Or, just the pole, or just the bipod, or Pole-tripod.
I am a LONG TIME Hixon Pole lover. I have used several others, but came back to Hixon. My favorite has been the Hixon 12' pole.
HOWEVER....
With the migration to a JAVAD LS, which is MORE WEIGHT than I have ever placed on a pole top... (My old Legacy E system only had the rtk antenna at the pole top, the rest was lower, and weighed 22 lbs)
I am now looking for a little more robust pole. The smallest section of a HIXON is just a bit light weight, for this much weight. I do extend to 12' occasionally, but it's spindly, or not quite rigid enough.
Now, I am looking for something more rigid, and even thinking carbon fiber. I prefer bright colors... But, light weight rigid is more important.
I know others of you, who went with "All on the pole" GPS units, have been doing this for years, but I'm just catching up.
Looking for recommendations.
Thank you!
Nate
We have the Trimble branded Seco carbon fibre poles - nice to use, light weight and large enough diameter to be stable when extended.
But they are not very robust - prone to fracture, cracking and collapse where the bipod clamps onto them.
Might be ok for a careful sole-proprietor who care for his gear, but don't let ham-fisted employees near them.
jim.cox, post: 365556, member: 93 wrote: acture, cracking and collapse where the bipod clamps onto them.
Do you install a protective sleeve prior to turning the field crews loose on them? I put an aluminum sleeve on mine, and the pole shows no signs of cracking after 4 years.
I really like the SI Raptor (Sokkia branded) bipods I picked up a while back for my personal use with GLS11 prism poles.
At work we have the regular Seco (sucko) for everyday use, and the Leica branded CF ones for not everyday use...those Leica ones I like like like. I never extended up to 12' so I can't comment on that level of stability.
Jim Frame, post: 365571, member: 10 wrote: Do you install a protective sleeve prior to turning the field crews loose on them? I put an aluminum sleeve on mine, and the pole shows no signs of cracking after 4 years.
Jim, I have forgotten, what sort of bi-pod do you use? I know that you are weight conscious, and my elbow is acting up again.
For those tall setups above 8ft I use the solid aluminum poles that come in 4ft sections. I keep adding them together until I have maximum satellites in view or I run out of antenna cable.
I have two 12ft seco poles that have been ruined by mounting prisms and other assemblies that weight too much and by carrying them fully extended from point to point.
All poles have a carrying state. The carry state is not assembled and/or lowered to the lowest setting.
😉
Brad Ott, post: 365576, member: 197 wrote: Jim, I have forgotten, what sort of bi-pod do you use?
Most of the time I use a Seco mini-bipod, just so I can set the rod down or lean it against a wall without damaging the prism or GPS. With this configuration I also carry (in my other hand) a 4' bracing stick for steadying the pole. But if I'm going to be doing a lot of GPS for control (e.g., 3-minute occupations), I'll put a regular Seco bipod on it. It's heavier than I like to tote around, but it's nice not to have to hold a fixed position for 3 minutes at a time with the brace stick.
Jim Frame, post: 365571, member: 10 wrote: Do you install a protective sleeve prior to turning the field crews loose on them? I put an aluminum sleeve on mine, and the pole shows no signs of cracking after 4 years.
No, not as yet. We will if we get anymore, they do need something