It looks like my budget request for a new TS will (may?) get approved. It appears that the main difference between the Leica TS13 and the TS16 is in the tracking and searching modes. I'm?ÿ looking for comments from anyone who has used both.?ÿ
It looks like I could get a TS13 with a AP20 autopole for the price of a TS 16??ÿ ?ÿ
I'm pretty much committed to Leica because of data collector purchases made a year ago.
The TS13 is an ala carte version of the TS16. You cannot add the super ATR plus and something else to the TS13, but everything else is available. Since I was going to be using TDS (Carlson) I did not want to pay for Captivate and I do not need mile-away shots (that’s what GNSS is for). I added lock, speed search, plain ATR and long range blue tooth. I have the 5” version; I do not do geodetic work (that’s what simultaneous static GNSS is for) nor align industrial machines, so 5” is fine. I had to add the faceplate later to monitor internals; much too my dismay, you have to get the huge, multicolor dynamic 50 button one; it no longer comes with firmware to use the smaller awesome one.
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I regularly use a 1" TS15/CS15 and 3" TS16/CS20. Assuming the TS15 and TS13 are pretty similar from appearance/spec but hopefully your dealer can give you a straight answer on that one.
As @oldpacer notes a 5" is good enough for nearly anything now everyone has GNSS. I'd still spring for 3" but the 1" was a waste of dollars as even with brand new legs the ground under the legs and the heat shimmer etc all swamp the last few seconds in the field (as opposed lab testing in perfect conditions).
The TS16 search is a bit better than TS15 and being able to screen out targets would be useful on a construction site but for topo/boundary I do there's not heaps in it. Probably a bit faster too but not light and day.
Have not used ap20 so no useful comments there but would certainly make for more accurate inverts and building corners and help avoid pole height errors! The height measurement function on the TS16 is useful, just need a beer cap for pipes which is definitely a work expense to restock on regularly.
I'm not a huge fan of the CS20 or Captivate, new gear should be an improvement on what it replaces but I find Smartworx Viva quicker to navigate and the CS15 is lighter. Captivate has that smartphone feel about it so maybe a tablet would be it's natural home. Made sure the second CS20 we got with the GS18 base/rover came without the disto onboard. I'd still rather run Captivate to use the Leica hardware than any other colour I've tried. Much prefer passive tracking to active tracking.
I am a big fan of GMP101 and avoid using the 360 as much as I can. Not that hard to keep prism facing robot for the few multiple shots I take but easy wide open stuff done with GNSS now so it's just stuff around buildings/trees or accurate setout the robot is needed for and the lock still can't see though physical objects!
The other senior tech and I (licensed but still lucky enough to get out in field) always grab the TS15 first when we head out the door and second up gets the TS16.
