As a result of a recent purchase, I've ended up with a TDS Ranger with a Trimble badge on it. The thing seems fairly rugged, so I thought I might give it a try. I'd guess it's ca. 2000 vintage. Does anyone happen to have a charger and/or manual for this antique that they'd be interested in selling?
If it was what was called the TSCE, then it's on borrowed time. The monochrome screen was terrible and didn't last. If it is, I probably still have a manual around here somewhere I'll scan and email to you.
I remember those screens, if you left it screen side up in the sunlight, even with it turned off, when you went to turn it on, all you saw was a dark screen.
TDS Survey Pro takes some getting used to after having used an SDR33.
Turning sets, you can only do one foresight at a time. It has a multiple foresights routine but I don't consider that true sets.
If you start a project on an assumed coordinate then you have to turn sets to your first backsight then turn sets to your first foresight, etc.
Setting up, you zero the instrument then observe the backsight which doesn't shoot a distance.
> If it was what was called the TSCE, then it's on borrowed time. The monochrome screen was terrible and didn't last. If it is, I probably still have a manual around here somewhere I'll scan and email to you.
It does appear to have been designed for Windows CE, but without being able to turn the thing on (if in fact it does still turn on), I can't tell you what data collector software it has. The keyboard overlay is identical to this one (but with a Trimble badge instead of TDS). so I'd guess it's some sort of conventional DC software:
> TDS Survey Pro takes some getting used to after having used an SDR33.
>
> Turning sets, you can only do one foresight at a time. It has a multiple foresights routine but I don't consider that true sets.
>
> If you start a project on an assumed coordinate then you have to turn sets to your first backsight then turn sets to your first foresight, etc.
>
> Setting up, you zero the instrument then observe the backsight which doesn't shoot a distance.
Well, that all sounds pretty underwhelming.
Have you tried plugging it into a USB or lemo that is connected to a computer to see if it's working? It appears to have a lemo at the top and if so, that should work to charge the DC. We use lemos to charge the 5700 and R8 batteries with them installed. If it comes on, simply turn it off and it should continue to charge.
> I remember those screens, if you left it screen side up in the sunlight, even with it turned off, when you went to turn it on, all you saw was a dark screen.
So, you can't adjust the screen contrast? That would be a nightmare in Texas.
> TDS Survey Pro takes some getting used to after having used an SDR33.
>
> Turning sets, you can only do one foresight at a time. It has a multiple foresights routine but I don't consider that true sets.
>
> If you start a project on an assumed coordinate then you have to turn sets to your first backsight then turn sets to your first foresight, etc.
>
> Setting up, you zero the instrument then observe the backsight which doesn't shoot a distance.
Agreed! The routine for using the TRIMBLE brand and software for the DC on conventional shots is terrible and it was so cumbersome in fact, that we would set a pair of GPS points and then book the angles and enter them manually into the raw data in the evening for adjustment.
You probably have a TSCE based on your later post. I assume the TSCE came with a version of Survey Controller but I never used one.
The TDS Ranger I used is blue.
I'm betting you will prefer to stick with the SDR33.
edit:
The TSCE does have the advantage of non-volatile storage. I had an SDR31 suddenly cold boot one time and there went the job, ugh that was painful.
The Trimble Controller Software is very similar to the SDR software.
> The Trimble Controller Software is very similar to the SDR software.
That would not be surprising considering that Trimble bought DataCom Software Research, Ltd., the New Zealand developer of the SDR software.
> So, you can't adjust the screen contrast? That would be a nightmare in Texas.
The screen contrast can be adjusted by holding down the Alt key and hitting the keys multiple times(shown above the decimal and the comma). making it darker.
Mine is a Topcon brand but has the same overlay and is loaded with Survey Pro.
James
edit: after looking a little closer, all the labels I have are the same as in that picture but the keys J, O, P, Q, R, T, and U are blank on mine.
I just sold three that I pictured in this thread:
http://beerleg.com/index.php?mode=thread&id=314792
As to power supply, look on the back of your unit and there's probably a listing of input voltage showing as 12v. If so, take a 12v power supply from a laptop and it will probably work just fine.
It may need a new battery. I(f so I found a supplier out of NJ on eBay that sold them quite reasonable.
I've been using TDS software for years so I'm a little biased, but if you are using a SDR33 I would consider a Ranger with TDS software a serious step up.
Yes the screen will turn dark in sunlight but you can lighten it up. Yes, if the battery pack is older, its probably shot.
> As to power supply, look on the back of your unit and there's probably a listing of input voltage showing as 12v. If so, take a 12v power supply from a laptop and it will probably work just fine.
This Trimble-branded Ranger has just three I/O ports and I'm assuming that the 7-pin LEMO port is for the power cable.
> I've been using TDS software for years so I'm a little biased, but if you are using a SDR33 I would consider a Ranger with TDS software a serious step up.
I think I'm going try the TSC-1 with Survey Controller 7.71 first to see how it stacks up. I've just been using it as a GPS controller, but it should drive a total station as well. Not quite sure which Star*Net converter I'll need to add, but I'm about to find out as soon as the proper cables arrive from Western Cable.
The TSC1 slows down as you add conventional data to it.
So once you get 10 turns into a traverse it has slowed down considerably. It takes a while to bring up the point you just put in for the setup.
I think it recalcs the entire job every time you try to do something new, frustrating to say the least.
The SDR33 is a better conventional data collector.
I'm not sure about the TSCE. I'm using a TSC2 with Access and it doesn't have that problem, it's much better than the old TSC1.
> The TSC1 slows down as you add conventional data to it.
>
> So once you get 10 turns into a traverse it has slowed down considerably. It takes a while to bring up the point you just put in for the setup.
>
> I think it recalcs the entire job every time you try to do something new, frustrating to say the least.
>
> The SDR33 is a better conventional data collector.
It looks as if the TSC1 will output conventional data in SDR33 format, which is cool since I already have the Star*Net converter. I'm not about to abandon the SDR33, but thought it would be interesting to try the TSC1 and TSCe.
In the top of the unit, there should be a small round port, this is how you power the unit. It looks like a port you would charge a laptop by. The 7 pin is how I always hooked our units up to a total station or the GPS.
> TDS Survey Pro takes some getting used to after having used an SDR33.
>
> Turning sets, you can only do one foresight at a time. It has a multiple foresights routine but I don't consider that true sets.
From looking at the Trimble Survey Controller manual, it appears that one can take rounds with the controller building the rounds list as you go. That's pretty cool.
