Geomax Zoom 90

Dan, Geomax Zoom90 should be a bit faster and a bit better at tracking than TPS1200 series, because the instruments itself is basically TS15 from Viva series. Zoom80 was the same as TPS1200. Can't contribute with any user experience though, as i don't have it...

It IS faster. You are right about that. I wasn't sure if it was still identical technology to the Leica line. It not only moves faster, but it moves differently. It says it has some kind of hybrid drive (I wonder if it is servos and step drive combo or something). You can hear the servos when it does its initial quick sweep, but when it whips back and swivels around it is silent. Anyway, it was a very successful debut. I hope it remains this reliable.

Hi! I am thinking about buying Zoom 90. Is it possible to put surveying software on instrument for two-man work? I work mostly construction so I cannot leave it cause someone will crush it. Carlson Surveyor 2 is software for instrument or just handy?

Hi! Yes, you can put software on TPS as-well as it is an open Windows platform. You can choose from SurvCE, X-PAD and FieldGenius, maybe something else...

Arturs, post: 444018, member: 11365 wrote: Hi! Yes, you can put software on TPS as-well as it is an open Windows platform. You can choose from SurvCE, X-PAD and FieldGenius, maybe something else...

Thanks for fast reply! Which one would be best? I have x-pad on tablet. Do I have to put the same one on instrument? Aaaannd, can I do it alone or would have to go someone to put it on?

If you're already familiar with X-PAD then i would say stick with it. One can feel that Geomax is pushing X-PAD as their main field software - you get all the new features much faster on X-PAD, the software itself and especially navigation is much more adapted and tailored to the instrument than the other two, you get monthly free of charge software updates etc. If you want to put X-PAD on Zoom90 you need to buy a new license; the installation and activation can be done remotely but it probably also depends whether your dealer will support you on that.
The software decision should also depend on your workflow and data processing, try all the softwares out if you can!

Arturs, post: 444020, member: 11365 wrote: If you're already familiar with X-PAD then i would say stick with it. One can feel that Geomax is pushing X-PAD as their main field software - you get all the new features much faster on X-PAD, the software itself and especially navigation is much more adapted and tailored to the instrument than the other two, you get monthly free of charge software updates etc. If you want to put X-PAD on Zoom90 you need to buy a new license; the installation and activation can be done remotely but it probably also depends whether your dealer will support you on that.
The software decision should also depend on your workflow and data processing, try all the softwares out if you can!

Okay. Thank you for your reply's! I will have to ask around about installing x-pad. Just got the instrument to test it out, not really too familiar with it just yet, or x-pad, so I will consider other two programs as well. I wanted to see and test it before deciding whether to buy it or not.

In case we don't install it on instrument, is it possible to do stakeout with it? We have tablet, not 'handy'. Is it possible to do it as two-man job with mini prism, for example, or does it have to be 360? And if You did it with 360, what was accuracy You accomplished?

McCartney, post: 444024, member: 12987 wrote: In case we don't install it on instrument, is it possible to do stakeout with it? We have tablet, not 'handy'. Is it possible to do it as two-man job with mini prism, for example, or does it have to be 360? And if You did it with 360, what was accuracy You accomplished?

Yes, if you don't have experience with X-PAD, definitely check out the other two softwares as-well!
If you have tablet with X-PAD on it you can still work as a two man team, the difference is that the guy standing behind the instrument will not enter the data on total station but instead on the tablet. The instrument will be used just for pointing at the prism, if that will be necessary, because automatic aiming and tracking takes care of that. But if you want to work as a two man team AND input the data on total station (not on tablet), you will need to buy a license. You can use any prism you like - miniprism, round prism, 360 - the tracking performance is essentially the same, the only difference is in the distance, how far from the instrument you can go so that it would still track it. This is the good thing about passive tracking - the tracking performance does not significantly differ from one prism to another. Generally for high accuracy work you should prefer a miniprism or a good round prism with a pole with a checked level bubble. There are different 360 prisms, Geomax (and Leica) offer two - ZRP1 (GRZ4) with a pointing accuracy of 5 mm and the GRZ122 with a pointing accuracy of 2 mm. Take a look at Leica accessories portfolio, they have good descriptions to each of their products.

