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Total Station Recomendation
Less than a year ago, my partner and I bought out our previous employer’s business.
He was a diehard Topcon guy. He also was still using an HP48 with SMI software for everything except GPS (still a magnificent program).
We currently have a Topcon PS103 robot that we use for construction staking, a Topcon GPT 3002W for general work, and a couple of old Topcon GS 301s for backup.
We also have a never used Topcon ES60 that he purchased right before the business sell. For whatever reason, Topcon decided to move the tangent screws to the opposite side of the instrument…I don’t get it. I’d like to trade this one in.
The GPT3002W is okay but struggles in wooded areas taking topo shots. The optics and EDM are lousy compared to the GS 300.
I’m looking for a general purpose gun, 2 to 3″, and would like to stay around $10K or less.
Thanks,
David
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8 Replies
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The thing that sticks out to me is the HP48 and SMI. Perhaps you should be looking at upgrading your data collection rather than buying new guns. SMI was ‘da bomb back in the day. But the day has passed.
I use a Topcon PS103 daily. I find it to be incredibly slow. And it needs collimation way more often than Leicas and Trimbles that I have used. I’m not a fan. And I have an appointment with the Trimble salesman tomorrow. But it is a robot, and I would not think of trying work in 2019 without a robot.
So I recommend that you stick with the instruments you have and spend your money on other things. If anything you might look into another used PS103, which you might find for near your price target.
ONE MORE THING – If you buy new data collection and just try to do what you have always done with SMI you will have wasted your money. The value in these things is in the new ways you can accomplish your work.
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When you do not need more than a TS the HP48GX with SMI is not out of date, I have 3 of them that I rotate thru the field and 1 that I keep around for training purpose for new helpers. A Construction card, DOT card and Robotic card all v7 and a v5 with training video. They all have their own unique capabilities.
I have Sokkia Set 530R and 330R and get great results from both and they work well with HP48GX SMI and modern day data collectors with Bluetooth.
They also have onboard Sokkia software for data collection and COGO functions and I have the CD with the software for download.
Still, I use SMI on the HP48GX because it still works fine.
Whatever TS you go with, ask about Bluetooth.
If you are young and want to stay in this profession, you will need to begin to upgrade to modern equipment at some time and get the latest greatest thing on the market, maybe Javad or iGage and talk with the people on here that use the equipment daily.
good luck
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I’m looking for a general purpose gun, 2 to 3″, and would like to stay around $10K or less.
I use a Topcon ES-105. It’s a decent instrument. It comes in 3 and 2 second accuracy models (ES-103, ES-102) as well.
https://www.topcon.co.jp/en/positioning/products/pdf/ES_E.pdf
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I will second the data collection as that technology has come a long way in a short period of time. I am using a Carlson RT3 Tablet with Windows 10 and it took me a little while to embrace it but I would not go back to a regular collector ever. It’s capabilities are far superior. I am using Google Drive backup so I can access all my files from the in the woods. I can live stream backup my shots as intake them. I can pull up deeds while in the woods or email. I had Carlson Survey loaded on it but have removed it as it is still too small of screen to be effective. Heck if I wanted I could sit back and watch a MMA fight on YouTube.
Just learn to check for updates frequently as on several occasions I was on a job with my Hotspot on and it was trying to download a major update because I did not have the update schedule set up properly.
I have not used a Topcon for well over a decade as I am a Leica and now guy and now I have a Geo-Max Zoom 90 2 second robot. I have no clue about the capabilities of those Topcons you mentioned.
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The thing that sticks out to me is the HP48 and SMI. Perhaps you should be looking at upgrading your data collection rather than buying new guns. SMI was ‘da bomb back in the day. But the day has passed.
I probably should have clarified. We use a Carlson Surveyor2 data collector.
I’m happy with the data collection side.
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If you are using Carlson DC, then you do not want to go with a new Topcon gun.
When Topcon and Javad split, and they bought/merged with Sokkia for their net generation of GPS heads, that is why they are the same, just different colors. Now, Topcon and Sokkia are the same guns too. But, Topcon is locked to their software, and requires a $1000-$1500 unlock code. Sokkia gun is the same thing, and is open to carlson. You have to pay more if you want the yellow color.
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Sure, your SMI still does what it has always done. Pencil and paper still works, too. But your SMI cannot load a drawing file and stake lines and endpoints from graphic elements.
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If you are on the Carlson dc software side you should be looking at Geomax. Again, I, personally, wouldn’t waste money on anything non-robotic. You seem to already have plenty of that.
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