BEST TotalStation

Well, first things first. This is your 3rd post. Welcome to the forum.

I have owned several total stations, and have learned that you should buy what meets your needs.

Probably all the above total stations will do a good job....

Total Stations, USED to be precision instruments. NOW they are kind of "Sloppy Built", with fancy computers, that MAP the total errors built into them, and correct for it, using software. So, they are much less expensive.
You can do a few things, to index them, but for the most part they are all good.

Personally, I have specific needs, and this is MY list:
I want:
1.) Connectivity. I want it to connect to my data collectors.
2.) Narrow beam, reflectorless. (can shoot to SPECIFIC points,)
3.) Strong beam, reflectorless. (Long Range) I want to be able to shoot trees, 1000 ft away.
4.) Light weight. Durable.
5.) High Speed. Near instant distance, after initiating measurement.
6.) User indexable.
7.) I prefer a LASER plumet.
8.) detachable tribrach.
9.) Long Range blue tooth.
10). User adjustable aim, on the narrow beam reflectorless.
11.) Long Range, to a prism.
12.) Long Battery Life.
13.) Real Good optics.
14.) Guide lights, to keep me on line, by just looking back at the inst.
15.) Waterproof, or near waterproof.
16.) Quality controls, and quality buttons. (gentle press of buttons)

From there, you can ask for cameras, motors, and robotics. But, maybe that will get you thinking about your needs.
You can buy an older Topcon GTS 3 on ebay, for around 1000 dollars. Maybe less. Good inst. It is heavy, has no reflectorless, but it's a good gun.

Define your needs.
Then shop.
N

You seem to be shopping for Robotic?

I have extensive experience with a Trimble S6. While it worked great; it was in the shop far to often for my tastes.

I Have rented a Sokkia SRX. It also worked great and I'm sure would be more reliable than Trimble.

I don't have any experience with the Topcon OS; but, I would probably be shopping for a Topcon IS, If I was looking for a Robot. I recently picked up a Topcon 7000i (imaging total station). While I haven't quite figured out the Imaging part yet; I can see where it would be worth the money.

Others like Lieca. They are well built; but...different. I rented a Geomax robot (it's suppose to be a copy of the Lieca), and didn't like it. I wasn't productive at all with it. Perhaps I could eventually learn to be efficient with it; but, we'll never know (I won't rent it again-it was that bad).

I know others have had good luck with Trimble. I have not.

All depends on the type of work your doing. The S6 I'm using is a fantastic instrument, BUT heavy. I occasionally have conventional surveys that I need carry up and over mountains and that is not my first choice of a gun I want to be packing up the side of a steep mountain. So probably be helpful if you described the type of work your doing.

I always recommend that a person should shop for the data collector software and then buy whatever instrument it comes with. And I really like what Trimble is doing on the software front.

I have had some experience with the Focus and have concerns about their quality. But when they work they work fine.

thanks

The Topcon OS Series has On-Board Magnet Field software and an integrated data collector.

Sokkia with Carlson SurvCE is a nice setup. We have a 5" SRX, 3" SX & a 1" DX (robotic upgrade) 3" Focus 30 (SurvCE on a Ranger3) & a 3" 5600. While these are all great running robotic for topo & general staking, the Sokkia's really shine compared to Trimble/Focus on tighter layout & tolerance verification work because they retain the full functionality of a conventional instrument; ability to set 0, take measurements, motorized turning, invert scope, HA/SD/HD/ZE display ect.. while linked to a collector. The auto-pointing mode is also great for woods work with two guys, really the best of both worlds. Our Trimble 5600 has no screens & the Focus 30 has no data display when connected to DC requiring the gun man to use the collector for every function & they are either locked or manual, no semi robotic as with Sokkia.

Khalid-Elejla, post: 361782, member: 11397 wrote: Hello, Everyone
I want to buy a total station and I was confused about what kind should I buy
the three options I have are topcon OS , focus8 2" and trimble S5
please help me to decide
thanks

The S5 with Active Tracking, without question. It's amazing.

Extremely fast, wont lock on to other reflective surfaces, and amazing for vertical. Active tracking is a must - I don't understand why they make it without AT to be honest.