Data Collectors

If you want to have the functionality of being able to swap the robot for RTK on the fly, I'm going to go out in a limb and recommend the TSC3 and Access. Truthfully I cannot fathom how folks can get away without GNSS RTK these days, combined with a good robot, one guy can effectively survey like an army. Like comparing a bolt action with a belt fed mini gun.

I'd be wary of this combo. As mentioned on other posts I have a 5601+ACU+SC10.8 and the "equivalent" Geodimeter650DR200+ with a keyboard faceplate. We use RTK with SurvCE so for the robots I got a Nomad with SurvCE. I can get the Geodimeter to run under SurvCE in both station (faceplate on) and full robotic (faceplate off) modes. But no dice with the 5600 - I can't get the ACU to "release control" to SurvCE in either mode. With SurvCE you need the faceplate on to level the instrument via the electronic bubble as SurvCE does not have this function (I think Fieldgenius does, but like others have said on this forum I couldn't get it to take a shot). I went down the track of buying a Geodimeter faceplate to stick on the 5600 in the anticipation that it would then behave like the Geodimeter650 and behave with SurvCE, but the faceplate I bought lost its software, so I gave up. I'm also thinking that later versions of SC and Access don't have this problem, but I haven't got around to finding that out. I'd suggest try before you buy, or buy a guaranteed to work system. I'd say I've put hundreds of hours into this, which at my charge out rate is worth trillions, so would have been better spent on a Sx10, or a boat. Hopefully someone will tell me what I am doing wrong.

What Richard said above is an accurate representation, in that to use SurvCE with a 5600 robot there is a "unique" order of operations. Although where he had trouble with his 5600, we have been able to configure many systems with Carlson, with the caveat you must use SurvCE v.4 or earlier to have the 5600 drivers (not a problem to buy a new license this way).

Of course if you decided to go this way you'd need to verify any potential RTK system is also supported in SurvCE v.4 (drivers for the newest systems [ie. BRx6] are in v.5).

USSurveySupply_8668778783, post: 432244, member: 10942 wrote: What Richard said above is an accurate representation, in that to use SurvCE with a 5600 robot there is a "unique" order of operations. Although where he had trouble with his 5600, we have been able to configure many systems with Carlson, with the caveat you must use SurvCE v.4 or earlier to have the 5600 drivers (not a problem to buy a new license this way).

Of course if you decided to go this way you'd need to verify any potential RTK system is also supported in SurvCE v.4 (drivers for the newest systems [ie. BRx6] are in v.5).

BTW, you can check SurvCE version compatibility here: http://www.carlsonsw.com/products/data-collection/survce/#hardware

We found out the hard way that the latest SurvCE lost some stuff instead of gained with newer versions. The 5600 option is still visible but will not work properly.

As i'm sure you know, once you buy a Trimble collector, you are pretty much locked into Trimble gear. I am locked in because of certain equipment they make, and I also really like Access. I just upgraded from a TSC3 with Access to a Yuma 2 with Access. While pricing things out, I believe a new TSC3 with the radio and Access was around $7500.

Am I the only one who finds it ironic that you don't want to buy Trimble due to a perceived obsolescence to run your twenty year old Trimble gun that's still presumably going strong?

Lee D, post: 432299, member: 7971 wrote: Am I the only one who finds it ironic that you don't want to buy Trimble due to a perceived obsolescence to run your twenty year old Trimble gun that's still presumably going strong?

Hello Lee, interesting point.

There were people that purchased the 5600 series instruments new in 2009. Trimble stopped supporting them around 2013-2014 as far as I can tell. Those folks got 4 to 5 years of support, at which time parts availability begins to wane. The folks that purchased in 2002 (15 years ago when the 5600 series was first offered) got significantly better support.
My point is that timing is important.

The TSC3 was release as early as 2010, so if Trimble's past market strategy is any indication of things to come, the TSC4+ is probably due to be released soon and the the the TSC3 will probably no longer be supported in about 4 years. I'm leary of purchasing something that may not be supported in several years. I think that's a valid concern considering the expense.

I realize this is the way of our world.

Thanks to those that provided some info on potential SurvCE compatibility issues with the 5600 series. I would have thought all those bugs would have been worked out by now.

Does the SurvCE play nice with any of the new Trimble total stations?
I know they work hard to keep things proprietary as much as possible.

If I were you I would go with the Surveyor 2 and SurvCE. Then you can run whatever you want later. I am assuming you will be in the market for a new robot anyway in a few years.

