole drop
• ISO 9022-36-08 vibration compliance
• MIL-STD-810H vibration compliance
• Operating temperature from -40°C to +65°C (-40°F to +149°F)
• Storage temperature from -40°C to +85°C (-40°F to +185°F)
• Waterproof and breathable membrane

 

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Laser Safety

The i85 uses a Class 3R green laser with a wavelength of approximately 520 ±10 nm.

Avoid direct eye exposure to the laser beam.

Operators should follow all safety instructions provided in the CHCNAV i85 user guide when using Laser Survey.

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Ideal Applications

The CHCNAV i85 is well suited for:

• Topographic surveying
• Boundary surveying
• Construction layout
• Utility mapping
• Mining surveys
• Forestry surveys
• Site development
• As-built surveys
• Road and infrastructure work
• Remote point measurement
• Hard-to-reach point collection
• Stockpile surveys
• Measurements across water
• Measurements across fences or obstacles
• Laser-assisted 3D point collection
• CAD AR stakeout
• Tilt-compensated GNSS surveying
• UHF RTK base and rover operation
• PointSky satellite-correction workflows
• Static and PPK surveying

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Technical Specifications

GNSS Channels: 1892

RTK Accuracy

• Horizontal: 8 mm + 1 ppm RMS
• Vertical: 15 mm + 1 ppm RMS
• Initialization time: <10 seconds
• Initialization reliability: >99.9%

PPK Accuracy

• Horizontal: 3 mm + 1 ppm RMS
• Vertical: 5 mm + 1 ppm RMS

High-Precision Static

• Horizontal: 2.5 mm + 0.1 ppm RMS
• Vertical: 3.5 mm + 0.4 ppm RMS

Static / Rapid Static

• Horizontal: 2.5 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS
• Vertical: 5 mm + 0.5 ppm RMS

PointSky

• Horizontal: 2.5 cm CEP95
• Vertical: 5 cm RMS
• Standard convergence: <5 minutes
• Specific regions: <1 minute

Rapid Laser Survey

• 3 cm within 5 m
• 5 cm within 10 m

Laser

• Class 3R
• Green laser
• Range: Up to 150 m under favorable conditions
• Designed for outdoor operation up to 50,000 lux

IMU

• 200 Hz AUTO-IMU
• Tilt range: 0–60°
• Calibration-free
• Resistant to magnetic interference

Cameras

• Dual global-shutter cameras
• 2 MP + 8 MP
• 91° field of view
• Up to 30 fps
• Automatic and manual zoom

Built-In UHF

• Tx/Rx
• Frequency: 410–470 MHz
• Transmit power: 0.5 W / 1 W
• Protocols: CHC, DistLink, Transparent, TT450, Satel
• DistLink typical range: 6 km
• DistLink optimal range: Up to 15 km
• Other protocols typical range: 3 km
• Other protocols optimal range: Up to 8 km

Wireless

• Bluetooth 4.2
• Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac
• 2.4 GHz / 5.8 GHz
• NFC touch pairing

Storage: 8 GB high-speed memory

Ports

• 1× USB Type-C
• 1× UHF antenna port

Battery: Built-in 7.2 V / 4900 mAh lithium-ion

Operating Time

• UHF RTK Rover without camera: Up to 20 hours
• Laser Survey: Up to 15 hours
• Visual Stakeout: Up to 15 hours
• UHF Base with DistLink: Up to 7.5 hours
• UHF Base with other protocols: Up to 10 hours

Charging Time: Approximately 4.8 hours

Ingress Protection: IP68

Drop Rating: 2-meter pole drop

Operating Temperature: -40°C to +65°C (-40°F to +149°F)

Dimensions: Ø134 × 86 mm (Ø5.28 × 3.39 in)

Weight: 800 g (1.76 lb)

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GNSS, Laser, and Visual Surveying in One Receiver

The CHCNAV i85 combines professional RTK GNSS, 200 Hz AUTO-IMU tilt compensation, dual-camera visual stakeout, PointSky satellite corrections, and a long-range green laser into one compact receiver. Its ability to remotely measure points that cannot be directly occupied makes it especially useful for surveyors working around water, utilities, traffic, structures, slopes, vegetation, and other difficult terrain while still providing the conventional GNSS capabilities needed for everyday field work.