EXHIBIT 23.1
                           TRIMBLE NAVIGATION LIMITED

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the Registration  Statements on
Forms S-8 Nos.  33-37384,  33-39647,  33-45167,  33-45604,  33-46719,  33-50944,
33-57522,  33-62078,  33-78502,   33-84362,  33-91858,   333-04670,   333-28429,
333-53703, 333-84949,  333-38264, 333-65758, 333-65760, 333-97979,  333-118212),
pertaining  to the 1983 Stock Option Plan,  the Trimble  Navigation  Savings and
Retirement  Plan,  the 1990  Director  Stock Option Plan,  the  "Position Us for
Progress"  1992 Employee Stock Bonus Plan,  the 1992  Management  Discount Stock
Option Plan, the 1993 Stock Option Plan, Trimble  Non-statutory Option Plan, the
2002 Stock Option Plan, and the 1988 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and Forms S-3
Nos. 333-76986, 333-86656, 333-103676, 333-106893, and the related Prospectuses,
of our reports dated March 11, 2005, with respect to the consolidated  financial
statements  and  schedule  of Trimble  Navigation  Limited,  Trimble  Navigation
Limited  management's  assessment of the  effectiveness of internal control over
financial  reporting,  and the  effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting of Trimble  Navigation  Limited,  included in this Annual Report (Form
10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2004.

                                                   /s/ Ernst & Young LLP


Palo Alto, California
March 11, 2005