Any body here use Javad! How do they compare to Topcon?
I don't know how it compares. But I was out sunday with the Triumph LS mapping a pond and border between spruce bog and marsh area on skis. So taking shots right up against 30 foot spruce forest with occasional 100 foot white pine, basically in a circle of about 5 acres. I had it set to work with NY RTN, no glonass in this area, 50 km from nearest cors. Set to accept fixed or float, with verify set for fixed with confidence level of 5, acceptable spread .15 (also did a couple with verify reset but takes longer). One iron pipe on the north edge under the trees a bit. Got the pipe with fixed solution twice, and it checked within a tenth of previous location via total station survey, but it was a bent over pipe I shot the base of by both methods. Only had to accept two float positions along the westerly edge, all the rest were fixed. It will try to get fixed solution but will take a float if it can't, no need to change settings. All float would have been fine for my purposes, but nice to get better because I can use the fixed solution elevations of the top of ice for some preliminary analysis for other purposes. It's really a handy, compact tool that returns excellent results.
BS,
We are currently running a Triumph 1 as a rover with a Topcon Hyper as the base unit, and they work very well together. Not sure how much history of Javad that you know, but Javad was bought out by Topcon in the early 2000's with a 10 year non-compete clause. After the 10 years had gone by he restarted the Javad name brand. In my opinion, he has consistently put out some of the best, if not the best, precision GPS equipment on the market.
Duane,
Set your mount point to GG_RTCM3_MAX and you should get GPS + GLONASS now using NYSRTN in your area, up to Indian Lake.
Here is the coverage map.
I think I'm just outside that line between rome and indian lake. Although I'm not sure how to actually check to see whether glonass is being used or not. I do have it set to that mount point so if I am in the area it will get those corrections. Seems like they could make the coverage in the Adirondacks much better if they upgraded Lowville and put a cors somewhere in the rt 28 corridor. But then, I don't get cell coverage in a lot of the same area anyway.
Duane,
Regarding whether Glonass is used by the LS, click on the Fix/Float/STN indicator button in the collect action screen to bring up the V6 RTK screen. Each box represents an RTK engine. In the upper left of each box is the number of GPS satellites being used by that engine. In the upper right of each box is the number of Glonass satellites being used by each engine.
Glad to hear it's working so well for you.
By the way. You mentioned a few weeks/months ago about being able to use the LS for a high shot (over your head where you cannot see the screen). The latest beta version lets the user use flash notification which flashes the bottom LED for each epoch recorded and then a final burst to alert the user that the shot is complete. Just set the delay to several seconds (allowing you enough time to put it on the object), press start, then watch the flashes. Works great. Tilt sensors allow you to do this without worrying about being plumb too.
Looking here:
http://www.javad.com/jgnss/sales/dealers/index.html there does not appear to be any sales reps in Canada.
We are not looking to buy but, to keep ahead of the bow wave, I too, would wish to hear from those Javad users as to the simplicity and reliability and support that is offered at what price, as I don't want to be doing GPS mathematical gymnastics or sitting waiting for the results.
I'm a KISS believer as I can muster up enough of the second "S" to qualify.
Please.
Cheers,
Derek
The only think holding me back from a new Javad system, is I'm low on cash.
Javad engineered the Topcon Hypers, and they engineered the LOCUS units.
They are the hottest thing with a handle out there.
Tech Support is from and through real folks, that are also in the process of re-engineering the software on an ongoing basis. One thing that is in the works, is complete and user definable Macros.
Do a quick button sequence, and it changes a bunch of settings, for a special purpose shot. So, you don't have to go and change each individual setting.
And, you can have a number of these. So, working via tilt sensor, to take shot, record, and all, and you don't even touch the screen, while running edge of pavement.
Then, go do a shot where it has to be elevated, and it has a 5 second delay, then it begins, and then it makes a long beeeeep, with a flashing light out the bottom, when it has the shot, and then you jump back to edge of pvmt shots.
And, it all comes in into acad, on its correct layer.
Nate
I have not used any of the new Topcon GPS receivers. I have used Topcon GR 3 and the GRS-1. From my experience with those receivers and a Triumph LS with Triumph 2 base, the Javad equipment is much superior. The biggest thing for me is knowing whether or not a shot is good or not before I leave the field. Many other advanced features that do not compare to any other receiver on the market.
My .02 worth
Matt
I am not sure how Javad compares to Topcon, but we have two Triumph 1's and just purchased the Triumph 2/Triumph LS combo. I think that they are way above the curve on technology and would highly recommend either setup.
Thanks Shawn!
Derek, if you're sitting waiting for results you probably should start looking to buy. Last I knew the plan was to not add dealers and make sales through the website thereby keeping costs down. It is complicated equipment in the sense that there are so many options of how to do things. But once you get set up for certain workflow procedures you can save those setups and easily switch between them. Going slow learning it myself as I'm in a uniquely bad area to survey with GPS. Cloudy most of the time, all up and down, covered in forest, cors far away, no cell coverage half the time. But I'm building confidence where and how I can make use of it.
For precise work you can send your data to javad instead of opus and it will use glonass. Very quick turn around.
Support is good through the main office and users. No upgrade fees, they will support the equipment, period. This is one of the main reasons I was drawn to the company. They are not going to throw you under the bus if signals change or frequencies change for fcc, etc.. They will simply do the fix needed, no charge. At least that's my understanding. for instance in U.S. 12.5 for communications by law, but the equipment is capable of going to the lower if fcc ever follows through with that. In addition they continue to improve the software on a regular basis. You get these improvements without a subscription.
Reliability is good. I did have a problem with one unit, they replaced immediately, within 24 hours I think. That was a very early unit and I haven't heard of other problems.
Cost? Well you get arguably the best most sophisticated system, for less than the cost of the next best. If you don't want something like that, then you can get cheaper systems.
Might not be for everyone (although I can't imagine why not), but it's certainly worth a look even if you don't think you need to upgrade. Fast, reliable, no continuing fees, continuing support and improvements, reasonable initial investment. Quite a few options as well; they may even have a kilt guard for the pole:) Javad is a different business model altogether than the competition. Some don't like it, but it benefits practicing surveyors.
Just my take on it, not being paid to write this.
Thank you Duane.
Now if there was a way to look at the equipment, but without a nearby vendor .............
Cheers,
Derek
> Now if there was a way to look at the equipment, but without a nearby vendor
I bet you could arrange to have a demo system to be shipped to you. It's not the same as having someone right there with you showing which buttons do what, but I understand they're working on a way to handle that remotely via some sort of screen-sharing arrangement.
