After 19 years of service, the Ashtech Z-12 that I always used may have performed it's last session. Wednesday, I took it home to run a test session in my back yard with intentions of creating a RINEX file that had flaws in it to test a new version of WinTEQC. It locked on to satalites just like normal. I set the site name for HWM1 and collected some data. After a few minutes, I set the Antenna Height to 2 meters. Then a little later, I changed the site name to HWM2 and changed the Antenna Height to 1.5 meters. I made several other changes at different times including changing the recording interval. After I had been observing for a little over 2 hours, I shut it down and took it into the Man Dog Cave to download. There were 3 files from the last time I used it. I moved those to the computer then started to do the last file. I got an error message so I shut the receiver off and started over. This time I got a message abotu loading software from port 1. I dug out the manual and saw how to do a system reset and will try that this weekend, and if necessary try to reload the firmware.
This has been a faithful friend for the almost 20 years. She did not complain when I got new, more powerful toys and have religated her to the warehouse and only ocassional use. We have 4 Z-12 that were purchased in September of 1995. This is unit 2, the one that I always used. If my old friend is gone, I think I will start using her for a door stop and get another OPUS X90
I'd say you got your money's worth. If it does turn out to be hardware related and if you're brave enough, you could always Jim Frame it and recap the board. At 20 years old, capacitors tend to go south. I would think it would be cheap to do. It would be interesting to see if that fixed it-if it has a hardware problem on the board.
Steve Corley, post: 328912, member: 23 wrote: This has been a faithful friend for the almost 20 years. She did not complain when I got new, more powerful toys and have religated her to the warehouse and only ocassional use. We have 4 Z-12 that were purchased in September of 1995. This is unit 2, the one that I always used. If my old friend is gone, I think I will start using her for a door stop and get another OPUS X90
Steve,
Is this the unit the "LARK" used on the Foster Mast at PID EH2910?
DDSM:beer:
Steve Corley, post: 328912, member: 23 wrote: After 19 years of service, the Ashtech Z-12 that I always used may have performed it's last session. Wednesday, I took it home to run a test session in my back yard with intentions of creating a RINEX file that had flaws in it to test a new version of WinTEQC. It locked on to satalites just like normal. I set the site name for HWM1 and collected some data. After a few minutes, I set the Antenna Height to 2 meters. Then a little later, I changed the site name to HWM2 and changed the Antenna Height to 1.5 meters. I made several other changes at different times including changing the recording interval. After I had been observing for a little over 2 hours, I shut it down and took it into the Man Dog Cave to download. There were 3 files from the last time I used it. I moved those to the computer then started to do the last file. I got an error message so I shut the receiver off and started over. This time I got a message abotu loading software from port 1. I dug out the manual and saw how to do a system reset and will try that this weekend, and if necessary try to reload the firmware.
This has been a faithful friend for the almost 20 years. She did not complain when I got new, more powerful toys and have religated her to the warehouse and only ocassional use. We have 4 Z-12 that were purchased in September of 1995. This is unit 2, the one that I always used. If my old friend is gone, I think I will start using her for a door stop and get another OPUS X90
My sympathies.
Have you ever changed the internal memory batteries?
I am getting ready to put some (or all) of my Z-12s out to pasture. I no longer care to lift the suitcase with receiver, batteries and antenna.
Tell me exactly what you have, and maybe I can match you up with a sacrificial twin.
Paul in PA
I believe I would quit too if someone went to changing my height and name right in the middle of me doing my business. Admit it, you broke it!
😀
Dan B. Robison, post: 328934, member: 34 wrote: Steve,
Is this the unit the "LARK" used on the Foster Mast at PID EH2910?
DDSM:beer:
Dan, for the LARK, we used single frequency Ashtech LXII units. This is a dual frequency Z 12.
Paul in PA, post: 328971, member: 236 wrote: Have you ever changed the internal memory batteries?
I am getting ready to put some (or all) of my Z-12s out to pasture. I no longer care to lift the suitcase with receiver, batteries and antenna.
Tell me exactly what you have, and maybe I can match you up with a sacrificial twin.
Paul in PA
We have Ashtech Z12 units with the ASH7007118B Geodetic Whopper Antenna. Unless it is a fix the user can perform, we could probably put a couple more X90 OPUS in the tool kit for the cost of repairs and shipping.
We only use the Z12 as a last resort now. We have 3 OPUS X90, 2 Leica GS15, 3 Leica SR530, and 4 Ashtech Z12. Since we only have 6 people it is hard to get all of those receivers working at one time. I would like to have 4 identical units to use and 1 more X90 OPUS would make that happen and is more user friendly than the Z12. The Z12 has to be downloaded ever 10 hours and the OPUS X99 can go for months without being downloaded.
I have 172 days of X90 OPUS observations on a point and the results are amazing.
Beer Legs, post: 328916, member: 33 wrote: If it does turn out to be hardware related and if you're brave enough, you could always Jim Frame it and recap the board.
I love it! That's the first time i've ever heard "Jim Frame" as a verb.:-D
I downloaded the manual for the Z12 and did a system reset on it. It is on my test range now collecting 6 hour sessions. I will download it after 2400 GMT and run it for 24 hours and see what happens.
