Time for a new Data Collector. Need your input.

I would probably take a good look at the Carlson Surveyor. I think they will let you move your SurvCE over to it. A keyboard is important to me, though, so that narrows it down somewhat.

I think the Carlson Surveyor is essentially the same as the Juniper Allegro MX (older screen technology). I am not certain of that though.

You could try a Panasonic Tough Book loaded with SurvPC or Carlson Field. That gives a LOT of power in the field. Larger screen and a full blown keyboard. The screen can twist around and you are working with a tablet if so desired.

Warning: I never followed through on what these will work with
or the range of the "extended bluetooth cap" but it may be
worth investigating: GETAC PS336.

The Surveyor is the same as a TK6000, which is some newer than the Allegro MX. I have an Allegro MX and a CX for a backup. I haven't tried the Surveyor or the TK6000, so I can't comment on the display. The Allegro is lacking quality in the sunlight, though.
The TK6000 says "Outdoor readable color display" at http://www.junipersys.com/Juniper-Systems-Rugged-Handheld-Computers/products/TK6000-Rugged-Handheld fwiw.

I would suggest looking into a Juniper Mesa. It is also sold through Topcon as a Tesla.

http://www.junipersys.com/Juniper-Systems-Rugged-Handheld-Computers/products/Mesa-Rugged-Notepad

Tried the Mesa. Screen is not good in direct sunlight.

I tried the Juniper Archer-2, but didn't like it much.
>
> Notes: Screen visibility in sunlight is a top priority.

Sorry to answer a question with a question, but the Archer 2 claims to have the best sunlight readable screen of all, so do you find that not to be the case? I'm interested in your opinion as I was considering one.

The Trimble T41 has the same screen technology, I believe, but you probably can't put SurvCE on it. But what about the Nomad? I've heard it has a good screen, rugged as hell and they're not expensive.

I found the Archer 2 screen to be very good in sunlight. My biggest problem with that DC was ease of use. I could not seem to be able to very easily navigate thru programs using my finger (or the included stylus that's about the size of a small finger) on the screen. I think if fingers were about 1/8" in diameter it would work fine. Then again, I only pecked around on it in the office. Maybe I could have gotten more used to it if I used it in the field for awhile.

I use the Tesla, and agree the OEM screen saver makes it very difficult to see in direct sunlight. There are much better none glare screen savers available at $30 each.

Recently I purchased a Panasonic ToughPAD FZ-M1. It is a full Windows 7 x64(or 8.1 x64) with 1.6Mhz processor, 8Gb RAM, USB 3.0, WiFi, Bluetooth and 128Gb SSD drive.

I can run Magnet Field PC version and all my PC apps, plus Carlson, MS Office, any broswer and CAD.

It is easily 20x faster than any data collector, and same screen size as the Tesla/Mesa, but much lighter, and cheaper. The cost is about $2200, and pole mount is $50.

The OEM battery is spec'd to last 8 hours, and the extended battery is 16 hours.

There is a 7" screen model, and a 10" model. I think the 7" is best on the pole.

Right now I am typing ths message on it, using a USB mouse and keyboard.

Lee Green

The best unit I have seen in the field in direct sunlight is the Algiz 7X Win7 tablet PC and it has built in GPS and 5mp camera. Its kinda like that unit Lee mentioned the Panasonic ToughPAD FZ-M1 but that little Panasonic is much lighter and a little thinner but not quite as rugged. The Algiz 7X will run all kinds of software in portrait or landscape mode. We are currently running SurvPC and it works fine in a portrait or landscape screen. I also wrote my own DC application and programmed a custom keyboard for the application to better facilitate on screen keyboard entry. The standard onscreen keyboard is just ok IMHO - but that's pretty common for tablets with no physical keyboard. The fully configured Algiz 7X (without SurvPC) is around $3400 for the extra capacity batteries etc so the price point of around $2200 for that little Panasonic is purdy good. I would really like to get my hands on that unit because for the price it looks quite good.

We are really trying to move completely away from any win mobile platforms. A full blown Win7 platform is what we have settled on for various reasons.

Just my 2c,

Thanks,
Terry

All your requirements will fit Stonex S4H model http://www.stonexpositioning.com/index.php/en/prodotti/gps/s4-detail, Casio 3.7" screen is best on Sun. Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 what we order and today we use Dell Venue 8 Pro tablet PC.

Since you're already decided on using Carlson SurvCE, I'd go with the Carlson Surveyor+.

We've got a bunch of those, and my only issue with them ever is software, not hardware, related.

I was told a lot of these new screens are designed to work with polarized sunglasses. I hated the screens when I was a field grunt and often wandered why not make them like the e-readers. there was some technical difficulty as to why but then I put on the polarized glasses and I was using an Alegro and you could see it as clear as day even if you tried to put as much glare as possible on there. so you might have more options if sunglasses dont bother you to much, and if your on a construction site you "have" to wear them anyway.

> I would probably take a good look at the Carlson Surveyor. I think they will let you move your SurvCE over to it. A keyboard is important to me, though, so that narrows it down somewhat.

Ditto that. I liked the JettCE 600+ with the latest SurvCE [at the time] and also just because of what J.T. said about the key layout. The 600+key layout was far superior (IMHO) over the previous Explorer unit. Larry P. loaned me a 600+ for some time. I loved it! Being a loaner from Larry I didn't want to take it into the field so as not to hurt it. Mr. P. said it was OK but, nah, I wasn't gonna do that and take a chance on hurting it. My survey manager at the time said he didn't care if I wanted to take "my own" DC to job site [a Carlson shop] he didn't care so long as we started the jojb with it and finished with it. I understood that. Being the unit wasn't mine, I wasn't going to take that chance.
It was a sad day for me when Mr. P came to get it back.

Thanks, Lee. I am going to check out the Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1. Do you find anything lacking on this DC?

We switched from the Carlson Explorer II 600 to a Topcon FC-500. Night & day difference in the screens in day light. We use Carlson and the transfer of data isn't much different than when we were using and old SDR 33. Create a .txt file for points and an rw5 file for raw data, pretty simple. If anyone is using an old Topcon data collector I'd say switch if you're having problems seeing the screen in the sun. Even the Tesla we demo'd at the same time sucks in comparison. I'm sure it'll have bugs, haven't used any new equipment in the past 20 yrs that hasn't, but so far so good.

I am running SurvCE 3.03 on a TSC3 no problem. Keyboard is great. It has a camera too. Our guys running Trimble hardware just switch over to SurvCE when the R8s go down and power up the sokkia units.

What about the nautiz line with microsurvey

Just curious?