Does anyone have any experience with the new Topcon GT or Sokkia IX robotics?

I would be interested to know as well what they are like.

Yes,

What would you like to know?

Are you happy with it? Any strange quirks or bugs I should know about? What software are you using and how does it interact? I know the Sokkia can use TDS but the Topcon can't. Which are you using? Would you purchase it again? Thank you.

I posted this a few months ago on this site:

I have tested the Hiper HR GNSS system.

Pros:
Very light weight
Small foot print, smaller than a soft ball
Metal or alloy strong shell, appears very rugged
UHF antenna is on top, hated the Hiper V radio antenna pointing down
No need for external software like PC-CDU or TRU to interface with receiver. Can access everything via WiFi from smart phone or PC
Web interface is very cool, easy to use to configure and download your static files
Comms include LongLink Bluetooth, multi-spectrum Bluetooth, UHF radio, cell modem and WiFi
452 channels for GPS, GLONASS, Galiileo, BeiDou, QZSS, SBAS, L-Band
Update/Output rate up to 100 Hz
Micro SD storage up to 32 GB
9-axis TILT compensation up to 15å¡
A digital level bubble shows on the controller screen
Has Tilt Sensir. Can take a shot with no button pushing. Simply program it to store point when the tilt sensor is within the user specified acceptable range. The level Buble shows on the DC screen in Magnet Field.
Works with Magnet Field v4.x
Battery is small light weight
Ships with 3 batteries per receiver
Has a internal battery that allows for hot swappable battery only.

Cons:
Single battery life is just å±4 hours
External battery charger seems very flimsy and cheap
Very expensive over $50k for a decked out pair
Extra $ for Galiileo, BeiDou
Extra $ for tilt IMU
Extra for nearly each add-on option
No OPUS antenna spec available yet
Turn off the receiver is tricky. Hold button for 3 seconds. Then it takes a while for all lights to stop flashing.
No sure when or if any others DC software will support it.

Overall, if I had the money, I would trade up.

leegreen, post: 410206, member: 2332 wrote: I posted this a few months ago on this site:

I have tested the Hiper HR GNSS system.

Pros:
Very light weight
Small foot print, smaller than a soft ball
Metal or alloy strong shell, appears very rugged
UHF antenna is on top, hated the Hiper V radio antenna pointing down
No need for external software like PC-CDU or TRU to interface with receiver. Can access everything via WiFi from smart phone or PC
Web interface is very cool, easy to use to configure and download your static files
Comms include LongLink Bluetooth, multi-spectrum Bluetooth, UHF radio, cell modem and WiFi
452 channels for GPS, GLONASS, Galiileo, BeiDou, QZSS, SBAS, L-Band
Update/Output rate up to 100 Hz
Micro SD storage up to 32 GB
9-axis TILT compensation up to 15å¡
A digital level bubble shows on the controller screen
Has Tilt Sensir. Can take a shot with no button pushing. Simply program it to store point when the tilt sensor is within the user specified acceptable range. The level Buble shows on the DC screen in Magnet Field.
Works with Magnet Field v4.x
Battery is small light weight
Ships with 3 batteries per receiver
Has a internal battery that allows for hot swappable battery only.

Cons:
Single battery life is just å±4 hours
External battery charger seems very flimsy and cheap
Very expensive over $50k for a decked out pair
Extra $ for Galiileo, BeiDou
Extra $ for tilt IMU
Extra for nearly each add-on option
No OPUS antenna spec available yet
Turn off the receiver is tricky. Hold button for 3 seconds. Then it takes a while for all lights to stop flashing.
No sure when or if any others DC software will support it.

Overall, if I had the money, I would trade up.

He is asking about the robotic total station not gps.

Totalsurv, post: 410277, member: 8202 wrote: He is asking about the robotic total station not gps.

Your write.

GT and HR released at same, just can't seem to remember which is GPS and TS robot.

I've used the new GT robot. It is small, fast and makes weird noises. Other than that it is just an expensive robotic total station. I don't see much advantage of an instrument that turns 128å¡ per second vs. 32å¡ per second, unless you are monitoring or cranking lots of data sets for control.

leegreen, post: 410278, member: 2332 wrote: I don't see much advantage of an instrument that turns 128å¡ per second vs. 32å¡ per second, unless you are monitoring or cranking lots of data sets for control.

I do a lot of urban surveys where I get very close to the robot. My current Topcon loses lock easily at about 10m because the motors cant turn fast enough. I think this is the reason the Trimble robots are so good at tracking as they can turn fast and keep up.

The weird noises Lee refers to is the sound of the ultra-sonic motor in tracking mode. Nothing wrong with it and imperceptible at working distance. The two brands are different- there is a Topcon GT1000 series; flagship top of the line and a GT500; a little bit slower a couple less bells both of these are optimized to work with Magnet Field. The Sokkia iX has a similar line- 1000 and 500. The 500 is a bit more a la carte and both with work with 3rd party DC software- although I've run it with Magnet Field and a 3rd party and the 3rd party has a ways to go to really make it sing. The warranty is 3 years on the instrument and 5 years on the motors. These are the size of out manual total stations. They are priced competitively. And yes it is no sectret I work for Topcon/Sokkia.

Stan Dardparallel, post: 410170, member: 895 wrote: Are you happy with it? Any strange quirks or bugs I should know about? What software are you using and how does it interact? I know the Sokkia can use TDS but the Topcon can't. Which are you using? Would you purchase it again? Thank you.

TDS- Spectra is using an older Sokkia SRX driver for the new iX- it'll work but it won't return the best performance that you would see with Magnet. The company from Kentucky will work with the iX and I think they have written a specific driver for it. The Topcon GT will only work with Magnet Field.

