We had it serviced. They changed the seals which is integral with the communication so that fixed the communication problem.
The instrument worked great.
Until Tuesday. Then it had trouble all day switching in and out of Reflectorless and just getting a shot to a reflector (in IR mode). It would only click once then give the message "dim the target or choose a different target" WTH? Sometimes blocking it and making it go into search for a second fixes it and it gets the shot. It was cool all day.
Then Wednesday morning it just wouldn't work at all, turned it off and on five times and it finally got one shot. Gave up. Also cold.
Bring it into the office this morning (still cold) and same problem. At lunchtime after it warmed up, no problem, reflectorless, reflector, no issues.
I think it is sticking in cold temperatures.
Anyone else have this problem?
My guess is that it is a physical problem related to the recent service or a problem caused by a firmware update done without notifying you.
Send it back and ask them to fix it.
> They changed the seals which is integral with the communication so that fixed the communication problem.
If they didn't also change the ball that the seals toss back and forth the problem may recur.
Seriously, what do instrument seals (I'm having a hard time looking at that word without thinking of marine mammals) have to do with the communication system?
apparently it is integral.
When the instrument gets older the seals dry out and the connections get intermittent is what they told us.
Replacing all of that fixed the communication problem (it would off and on stop talking to the DC).
That's good news. It's a very good instrument.
Just don't get stuck paying $1200 for a new seal or a bad soldering job.
The 1203 is a better instrument except that you can't zero the stupid thing without a DC hooked to it. I don't which of the geniuses at Leica dreamed up that one. The 1100 series can only be zeroed in face 1 which can be aggravating.
It communicates great now, I just need it to shoot a distance. It's going back to the shop. The standard service probably didn't include the EDM and we are sending it back in to hopefully get it fixed for good this time.
I use a TCRA1105 plus with power search and like it. I've worked with better trackers, but its precision, power search function and light weight make up for it. I'v been dreaming about its replacement down the road, but I don't have any experience with the 1200 series. What do you like about the 1203 and what makes it better than the 1100 series?
Thanks
Kelly