Thank you, I think I have all of the answers I need 🙂

I have had the Zoom 90 for about a month now running SurvCE on a Surveyor2. I previously was working with a Leica TS12/allegro MX with SurvCE. The speed of the Zoom 90 was what I have noticed most. Keeping lock/tracking on the prism (especially close to the instrument) is much better on the Zoom 90 in my opinion. My biggest gripe though is that the guide lights and red laser have to be turned on through software such as SurvCE. There are no on-board keys to turn on the functions to my knowledge.

Tim Libs, post: 444067, member: 12482 wrote: I have had the Zoom 90 for about a month now running SurvCE on a Surveyor2. I previously was working with a Leica TS12/allegro MX with SurvCE. The speed of the Zoom 90 was what I have noticed most. Keeping lock/tracking on the prism (especially close to the instrument) is much better on the Zoom 90 in my opinion. My biggest gripe though is that the guide lights and red laser have to be turned on through software such as SurvCE. There are no on-board keys to turn on the functions to my knowledge.

I think I read here before that you can upload the demo version of SurvCE and use that but it is just restricted to 5 points. Should be able to turn on guide lights etc. though.

If you are going to get one and run it with SurvCE, then you really should get the Carlson version of the gun. They can sell it cheaper than any US based Geomax dealer AND you get fully unlocked SurveCE onboard. One thing you should be aware of is that it will take some sort of onboard program to even see angle and distance on the screen, to set zero, to switch between laser modes, etc. The gun itself as it comes from Geomax is useless without additional onboard software or datacollector.

I have had one for over a year now and run it with a Carlson RT3. It is fantastic. Never crashes. Incredibly accurate and repeatable. Couldn't be happier.

Congratulations on the purchase of your Zoom90! Pairing it with SurvCE and the Allegro/Surveyor 2 is a tried and true solution, and I don't think you will be disappointed.

We at Precision Geosystems (a Geomax and Carlson dealer, full disclosure) have been doing quite a bit of experimentation with X-Pad lately (GPS and Robotics), and so far we are very impressed with it. The interface is comparatively modern with the way it runs on Android and you can use pinch to zoom, google maps in the background, intuitive onscreen keypad, etc. It also syncs up directly with Dropbox or Google Drive to transfer data.

Not only does it support the Geomax instruments, it also supports Leica robots, and a host of other instruments as well. I'll be going to Italy in October for some further training on it from the guys that created the software and I'll report back. I personally think it's great to see a very good attempt at a new data collection software package that runs on Android and embraces the modern technology many of us already have in our pockets or sitting on our nightstand.

In the photos you can see an example of the 7" Android tablet and mounting system we throw in when someone buys a Zoom90 or Zenith35 Pro and X-Pad from us.

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I'm glad to see another company developing field software for Android, but until someone ports it to a device with a hardware keyboard (like the Allegro CX or Surveyor+) it'll remain just another pretty picture to me. Navigating and typing on a virtual keyboard is way too cumbersome for my taste.

Jim Frame, post: 444179, member: 10 wrote: I'm glad to see another company developing field software for Android, but until someone ports it to a device with a hardware keyboard (like the Allegro CX or Surveyor+) it'll remain just another pretty picture to me. Navigating and typing on a virtual keyboard is way too cumbersome for my taste.

Do you not use a smartphone? I totally agree regarding the onscreen keyboard on a Recon or windows tablet, but both iOS and Android have pretty well figured it out.

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Precision-geo-inc, post: 444186, member: 9801 wrote: Do you not use a smartphone?

I don't use a smartphone with a prism pole and bracing stick in one hand.

Is it sunlight readable?

How much is xpad? Robotics and GNSS?