Hey all!
I'm just starting up a surveying business (Just my son and I) and am looking for some input on equipment.?ÿ Here's a little background first.?ÿ Most of my recent surveying experience has been exclusively GPS work.?ÿ Most of the work have been things like topo, asbuilt verification, setting Ground Control for Orthos, etc.?ÿ And all of this has been for a local municipality that employed me.?ÿ I am now aiming to branch out into boundary surveys, home construction, and flood elevation certificates.?ÿ As far as GPS, I will continue to stick with Trimble R8 or R10 running RTK/VRS or OPUS.?ÿ These are the things I'm comfortable with.?ÿ I would like some advice as to what total station would be a good fit for this kind of work and would be compatible with at TSC2 or TSC3 data collector running a version of either Survey Controller or Access.?ÿ?ÿ
Thanks in advance!
Well you have a nice budget for starting on your own, good deal. I really liked the S6 when I used to run robotic.
Well you have a nice budget for starting on your own, good deal. I really liked the S6 when I used to run robotic.
My budget isn't as much as you may think.?ÿ It's only 10k.?ÿ ?ÿI'm eyeing an Trimble R8 model 3 with a TSC-2 for about $5000.?ÿ ?ÿI'm looking for a Trimble gun for the same price.?ÿ ?ÿIt's doesn't have to be robotic, it just has to be a solid gun that will work with a TSC-2 or 3.
Well you have a nice budget for starting on your own, good deal. I really liked the S6 when I used to run robotic.
How do you know he has a nice budget when he never mentioned it in the original message?
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In the $5k range for a?ÿgun compatible with a TSC2/3 I think you'll need to be looking?ÿfor a Spectra Focus 30 or a Trimble 5603.?ÿ?ÿGood luck in your new?ÿjourney!?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ
Well you have a nice budget for starting on your own, good deal. I really liked the S6 when I used to run robotic.
How do you know he has a nice budget when he never mentioned it in the original message?
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When he says that he is going to buy a R10 it is fair to assume that he has a nice budget.
.....?ÿ I would like some advice as to what total station would be a good fit for this kind of work and would be compatible with at TSC2 or TSC3 data collector running a version of either Survey Controller or Access.?ÿ?ÿ
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There are plenty of Trimble 5603's around cheap. It's pretty much a disposable robot at this point since parts aren't being made. But a lot of guys are still using them every day.?ÿ Might be just the ticket for a startup situation.
.....?ÿ I would like some advice as to what total station would be a good fit for this kind of work and would be compatible with at TSC2 or TSC3 data collector running a version of either Survey Controller or Access.?ÿ?ÿ
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There are plenty of Trimble 5603's around cheap. It's pretty much a disposable robot at this point since parts aren't being made. But a lot of guys are still using them every day.?ÿ Might be just the ticket for a startup situation.
Honestly though, if my choice were between a 5603 and pretty much any other hodged together setup I would go with the later.?ÿ Admittedly, that's from a robotic perspective.?ÿ The OP said it didn't need to be robotic so maybe the experience is better with?ÿsomeone standing behind the instrument.?ÿ I spent 6 months I'll never get back hauling cases of cables, batteries and junk around, not to mention a strong fart from upwind would interfere with the radio connection.?ÿ Happiest day of my life (save my kids birth) was when Trimble ran a trade-in?ÿrebate and I convinced my superiors to spring for a S6.?ÿ I'm a green guy now but I still remember the number of times I hoped?ÿan equipment operator or makeup applying driver?ÿwould?ÿplow that thing into oblivion.?ÿ
I saw an ad asking $2000 for a 5603 within the last few days. You don't have to use it robotic if you don't want to.?ÿ Not sure what a used S6 would go for but I'm thinking a great deal more than that.?ÿ Nevertheless I agree that an S6 would be far superior .?ÿ?ÿ
If you don't need robotic then Access can still run some Leica, Nikon and Topcon total stations I believe. Mostly older models.
Certainly more fun than getting involved with a 5600. I found it to be very unreliable and you can spend a fortune on the bits, especially batteries, and still have a troublesome instrument.
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I got into a bind a couple of years ago and was able to borrow an old 5600. It was not a good experience for me. It actually did everything it was supposed to do. But the overall bulkyness and external cables didn??t work well fir my application.
Since you are opening your new business with your son who likely doesn??t have the experience you do, I would go with the suggestion of an older non robotic TS that is compatible with your DC to start. ?ÿHe??ll get the experience of turning angles with precision while you keep your investment on the low end. When you??re making enough money to buy a robot (about $25K for a new one) you??ll both appreciate what it brings to the operation. Just my $0.02.?ÿ
It's doesn't have to be robotic...
Until you have a excavator waiting for you?ÿto stake a house on a wooded lot and either you or your son: a) have the flu, b) have jury duty, c) have to get a plat out today, d) are on vacation, e) etc...
The smaller your business, the more flexibility you need.?ÿ I haven't sent a two man crew out with a non robotic instrument?ÿin over a decade, be it when I had one crew or ten at my disposal.?ÿ ?ÿAnd wait until you get a good sized topo job and see how much an experienced?ÿtwo man crew can get done with both a network GPS rover and a robot.
When?ÿyou're starting out the ability to jump on a project ahead of someone else (builder's in a bind on Friday afternoon, his regular surveyor is booked until midweek, you can run out on Saturday and bang in some house offsets with the robot on?ÿSaturday afternoon) can get you long?ÿterm clients.
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The smaller your business, the more flexibility you need.?ÿ I haven't sent a two man crew out with a non robotic instrument?ÿin over a decade, be it when I had one crew or ten at my disposal.?ÿ ?ÿAnd wait until you get a good sized topo job and see how much an experienced?ÿtwo man crew can get done with both a network GPS rover and a robot.
When?ÿyou're starting out the ability to jump on a project ahead of someone else (builder's in a bind on Friday afternoon, his regular surveyor is booked until midweek, you can run out on Saturday and bang in some house offsets with the robot on?ÿSaturday afternoon) can get you long?ÿterm clients.
Heh.?ÿ You think like a Marine! (Improvise.?ÿ Adapt.?ÿ Overcome.)?ÿ ?ÿSo I'm looking at a 5603 with a TSC2 running Survey Controller 12.49?ÿ for $2800.?ÿ ?ÿComes with a calibration certificate.?ÿ ?ÿBTW, is there a "for sale" section here on rplstoday.com??ÿ
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I saw an ad asking $2000 for a 5603 within the last few days. You don't have to use it robotic if you don't want to.?ÿ Not sure what a used S6 would go for but I'm thinking a great deal more than that.?ÿ Nevertheless I agree that an S6 would be far superior .?ÿ?ÿ
Mark, can you message me the link to where you saw the 5603 for $2000?
Heh.?ÿ You think like a Marine! (Improvise.?ÿ Adapt.?ÿ Overcome.)?ÿ
My cousin just retired after thirty years as a Marine Corps aviator.?ÿ He said the two best lessons he learned in OCS were:
- Always train everyone on the team to do the job of their boss, because everyone is one bullet away from a promotion; and
- An adequate plan executed right now, swiftly and violently, is always better than spending twelve hours to come up with a perfect plan
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