---
title: "Arena mobile not connecting to external GPS receiver?"
url: "https://openforis.support/questions/4524/arena-mobile-not-connecting-to-external-gps-receiver"
tags: ["arena-mobile"]
status: "accepted"
score: 0
answer_count: 2
asked: "2026-07-13T22:17:21"
last_activity: "2026-07-15T23:26:17"
source: "Open Foris Support - Q&A Forum"
license: "Copyright Open Foris, 2026. Some rights reserved under creative commons license."
---

# Arena mobile not connecting to external GPS receiver?

Asked by ebrodie on 2026-07-13

We have a BadElf mini flex extreme external GPS receiver, which is automatically used in lieu of device GPS for ESRI apps like Survey123. However, Arena doesn't recognize the BadElf  and uses the device GPS instead. The work-around involves changing developer settings on the phone/tablet to enable the BadElf to perform "mock location" services for that phone or tablet. However, we are on government devices and not allowed to modify developer settings due to security risks. This means we're getting a maximum of 3 m accuracy for our plot locations!

Do you have any thoughts or ideas about how to resolve this issue? I recognize that Arena likely doesn't have the staff to build in communication with all external GPS receivers, but perhaps there is a way to select the receiver being used by the device when taking a point?


## Accepted answer (score 0, by Stefano (OF) on 2026-07-15)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/4524/arena-mobile-not-connecting-to-external-gps-receiver/4525

Dear user,  
The support for external GPS devices is still in a testing phase, not published yet, and it will be only for Android at the beginning. This feature will be released with the next version of Arena Mobile.  
The devices being supported include: Bad Elf, Garmin GLO, Eos Arrow, Trimble, Geneq SXBlue, Dual XGPS.  
If you want, please join the beta testing program for Arena Mobile (do it only with a device and an account you don't use to collect "real" data) and try the beta version.   
Let us know if your device is visible from Arena Mobile in that version.  
Many thanks,  
The Open Foris Arena Team

> Thanks so much, Stefano! I've joined the beta testing program and will try the new feature next week in the field. I will let you know if I have any issues or comments. Best, Emily (ebrodie)

## Answer (score 0, by Stefano (OF) on 2026-07-15)

Link: https://openforis.support/questions/4524/arena-mobile-not-connecting-to-external-gps-receiver/4526

Dear user,  
The support for external GPS devices is still in a testing phase, not published yet, and it will be only for Android at the beginning. This feature will be released with the next version of Arena Mobile.  
The devices being supported include: Bad Elf, Garmin GLO, Eos Arrow, Trimble, Geneq SXBlue, Dual XGPS.  
If you want, please join the beta testing program for Arena Mobile (do it only with a device and an account you don't use to collect "real" data) and try the beta version.   
Let us know if your device is visible from Arena Mobile in that version.  
Many thanks,  
The Open Foris Arena Team