In a webinar on June 25, Shannon Hixon showed a real-time data capture with Captivate on a CS35 tablet. The on-demand webinar is available here for anyone who is interested in seeing it.
Shannon will be presenting another webinar on July 28, this time focusing on the workflows involved with getting the data from Captivate to common CAD platforms. There will also be a live Q&A. You can either post your questions when you register or bring them with you and ask them during the webinar.
I just got off Leica webinar hosted by Shannon Hixoin who stated that Leica built in CDMA (Verizon) option into GS 14 but didn't n broadcast about it because the agreement with Verizon was not achieved at the time when GS 14 originally was made.
According to him this agreement is currently up and the Verizon internet could be utilized even without SIM card.
There is no any info online so I was wondering if anybody actually did accomplish it or at least knows how technically it could be done.
Last week I traded in our CS15 for the CS35. Still wrapping my head around the new software, as well as using a tablet in the field. As of right now I can see the potential! Being a smaller size company many of the tasks fall on my lap. With having a tablet I am able to combine many office tasks while in the field. As well, I am now able to quickly get our clients the answers they need should they surprise me with a question without pulling out my phone and trying to read the small text.
Another feature I will utilize with the tablet is that we all have at one point in our careers forgotten a thing or two at the office. Now I can simply use an app to log into a local computer in our office and get the documentation needed without having to head back or have someone run it out to me. Great feature to have when you are in a time crunch.
The coding and line work features I will be diving into more this week. With the CS15 I was able to complete 75%-80% of my F2F. With the new software I am anticipating a 85%-90% F2F goal. I will update along the way.
christ lambrecht, post: 320042, member: 284 wrote: Interesting video on how Leica reinvented the field coding.
Coding with Leica Captivate software
Looks smart, don't know if the frequent use of the stylus will slwo down fast coding as opposed to using only the keyboard (My favorite Trimble way)?
Any toughts?
Chr.
Very, very similar with the Fieldgenius.
Alastair Green, post: 321376, member: 9941 wrote: Hello Christof
Yes, in the video we do not show doing coding and linework with the keys. It is simple, press Define (as shown in the image below) - the function keys will then change to allow the code, geometry, string, attributes)
Also, when the focus is on a code box (watch the video and you will know what I write about) then are the following "shortcuts"
- pressing Enter opens the code list to allow to select a code
- the left/right buttons will decrease/increase the string numberWe have style sheets for Civil 3D and Bentley - all linework (including all the "tricky bits" shown in the videos will be imported. But data flow is a complex topic (as I am sure you know) - and lots of options exist. What is your current data flow
We don't have control codes for parallel lines, right/left turns etc which are then acted upon in Captivate - but parallel lines can be created in our "Create points & lines" app and left/right is possible in the COGO Traverse app.. (but thanks for the ideas for wishes for the future...)
Kind regards
alastair
Hi Alastair!
I can see that the visual coding features of the Captivate is very similar of that of Fieldgenius. How about Offset routines?
Thank you.
Regards,
Arnel
amdomag, post: 332424, member: 1683 wrote: Hi Alastair!
I can see that the visual coding features of the Captivate is very similar of that of Fieldgenius. How about Offset routines?
Thank you.
Regards,
Arnel
If the offset routines in Fieldgenius are all onboard the Captivate then I would say that it is now hight time for the upgrade.
Is there a CAD module in the Captivate like in the SurvCE?
Thank you so much for sharing.
Regards,
Arnel
gregkogan, post: 332108, member: 9416 wrote: I just got off Leica webinar hosted by Shannon Hixoin who stated that Leica built in CDMA (Verizon) option into GS 14 but didn't n broadcast about it because the agreement with Verizon was not achieved at the time when GS 14 originally was made.
According to him this agreement is currently up and the Verizon internet could be utilized even without SIM card.
There is no any info online so I was wondering if anybody actually did accomplish it or at least knows how technically it could be done.
A CDMA modem is in the GS14 as well as the GS20. You are able to select where you have the modem activated.
