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Tribrach search
Posted by firestix on July 14, 2022 at 5:16 pmSo I’m looking to add some more equipment to my survey arsenal. (Tribrachs in particular) I currently use Wild GDFs which have been performing great. Are there any other tribrachs that that you would recommend? … and the ones that I should run from?
firestix replied 1 year, 9 months ago 11 Members · 32 Replies- 32 Replies
The Leicas, but just make sure you get the right ones. Leica has several different models. Some are OK to stack a GPS base on but not for the robot. Check out this Leica White Paper for a discussion of the parameters that make up a good tribrach.
There are too many chinese knockoffs out there to count. Most are complete junk.
- Posted by: @norman-oklahoma
The Leicas, but just make sure you get the right ones. Leica has several different models.
There are too many chinese knockoffs out there to count. Most are complete junk.
Yeah. I have a few of the GDF322’s that I bought used for an outstanding price. I really like them, but the price has kept me at bay from purchasing new ones. I’ve also seen the Chinese ones … it’s scary to see how they even reproduce he “Wild” or “Leica” logos.
- Posted by: @firestix
I really like them, but the price has kept me at bay from purchasing new ones.
You pay the big price once and you are good for life. Buy the cheap ones and you will be buying again in a couple years. Plus, the good Leicas, they just stay in adjustment forever. The cheap ones need regular attention.
Guess I’ll keep my eyes peeled for more used Leicas. Is there a sure fire way to determine if they are legit or not …. I mean, besides from buying them new from a licensed dealer.
Before robots, I’d say that I could live with almost any tribrach, as long as it’s treated well. But now, you need the one that’s made for your instrument, or you’re going to see a lot of issues with holding angle
- Posted by: @norman-oklahomaPosted by: @firestix
I really like them, but the price has kept me at bay from purchasing new ones.
You pay the big price once and you are good for life. Buy the cheap ones and you will be buying again in a couple years. Plus, the good Leicas, they just stay in adjustment forever. The cheap ones need regular attention.
I’ll second that, buy the gdf322 or just make do without! Wondering if your cheap tribrachs have gone out anytime you setup is no way to be productive.
Yep when firm I was at some years back got their first robot were getting poor traverse closes using forced centred methods, turned out the old Topcon/Nikon tribrachs that had been fine with manual total stations couldn’t hack the robot twisting.
Forced centred traversing went the way of dodo and all work got done with a braced pole (i.e. couple of tall stakes at 90?ø; cheaper and easier than bipod).
The counterfeit ones look so close to original’s. You’d have to have side by side with genuine and then still be tricky, adjusting them you may detect movement differences but bubble hard to tell until used a bit.
Only way for me would be to trust the source so limits to used from dealer you trust or another surveyor you can trust, buying off eBay etc will be a lottery unless you can verify seller. Best option is to find any retiring guys anywhere near you who are clearing out, worked well for me.
I know a place that has a use to have a truck load of Wild tribrachs. But the jar heads might not like you acquiring the gear lol. Sgt of the guard might be walking his post. But if you adventure their. Grab that wild T3 for me. Lol.
What robot do you operate? I would probably stick with whatever is made for your brand. But I have no problems with Wild/Leica gear. They make some very nice upper end equipment for sure.
- Posted by: @olemanriver
I know a place that has a use to have a truck load of Wild tribrachs. But the jar heads might not like you acquiring the gear lol. Sgt of the guard might be walking his post. But if you adventure their. Grab that wild T3 for me. Lol.
What robot do you operate? I would probably stick with whatever is made for your brand. But I have no problems with Wild/Leica gear. They make some very nice upper end equipment for sure.
Heh. I work aboard Camp Lejeune and there is ZERO chance of me snagging any gear from some highly motivated Marine with at least 1 tour in a hot zone!
We were just at The “K” Ranges where a platoon from SOI was conducting training. They had stacked there weapons/gear across the road. We drove by and noticed that there were no apparent gear guards so we slowed our roll (we were in a truck) to investigate. Then we noticed, just out of sight, in the shaded tree line, were Marines laying silently in the prone. Needless to say that the gear wasn’t going anywhere.About the robot … I use an old Trimble 5603.
Also, about that T3 … I haven’t seen one of those since training at DMA. However, they do have a T16 over in the Engineering Dept. at the city of Jacksonville, NC.