I vowed never to buy Trimble stuff again when my 5700 stopped working because they just let the firmware expire to force people to buy new equipment.

imaudigger, post: 432329, member: 7286 wrote: The TSC3 was release as early as 2010, so if Trimble's past market strategy is any indication of things to come, the TSC4+ is probably due to be released soon and the the the TSC3 will probably no longer be supported in about 4 years. I'm leary of purchasing something that may not be supported in several years. I think that's a valid concern considering the expense.

All valid points, I was just making a lame attempt at humor.

imaudigger, post: 432334, member: 7286 wrote: Thanks to those that provided some info on potential SurvCE compatibility issues with the 5600 series. I would have thought all those bugs would have been worked out by now.

Does the SurvCE play nice with any of the new Trimble total stations?
I know they work hard to keep things proprietary as much as possible.

Carlson does not have drivers for any Trimble gear beyond the 5600 and R8-2 (although some won't work because of a firmware update).

Lee D, post: 432348, member: 7971 wrote: All valid points, I was just making a lame attempt at humor.

I'm horrible about detecting sarcasm and humor on the internet. (not that your not funny)

Richard Imrie, post: 432241, member: 11256 wrote: I'd be wary of this combo. As mentioned on other posts I have a 5601+ACU+SC10.8 and the "equivalent" Geodimeter650DR200+ with a keyboard faceplate. We use RTK with SurvCE so for the robots I got a Nomad with SurvCE. I can get the Geodimeter to run under SurvCE in both station (faceplate on) and full robotic (faceplate off) modes. But no dice with the 5600 - I can't get the ACU to "release control" to SurvCE in either mode. With SurvCE you need the faceplate on to level the instrument via the electronic bubble as SurvCE does not have this function (I think Fieldgenius does, but like others have said on this forum I couldn't get it to take a shot). I went down the track of buying a Geodimeter faceplate to stick on the 5600 in the anticipation that it would then behave like the Geodimeter650 and behave with SurvCE, but the faceplate I bought lost its software, so I gave up. I'm also thinking that later versions of SC and Access don't have this problem, but I haven't got around to finding that out. I'd suggest try before you buy, or buy a guaranteed to work system. I'd say I've put hundreds of hours into this, which at my charge out rate is worth trillions, so would have been better spent on a Sx10, or a boat. Hopefully someone will tell me what I am doing wrong.

Hi Richard -- I'm happy to report that SurvCE will offer the bubble level for the 5600 as of version 5.06. If you PM me, I can send you an early patch of this (assuming you are already running 5.0X).

I was recently told by sales that SurvCE does not support the Trimble 5600 series.
Sarah, could you clarify?

imaudigger, post: 432642, member: 7286 wrote: I was recently told by sales that SurvCE does not support the Trimble 5600 series.
Sarah, could you clarify?

SurvCE 5.05 does support the Trimble 5600 under Manufacturer: Legacy Robotic.

At the moment, we do plan to drop support for this robot in version 6.0, primarily because existing Georadios are beginning to fail, and are no longer getting hardware support from Trimble. Another major problem is that many 5600s are now being resold without faceplates which makes them inoperable with third party software. Our tech support has found that they can no longer reliably support 5600 users due to these issues.

That said, we did add the bubble level to version 5.06 which will be out later this summer, and will continue to sell version 5.0 serial number for anyone who needs to use this robot.

Sarah Winter, post: 432660, member: 11532 wrote: At the moment, we do plan to drop support for this robot in version 6.0, primarily because existing Georadios are beginning to fail, and are no longer getting hardware support from Trimble. Another major problem is that many 5600s are now being resold without faceplates which makes them inoperable with third party software. Our tech support has found that they can no longer reliably support 5600 users due to these issues.

When you say "drop support" does that mean remove it from the SurvCE hardware list, or just no longer continue its development? We only have SurvCE3 for the robots but I'm fairly sure that our particular issue with the 5600 is the Trimble ACU faceplate and when I get a working Geodimeter faceplate on it, it will be ok with SurvCE.

In 6.0 it will no longer appear in the hardware list. But as I mentioned, 5.0 licenses will continue to be sold.

You can probably pick up a ranger with survey pro robotics activated or access on eBay for about grand or so. That doesn't help for the future but it is probably the matching technology.
I think I recently paid $4350 for the Surveyor 2 with GPS, don't think you can get for $3500-$4000