I'm looking at adding a mew tripod specifically for my GNSS Base Station. I am curious as to what others are using and what seems to work the best. I am not a big fan of bipods as I have had them blow over in the past. I have been looking at elevator tripods, but don't know how they are centered over the point, tribrach? Plumb-bob? Or if they are worth the trouble or money. Thanks for any and all replies.
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BushAxe, I will be at the NC conference next month with the J-Pod on exhibit. It can be used as monopod for the rover or as a tripod for a base.
https://www.javad.com/jgnss/javad/news/pr20161216.html
I use the http://surveying.com/Products/GPS-and-GNSS-Survey-Accessories/GPS-Tripods-and-Radio-Accessories/5115-00-FLY&apos ;">Seco 5115 Fixed Height tripod for base station and static work. It gets the antenna up reasonably high and eliminates measure-up blunders.
Crain Tri-Max.
Jim Frame, post: 408186, member: 10 wrote: I use the http://surveying.com/Products/GPS-and-GNSS-Survey-Accessories/GPS-Tripods-and-Radio-Accessories/5115-00-FLY&apos ;">Seco 5115 Fixed Height tripod for base station and static work. It gets the antenna up reasonably high and eliminates measure-up blunders.
Totally agree with Jim. I have used this one for 20 years.
For setups that I am leaving un attended I like to put the heaviest tripod in my collection.
Jim Frame, post: 408186, member: 10 wrote: I use the http://surveying.com/Products/GPS-and-GNSS-Survey-Accessories/GPS-Tripods-and-Radio-Accessories/5115-00-FLY&apos ;">Seco 5115 Fixed Height tripod for base station and static work. It gets the antenna up reasonably high and eliminates measure-up blunders.
Aluminum legs?
Jim in AZ, post: 408208, member: 249 wrote: Aluminum legs?
Yes.
I prefer this one to the 5115-00. Although the collapsible center pole does create another avenue for blunders to creep in, it also allows you to set up on a monument that protrudes well above the surface, and is much easier to store and transport.
I work in South Louisiana and I've never seen a case where we could say with assurance that this walked around due to thermal expansion, etc.
Lee D, post: 408247, member: 7971 wrote: I've never seen a case where we could say with assurance that this walked around due to thermal expansion, etc.
Expansion/contraction movement gets lost in the measurement noise, particularly with RTK. I've been using these tripods since 1999 and have never had an error problem with them.
I use a Dutch Hill fiberglass for the base. It's the best tripod I've ever used.
I don't doubt that Dutch Hill tripods are very good, and I know Crain Tri-Max are about as good as it gets. But when it comes to a GPS base or static session, only fixed height tripods are acceptable (to me).
I understand the issue with the height, but I just don't have as much faith in the rod bubble vs the tribrach optical plumb. Most of my gps work is RTK and I usually shoot a check shot for the first shot of the day.
billvhill, post: 408302, member: 8398 wrote: don't have as much faith in the rod bubble vs the tribrach optical plumb
Because of sensitivity or likelihood of getting knocked out of adjustment? The 5115 tripod linked above says you can spin the rod as a field check on the bubble (no office fixture required), and it comes with an 8 minute bubble which is about as sensitive as I can imagine wanting. It's just a whole lot more money than I'm going to put out.
billvhill, post: 408302, member: 8398 wrote: I just don't have as much faith in the rod bubble vs the tribrach optical plumb
This isn't an uncommon notion, but it's far from universally true. I think the pole-versus-tribrach prejudice is based on three things:
1. A lot of pole bubbles are low-accuracy devices. Many come with 40-minute bubbles as standard equipment because they're cheap and easy to plumb. But a 10-minute or 8-minute bubble is easily fitted to most poles, and has a dramatic effect on plumbing ability.
2. A fair percentage of pole in daily use are tossed around like traffic cones. Not only does rough usage tend to knock a bubble out of adjustment, it can also put subtle dents in the pole that compromise straightness.
3. Tribrachs are typically equipped with a high-accuracy (6-minute or 8-minute) bullseye, and most of us have seen how a well-adjusted tribrach bullseye corresponds pretty closely to a theodolite's plate bubble.
The bubble on the Seco 5115 is a 10-minute unit, as I recall. Whenever I've checked the plumbed center pole with a theodolite (not something I do often, but I've done it) I've found the top less than 1 mm out of plumb.