Soooo...currently I run a Topcon QS with TDS software.?ÿ Which has served me very well over the last 10 years, however, I do see the end is getting near for the QS.?ÿ
Anyone want to chime in on what they use and why they like it (or don't like).
I work in southern CT.?ÿ And I do a lot of boundary stakeout, construction stakeout, topography on smaller property's, mainly under 3 acres.?ÿ
I've used TDS for the last 30 years or so, and don't really feel like switching...but...Maybe I need to..
Just so you know, TDS (now Survey Pro) is on it's way out.?ÿ Trimble just released its successor Origin.?ÿ You can still get Survey Pro, but it will only be supported for a few years more.?ÿ?ÿ
I don't have one, but after a couple of years of research, I've concluded that if we get a new instrument to replace our Trimmy 5600's, we'll go with Geomax Zoom90. Mark Silver at iGage sells them, and has some good rap sheets and videos on the website. IMHO all DC software does the same basic things, in slightly different ways, we use 3 different ones, its no more difficult than running FB, Twitty, Insty, Tinder, etc.
I'm not a Topcon fan, and that's an understatement.?ÿ They are rugged, I'll give them that. And my local Topcon dealer gives top drawer service.
Trimble, with the active tracking, will lock onto that glass as soon as it gets in the field of view and hold on with a bulldog grip. Spend a day or 2 with that and your attitude about your Topcon may change.?ÿ You will also find your precisions much better with the Trimble.?ÿ
Leica will also track better than the Topcon and give you very high precisions.?ÿ Geomax is a clone, and may be a good choice for you.?ÿ
Topcon will give you close to the rated precisions immediately after you collimate. A few hours later, not so much. Trimble and Leica will stay true - post-collimation - pretty much forever.?ÿ?ÿ
Heard from another surveyor, as advice, that the Carlson??s CR+ series are rebranded Leica TS13 but much better cost??ÿ The Geomax are the same or similar also??ÿ All painted differently etc. (Stated by MicroSurvey)
Our old Sokkia SRX robots lasted pretty well although it just gave up the ghost recently. The later stuff the motors fail constantly and they don't stay in calibration like you said. I went from an almost new Sokkia iX 503 to an 11 year old Leica 1203+ and the tracking and shooting speed is much better on the Leica. Bluetooth connection is even more of a difference. It took like 10-20 seconds for the Sokkia to connect and maybe 3 seconds with the Leica. Doubling angles the error is much smaller with the Leica and it's never been in for service yet.?ÿ
I'm using a Trimble S7 right now and it seems good.?ÿ We've got the 360 prism with the battery and I'm a little nervous when I'm working alone with this thing because if the rod falls over and this thing breaks, I'm told it's not fixable...
I too love Survey Pro software, and hate that TDS sold out to Trimble, and now it's being shelved.
The next best, in my opinion, is Carlson SurvCE.?ÿ It's very similar to the SDR33 software, for those who remember that.?ÿ Most people I've worked with love it.?ÿ
Having used a few different brands over the years, my favorite is a Leica robot, (TS12, TS13, TS16) with a Carlson DC.
@bstrand You are correct, it is not repairable.?ÿ They are pretty dang rugged though.?ÿ You pretty much have to try and break it.?ÿ The only ones that I have seen broken literally got run over by a dump truck along with the brand new robot.?ÿ That happened last week, as a matter of fact.?ÿ I think the 1 second S9 was about two weeks old.
Whoa.?ÿ That's an expensive accident.
Dump truck company could buy a new truck almost.
CR+ are actually Geomax Zoom90s with a CR+ sticker on them. We own one. Leica equivalent would be TS15?ÿ according to?ÿ our local Leica service center.
CR+ are actually Geomax Zoom90s with a CR+ sticker on them. We own one. Leica equivalent would be TS15?ÿ according to?ÿ our local Leica service center.
Funny....
Anytime I see this I think and hear:
Neomaxi Zoom Dweebie.
Go valley girl go!
?ÿ
@jitterboogie Yeah, it was pretty bad.?ÿ It busted the side panel off, and when you went to turn the barrel, there was a loud grinding coming from an instrument with no gears.?ÿ They're very glad they paid for the extra warranty that Trimble sells.
They're very glad they paid for the extra warranty that Trimble sells.
What sort of warranty pays for damage done by a dump truck?
@jim-frame They have a special extended warranty that you have to buy at the time of purchase that will replace the instrument one time and I think covers clean and cal for five years.?ÿ I'm not sure what it costs, but if I was buying gear, there's no way I would pass it up.
@ramses?ÿ
yep- it's a TS15.?ÿ i have both.?ÿ to the OP's question: i've used a bunch, can get used to the workflow of just about anything in pretty short order.?ÿ but the CR+ running carlson software is, in my opinion, peerless in terms of cost, reliability and accuracy, and ease of use.?ÿ anyone with the least bit of surveying intuition can make it run like a top.
I'm not a Topcon fan, and that's an understatement.?ÿ They are rugged, I'll give them that. And my local Topcon dealer gives top drawer service.
My thoughts align precisely.
Topcon GT 1001 works great for me. Gotta love this board. If your don't use Trimble or Javad then your ..........
Well I think it has more to do with the number of bad experiences with them. I had a year and a half of hell with my Sokkia iX and you've probably seen that I'm not the only one that has had multiple ultrasonic motor failures. The software is pretty good. That was the only thing I liked in the end.?ÿ
Walking back to the robot to pull the battery to get it to start tracking really sucks. With the work we do, glitches are not a fun thing as they cost a lot of time. When an 11 year old Leica robot is better than a late model Topcon, something is wrong.?ÿ
Reputations have to be built and Topcon hasn't done that apparently.?ÿ