When I started my solo surveying company back in 2008, I found a couple of great deals on my equipment. I bought a barely used Topcon GPT 8203A Robotic total station that came with a TDS Ranger with Surveypro Max (Robotics and GPS). I later purchased a set of Topcon HiperLite+ base and rover. Because this equipment is my bread and butter, and without it, I am out of business, each year I purchase an inland marine policy for the equipment for "Replacement" value. In other words, they are all insured for the cost of new equipment. However, most of the insurance companies writing these types of policies will only insure for replacement for 5 years. After that, They begin depreciating it. When the equipment is ten years old, it is uninsurable and has no insured value. This is the last year I can insure my stuff for full replacement.
So this has me thinking about upgrading in the very near future. My concerns are the TDS-Topcon mixmatching of datacolletors. I love my Ranger and Surveypro, and I love my Topcon Robot and GPS! But the way I understand, The newer TDS will not comunicate with anything other than the spectra precision equipment, and vise versa with Topcon. So do I stay with Topcon equipment and go to Topsurv, or do I stay with TDS and go to Spectra Precision? I use Carlson Civil Survey in the office and would also consider Carlson data collection, but I see that Carlson has come out with its own GPS (don't know what Robots will be compatible with Carlson).
I am an old dog and I really like my current setup. I really don't want to go learning new software or hardware, but may be forced to do so! I also love that fact that my equipment is all paid for!
I guess I am looking for feedback from others who have made the jump from Topcon/TDS to some other platform, or stayed with their current setup. Any dialog would be greatly appreciatied. For me, the perfect thing would be to get new Topcon equipment and a new TDS ranger that will communicate as good as what I have now!
Thanks
Steve
We bought a Spectra Percision data collector about a couple of years ago. They put TDS on it and it looks just like a Ranger and runs like on, it just has a different name on it. I don't know if they still offer them or not. They took our old one in on trade and I thought it was a pretty good deal.
I have heard that the new Topcon field controller software is much improved. Any data collector that will run the gun can be setup to collect boundary and topo data it is just a matter of getting used to it. The reason I went with TDS years ago was the layout features. They had Trimble, Leica and Carlson beat hands down when it came to alignment and slope staking layout. CW Matthews (a big road construction company here in the SE) is running all Topcon data collectors now. If they trust it for the layout they do I would not hesitate to buy it.
I have a buddy that is running a new Topcon QS robot with a Carlson data collector and he says it runs great.
No easy answer but I would be ok with going with the Topcon data collector after all I have heard recently.
Now I'm not preachin'...
Nor am I suggesting that anyone who doesn't want to should take this into account.
However, if it matters to you, here is a current list of the sponsors/exhibitors who are opening up their checkbooks to help support the ACSM Annual Conference (The Survey Summit) and there is one big name choosing not to attend.
Topcon and Carlson
Not a good combo. I have a Topcon 9003 Robot with the RC3 and run it with a FC2500 using Carlson CE. I'm very unhappy with the setup and am looking at a new Lecia and transfer my Carlson License over to a Allegro.
The radio communication using my setup with the Carlson is very frustrating to say the least.
I like the Carson CE, but its much better on a Lecia robot.
I been on Topsurv for 1.5 years with a 9001 robot and have pretty good experience . GPS is even better with the Topsurv than TDS and Carlson . I did try carlson on the FC2500 for a while had to much trouble with the Robot Radio aswell . Topsurv will do what you need and more . I find it very easy and quick to use .
As far as TDS I would be surprised if its still around in a couple years .
Steve, if you goto the Spectra Precision website, you can download their Windows Demo program for free. When you start it up, you can go to where you create a new instrument setup and view all the brands and models that the current version of Survey Pro supports (just like you can on your Ranger). Like others have said, Spectra Precision Survey Pro is TDS Survey Pro with a new splash screen and a revised RTK and Post Processing screen. They haven't dropped anything to my knowledge.
Steve, You can run the Spectra Robot/GPS as well as all Trimble equipment with Survey Pro. That may be an option for you as well.
We are going to have to replace our Leitz Set IIB. It no longer works and parts are not available. Our Leica dealer priced out a TCRP 1202+ R400 for us. I was impressed withbthe price of the instrument, but we have to buy a new Data Collector, we.have been using a TDS 48. The $6,000 for the DC runs the price up, but we would have the second Robot.
You like your current set-up, your gear is working well (it sounds like it is), bugs have been ironed out, why not wait for upgrading?
Once you reach the point where your insurance premiums + the money that you would receive from insurance (in case something happens) = trade in value for new equipment, or the equipment has lost its reliability and is costing you, then upgrade.
Run your gear to the ground, it's paid for.
If you can get an extra 18-24-27 months, that's 18-24-27 monthly payments you don't have to worry about. And your insurance premiums will also be lower. It will also give you more time to see what's happening on the market between various manufacturers.
:beer:
@ Georges
Georges
Thanks for the input. And that's exactly what I plan on doing. I am however beginning to research all my options and start saving for a capital investment of new equipment. I love my current setup and it works great. I do have all the bugs worked out and still have a lot to learn about some of the functions I don't currently use. I doubt I will trade in my equipment when time comes, unless it becomes unreliable. But I'm just now realizing the savings by not having payments.2010 was my worst year financially since first starting out in 2008. And I would have never made it had my equipment and truck had not been paid off! My plan is to save for a few years so I can pay cash for new equipment. Same thing for the truck. A lot to be said for that business model. It has worked for me thus far. I can't imagine having payments for robot, Gps and truck! No way would I have made it thru with all that debt!