High-Performance GNSS & Survey Solutions Without the Tier 1 Price Tag
For civil contractors and mining operations, survey equipment needs to do one thing above all else — perform reliably, every day, in harsh conditions.
Stonex has quickly become a go-to option for businesses wanting:
- High accuracy
- Modern workflows
- Lower upfront costs
- No unnecessary complexity
This guide breaks down the recommended Stonex setups for real-world civil and mining applications, including pricing and what you actually need.
🔹 Entry-Level Civil Setup (From ~$10,000 – $15,000)
Best for: Small contractors, setout, general site work
Recommended Setup:
- Stonex S880 GNSS Receiver (~$6,495)
- Stonex S55 Controller (~$1,450)
- Basic accessories (pole, tripod, batteries)
What It Covers:
- Setout and as-built surveys
- Small subdivisions
- General civil work
Key Benefits:
- Cost-effective entry into GNSS
- Reliable RTK performance
- Simple, easy-to-use workflow
👉 Ideal for operators wanting to bring survey capability in-house without a large investment.
🔹 Professional Civil Setup (From ~$18,000 – $22,000)
Best for: Earthmoving contractors, growing businesses
Recommended Setup:
- Stonex S880 or S980 GNSS Rover (~$6,495 – $6,950)
- S60 or S80 Rugged Controller (5G) (~$1,920 – $1,995)
- Optional Base Station or UHF setup
What It Covers:
- Bulk earthworks
- Accurate setout
- Machine control support
- Medium to large projects
Key Benefits:
- Fast RTK fixes
- Strong multi-constellation tracking
- Reliable performance across most job sites
👉 This is the sweet spot for most civil contractors.
🔹 Full Civil & Mining Setup (From ~$25,000 – $30,000)
Best for: Full site control, multiple crews, remote work
Recommended Setup:
- Stonex S1000 GNSS Base + Rover Kit (~$6,990 base pricing per unit setup reference)
- S80 Rugged Tablet or S60 Controller
- SR35 External Radio (~$2,950)
- Full accessories kit
What It Covers:
- Full site control
- Remote projects (no network required)
- Multiple machine support
- High-accuracy workflows
Key Benefits:
- Complete independence (run your own base)
- Extended RTK range with radio
- Scalable across multiple crews and machines
👉 This setup replaces the need for expensive Tier 1 systems in most environments .
🔹 Total Station Add-On (Optional but Recommended)
When You Need It:
- Working near buildings or obstructions
- High-precision setout
- Structural or detailed work
Recommended Options:
- R60 Android Total Station (~$7,920)
- R120 Robotic Total Station (~$21,600)
- R180 Robotic Total Station (~$31,800)
Benefits:
- One-person operation (robotic models)
- High precision for detailed work
- Complements GNSS perfectly
👉 GNSS handles most work — total stations handle the rest .
🔹 Why Stonex Works for Civil & Mining
1. High Accuracy Without Premium Pricing
Modern Stonex GNSS systems deliver:
- Multi-constellation tracking
- Stable RTK performance
- Reliable accuracy across large sites
2. Built for Harsh Conditions
Designed for:
- Dust
- Heat
- Vibration
- Remote environments
3. No Lock-In Ecosystem
- Use your own base station
- Avoid subscription costs
- Work anywhere
4. Scalable Systems
Start with a rover → add:
- Base station
- Additional rovers
- Machine control integration
5. Modern, Easy-to-Use Workflow
- Android-based controllers
- Fast data handling
- Simple setup and operation
🔹 Example Setup by Industry
Civil Contractors
- S880 or S980 rover
- S60 controller
- Optional base station
Mining Operations
- S1000 base + rover kit
- External radio (SR35)
- Multiple rover units
Survey Teams
- Base + rover
- Robotic total station
- Full software workflow
🔹 Bundle Opportunities (Best Value)
To maximise value, consider bundling:
- GNSS + controller
- Base + rover kits
- Total station + accessories
This:
- Reduces overall cost
- Ensures compatibility
- Simplifies deployment
Final Thoughts
You no longer need to spend $50K–$80K to get high-performance survey equipment.
With the right Stonex setup, you get:
- Professional accuracy
- Reliable performance
- Full control of your workflow
- Lower total cost of ownership
For most civil and mining businesses:
👉 $20K–$30K delivers everything you need
👉 Anything more is often unnecessary