Not to give anyone any ideas, but...the RTK base transmits its position as part of the data stream. A sophisticated criminal could use a radio and a PC to read the data stream and find out where the base is located. So, even if it is hidden, it could disappear.
The grab and go problem is also an issue with total stations. Walk away for a few minutes to look at something, gone.
I do leave non-rtk base stations (i.e. base station for static) in hidden locations, but not as much anymore with RTN and plentiful CORS. I will just strap it to a fence post, or put it atop a headstone in a cemetery (with no tripod). But, these are not broadcasting.
Running a conventional traverse in Hooper Bay, setting the instrument up on the forward point, BS already set. Gal walks up to me to tell me that some kids were messing with my stuff. Looked back down line and there was NO tripod or anything! Went down there and the kids had disassembled anything that was screwed or snapped or whatever and then tossed all the pieces along with the tripod in the swamp. Had to pull two laborers off of the utilidor job to babysit my BS and FS, what a pain!
Same village, a few years earlier, GPS base is set up in front of camp, so I didn't need tote it too far. DC pipes up, says that there is "excessive movement at base" went back and found 3 tykes, maybe 4 yo, each climbing a tripod leg! SIGH!
-JD-
All of Missouri is covered by MoDOT's RTN network. You just have to have cell service. We carry Verizon and ATT, rarely ever need a base.
N10,000, E7,000, Z100.00
PLS - IL, MO, AR, KS, MN, KY
Glenn
I deny that accusation.
I also challenge you to the Tea for Turtlebacks challenge.
First, fix yourself a glass of iced tea.
Second, fire up your comptrometer and navigate to http://www.gofundme.com/d53si4 .
As you sip your iced (or hot) tea, fill out your info and make a donation of $10, $11, $12 or $13. I'll pay you back next time I see you, I swear.
Then, sit back and relax with the satisfaction of knowing you've made a difference in the life of a bale of Turtleback Streetcars. (Bale is one of the collective nouns suggested for turtles)>
Thanks.
> Fortunately, Find my iPhone does NOT require cell service to work.
I'm assuming this means it can use WiFi as well as cell service, but that would require an open WiFi access point, something that's much harder to come by than it once was.
We lost 3 during the hayday down in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. all within one month. Made a rule that they are never left alone, but when they break into your truck while the guys are getting lunch, what are you gonna do.... It's not that bad anymore down this way...
> A person who steals a man's tools that he uses to make a living should be executed! Or at least whipped.
>
+1
Iron Tripod
Andy, here is what you need.
Cause, this is the guard:
It's an old pic of Big Help!
Of course, you could place it up in a tree, but that could give you multipath at the base:
Or, you could wind up with your job going this way:
Been down that road. Anytime you have gear that's expensive expect to be vandalized.
May I ask WHY are you leaving your equipments unattended in the 1st place? If unit costs Sxx,xxx, I would get a daily hire & pay him above minimum to just sit next to it. Are helpers really hard to find in your neck of the woods?
> May I ask WHY are you leaving your equipments unattended in the 1st place?
Convenience and cost. Tasking a skilled employee to babysit the gear is expensive, and arranging for an inexpensive casual laborer comes with its own layer of complexity in terms of scheduling, transportation and administration (payment), not to mention reliability.
When I leave equipment unattended -- be it a robot or a receiver -- I almost always lock it up. The security arrangement won't stop a determined thief, but it'll keep the snatch-and-run opportunists from ruining my day.
My thoughts exactly. If you cannot afford to pay an employee to monitor and protect your survey equipment in the field then you are not charging enough for your services.
Do you leave the door to your office wide open when your not there?
Andy
> I deny that accusation.
>
> I also challenge you to the Tea for Turtlebacks challenge.
>
> First, fix yourself a glass of iced tea.
>
> Second, fire up your comptrometer and navigate to http://www.gofundme.com/d53si4 .
>
> As you sip your iced (or hot) tea, fill out your info and make a donation of $10, $11, $12 or $13. I'll pay you back next time I see you, I swear.
>
> Then, sit back and relax with the satisfaction of knowing you've made a difference in the life of a bale of Turtleback Streetcars. (Bale is one of the collective nouns suggested for turtles)>
>
> Thanks.
Well, I apologize for mistaking you for your dopplegänger. Not knowing what's in it, I think I'll drink the tea and roll over on my turtleback.
>
> Do you leave the door to your office wide open when your not there?
Yeah, sometimes!
🙂
We feel your pain - seems a lot of us have had a base stolen in the past few years.
Ours was never recovered, and it took a while for insurance to cover some of the costs.
Wayne - from what I have heard - ADOT will be getting a state-wide RTN set up in the future, but when is a question that nobody knows the answer to. I look forward to that day when the fear of a base being stolen is not part of a field surveyors daily life.
Joe, I've been hearing the ADOT stuff for quite some time. I don't really do any of that work, but it seems the little bit I've done they've got every project on a different datum. Reconcile that on a nice Sunday afternoon, and don't spill your beer as you try. Just as I don't think holding your breath will expedite anything either.
I've heard that Mohave Co is real close. Their staff uses it all the time, it's been checked out, been some blue booking of points. It's real close to being available to the public. Just nothing is published yet. I'm not so sure the county wants to take that liability bite off their sandwich, let alone fund the radios or whatever they need. One big problem is we have those big old nasty mountains everywhere, and they create significant problems for radios.
I'm waiting for the technology to change. We have drones with bombs to get bad guys, why not a drone with GPS radios to go with their receivers. Now that is a "base station", only not stationary. I think we really are that close.... 😉
> I've heard that Mohave Co is real close...let alone fund the radios or whatever they need.
Typically, an RTN pushes corrections out through a server connected to the Internet, so the only radios involved are those used by the cell phone network.
Out of curiosity, I searched on "Mohave County RTN" and found this:
Was the "operational as of March 2012" statement too optimistic?
Maybe something like this could be modified to let you know via satellite text that a base has left a predetermined area? Pet tracking technology that might have other applications.
Just because I'm paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get me.
> Was the "operational as of March 2012" statement too optimistic?
Interesting find Jim, didn't ever look that way. I speak pretty much weekly with our county surveyor, not only as a peer and resource, but he's a good friend too. Good guy. Call him.
I think the 2012 lie is a case of the IT department and the GIS department having their collective heads twixt thyne buttocks. If somebody wants to use it, call the survey department. I could have used it last couple years if I wanted to get the codes right, but never went that route. I'm tired of buying new software and upgrading this and that.
However it is not "published", sort of like you rely on NGS data that you can hang your hat on. So at the end of the day, I still have to stamp my survey and don't want to rely on stuff I don't know about. If Gobment says it's good, it's good enough for me. Until then.... I still have my robot and I know he listens, at least until the batteries die.