Shelby, I agree. Seems like fixed costs would be driving them crazy with so many different companies not melded into one.
The GR3 was early 1980's, for the time I doubt if there was much else around, I don't think TDS was even born yet, so comparing a GRE3 isn't quite fair, compare current generation Viva to whatever else you might want to.
SHG
Regrettably I also have to suffer through the labyrinth-themed maze that is Leica hardware and software. Everything is about 10x more complicated than it has to be. The results are good, but what a pain in the a$$
Because sometimes, you only want to stake out a building, or do some simple task, and NOT hook up and key into a data collector, with coordinates in it. Some of us still think in Trig functions, and do stuff in the field, that is EFFICIENT, but we don't want to do it ANYBODY else's way. Certian odd construction stakings, and or asbuilt checks, that we simply want to ZERO here, turn ang left, and then check plans... in meters, but the rest of it in feet. Or to FIELD BOOK ang right, ang left, feet and meters, so that we are sure that there is NOT a blunder in those notes.
NOT everybody is the same.
N
I've used Leica for a LONG time now (over 30 years including my military time) and have seen the quality slip over the years. As I've seen others say, the original theodolites were very well made and precise. The newer models feel more like plastic (but doesn't everything these days.) I know that there's a lot of old T-2's out there still kicking, but my TC-500 is dead in the water. Maybe it's the electronics, maybe it's changed (cheaper) specifications to compete with the Japanese - I don't know. Same with the GPS equipment. This is definitely not WILD-HEERBRUGG.
I wasn't comparing so much as commenting on how advanced leica was during the 80's. As I said, once we got the hang of it the thing was awesome!
I would consider learning leica software to be an asset.
:good:
I agree. Softwares, and data collectors, and buttons, bells, and whistles are wonderful and dandy, but sometimes it is nice to be able to go out and turn a few angles and measure a few distances without jumping through a hundred hoops.
I have the same complaint about some CoGo packages that are built-in to some kind of software platform where you have to go in, create jobs, set up user-folders, and a hundred other things before you can run a little cogo routine.
Gottcha!
SHG
You understand my point, Mr. Patterson.
I believe ALL total stations should be USABLE without a manual, to set it up, zero it, turn ang Left, or Right, Ft Meters, and probably a few other handy dandy things.
Make them as COMPLEX as you wish, but LEAVE THE SIMPLE STUFF on the surface.
For idiots.
Even having 4 extra buttons, that are totally programmable, to do stuff we want is good.
KISS Keep It Simple, STUPID!
N
Leica Bashing?
Very well said Tom.
Surveythemark, it is obvious to all the people that have read your posts that you would be a great dealer to have. You obviously believe in the product and try hard to provide solutions to your clients and other Leica customers. Unfortunately that has not been my experience or some others experience if you read the feedback on this forum. I appreciate your effort but in my personal experience I have had faulty equipment and software and the response from my Leica dealer and the regional sales Leica USA has been ridiculous. I have had Leica tech people tell me Leica misleads its customers, I’ve had independent software tech people tell me Leica is impossible to work with. The deeper I got into the company and how it treats its customers the more bad things I heard. I liked my digital level, I loved my 1100, I like my 1200, I liked my 1200 gps, I hate my gps GS09. Leica tech has run me around in circles and solved nothing, they never admit fault, even when they replace parts they still will not admit fault. From the feedback I have received even the dealer admits problems with the company but he is afraid of losing his exclusive dealership so no backtalk. Leica has left their loyal customers out in the cold and taken advantage the trust built on the Wild product. Given my experience, I wouldn’t recommend a Leica product to anyone.
Leica bashing? I am curious how relaying personal experiences to someone to help them make decisions about a product is bashing. I wish I had feedback about my Leica product prior to purchase. It would have saved me a bunch of time and thousands of dollars.
We're Leica people - the whole nine yards; robots, GPS, SmartNet RTN, monitoring solutions, digital levels, scanners, LGO, etc.
My experience is, if you're going to go Swiss you got to go all in. Plus their support in Maryland/DC is the best. If any of my crews have a problem in the field, they just call our rep directly and he works them through it. Any new equipment we buy, we get training for as long as it takes until our guys are comfortable and up to speed.
I'm in Monrovia, Liberia instructing a group of 26 local surveyors and surveyors-to-be for USAID. The project acquired a set of three Leica total stations and three GPS receivers. The kits are all state of the art. TS02s on the guns and GS10 base and two rovers, and CS15 Leica Viva data collectors.
Three things:
J. Mark Williams very kindly and professionally donated over an hour of his time on Skype to show me how to use the Leica Geo Office software to process the GPS data.
The total stations are really good, although the reflectorless does not shoot as far as my Topcon 8203A. The data collector software is good.... but, for my needs, instructing some surveyors who are very new to modern total stations, I could use a very simple and uncomplicated kit. Well, that's not Leica's fault, no, their DC software is good, but, MAN!, is it complicated. Talk about a learning curve! I have spent many late night hours figuring out how it works so that I can instruct with ease the following day. Again, it's top-o-the-line and it has its place; it just wasn't the best choice for my needs on this particular project.
Finally, and very off subject, the project acquired MicroSurvey premium CAD software w/ IntelliCAD engine. $2000 a seat, and I have no complaints. It appears to do everything that ACAD does and in a lot simpler fashion.
Stephen
You can set zero in 3? You must know a shortcut!
Last time I tried it took 8...
I find needing both hands to aim the gun awkward. You can't hold your fieldbook or datacollector or pole in one hand and aim the gun with the other. And the knobs are too small to spin with one finger!
The fact that they allow even their newest gear to be run by 3rd party software is commendable though. I support Leica and Sokkia for that reason.
> I find needing both hands to aim the gun awkward. You can't hold your fieldbook or datacollector or pole in one hand and aim the gun with the other.
AMEN!!!
