I'll be starting a new job in a week or so and the company wants to obtain some new equipment. They will be getting a robotic total station and/or a GPS system. They plan to buy used, and my first task is likely to be choosing equipment.
1. What should we look for for reliability and dependability?
2. What should we avoid? I understand that some of the older GPS stuff won't work much longer, please add that equipment to the avoid list if you know about it.
Price is a big factor. What is the range to stay within for each?
let's assume for now that money is no object as I don't know what the budget is and that may be part of my input into the considerations.
I think the biggest factor is support; I don't think you will get much of that, buying used equipment.....
Couldn't one contact the manufacturer and buy a support/training package? I think that is the plan anyway.
Do you guys have a reference network for your GPS to run off out there? Here we subscribe to the Keystone Precision Network for our GPS Signal corrections. They are the local Trimble dealer and service provider. Their network works great with our R8 receiver. It allows us to use only one receiver. The corrections are derived from a network of CORS and other base stations and transmitted to our setup via a cell phone data link. Are you planning on running GPS RTK with two receivers (a base & a Rover)?
I've always liked the Trimble robots as well, although presently I am using a traditional Topcon total station. Many folks swear by Leica. I used their equipment when I studied surveying at NJIT recently and found that it is also good, but I thought the Trimble stuff was easier to use and gave the same results.
I think it will ultimately depend on which applications you will be using this equipment for, who the user will be, and what their preferences are.
Thanks Dan,
I will be the user and my prior experience with GPS is zero. The plan is to take a course and training with the selected equipment while using a conventional total station and two man crew (second man borrowed from the construction crew) for the actual work. Once trained and confident with the new equipment I will be a one-man crew.
Robotic total stations don't scare me as I feel that will just be a minor learning curve and once set up will go smooth as silk. I just won't have anybody to argue politics with on the drive to the job site.;-)
Vern,
I see you're in Colorado - local support is important with any brand you buy - you WILL need their support. Suggest talking with your nearest dealers as a start, see what types of equipment they have, and how they treat you as a new potential customer. this may give you an idea of how you'll be treated once you are a customer. see if you can talk with their technical support/repair folks if possible, they will be your future contacts as you call for help. can't stress how important this is - more so than which brand/color you end up buying.
my 2 pesos. send me an email if you would like a good source for used equipment we have used a few times.
Probably going to see a lot of used GPS radios on the market cheap because of the new FCC requirements. Better keep that in mind looking at used stuff.
I am a fan of leica gear running leica soft, but that is what I am familiar with so that is no big surprise.
I would say that whatever you get, get all the same manufacturer. I really hate mix and match gear and software, the pieces always fight each other a little.
We use Trimble. R-8's for GPS and an S-6 robot. We have been very happy with the equipment, but the service and technical support and the training your dealer provides is the key.
I suspect that by the time you add the cost of a training and support package to used equipment compared with the package that comes with new equipment it will be a wash and factoring in warranties I suspect you will be better off with new equipment dispite the sticker shock. But that is just a guess on my part. We were able to buy the equipment used but with some warranty still left.
I'd start with a keg-o-rator, and go from there.:-P
Joe
Pray tell, why won't the older GPS work much longer?
Depending on the job is what would lead me in the right direction.
I love my Robbie for as-builts. You just eat them up. Make sure the robbie is a reflectorless.
I love my GPS for big boundary and setting control. Make sure you get GNSS capability, but my 5700 still works well and we use it semi-regularly so it's not a huge need, but helps.
Oh, one more thing, whatever you buy, make sure, since you're buying used, that you have a damn good buddy with the same gear or a close facsimile thereof, or you're stuff is in the wind when you need tech-support. Shawn and J.D. Billings, (more Shawn than J.D.) were huge helps on Carlson when I was getting started. I routinely help another surveyor with GPS questions, but we have the same gear.
see eddycreeks post above.
I can just imagine getting some obsolete equipment and learning how to use it just in time for it to get "digital TV'd" (I still get my television on the rooftop antenna)
That's EVERY brand, not just old stuff. I have no intention of changing until I see the change working. I'm letting others work the kinks out.
What software are you proficient with?
It makes a difference.
Nate
TDS and AutoCAD is what i have used for the past 17 years. Anything newer than that would probably involve a learning curve but I am typically a quick study.
The Data Collector software is the interface that you will be using on a day to day basis. Start with a Data Collector and software that you are comfortable with and select your robot and GPS based on that. I use a Trimble 5600 robot with a Ranger data collector and a Trimble 5800 GPS for static OPUS sessions.
> I would say that whatever you get, get all the same manufacturer. I really hate mix and match gear and software, the pieces always fight each other a little.
Very good advice right there, maybe the best in the whole thread!
SHG
If you are using ANY over the air UHF radio equipment for RTK then you have no choice (legally) but to obtain new gear by the end of this year. My PDL radios that are working just fine have only six months of life left in the USA legally because of the FCC narrowbanding rules, I will probably be going to Intuicom spread spectrum radios for RTK at the end of the year, no FCC license required. As far as I know, Pacific Crest doesn't offer an upgrade path other than purchasing new ADL radios.
As far as GPS gear goes, The Department of Defense GPS Wing has proposed to discontinue supporting Civil P(Y) semicodeless on GPS L1 and L2 after December 31, 2020. This would render a massive amount of high-precision GPS equipment obsolete after that date...as many as 300,000 dual frequency receivers.
SHG
