Magnet Field - Can I Input Co-ordinates?

In Magnet- Go to home screen>Edit>Points, then add your points.

To stakeout points- Home>Stake>Points, then stake your points

This is fairly basic stuff across all instruments. If this is critical stuff I would consider asking someone who knows what they are doing for help.

Do what we did, throw out Magnet and buy Carlson.

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So I take it the stake function is easier to find in carlson??ÿ

Posted by: spledeus

Do what we did, throw out Magnet and buy Carlson.

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I respectfully disagree.?ÿ

An few ounces of learning would go a long way.

Some people are just set on theirs ways and refuse to learn new procedures.

My crew had been using TDS for years.?ÿ We bought a new TS and were sold on Magnet.?ÿ The crew could not adapt.?ÿ There were several issues including the software putting the TS into reflectorless mode constantly.?ÿ The people from Topcon Solutions tried to help but could not resolve the issues.?ÿ When we called Todd Carlson of our woes, he revealed a simple truth: Carlson has sold many licenses of SurvCE / SurvPC to folks with the new Magnet.

Since we switched, my crew has been happy, relieved and projects are completed in a timely manner.

So could I get them to learn and adapt to Magnet??ÿ Possibly, but Why??ÿ

I do not post very often but I have been noticing issues with our equipment.

We have been long time users of Topcon due to the ease of use and reliability.?ÿ I never quite understood why people would pay more or Trimble or Leica when the Topcons get the job done just fine. I found the Topcon GPS would compare very well against both Trimble and Leica and we always had good results with repeated measurements in RTK mode, static etc... (still do by the way)

That being said, in the past 3 to 4 years I have been having multiple issues with the Topcon equipment and the software for same. I am very well aware that they all have their own issues but I think I have finally given up on Topcon.

I now have two Leica instruments and the remaining Topcons as well. The Topcons have always been purported to be the "workhorses" of the bunch and I used to agree with that. In the past 3-4 years I have had (3) Topcon OS series instruments in the shop for multiple reasons. We received a Topcon Robot GT series late last year and it has been in the shop multiple times for major problems. Topcon finally just gave me a replacement for this robot after the 3rd major problem - I will gladly use the gun as long as things continue to work well with it, time will tell.

Now that I have the Leica Robots, our crews love them and so do I. Do they also have some issues, sure they do but they are easily solved and workarounds are found. I find them to also provide consistent, tight results on our work.?ÿ

As mentioned above, while you can certainly learn about the products and dive into it, some of the Topcon software has become harder to use such as logging the equipment and the software you have. I am constantly receiving update notices from Topcon about my software and then have to figure out which instrument that goes with. While I understand that I can modify the reports and link the software to the hardware, it is cumbersome to do so. I have the same thing with Leica although there is one logon page and it lists all my equipment, software etc... and how they relate to each other. I can figure out the Leica stuff very easily - the Topcon not so much.

So the bottom line is we are very loyal to products, probably to a fault! It has taken me quite a while but I will most likely not be purchasing Topcon products going forward. By the way - as I am writing this my crew just texted me to let me know that the instrument that just came back from Topcon for a motor repair is still not working and they have to switch instruments. I just don't get it!

Last thing in fairness. This is only my experience with these instruments. Some would probably say the guys are abusing them or not using them correctly - these are the guys that have now used the Leica equipment with no major issue.?ÿ There may be and probably are some very happy people using Topcon products. I truly wish this was not the case for us as it has been repetitive and costly.?ÿ

Gregg?ÿ

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Gregg, What specific issues have you had with the Topcon GT, has it all been related to the new motors? I wouldn't want to buy one of these if there are constantly problems.

You can add coordinates manually or import from csv file. I personally like importing csv file as it can avoid quite a few errors. Under EXCHANGE ->FROM FILE->import type select NEH.csv (string or not string)

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Derek

Gregg,

I have one client using a GT for past year with no issues. It is a fast instrument.

There was a firmware updated in Nov 2017 for the GT.?ÿ Did you encounter any of these issues?

Topcon is recommending that all GT/IX users update to the latest DCPU 1-1.07_04 build via USB update, by downloading the manual install from Topcon TotalCare or SokkiaCare and performing the 24 direction afterburner software testing. ?ÿIf users already had DCPU 1.07_00 on their instrument prior, they will not receive a notification from TSShield server, and they will need to update via USB.

