# Connecting trimble r4 to qfield through serial port (NMEA)

**URL:** <https://community.qfield.org/t/connecting-trimble-r4-to-qfield-through-serial-port-nmea/855>\
**Category:** Ask the Community\
**Tags:** gh-import\
**Created:** [14 May 2025 03:06 UTC](https://community.qfield.org/t/connecting-trimble-r4-to-qfield-through-serial-port-nmea/855 "2025-05-14T03:06:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex018/uploads/qfield/original/1X/7d3726da0ef5099a1e135505c03d2f125d527aae.png) [@system](https://community.qfield.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [14 May 2025 03:06 UTC](https://community.qfield.org/t/connecting-trimble-r4-to-qfield-through-serial-port-nmea/855/1 "2025-05-14T03:06:59Z")

</div>

Working in archaeology.

I m wondering if someone managed to get NMEA stream from an external gps rover such as trimble r4 through serial port (rs232). Would a rs232 to usb-c cable do the trick? I heard an app like gps connector can read nmea stream from usb and use it as mock location on android.

I want to test this because we work with a fixed base station on site communicating with the rover through radio. Cant use NTRIP because cell coverage is really bad on site.

Is this possible?

Thanks a lot guys!

* * *

_Imported from [GitHub discussion](https://github.com/opengisch/qfield/discussions/3102) by @dukytony on 2022-07-23T08:14:22Z_

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex018/uploads/qfield/original/1X/7d3726da0ef5099a1e135505c03d2f125d527aae.png) [@system](https://community.qfield.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [14 May 2025 03:07 UTC](https://community.qfield.org/t/connecting-trimble-r4-to-qfield-through-serial-port-nmea/855/2 "2025-05-14T03:07:00Z")

</div>

Hi,

You get information about using external receiver in the doc [Using an external GNSS-Receiver](https://docs.qfield.org/how-to/gnss/#using-an-external-gnss-receiver)

I hope it helps.

* * *

_Imported from [GitHub comment](https://github.com/opengisch/QField/discussions/3102#discussioncomment-3229166) by @lucienicolier on 2022-07-26T08:46:16Z_

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex018/uploads/qfield/original/1X/7d3726da0ef5099a1e135505c03d2f125d527aae.png) [@system](https://community.qfield.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [14 May 2025 03:07 UTC](https://community.qfield.org/t/connecting-trimble-r4-to-qfield-through-serial-port-nmea/855/3 "2025-05-14T03:07:01Z")

</div>

Cant use bluetooth to get NMEA because i need trimble access connected to the R4 to get corrections from the base station

* * *

_Imported from [GitHub comment](https://github.com/opengisch/QField/discussions/3102#discussioncomment-3232644) by @dukytony on 2022-07-26T15:54:04Z_