The front panel - the man-machine interface (MMI) - should be on the north side of the unit, with respect to the antenna calibration.
Almost universally, GNSS receivers with integrated antennas are calibrated with the MMI being the north reference point. It is confusing to surveyors that the Sparkfun units are an exception to this widely-followed convention. The unique orientation of the Facets makes it more likely that surveyors will mis-align the Facet when setting up a base or collecting static data.
Besides convention, there is a good reason for having the MMI on the north of the receiver.
The sun, for people in the north hemisphere, doesn't shine from the north. If the MMI is on the north side of the GNSS receiver, it is easier to read and less likely to be washed out by the sunshine. There are more people living in the north vs the south hemisphere, so putting the MMI on the north side of the receiver maximizes the MMI visibility for more people.
See also issue #12.
The front panel - the man-machine interface (MMI) - should be on the north side of the unit, with respect to the antenna calibration.
Almost universally, GNSS receivers with integrated antennas are calibrated with the MMI being the north reference point. It is confusing to surveyors that the Sparkfun units are an exception to this widely-followed convention. The unique orientation of the Facets makes it more likely that surveyors will mis-align the Facet when setting up a base or collecting static data.
Besides convention, there is a good reason for having the MMI on the north of the receiver.
The sun, for people in the north hemisphere, doesn't shine from the north. If the MMI is on the north side of the GNSS receiver, it is easier to read and less likely to be washed out by the sunshine. There are more people living in the north vs the south hemisphere, so putting the MMI on the north side of the receiver maximizes the MMI visibility for more people.
See also issue #12.