Topcon is also recommending that dealers who register their instruments on TSShield for their customers, should go in and check instruments in the field and verify firmware versions.

https://tsshield.tierraservice.com/#/login

• The algorithm of the motor parameter in GT/iX is changed for each rotate speed.

GTIX_ENG_S / Basic=1.05EN_00 / ExtLink=1.45 / DCPU=1-1.07_04 / DCPU=005-0_0201 /?ÿ?ÿ EDMCPU_FPGA=006-1_3081 / EDMCPU=9-1.05_05 / TIPU=4-1.05_00 /

Problem and Solution for the issue

1. Jog Dial - Fixes the issue of coarse movement to a finer movement so the user can point to an object correctly.?ÿ Using the Horizontal or Vertical jog dials (Tangents) in a manual mode, the instrument would jump past an object when trying to point. This has been fixed.
2. Auto Tracking - Firmware also improves tracking and telescope vibration during Auto tracking. ?ÿSome customers may have seen increased vibration of the GT due to issues with the prediction tracking.?ÿ This issue was seen most dramatically at close ranges, but could be experienced at longer distances as well. This has been fixed.
3. Auto Aim or INV ƒ?? Resolves following error messages:

?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ Timeout, E540, Motor ƒ?? Suspended!!

?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ (ƒ??Motorƒ??Suspended!! is displayed)?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ?ÿ

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4. INV - Firmware improves in cases where GT instruments inverted the telescope 180 degrees via the motors and GT displayed a timeout error or motor suspended warning.?ÿ?ÿ

Lee

Thanks for posting that information.?ÿ

Lee,

couple of things as far as the Topcon robot we bought (GT-1003)

• We did get a new robot within the last week or so. Guys say it is much better than the other one which appeared to be plagued with problems. We most likely had some of the same issues you mentioned above but after almost a year of it not working properly I guess they finally decided to send us a new one. At the end the initial Gt was simply was not turning and appeared to be getting locked up. Of course with the holidays we have not had time to really put it through the paces but it does seem much better than the prior gun we received.
• We also were having a lot of issues with a Topcon OS-101 and after almost 3 years Topcon just replaced that one as well after multiple problems.
• As I mentioned above, my intent is not to slam Topcon, sounds like there are a lot of happy customers out there. We may have just had a bad run. I see that there was also someone complaining about the Leica TS-16 and Captivate. We have not experienced the problems that they have luckily and we seem to be doing well with those. So I guess your mileage will vary.?ÿ

To TotalSurv,

The GT at first was having large vertical errors - on the scope of 0.12' within a couple hundred feet. Turns out this was solved with a calibration but you don't expect a new instrument to have those kinds of errors. Once that was solved I was happy but then there started to be issues with the gun tracking the prism, and not in challenging environments. Finally i took the instrument home to check it one day and the gun would not rotate and was getting hung up. This is when they took it in again and Topcon replaced it. As Lee mentions above, many of the issues we had may stem from the items he lists, but when you are busy and trying to get work done, it doesn't help.?ÿ Again I will say that the new GT we got from Topcon appears to work very well and perhaps these are just the growing pains of a new model. Only time will tell with this robot.

I don't check this post very often but will try to get back to you if you have any other questions.

Best of luck to you all with your equipment and hope it works well for you - that is all we can really ask for!

Gregg

Most of the problems Gregg and others have are actually centered around the Topcon dealer. They just don't know how to address the issues, or don't want to.?ÿ Those issues should have been resolved long ago. Around here the Topcon dealer, Admar Positioning will provide you a loaner instrument while yours is in for service. Gregg, who is your Topcon dealer?

As fars as the software. Someone mentioned in another thread that Topcon is forcing you to use their software and hardware exclusively. Well yes, they are, and so are all the others vendors.You will always get more out the instrument using software specifically written for it. The problem is very few people learn to the software correctly, and they are familiar with different software. Then they get frustrated when they can't find the same commands or routines. I have found that Magnet is very user friendly, very sable and has more routines than others.

Posted by: leegreen

Most of the problems Gregg and others have are actually centered around the Topcon dealer. They just don't know how to address the issues, or don't want to.?ÿ

I don't see how some of the issues Gregg has highlighted would be the fault of the dealer, particularly around the flawed firmware. Should the instrument not be working correctly straight from the factory?

I have clients using the same instrument with zero issues. Dealer should be proactive and notify them when a firmware is available. Actually the instruments now give you notice when a firmware is available. I saying the dealer should have provided a loaner instrument or replacement much earlier.