Some will remember back to the good old days of DOS when savvy people copied and pasted with DOS commands quicker than the then new windows system... Here I am not debating the function enhancement like reflectors, cloud gathering and photo ability now added to the total station but the screen graphics and function menus.
Fast forward to a decade ago when total stations had small screens, with large text and less functionality than today.
Fast forward to today where the Leica range has a menu for everything and now supposedly a screen that you can view in all weather.
Sadly, I believe that all their bells and whistle enhancements and menu choices seem to have done is slow data gathering in the pretext of making the system supposedly fool proof for data collecting. Of course not a great sign for the certain future for the Licensed Surveyor if any Tom , Dick or Harry can operate these instruments. Albeit the future legislators not realising that the operator must be more than conversant with map projections, scale factor plane and grid distance. etc. Of course the title insurance lobby will sy that is why there is a fund, while salivating an increased premium as part of the "risk management"
I would love to know where they test instrument enhancements, as for the last decade enhancements developed under the air conditioned office conditions simply have not stood up to the noise on a construction sites or the glare and dust in OZ surveying conditions. Screen graphics appearing to be fine in the laboratory are almost impossible in the field to read as fonts are too fine and too small. With illegible drop down menus offering every conceivable choice ( if you have the time to find) now replacing the simple fast string code systems developed 25 years ago.
Be interested in your view....
RADU
Some will remember back to the good old days of DOS when savvy people copied and pasted with DOS commands quicker than the then new windows system... Here I am not debating the function enhancement like reflectors, cloud gathering and photo ability now added to the total station but the screen graphics and function menus.
Fast forward to a decade ago when total stations had small screens, with large text and less functionality than today.
Fast forward to today where the Leica range has a menu for everything and now supposedly a screen that you can view in all weather.
Sadly, I believe that all their bells and whistle enhancements and menu choices seem to have done is slow data gathering in the pretext of making the system supposedly fool proof for data collecting. Of course not a great sign for the certain future for the Licensed Surveyor if any Tom , Dick or Harry can operate these instruments. Albeit the future legislators not realising that the operator must be more than conversant with map projections, scale factor plane and grid distance. etc. Of course the title insurance lobby will sy that is why there is a fund, while salivating an increased premium as part of the "risk management"
I would love to know where they test instrument enhancements, as for the last decade enhancements developed under the air conditioned office conditions simply have not stood up to the noise on a construction sites or the glare and dust in OZ surveying conditions. Screen graphics appearing to be fine in the laboratory are almost impossible in the field to read as fonts are too fine and too small. With illegible drop down menus offering every conceivable choice ( if you have the time to find) now replacing the simple fast string code systems developed 25 years ago.
Be interested in your view....
RADU
Better Now! 🙂
Trimble Access is pretty good.
The TSC2 screen readability is not. The TSC3 may be better but I haven't used one. I like the Trimble button which brings up a list of open functions; that is handy. I have a fairly new TCU which is much better on the readability but for collecting topography the TSC2 is better.
In general things have gotten worse in my opinion. I am still waiting for a push back on the touch screen, I prefer buttons and text to icons and tapping.
IMVHO, nothing will replace the SMI follow along menu style and the ability to do typical math functions at the same time without changing modes.
B-)
Exactly. What RADU said.
My old Leica 530 screen was DOS and highly visible in the sun. Not so the Leica 1200 which is some form of Windows. Half the time I have to turn around in order to read the screen. My suspicion is they tested the heck out of the screens inside a nice lab, but never went outside in the sun to see what it looked like there. You now, in the field conditions where we actually work.
Get anti-glare screen protectors.
They work well with polarized sunglasses
JAVOedge Anti-Glare Screen Protector for the Trimble Ranger 3 / TSC 3 (2 PACK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FKHKBIE/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_NOI7vbN4JBDPA
I run those but not Anti-glare.
Whilst good I've found them a bit soft and scuff easily. They're expensive here too.
That said I stick with them.
I'll give the Anti-glare a try on my Allegro MX
