@lukenz I was quoted AU$1850.
Similar to what we pay in the US when you consider the conversion rate.
@micheal-daubyn-2-2-2-2 I get what you are saying.
I am not sure how the program can distinguish between the instrument constant and the prism constant, seems to me it would show up as the sum of the two. I need to do some research on that to see how they are being separately determined.
I did read in "Electronic Distance Measurement: by Rueger (1990) that the additive constant in the instrument can change over time. He says (page 174-175)..."The residual additive constant can change over time and in the course of service or repair work... Test measurements have shown that the additive constant may also be affected by a number of other parameters. For example, the additive constants of most distance meters are temperature dependent. However, the temperature coefficient is usually very small...Some instruments were found to exhibit voltage-dependent or signal strength-dependent additive constants..."
Since this was written in 1990, it is possible that these values are much more stable now.
I don't know if this is relevant to the discussion or not, but I recall reading something years ago about how the aging of some total station components (an oscillator, perhaps?) can change the resulting distance readings.
@jim-frame I know that used to be an issue, changed the scale parameter. I don't know if more modern instruments have the same issue. If I recall correctly it was the aging of crystal oscillators
@jim-frame One of the older guys around here reckoned the same about the Leica 1100s. But I still have a couple of functional 1100s and have not noticed any changes. That doesn't mean it isn't possible of course! It only means I haven't seen it in my 25 year old instruments.
Oh well. It looks I'll be sending her in for a service.