For those of you who have used both, which do you prefer?
I'm considering switching. TIA
Carlson Ce
I prefer FG for daily use.
That's Total Station work on Allegro MX.
Use CE for GPS.
CE much more customisable and more features.
FG bit more glamorous at the expense of function and slickness of use.
Prefer the way FG has points and lines organised.
However CE has better point information presentation when they are clustered and you tap in middle of points.
CE shows all point data for those bunched, but FG only shows the point numbers then one chooses the desired point.
Probably personal but I prefer to see all point attributes at once.
I get good support from FG. Carlson Australia just plain awful.
I'd suggest it depends on your use and also what you are mating it with. Desktop and instruments.
Probably all subjective and worth trying both.
They run okay together on my Allegro. Not at same time obviously.
Happy to answer more specifics if needed.
Starting using Microsurvey in office so chose to use FG in field.
Good program . I was a longtime TDS user and there were a few protocol differences that was no big deal to acclimate into my head.
Also had Carlson on same DC ( allegro) and never used it except for some GPS.
Richard comments/review are spot on.
You will find a lot of Carlson users here. ( it is almost like a Carlson support site at time) They (Carlson ) should pay Wendell for hosting support for them.
In the version I ran, my real problem with Microsurvey was that the data collector automaped real slick, but its was not tied to the Raw file. For example you start and a curve with FG and there is no start or end curve, control codes in the raw file . So when you process the file you get straight lines and have to put in the curve yourself in cad. Even was not tied to the Microsurvey cad program. It looks real slick though .
We were told by the rep that microsurvey didn't talk with the hyper v. We went with Carlson. My guys are telling me Carlson does not have a function to prompt with the last descriptor used in topo mode. Anyone else see that? I will be researching today...
It's all in the settings. Mine is set to prompt me for description and rod height after each shot. On topos I often change it to store without prompting for pure speed.
I loved MS for the stupid simple linework. I thought the transfer between DC and computer and computer to DC to be the best I have ever seen.
I sold MS and now have Carlson just because of two reasons. 1. that I use almost everyday I work and that is the direct connect to a base receiver over IP connection. I don't enter a user name and password (ONLY way MS can connect) just a IP address and port. 2. Big point files. If you have over 5,000 points MS will fall on it's face.
If you go Carlson, don't get PC get CE. Carlson pretty much supports CE and doesn't care if you have a problem with PC. I have, ever since day one, have had problems with PC which I still have problems with PC and have just given up. Carlson support is so so. I have just learned to not complain. It gets you nowhere with Carlson. And too many people on this board gets so hurt if you say anything bad about their beloved Carlson. Reminds me of liberals protecting Obama. CE runs the robots better. PC, not so much.
Carlson seems to me to be a stronger program with nice features but is rough around the edges in some areas. Like connecting gps to gps with cell modems or connecting to a net base doing direct connect, Carlson is the clear winner.
