I remember talking with some of the Trimble folks a while back, and the story I got was that the TSC7s were originally being developed to run on Windows 10 Mobile, but Microsoft killed support for it, so they had to switch to full Windows 10. That of course meant bulkier with more power needs and worse battery life.
I like Trimble but I think developing the 5 was a knee-jerk reaction and a bad call to push it out that quickly. I have my issues with Android, but the problems with the 5s are almost certainly the result of rushing to rewrite the entirety of Access for a platform that is geared toward mobile phone/tablet apps.
I told our higher ups to avoid the TSC5 when it came out. They ignored me of course. Our 7s have been great so far. Even though they're bulky we can run standard Windows programs, email, connect to our FTP site, etc.
Still, there are more bugs than there used to be in Access. There's also a ton more functionality - a LOT of stuff that I would have killed to have back when I was in the field full-time with the TSC2 and 3. For me it's still way more productive than in the past, but I also use a lot of the newer features. I'd say only a handful of our crews really ever get to the power user stage.
@350rocketmike I like the TSC5 ergonomically but overall the feel of it is off. The touchscreen requires precisely the correct touch, not too hard, not too soft, really annoying. Maybe it??s the processor lag. The last 2 TSC controllers have been a miss given how much they cost. The TSC3 was the pinnacle except the screen was fading.
Maybe go back to Leica to put some fear into Trimble. The new RTC360 we got is really great. Register360 requires a very powerful computer. Anything less than top notch it just hangs. I never thought a Leica device would be the smoothest running device in our stable.
We had 2 P50s and a C10. We traded the C10 in for an RTC360. I used it a couple of times. I told my boss we should trade in my P50 for another RTC360 which we did. Can??t say enough good things about the RTC360, small, lightweight, fast, get a lot more perspectives on the project, can quickly get into every little nook and cranny instead of having big holes because doing that with a P50 is slow and tedious.
@rover83?ÿ
Yes I agree with most of that for sure. I'm used to having the DXF loaded to help me find stuff easily in the upload. I did enjoy the tsc2 years ago just for running the r6 rover for a smallish number of points. I didn't find it any worse than the tsc3 which is a dinosaur that people still seem to prefer, probably because of how bad the upgrade options are.?ÿ
Our ancient Leica TCRP1203+ robot running on fieldgenius 10 on a windows 10 tablet was the most reliable machine I've had. I wish we'd gotten a Leica TS13 or TS16 for me instead of the entry level Trimble s5.?ÿ
The 1203+ was old but I guess the fact that it was top of the line when new means it could be better than a brand new entry level s5.?ÿ?ÿ
@350rocketmike if I was buying a Total Station now the Leica options would be getting a serious look. I wouldn??t have said that even 2 years ago.
I would miss TBC, hopefully Trimble doesn??t screw it up, it??s pretty good at this point.
Forgot to mention that was a bug with the tsc5 I had. The touchscreen would fail to respond. Keep tapping until it came back to life. It had nothing to do with how hard you pressed on my unit. You just kept pressing until it had started registering again. I believe it to be a hardware issue but time will tell.?ÿ
Maybe Gloria M. is still pissed about having to ride CALTRANs? ?????ÿ
the stupid car was honking the horn randomly today
One day when my son was in high school he came home and said, "Dad, the car horn honks whenever I turn right." A test drive verified the condition.?ÿ I pulled off the steering wheel center cover and found a quarter.?ÿ Whenever the wheel was turned to the right it shorted the horn contacts.
A few years ago we replaced that car (2003 Honda CR-V, gave it to the boy) with a 2019 Acura RDX.?ÿ About a month ago the horn quit working.?ÿ Haven't looked into that one yet, but given the way that just about everything in the car is computer-controlled, I think it's going to be a dealer repair.
@jim-frame it??ll start working as soon as the dealer tries it. Won??t be able to replicate the problem.
@dougie product designers are practical jokers. They design things to have intermittent problems that never do it at the dealership, the gps tracker knows it??s on the dealer property so it deactivates the code which tells the product to act up.
Forgot to mention that was a bug with the tsc5 I had. The touchscreen would fail to respond. Keep tapping until it came back to life. It had nothing to do with how hard you pressed on my unit. You just kept pressing until it had started registering again. I believe it to be a hardware issue but time will tell.?ÿ
I feel a certain company owes you a favour for all the unofficial testing you did on that TSC5, Mike.
That stylus vs screen issue was a really good find - as are a couple of other things in the UI that you helped sort.
The new units ARE much improved - the Android upgrade helps, as does the hardware.?ÿ
?ÿ
Hey but the numerous marketing videos say how easy and great the system is??fly right out of the box!
When I bought our drone, I was fully expecting a free in-store tuition that would be empowering me to fly that bad-boy out the door. Given the joviality of the sales process, I felt that expectation would be forthcoming. However, once the receipt had been issued I looked the salesman in the eye and then at the box and he looked at the box and then tilted his chin in the direction of said door, and I left with the sealed box tucked under my arm, then spent the next 2 days full-time installing and updating before being able to get anywhere near a launch.
@jimcox?ÿ
Thanks Jim, I wish I had more time to send useful data but we've been so swamped lately I'm just trying to keep up.?ÿ
When I bought our drone, I was fully expecting a free in-store tuition that would be empowering me to fly that bad-boy out the door. Given the joviality of the sales process, I felt that expectation would be forthcoming.
I used to work for a Trimble dealer as a certified trainer. Folks who were upgrading their entire equipment/software suite or switching to Trimble from another manufacturer would typically be offered a free half or full day of training depending on the situation. Not a trivial monetary value.
In the ~18 months I was in that role, exactly one firm took me up on that offer - and we sold a LOT of gear in that time. Even the firms who specifically asked about training usually blew it off.
Dunno how much money in total they lost due to spinning their wheels, but judging by the calls I would get starting 2-3 weeks after a sale, it was a lot more than a day's worth of overhead for a couple staff.
@rover83?ÿ
Yeah I wish I was offered that training. The boss must overestimate our intelligence level.?ÿ
@rover83 we did get a day of ??training? on the new capabilities of the R12i
I got 2 bricked TSC5s and had to confiscate my R12 from the guy because his hand was shaking from pushing way too hard on a lemo connector. First use the correct port, second lightly feel for the slot then it drops right in, sigh. Fortunately nothing got broken.
Turns out both TSC5s are on the recall list so they are being replaced.
@richard-imrie I??m finally making progress on the drone.
The latest issue is our IT settings are not letting me install a PPK photo processor and the Windows version of the controller. Those aren??t absolutely necessary.
I'm a big fan of the Dilbert cartoon strip.
There is a lesser character 'Mordac - The Preventer of Information Systems'
Sounds like he might work for you guys
@jimcox security has ramped way up over the past few years.
in a few years we will be back to pencil and paper and the drafting board.