A post from the GNSS forum just got me thinking of how old I'm getting! Mentioned a Z Surveyor Unit. Just curious What anyone else's first GPS units where.
My first encounter was with the Ashtech Z-12's around the year 1994. Which for static was a great unit as long as you didn't have to walk more than a couple hundred feet with it. You could access so much information that was so far over my head that you literally had to be a rocket scientist to understand what you were looking at! In the back pack with battery's weighed about 35-40lbs. When the z-surveyors came out I thought it couldn't get any better than that!
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My first dual-frequency receiver was a Z-12 that I bought from a poster on the old board in 2001.?ÿ (He might be here under a different handle.) It worked great, but it was heavy and a power hog.?ÿ I eventually sold it after moving over to Trimble 4000-series units?ÿ
I was still using the Z12 relabeled under the Topcon brand and in the color yellow in 2009. I think on board memory is a bit small. It lasted only less than 2 hours when recording at 1 sec intervals if I remember correctly.
I started with Promark IIs in about 2000 and found a deal ($5,000) on a used dual frequency Zsurveyor that served me well.?ÿ
My first experience with GPS was c.1997 with Leica 300s (not sure of the model #, but it was the series before the 500s). Almost exclusively static for several years. We tested RTK but didn't go much farther than that. It seemed like every time we tried it something would break.?ÿ ?ÿWe got Trimble 5800s in 2000 and did a bit more RTK but GPS only RTK in the PNW is spotty.
Not until 2011, with Leica GS15s in OK did I do RTK in a regular way. The addition of GLONASS makes all the difference.
Around 1989 at the University of Maine we were using early Trimble units powered by car batteries.?ÿ We had to go out around midnight to observe enough satellites.?ÿ After college it wasn't until 1996 when we purchased a mapping grade Trimble ProXL.
Acquired 3 leica base/rover sr530 setups (total of 6) in 2000, and that was a game changer. Had a pair of Trimble 4000 SSE's (RTK) and a pair of Novatel (static) units in the 1990's. From about 1995 all jobs have been in SPCS.
Prompted by this thread, I did a little reminiscing about early equipment. I was surprised to see an advertisement for an Allen Osborne Associates Turbo Rogue SNR-8000 field receiver. Only $361 (USD).
I know nothing about the seller but in case anyone wants to see the ad, the site address for the ad is: https://www.bonanza.com/listings/Turbo-Rogue-SNR-8000-Gps-Survey-And-Navigation-Receiver-By-Allen-Osborne/520200141?goog_pla=1&gpid=341761184097&keyword=&goog_pla=1&pos=1o1&ad_type=pla&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImf3nkt3R5AIVCNlkCh3zfAtyEAkYASABEgKrmfD_BwE
Interesting that the seller touts its being a Geodetic-quality instrument suitable for geophysical studies. It tracks eight (8) satellites (GPS only).
I started with the Trimble 4000SST about 1991(?) ?ÿeven attended a three-day training class at Trimble in Sunnyvale learning Trimvec and Trimnet. ?ÿ?ÿ
Macrometer V1000 in 1986. Then Wild WM101 (one week only), then all Trimbles starting at 4000S, then 4000SL, 4000SX, 4000SE, 4000SSE, 4000SSi, 4400, 4700, 4800, 5700, R7, R8, R10, and newest Alloy.?ÿ
For photos of the Macrometer see the previous thread: https://surveyorconnect.com/community/surveying-geomatics/any-members-of-the-geezer-patrol-have-experience-with-one-of-these/
Closest I ever came to one of these was at NGS HQ.
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In December 1998, we purchased Leica 530's sight unseen w/delivery a few months later. In the 2000/2001 time frame, we worked with Brian Daniels, Leica, to set up base station broadcasting rtk corrections to the 530's that is still in operation today - thank you Brian.
If anyone knows where I can find a Wild 101, let me know as I have a friend who wants one.
My first was a Trimble 4000ST back in 93.?ÿ Since then I have had the privilege of using/owning Trimble 4000SSEs, 4000SSIs, 4800s, 5700s and even a Pathfinder.?ÿ Switched over to Leica for the 1220s and GS16.
First GPS unit;?ÿ?ÿ 1984?ÿ ?ÿMacrometer ?ÿV-1000 Interferometric Surveyor with Geo/Hydro
JOHN NOLTON
The TurboRogue was the top of the line GPS unit in the day. They were made in Westlake Village, CA and
cost around $25,000. One of USGS personnel left one unattended and it was stolen (of course).
I don't know if he had to repay USGS or not.
I had the company come to a base line that was measured by the Kern Mekometer ME5000 to test their unit.
It was a very nice day and around 95 F. The unit shut down soon because it was too hot.
JOHN NOLTON
I am surprised to see how many former employees of Geo/Hydro are on this board. I heard some interesting stories from an old colleague who went to work with Dr Collins.
Those with an interest in early GPS receivers might ??enjoy? the reports on the testing of these units here: https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/FGCS/instruments/reports/misc/IS%2090-1.Test%20and%20Demonstration%20of%20GPS%20Satellite%20survey%20Systems.pdf
I noted that the Macrometer testing was unavailable and indicated to have been ??archived.?
As for the issue of receiver theft, I was on a working group discussing plans to increase the productivity of our field parties. One of the participants had worked out a spreadsheet showing how we could leave receivers unattended (saving personnel costs) with the increased productivity sufficient to pay for new receivers. Unfortunately in the early 1990s receivers were not readily replaced nor was the downtime part of the calculation. We also explored what we called central temporary CORS.?ÿ
On a recent trip to the Helsinki (Finland) Observatory I came across an old rack mount AOA TurboRogue SNR 8100 in their display area. The site is no longer an active observatory but more of a museum run by the University of Helsinki. They also had a working cloud chamber showing the passage of gamma rays and the like. Neat.
Atop the TR is a handheld personal GPS receiver. ?ÿ?ÿ
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