I am looking to purchase a used total station and need some guidance based on my needs and wants. I own a pair of Topcon Hiper Lite plus L1/L2 (base & rover) with a FC100 data collector, I run Topcon pocket 3D and Carlson Takeoff R6 (2013). I mainly use the gps units for grading and locating things on construction sites that we are involved with. The files are generated from a cad dwg provided by the site engineer. I always hire a RLS, usually the same one, on all my projects to check out the site and boundaries, establish control points and layout critical work, and quite often to check my points if I feel the need. I provide all digital files to the RLS.
It would be awesome to use the data collector in conjunction with a total station for those times when a gps unit just won't do it, close to structures, under trees, or like now when one of my units took a crap and is off for repair.
Thanks in advance for your help
I would stick with topcon because of the data collector. Something like the Topcon GTS 211, or whatever the later version of that is, would work fine for what you want. I have used one quite a bit, it's not my favorite instrument just because of the location of the knobs, but it gets the job done. Should be able to pick up one used in good shape for less than $2500.
Make sure your data collector will work with it first. Trimble wants you to pay a fee and "activate" your DC for any additional instruments. I don't think Topcon does that but I could be wrong.
James