Is anyone using a tablet like the Panasonic tough-pad, with Surv-PC as a data collector, and if so how do you like it?
I am using the RT 3 with Carlson SurvPC and?ÿ love it and would never go back to one of the typical common data collectors.
The tablet is far more capable.
Now for the first couple of months I hated it because I did not have the automatic update parameters set properly and it was trying to perform software updates in the field and it was messing me up bad.
Once I fixed that update schedule it has been great.
I have used the low end version of the Carlson RT3 for several years with SurvPC. I don't miss a real keyboard in any of my applications. Auto linework for topography is the best part for me.
Just upgraded to a loaded RT4 and I am anxious to learn to use some of the features my old unit didn't have. i.e. on-board GPS, cellular coms and camera.
JA, PLS, SoCal
Cant speak to SurvPC but am using a fz-b2 (7" screen) with Geomax X-pad Android. Fantastic being able to have 16h battery (not standard 8h one) and find it great for plugging a USB in with plans/docs on and being able to review in the field rather than printing a forest. I leave the screen in rain mode all the time. Agree that you want it setup to only update over wifi or annoying in the field. Seems well made and solid little unit.
?ÿ
Only thing I've noticed is my Bluetooth range to geomax zoom90 seems to top out at 180m whereas used to 300m with Leica controllers, to be fair is rare to be much more than 100m away from robot on usual sites anyway. Not sure if it's hardware or driver related?
?ÿ
Are tablets cumbersome in heavy brush? Anybody using the Trimble T10 tablet?
Assuming your not familiar with xpad software? Check out https://geomax-positioning.com/products/software/x-pad-suite/x-pad-ultimate
Using it to run robot and nrtk/standard base/Rover rtk.
Last Chinese software I used was Landstar from CHC, Trimble knock off but some functions didn't work as expected; may be more polished by now.
Would want to use surv-x for a couple months side by side with something I trusted. Also does it run robot? Lots of Chinese gnss companies don't seem to make robots yet. No way I want different controller and software for each piece of gear!
I see thanks, I didn't realise Geomax did GNSS receivers as well. As far as I know, there is one big GNSS Chinese outfit that does also to total stations, and I was told that they are crap - at that time I think they were only doing mechanical but I've had a quick squiz online and it appears they are now doing full robotic TS.
Edit - that robotic seems to have gone from their product line, so maybe they don't.
Geomax was as much Chinese input as I was keen for. Xyht mag has some great things to say about the new Chinese gear as far as hardware performance goes but the other half or more of equation is software and decent support which I don't see available yet. Mark Silver at Igage the exception and survey solutions in NZ ok but limited options.
Had a look at surv-x video on survey solutions website, looks quite familiar to X pad, not hard to see where the ins-pirate-tion came from.
I used the Topcon FC5000 for a while and I never thought it was that much of a nuisance but I also wasn't in heavy brush a lot. My biggest complaint was the thing was totally worthless in rain. It had a "rain mode" but all that did was make the screen unresponsive to rain drops AND finger or stylus touches. I had to put a shower cap over the screen when I worked in the snow or rain to be able to operate normally.
After that experience I would be a little hesitant to go back to a pure tablet. The TSC7 is sort of on the right track where they try to combine the tablet screen with the hard keys but the thing is a giant clunky looking abomination. What I would like to see is basically a T10 except with a couple rows of hard keys (letters, numbers, arrow keys mainly) tucked right below the screen, or possibly just off the sides of the screen. That way I could truly function in any conditions.
