I am currently using Carlson Survey 2008 with embedded AutoCAD. It works very well for me. I am a small, solo operation. I regularly team up with Chris, another solo guy here on the board. My main work is small boundary and topo surveys, with a lot being for engineering firms.
I have not had any issues with them being able to use my drawing files. I do, however, sometimes have ot use TruView to save some drawings down, which is a pain at times, but not too bad.
I am currently trying a 30 day demo of Carlson Survey 2015 with embedded AutoCAD 2013. I seem to like it so far. I can see some improvements, and I like it, but am wondering just how much it will increase my productivity. I also do not want to miss out on the upgrade option going from Pre-2009 to current version of embedded AutoCAD. I don't remember when the upgrade deadline is, but I know it is getting pretty close.
I also use Topcon Tools for processing my static GPS data. I have a usbkey to unlock the demo version, and it works great on my XP desktop, and my Vista Laptop, but I cannot for the life of me get the usbkey to work on my Windows 8.1 laptop. I really do not want to carry two laptops all the time when I am traveling for work. I am considering migrating to Carlson SurveyGNSS. Does anyone have any experience with this software? I have downloaded the demo, but have not activated it yet.
I also have a copy of Spectra Precision's GNSS Solutions. I have the L1 only version. Many of you may remember that last year I experienced the second time that that software was having problems importing my rinex data from my Topcon Hipers, causing a two meter bust in some of my points. This triggered me into selling my two Promark 3 units and upgrading to two OPUS X90 receivers to have the ability to use OPUS and OPUS-RS as blunder checks.
For those of you using the 2014 or 2015 versions, have you seen an increase in productivity, or features that just really made the upgrade worth it? I could probably get by with what I have for the forseeable future pretty easily, but I also don't want to miss the upgrade deadline.
I did see a slowdown in my new laptop when executing a few of the commands in the 2015 version yesterday when playing around with the F2F stuff, and today when playing areound with the import a Google Earth file.
Any advice or comments will be greatly appreciated.
Have a great day!
Jimmy I have received information that the drop dead deadline is January 31, 2015.
I am faced with the same issues with my older versions of Land Desktop and thinking about upgrading one of them to vanilla AutuCad for use with Carlson 2015 and another one to AutoDesk Infrastructure Design Suite 2015 Premium version containing Civil 3D, Map 3D and others that I don't think that I would be using.
I mainly do surveys for engineering companies that use Civil 3D and like you have not had any issues with my Land Desktop drawings so far but could be just a computer crash away from loosing Land Desktop, I don't know if AutoDesk would provide an install key for the versions that they are no longer supporting (3 years back) and I can't find my original install numbers. Maybe someone could tell me if it is stored in the program that I can access before I have a fatal computer crash.
I had to drop my annual subscriptions in 2008 when the economy tanked because I could not afford the $5,000+ to keep them going and hate the thought of getting back in to that now that I am solo and facing retirement in the near future.
Ed
I upgraded recently. I'd say it depends- for the cost of an upgrade (+/- 1600 bucks, no?) what do you have to do: 2 or 3 small jobs at most to pay for it? In that regard, yes. Do it.
Main advantages I've realized so far (understanding that I haven't had 5 minutes edgewise in the last several months to properly play with it and set up or reload various settings, defaults, toggles): topo processing is quite a bit better. Nothing earth shattering, after having been used to old Carlson- more like the ability to go back and fix and massage a built surface. Auto generated tree lists are nice. The main benefit for me so far (as a cog in a civil company) is communicating straight across to their civil files- as opposed to them having to save all their files back to 07 in order for me to xref, insert as block, etc. That's s huge issue for me as it happens constantly- I xref civil files in all the time, both for my use and, in a way, to keep them honest about their stuff. The time and data required to do that has been cut to almost nothing since I went to 15.
If you're not cross referencing that many files, and can easily get them in your format, I'd say it's probably not so much better to justify the expense. I have a buddy who still kicks all his work out in r12- he's resisted for longer than you. But, he's retiring in the next few years, doesn't wanna learn a bunch of new tricks. If you'll be around a while... CAD isn't gonna stop upgrading. Might as well snag an extra job, put in an extra 5-6 hours some week soon, and cover the cost of new Carlson.
I would suggest to wait another year to get the embedded version 2016. For a while now, AutoCAD releases a new *.dwg format every three years (2004-2007-2010-2013). Investing in 2016 version will keep you current with your clients until 2018. That's assuming the three years trend continues.
Topcon should be able to provide you with an update to unlock the technology to newer systems. I remember Hypack going from 30 pins to USB at no charge for its customers.
Don't be afraid to spend money, it's only money. You are a nice guy, probably a good surveyor that do quality work, so bump up your rates. Surveying is a small cost for the engineers. A cost they often pass to their clients anyway.
Just make sure you don't fall in a "getting by" mindset, it is costly for a business.
We faced the same issue this year too and just getting too far behind. Tired of trying to take newer ACAD files back to our 2010 C3D. I tried desperately to go with ICAD with Carlson, but it was just too hard. Most of the problem is with me though. I have learned all the bell and whistle on CAD and ICAD does't have all of them or it was different. Only a few small snags with it. Anyway... our company purchased one seat of plain ACAD and one of CAD with Map to use with our Carlson Survey. My suggestion here is if you are putting images, etc in the background, you will need MAP. When you do upgrade, you will have to buy a one year maintenance subscription and should get 2016 which someone mentioned it would be a different dwg. Good luck.
Great post. Glad to hear how others have worked on the same problems all small/solo surveyors face. Going to two computers has helped me. One connected with new software, one with Land Desktop and the older versions of software. Now that things are picking up, I don't have the "things are slow" excuse anymore and it time to retool. Listening to everyone's two-cent helps. Thanks.
The upgrade from 2008 to 2010 on my computer yielded MUCH faster performance. I loaded 2015 on the Boss's laptop the other day and was VERY impressed with the new features. He's got a 64 bit laptop and Carlson screams on it. Staying on the "cutting edge" is a good idea, but I always wait 3 to 5 years for upgrades, and then I wait until I see that all of the bugs have been fixed in the new version.
Bottom line: GO FER IT!! B-)
When moving from 32 to 64 but Topcon you will need an updated hardware lock.
You might look into going to an OPUS projects seminar. With that internet based software you can adjust your points as a network. You upload just like you do to opus. I just went to a seminar that NGS put on in Mobile. It was free. Best part of the software it is free. You have to go to a two day seminar to get access to it. Of course you are subject to their down time if the have any. I can't remember how many days OPUS was down on the last budget battle. Another advantage is that with a couple of additional steps you can publish your monument data if you want to through OPUS share. I am looking into trying to add this to our work flow when we work on new transmission lines so we can publish our main control to the public.
Thanks, I attended an OPUS Projects class in May. It was pretty cool.
The only real downfall that I saw was the 2 hour minimum. Sometimes the 2 hours us not feasible for a small project.
I did learn alot, and would recommend anyone taking the class I do plan on using it for larger projects..
