Drafting software recommendation

"Don't need a ton of features that consumes all my time configuring and then doing product testing and trouble-shooting."

Sorry, but no such product exixts. I know of no program that you can buy, load and instantly use.
The learning curvre for Carlson for anyone that has reasonable CAD experience is rather minor. I use Carlson Survey OEM and am wll satisfied with it. The additional cost is recouped in time saved doing CAD work.
PLUS, if you are doing just the basics you list, I don't think you will have a stability problem. Dave Carlson has smoothed out mant of the problem areas.
For a more detailed evaluation go to the Carlson websit Discussion forum and holler at Terry Strickland. He's a surveyor in North Mississippi that has transitioned to Intellicad with no real problems. He may be able to give you some hints on how to utilize Carlson with Intellicad.

Are you using Carlson with IntelliCAD or AutoCAD?

Mapman,

Try an OZ package for surveyors and engineers called Liscad, designed by surveyors.
Now worldwide distribution under Leica banner.
Has field side and computations and a basic cad package for those not wishing to use auto cad.
Can purchase component modules. I have used Liscad since 1990 DOS days. Has been windows operation for years.
Can have 14 day free download assessment.

Powerful product from field to calcs, back to field or plan output.

Image overlay , scanning clouds, contouring, road design, adjustments just some modules

Here is link

LISCAD Surveying & Engineering Field & Office Software

RADU

Isn't there also another survey software of Australian origin? I can't think of the name but is seems to me the number 12 is in it.

Perhaps BricsCAD and Dotsoft would be worth a look.

"12d" is what I was thinking of.

Hey thanks guys. Beer-leggers are the best!

Got tied up yesterday and couldn't respond until today.

Great, now I have alternates to compare.

Mr. Dent - Appreciate the recommendation. I did get an evaluation some time back and it has some real nice features. The IntelliCAD is only marginally accepted it sounds like from prior posts. But is still a top contender.

RADU - the LisCAD package looks interesting. I just glanced through it but the module style does appeal to me. Pick up a module as needed. I just don't know how well it will work with a TSC2. Wasn't specific and I know Leica and Trimble don't play well. Luckily most outputs can be styled to something generic that can be used by other software.

Mark - I will check those out later today. Thanks much.

Mapman, post: 338633, member: 6096 wrote: Something that does contours/surfaces and GNSS solutions well.

GNSS solutions, as in baseline processing? That raises the bar considerably.

Mark Mayer, post: 338764, member: 424 wrote: "12d" is what I was thinking of.

12d is powerful, but hugely complex and rather klunky. It has a huge learning curve and a dreadful user interface ( think TrimMap with "creeping feature-itis" ) - best avoided unless you really need the features.

We use it for only data reduction and for dtm creation. Everything then goes in AutoCAD for drafting

Liscad is MUCH nicer.

Trimble might have a style sheet that produces a Liscad file, I can't remember but I'm going to look it up. Leica (Wild?) tried to market it in the states as the replacement for Wildsoft but that went over like the proverbial lead balloon.

Edit - they do, I thought I remembered seeing it. If you're not familiar with style sheets they're templates that you can get from Trimble that allow the creation of all kinds of different reports and file formats from Survey Controller/Access JOB or JXL files.

Jim Frame, post: 338847, member: 10 wrote: GNSS solutions, as in baseline processing? That raises the bar considerably.

I know that was a bit much ‰÷¼. But gotta shoot for the best bang for the buck.

Really just a decent least squares set of routines would be prefered. All I really do is static anyway.

For least squares it's StarNet. But StarNet doesn't do drafting at all.

Mapman, post: 338861, member: 6096 wrote: All I really do is static anyway.

Unless you're relying solely on OPUS for your static work, you'll need a vector processor, and they're not cheap unless you're doing L1-only. TBC Advanced can do everything you've mentioned, but since I only use it for vector processing and DTM work, I can't comment on its suitability as an all-in-one surveying application.

Topcon Magnet Office Solutions will do CAD, 3d surfaces, Roadways, GNSS post processin, Least Squares and more. But it cost over $14k and new to market. Not many use it or can afford it.