Bob, good to know, head to head competition is a good thing 🙂
I agree that measurement engines vary a lot, they all work under good conditions (or some of them wouldn't sell at all), however there is a lot of difference after that and I have said that before on this board.
I post process a lot of mixed data from airborne flights and it is unbelievable how poor of performance some receivers have, just because you sell a lot of units doesn't necessarily mean you have the best hardware, more likely the best marketing department 😉
SHG
Since my Ranger went out, I've been looking at Carlson as a replacement to TDS, and strongly considering it. The list of GPS receivers that Carlson will work with is very impressive. Carlson pretty much includes every company I've ever heard of or seen an ad for. TDS does the main players (Topcon, Trimble, Leica, SP, and some old Ashtech), but I don't think they even support JAVAD. I have the latest TDS Survey pro, and I'm pretty sure JAVAD is not there. If you are Carlson user, you have many more options.
I don't know why all you guys respond so big on support. I've had to use a lot of support over the years and have spent thousands shipping back and forth the many flavors of manufacturers. Almost everyone out there has to "ship it in" when something goes wrong. Trimble, Leica or Javad. Unless you are the lucky few that lives where there is a service center. Well I now have 3 Javad units: two Triumphs-1's and one Delta for a network base. Of the 16+ years in surveying the only thing I can say I don't ever worry about now is my Javad receivers. And if/when the Javad goes down. I will ship them to California for repair.
(I still have a Trimble S3 for sell if anyone is interested.....)
I started with Microsurvey for data collection and embedded cad for office and have switched to Carlson data and office. If I can get back to a Leica robot with carlson data I will have the complete package. So if you are worried about Javad, worry no more. It will work better than the other two and Javad stays out of your pocket after purchase. Unlike Leica and Trimble. Firmware is free! Oh and if you put up a network base the ntrip software is free also. Unlike the others.
Oh and Karoly. 90's cables..Give me a break. 90's era GPS sucked as much as the cables. I cannot tell the difference between Leica/Trimble or Javad's cables now. Same quality in my opinion.
Shelby,
I was a Leica surveyor for the past 20 plus years. Unfortunately I have had some real problems with Leica and their response to problems with faulty equipment. I recently had the opportunity to use an Altus unit and put it up against a Leica GS09 in the field. I always thought that Leica was the best, Trimble followed, Topcon, Sokkia next and the no-names on down. After seeing the Altus outperform the Leica side by side I feel kind of foolish. I used Javad extensively while working for another surveyor many years ago and would have purchased them if I hadn’t been so prejudiced about Leica products.
I am planning on looking at Javad first next GPS purchase.
BB, thanks for the report! Since above we see that the HGNSS-S320 smoked the Altus APS-3, they both must smoke the Leica 😉
I will still say that there is a lot of differences between quality of the raw measurements brand to brand AND that makes a difference in tough conditions, while Leica has been solid for me over the years, there are obviously some solid smaller players in the game AND it would be prudent to check them all before buying, you just never know if you always buy what you always have or what everyone else says to buy.
The reported performance of the HGNSS-S320 and the Altus APS-3 vs. a major brand from real world tests are the stuff you won't find in the glossy brochures, thanks to both you and Bob for sharing.
SHG
Magic Solutions?
Somehow, I don't think Lightsquared is gone. They are morphed, and due to arrive, with a new name, and new specs. Like the radio switch that ALREADY happened. What's up with that? The change was not a gain for the surveying community. Nobody asked us. Who did that? We got a loss in range, and they got part of our band width. Somethin's up, and it ain't in our favor.
N