I mean is it possible to have a field controller of one brand, a GPS of another and a robotic total station of another brand??ÿ I'm thinking of upgrading my robot, but my rep told me I'd also have to upgrade my software in my controller and this would then in-tune render my GPS obsolete.?ÿ So basically they are telling me to take my equipment and throw it away b/c the controller doesn't work??ÿ C'mon smart folks, is there a way around this marketing BS so that you can still connect one field controller to different branded equipment??ÿ I'm listening...
Survey Pro and SurvCE still attempt to connect to multiple brands. StarNet provides converters for most formats of raw data file. But you always seem to be giving something up.?ÿ I think that an integrated solution is the way to go, especially if you want to be up to date with technology, if you can.?ÿ
The days of owning a piece of equipment for more than 10 years are gone; if you want to be productive; competitive. I don't care if you're a big company with multiple crews or a solo boundary guy; you should lease or rent your equipment and call it a business expense.
It all depends on what brand of equipment are you using. If you are using Trimble/Leica, they are known to not allow others to connect to it to make us use their DCs.?ÿ
We run Survey Pro with Trimble S6, Spectra Focus 30 robots,?ÿ Topcon Hiper V RTK, Sokkia GRX1 RTK with very few, if any, issues.?ÿ We also have multiple Trimble TDL-450 external radios that we use with our Hiper V RTK.
This is what I was alluding to with my post in GNSS last week.?ÿ I can talk to Aldo with my old TSCE.?ÿ But my brand spanking new DC6 with FieldGenius 9 is unable to talk to it.?ÿ In theory, it could be the base for an RTK, but I have no way to drive the new RTK rover in the TSCE and no way to run the Trimble in FieldGenius.
If I were buying new, I'd go with all the same.?ÿ Leica DC's aren't the most user friendly, but I'd probably stick with their controller for both the Viva GPS and the TS06.?ÿ
That said, if I wanted multiple crews going, so one person could use the GPS and another crew to use the TS, then it'd make sense to have another DC.?ÿ And for that, I'd probably get a Carlson, since it plays really well with the Leica total stations.
Prisms can still mix and match, but again, buying new, I'd stick with the same brand.?ÿ Or I'd probably work with what I have until we switched over completely to one brand.
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I think those days ended many years ago, always giving up something for the flexibility of the DC working with the mix and match approach. I settled on Leica many years ago, but that is not to say Topcon or Trimble or??? wouldn't be best for your operation. The beauty of a single source is you don't have vendors all pointing fingers at the others when it doesn't work, and there is almost always tighter integration. My motto for years has been buy a single brand for everything and stick with it.
SHG