Anyone with experience with these, and votes as to which one you most prefer would be appreciated.
We use Carlson SurvCE, and need a new data collector.
One thing I am especially interested about is the "glass" screen on the Ranger. Is this more scratch resistant than the typical plastic screen?
Thanks,
David
We use the Carlson Surveyor + with SurvCE and have had zero issues. My crews have had zero complaints. It's stable and does everything we need it to do.
I would personally run the Carlson Surveyor + but only for the following reasons...
1. Cheaper than buying a Ranger 3 and adding SurvCE.
2. Better drivers.
Keep in mind that SERVICE is extremely limited with them, to me that would be the only drawback.
My new Ranger came with a pack of plastic overlays for the screen.
They are like the window sticker you get when you get an oil change.
If you get the ranger keep the protective screen protector changed regularly, and buy every crew member a stylus on a neck cord. A mechanical pencil will cost you $800 and two weeks of time lost for screen replacement.
We have a Trimble tsc2 for the last 5 or so years and it seems to need a new screen every 12-15 months. It is ridiculous what we have to put up with from the manufactures with hardware (and software for that matter). Remember when we would slip a card in the Hp 41 or 48 and when the buttons would get sticky we would just by a new one! They sure have us bent over NOW! My 2 cents, Jp
We have the fc2500 and it requires an $800 screen replacement every 2 years. The Bluetooth has some internal problems in talking direct to the TS without using the Rc-4. Works fine with a cable.
In researching a new system, the local topcon dealer won't even sell the fc2600 "until topcon fixes a serious hardware situation". When the topcon guys are providing quotes for a topcon robot with the Carlson data collector, that should tell you what DC to avoid.
We sell all three. The Ranger 3 is hands down the best computer (screen size, processor speed, operating RAM, storage memory, stylus holder, Bluetooth range, and modem options).
They use a better screen protector now than the "oil change sticker" style that use to come with them.
Let me know if you have any questions.