Carlson SurvCE has all the drivers for the IX too. I believe they are the same as the SRX, SX & DX as I can sun any of those three with SurvCE set for any of those 3. I know SurveyPro can run the IX as well, Sokkia is promoting "open platform" architecture which is a bonus IMO. Our Leica rep, also a Sokkia dealer is very impressed with the IX though Leica won't let him admit it...
We have SRX, 2 SX's & a DX robots, as well as a Trimble 5603, Spectra Focus30 and a Leica MS60. Sokkia's are the 1st ones to go out to the field followed by the Focus30 (all running SurvCE) the Leica is an amazing piece of kit but Captivate isn't the smoothest.

Just bought the sokkia ix using surveyor 2 with carlsonce. Runs it just fine.

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I want to return my GT for an ix if it will run with survce. Does Carlson have hybrid positioning capabilities with the ix and hiper v combo?

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Arctan,

Topcon software is going to get 100% of the potential out of the Topcon hardware. Stick with it. I can do a webinar if you'd like.

I have not used the Sokkia version.

Hi there,

I just found this post while out searching the web to see if others have been having trouble with the Sokkia IX - I seen this post and thought I should share my experiences with the total station.

To date I can only say it is a machine that has potential but should not be being marketed, given the amount of bugs software and manufacturing. I am on to my second as the first had issues with tracking the prism (turns out to be faulty hardware). The current loan machine I have seems to also have issues with signal return from the prism or at least the software is telling it that it dose... the other part of the system/addon that helps with tracking (I think it's the CX?) is basically a laser that goes on top of the 360degree prism that casts a vertical beam out that the iX can find more easily - this is all good in theory but in practice it takes a 360degree prism and turns it into one that only has a 10degree field of viewable range as that is what the CX is limited to and is required to be pointed at the iX for it to word....(stupid, expensive, bulky - only better in heavy foliage). I have also been getting a constant difference between faces of about 20" - not enough to worry about in most cases but it was there, at least until the support guy got me to do a reset of the software on the iX and after that it magically disappeared - this worry me even more then the 20" - to my mind calibration should not be affected by this sort of software reset - it sets accuracy alarm bells ringing for me.

Magnet field still has a few noticeable workflow problems especially if you are using it in the cadastral field - some basic things like being able to select a point in topo mode and set out to it directly from that menu are non existent and will have you reaching for the heavens screaming why, why.. why isn't it there...(front end UI is lacking). Output if you are using sdr format is still hit and miss - they have only just fixed the reseactions side of things in the latest release (have still yet to test for fear of loosing a days field work).

All in all it's a typical first gen instrument (not limited to brand) with a few new bits of tec in it - my advice is keep away until a generation down the track when the early adopters like me at great expense have ironed them out ha ha ha.

Good luck and happy surveying 🙂

Luke J. Crawford, post: 419206, member: 11382 wrote: Carlson SurvCE has all the drivers for the IX too. I believe they are the same as the SRX, SX & DX as I can sun any of those three with SurvCE set for any of those 3. I know SurveyPro can run the IX as well, Sokkia is promoting "open platform" architecture which is a bonus IMO. Our Leica rep, also a Sokkia dealer is very impressed with the IX though Leica won't let him admit it...
We have SRX, 2 SX's & a DX robots, as well as a Trimble 5603, Spectra Focus30 and a Leica MS60. Sokkia's are the 1st ones to go out to the field followed by the Focus30 (all running SurvCE) the Leica is an amazing piece of kit but Captivate isn't the smoothest.

I'd be careful saying that the iX is the same driver as the SRX etc. It is not. It will work but not 100% If you want to try Magnet with it- let me know.

Used the Sokkia SRX for awhile. Was impressed until it started having communication issues. Ended up with a Carlson CR2 Robot using Survce and haven't looked back.

We are a Surveying Company from Germany and used a Topcon GT and a Sokkia iX.
The big Problem of the GT or iX is not the verry disturbing noise. The GT/iX is vibrating!! You can feeld the vibrations in the tripot and in the bottom! If you stand a glas with water near the GT you can see the waterwaves. You can see/feel/hear the vibrations if you use the GT8iX in manual mode or if the GT/iX collimate a prism and fallow them.
We prove the accuracy of the GT/iX. The System was failed!!
After that, we send the GT/iX return to Topcon!

Been working with the GT-503 running Magnet for a month now. Im longing for my Gtp-8000 & survey pro.

As for the GT it is noisy and will drop seconds up to minutes if not used with a screw lock on the tribrach due to torque as it spins. It does track & search well to the point, I wouldn't spend the 5k on the rc upgrade.

I find magnet to be rinky dink. Perhaps the routines made sense to a program geek at a desk, but in the field its convoluted. Maybe starting as a greenhorn on a layout crew it would seem like the cats ass, but coming from 20 years of tds survey pro, its quite lacking.

I am a topcon guy, but would look elsewhere; if only not to be locked into Magnet.

Fredh, post: 422984, member: 12570 wrote: Been working with the GT-503 running Magnet for a month now. Im longing for my Gtp-8000 & survey pro.

As for the GT it is noisy and will drop seconds up to minutes if not used with a screw lock on the tribrach due to torque as it spins. It does track & search well to the point, I wouldn't spend the 5k on the rc upgrade.

I find magnet to be rinky dink. Perhaps the routines made sense to a program geek at a desk, but in the field its convoluted. Maybe starting as a greenhorn on a layout crew it would seem like the cats ass, but coming from 20 years of tds survey pro, its quite lacking.

I am a topcon guy, but would look elsewhere; if only not to be locked into Magnet.

Sounds like you never had formal training with Magnet Field. Contact me if you wish to learn more.