I am looking into purchasing a GPS unit and would like some input. I have been looking at a new igage?ÿ or javad unit or a used trimble r8 or r10. I would like to know what advantage/disadvantages each present. I am a solo surveyor that does mostly boundary work.
Are you going to use RTK or just a static processing unit? What data collection software are you using currently with your total station work? What software are you using to reduce the data?
Igage is cheap and good and works with survce if you are using it currently.?ÿ
Javad LS is an All-in-One unit that works well out of the box.?ÿ
Trimbles are expensive but has great software TBC which can process and draft your plans out at once.?ÿ
That's a concise answer.
I have used Ashtech, L1 only, post processed.
Topcon Legacy E.
Topcon Hiper.
Javad LS.
I've not used the rest of them.
Some general comments:
There are times during the day, that they work better, and worse. This up and down cycle affects them all. It depends on Sat geometry, and obstructions.
And, all modern gps works better than vintage gear.
Get modern gear.
N
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Over the last couple years I studied and compared literature, not having first hand knowledge of everything.?ÿ I also talked with folks and read all the posts I could on the subject.?ÿ Nate nailed the biggest component in my opinion.?ÿ Get modern gear.?ÿ I put my money where my mouth is last week and sent a check to Javad for a base/rover combo and I can't wait for it to get here.?ÿ The rover comes with all satellite constellations and you can choose how many you want to pay for with the base.?ÿ I chose all of them that work in the Midwest.?ÿ ?ÿIn between putting the invoice in to the bank and getting the check in a week, Javad figured out the B2 Beidou signal which raised the price a little.?ÿ Just fine with me.?ÿ The more satellites/signals you have to work with, the better your resolution has to be in my opinion.?ÿ As a side note, the base/rover combination will only work with the weakest link in the pair.?ÿ If you get a base that only gets GPS, but your rover gets GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, and BEIDOU,?ÿ then you will only be getting correction signals for GPS.?ÿ A matched system will perform better.
?ÿ ?ÿ A friend is looking into a new system and showed my the Leica breakdown and it was pricey.?ÿ Trimble is pricey.?ÿ Historically, they have awesome surveying gear (I love my Trimble robot) with no equal.?ÿ I think Javad might have a leg up on them on GNSS surveying.?ÿ I haven't used it in the field yet but I like the balance of the Javad unit.?ÿ I borrowed a Leica unit with a two meter rod and a data collector on the pole and had to fight it through the bush honeysuckle and around tree limbs and cussed mightily.?ÿ The Javad unit is very compact and portable.?ÿ I am not a fan of a fixed two meter rod at all.?ÿ If I can't plug in HR when I need it, I should be bagging groceries.
?ÿ ?ÿAs a side note, I have used the Carlson CRX6+ and it works very well and is reasonably priced.?ÿ Rover and data collector are $12-13 grand or so.?ÿ I really like the guys at Carlson.?ÿ In the big scheme of things, I believe it is better to get "off-brand" modern equipment than older established units.?ÿ Robots haven't made any important leaps in technology in the last decade but ten year old GNSS gear has been greatly surpassed.
I highly recommend the SP80 setup.?ÿ I have seen it outperform most every other system, and can be purchased with a data collector for well under the price of the green units.
We leica.
I cannot speak for the others you've mentioned, but we can run the robot and GPS at the same time with the same collector.
Nate
I got the Triumph 1M as a base, soon to be replaced with the Triumph 3 as soon as it is released.
Another consideration in choosing a new setup is company philosophy on updates. Javad sends out free updates regularly as they figure out ways to make the product better. You can send your GNSS data through their system for adjustment without buying "bridge" software. There is Trimble Business Center, Vision, and Magnet from some of the others that you need to purchase separately and pay to update and almost need to utilize the hardware effectively. I think those programs work better in a larger company but are an unnecessary expense and extra steps for a solo guy. I want to take my shots, send the shots through the manufacturer adjustment, and export the data right into my cad software. Simple, fast, light, and right is what I'm shooting for.
Will you be using a VRS Network? I purchased a Spectra Precision ProMark 700 network rover several years ago. 16K for unit and Data Collector. I primarily do boundary work and this unit meets my needs quite well.
You can drive a Cadillac or a Honda, they both get you to where you are going.?ÿ
Within a year or two, GPS unit prices will likely drop by 50%.?ÿ Data collectors for the units will remain steady, but there are just too many new units on the way for the GPS hardware to continue to get the prices they are getting.?ÿ ?ÿSome of the more expensive ones will possibly do better in the woods, but for standard GPS work no under canopy, things will change.?ÿ My $0.02 worth of prediction...
