Major Professional Grade GNSS Rx Manufacturers

My friend asked me what would be my first impressions on those big
GNSS Rx brands serving the Survey industry. I have to admit this
question is really beyond my wits. Anyway I decide to answer as much
as I could, and hopefully there are some "insiders" that can give us a
better answer. I suspect most of my answers are either out of date or
quite inaccurate. If you would like to help, please contribute to the
list.

1. Trimble
Pros: It might be the biggest player in the market, and designed te
first GPS receiver for the civic. I felt its hardware design is very
strong, R&D is good.
Cons: I don't know.

2. Topcon/Sokkia
Pros: It is among the top 3 biggest payers. Its marketing and sales
support are not bad.
Cons: Its R&D team is instable after Javad left.

3. Leica Geosystems
Pros: It is among the top 3 biggest payers. Its marketing and sales
support are not bad.
Cons: Its receivers are based on NovAtel's OEMs. They don't own the
core techologies.

4. Javad
Pros: The performance of their high-ends is amazing.
Cons: Their marketing share is not proportional to their tech.

5. NovAtel
Pros: Their OEMs have stable performance, possibly due to the anenna,
RF circuit and tracking loops.
Cons: Their R&D is weak, and produces no new techologies for years.
They buy technologies from outside.

6. Septentrio
Pros: Their R&D is relatively strong and the response to new
technologies is quick.
Cons: Rumors said lots of office politics there.


7. Ashtech is coming back.
Pros: good reputations in 80s and 90s.
Cons: has left for too long. Not sure if it can catch up.

......


.....

......