I like, storing points from the view screen and the line work coding, especially the ability to go from one line feature to another and continue. Seems simple enough. The way I do it now is collect lines with unique codes such as .EA100, .EA099, F100 W, F099 BD, UEM, UOH100 PP, ect. to signify different points and lines and then I let Carlson do the rest with field to finish. I use prefixes such as . for a line, .. as a topo break line, u as a utility and - for found monuments. I can then plot points and lines by code and place in different layers and sizes. I locate features on all the surveys, so any way to simplify the line work saves time and time is money. It would be interesting to see how other surveyors are doing there line work. I've never seen the field genius in action. I'm thinking about getting a new data collector soon, I have a Carlson Explorer 600+ and a TDS with survey pro and most of the modules. I will probably stick to TDS unless I can be convinced to change. I use my Carlson with SurvCE as a backup.
I worked for many years with the Leica but when I decided to go on my own I ended up buying a Topcon that came with a TDS data collector due to cost.
I didn't like the round hard to press keys on the CS15, kept tearing keys off with my nails. I liked the old TR500 key board with the sure touch like the TDS, don't have to keep looking at the screen to see if I entered a descriptor correctly.
amdomag, post: 332427, member: 1683 wrote: If the offset routines in Fieldgenius are all onboard the Captivate then I would say that it is now hight time for the upgrade.
Is there a CAD module in the Captivate like in the SurvCE?
Thank you so much for sharing.
Regards,
Arnel
Hi Arnel,
would like to ask some questions regarding fieldgenius. I am looking to upgrade my topo system.
Is it able to handle offsets? how about symbols, currently I have symbols which are 2 points (it shows the direction and scaling correctly). Is fieldgenius able to do it also?
Thanks
As an FG user I really appreciate their linework.
You can have a line with multiple Codes.
So a fenceline could be strung from Post to Post to Gate to Gate to Post etc.
Its easy to start new lines, have mutliple lines of varying codes.
Probably a reason they've avoided templates, but not a good enough one as such use has been in vogue for eons.
You can reverse line direction at a click of line, and then survey in opposite direction.
However, its a rather unpolished affair as I said earlier.
TDS really knew about survey and data collection, from my experience.
I have AP800 software on my Nikon and its features are ahead of FG and its much earlier software.
FG can do good stuff, and for TS work I prefer it to SurvCE but that's ruled more by familiarity.
This new Leica software looks very interesting. FG and Leica all part of same corporation or such, so would expect some cross pollination, could be wrong.
Leica Rep said earlier it's not by Microsurvey.
Field to finish via coding has whiskers on IMO. I used to believe in it, but FG can do that using standard codes across the whole survey, no prefixes to denote how /what joins.
As said, it has limitations.
One major one for me is 3D linework bought into Microsurvey isn't tied to it's points.
Move points and lines stay behind. 2D no problems there.
Regarding offsets.
There's Horizontal offset where read distance and angle separately and then Distance Offset from sited point.
This is from the manual, where you can input in/out, up/ down after reading angle and distance. 
Johnson,
I was wondering if you could tell me what version of software you are running on your CS15 and GS14.
I was told that in order to utilize CDMA modem on GS14 the version of the software must be 5.60 or higher, so just curious if you have.
Thanks.
Eric Kara, post: 320121, member: 1598 wrote: I used the linework feature in Captivate the other day. However I didn't try using the keyboard other than then typing in the code. I looked through the "hotkeys" on the simulator and I didn't see anything that would change the different line codes or line numbers.
New Collector in 2 o'clock 105F direct Vegas sun. This picture doesn't do it justice, it was brighter then my Iphone 6 😉 . Also, those little red holes on the bottom of this picture hold the stylus. Nice touch
Off topic but is that a hardsided Leica total station backpack case in the background? If so where does one find such a beast?
Hello,
I saw Christof referring to GeOpus so i would like to pick up on this. We like the way Leica is going with the Captivate software, so we are currently implementing a new code protocol to use with the Captivate software. GeOpus will use all the point/linework coding from captivate and we will be using attributes to add the extra's like parallel through point, parallel, perpendicular lines, corners, texts ...
We will be using immediat XML import only, thus all point data can be added to the drawing database like point (sub)class, point quality, reflector, pictures...
This protocol will be available for both BricsCAD and AutoCAD (and verticals) versions.
Hello Alastair,
My name is Allen Robberson and i Work for Sandis in Northern CA. We just purchased 22 leica captivate CS20. I was wondering if you could email me @ arobberson (at) sandis.net I have some questions about options in captivate. We are having some real issues.
Thanks Allen