@firestix Lol yes now you have me remembering all the good old days. Humvee and tank trails and cooler full of gatorade lol. I have no idea where TOPO is anymore. But when i was there we had several T3 Wilds I took 2 with me to Africa and so glad I did. Our Trimble 5601 non robotic overheated on that deployment and I had to teach on the fly how to do stadia topo and record the notes. Hand entering that into terramodel lol. But we accomplished the mission. Used it mostly for ground shots outside the base with one crew and the other 5601 and a wild tca2002 with top mount edm for other. There were still several old triangulation station marks on that base. One was at a hlz about 4 feet under the sand at CLNC. Old DMA school. Yes I really enjoyed that school. I learned a lot. I think because I had been surveying in private sector for 7 years prior helped me really grasp a lot. You probably remember still using the Clark 1866 tables I imagine.
All ours are still Wild GDF6’s: I’ve never yet found a robot which can move them. Don’t even take delivery of the tribrach on any new instrument we get. Made by the Swiss to last forever.
Top mounted EDM certainly protect the instrument from the heat. I had an AGA120 (Geodimeter) on a T2 out in Sri Lanka at the start of the 1980’s and it kept the bubbles well shaded. Booking into a Geodat 120: black rubber casing not such a great idea in the heat, as it strapped to your arm!
When I was in Topo we were located in French Creek (next to the armory). The Defense Mapping Agency is now National Geospatial Agency and the school is no longer at Ft. Belvoir. I had some great memories from Belvoir (met my wife there in 1995). Both the Basic and Advanced Topo schools served me well, and I’ve been in the Geospatial field ever since.
What years were you in Topo?@firestix 2000-2005. Yes French Creek is where I hung my hat as well. Went to FT Belvoir as well old Belvoir. Yes National Geospatial Intel Agency at Ft Belvoir area is where they moved the NIMA university (DMA school) for a while. They were in the transition when I left the agency to move the USMC to another location for the TOPO school. I don??t know if it happened or not. I would go down on e in a while to visit old buddies and see the next generation of geospatial and geodetic surveyors . Yes it was a good school. I still have all my books and forms for any hand entry of geodetic work. Grid traverse triangulation intersection etc. i reviewed them some before taking the FS exam just encase. Lol.
Hah! I left 2nd Topo in 1999. Do you still talk to any of the guys? I’m sure we know some of the same ppl.
@firestix Not as often as I should. There are a few that I stay in touch with but they came in after I was in . A couple that deployed with me. I use to stay in touch more as most were on that Facebook thing but it didn??t take me long i was over Facebook very quickly. I am connected to a few via linked in. But as you know we all get older kids keep us busy and such. This is about the only social platform I am on frequently. I am so busy Between farming kids and work. I get on this between job sites or a cool down on a job. All on this fancy i phone my wife got me. Lol. I served with a few you probably know or knew well. I miss it every day. But life happens. I went in later had been surveying for 7 years when I went in. I ripped both my groins in a horse accident when I graduated high school and was supposed to ship off to boot camp so They would not let me in. Had to wait 5 years after I had healed. But finally made it and loved it. Most of what the troops did was GIS and RSI. Everyone loved that work. Only a few liked the surveying side. Of course I didn??t have much of a choice with my past experience. I made Survey Section chief as a E-3 LCPL less than a year into the fleet. The section chief had been kicked off airfield surveys by NGA because of some serious mistakes and I was recommended by an NGA surveyor to lead. Talking about being thrown into the hornets nest. You know rank plays a big role and here I was performing as a Gunny billet. I spent a lot of late hours reading to be prepared the next day. Surveying was almost gone by the time I arrived. GIS was the new fad and glory catcher. But airfield surveys and HLZ studies and doing a check on a new software platform on the ground kept us very busy. With GPS traverse and mapping. Then the war 911 happened and other ideas came back to light of what we could do. If ya know what I mean. USMC saved my bacon when the recession hit as I was able to get on with NGA in MO. Area. As an orbital analyst for GPS constellation and such. Having the clearance and experience really saved me from loosing everything. Now i have taken a big step back in order to accomplish one of my goals I never met which is to become a Licensed Land Surveyor. Trying to remember everything I learned prior to 2000 and such has been fun. I did work with and for LS after USMC but not in a productive type setting more as a trainer consultant and teacher.
Some of the last surveys I did at topo were airfield surveys. We set the Primary and Secondary control monuments at MCAF Quantico. I was in the party running a level loop as a Cpl and got promoted to Sgt out on the airfield at lunch. At the end of the day, the loop busted and I got chewed because I was the senior Marine in the survey party! Gotta love the Corps.
When I got out different agencies tried to snag me (because of the TS/SCI) but I wasn’t having it. They all wanted me to move to the DC area. Hard pass for this country boy.
The Tribrach that came with my Geomax Robot seems as good as my Leicas.
@larry-best
what would be the brand and model of said tribrach?
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