I was planning to go to the technology exposition at this week's TSPS Annual Convention to learn about new products and play with the latest this that and the other. Now I find myself trying to figure out what to get to replace equipment that is, for the foreseeable time, gone forever.
Lightsquared doesn't matter to me because we have projects on the books now and have to get back to two crews ASAP.
Money matters because not sure what insurance is going to cover.
One crew does 80% of its work outside the local free city base which broadcasts corrections over radio signal, the other crew does 80% inside of the free city base. There is one node on the Leica network in this part of the state (and they say it takes three nodes before the can turn on the software to make it practical). Cellular service can be spotty depending on where we are working, from southern plains to desert mountains. So basically looking for a base and rover to do RTK (typically the out-of-town crew is using in oilfield situations for Railroad Commission Location Plats).
I saw Daryl Moistner's comments on the Hiper II, so that makes me a little wary. From other comments on here, Sokkia and Topcon are the same basic equipment. Leica has a GS09 package which apparently is comparable to the 1200s that were stolen. Also looking at the viva stuff. I have a Trimble R5 loaner. Existing equipment and the remaining crew is setup with Leica 1230, which I know how to use to get work done, but damn if Leica isn't counter intuitive sometimes.
Thoughts on non-leica, non-trimble GPS systems appreciated. Gonna go look at the Javad stuff while I eat my lunch.
Leica VIVA - Smartworx has greatly improved.
If you want a very honest answer from both a business owner and field crews that run the new Leica stuff everyday, hit me up at the convention. I will be there along with some of my employees.
Check out the Carlson GPS equipment. Still novatel boards inside and works very well in my opinion. Plays well in various networks, too...
I think I saw a link to your review on POB, but haven't looked at it yet.
Wouldn't mind experimenting with the Javad stuff, but it looks like we're going to bite the bullet and get a Leica Viva from Geomatic Resources in Irving.
Good luck with the Leica...seems you can't go wrong with them.
FYI- We run Trimble R8's (w/Trimble Access / TSC3) and Javad Triumph 1's. Crews usually fight over the Javads with Carlson Surveyor +'s. Cost half as much and seem to fix better/faster/easier.
My vote goes on the javad. They have been ahead of the pack, for probably the last 20 yrs.
N
Especially with his 12 (or 16, I forget now) GPS antennas mounted on a somekind of shopping cart, remember that?
A pretty girl was in the picture to help promotion.
Four Antennae Georges
With 4 antennae on the base and 4 on the rover the result was 16 vectors.
I have never seen that setup in use in the USA.
Paul in PA
Four Antennae Georges
Thanks Paul,
That's much more reasonable, my memory is playing trick with me!
I believe Ashtech and Javad GNSS are the cheapest receivers price wise.
how about this one 😉 scroll to the bottom of the page there are pictures of it there 🙂
I honestly prefer Trimble. I started using them in 1995 with 4400's and TDC1's. I've used all the way up through R8-2's and TSC2's and have gone through all of the processing/post-processing software.
I have used Leica 1200's for the past two years. SmartWorx reminds me of the old TDC1's. I love the results I get but the software is just so bad. Hopefully the Viva is a step forward like Survey Controller was for Trimble.
My first thought when I saw you wanted something besides Leica/Trimble was the Altus receivers. They work with Fieldgenius and SurvCE. SurvCE is supposed to work well with all of Leica's gear so you could have a common data collection platform with different hardware. It would make training and troubleshooting a lot easier. I also thought of the Javad receivers but you and someone already discussed them.
I really haven't paid much attention to all of the different network rovers that seem to be hitting the market but my biggest concern would be static logging and processing. I still prefer to do a static session on important control points. What compatibility do they have with your baseline processing software and can you even log a static observation? What do you use to convert to RINEX?
Four Antennae Georges
> Thanks Paul,
>
> That's much more reasonable, my memory is playing trick with me!
Don't worry bout it Georges, at least you remembered the hot chick pulling the golf cart!
The 1200 is good hardware. Their support varies around the US. I do not
like their policy of selling network base stations to Joe Blow Poor, who
can hardly pay the rent on the building where the network station is located.
Stations are not maintained well; locations are slightly moved on roofs for
some reasons-users are not contacted. I have seen some really wild elevation
results from the VIVA. By the time Leica gets the bugs out, they will probably
come out with the new MUERTA (or whatever) hardware.
Four Antennae Georges
Reminds me of an old Buddha story...
Two monks were walking and came to a river. A woman standing at the ordinary high water mark was trying to get across. The first monk placed the woman on his shoulders and carried her across. Once they reached the other side, the woman said thank you and continued on her way.
The monks kept walking together.
After a few hours, the second monk said to the first monk: we are not suppose to be involved with women (or something along that line).
The first monk replied: I carried her across the river, you are still carrying her?
I was enlightened (...)
speaking of the topcon hiper 2!
How do I disable the gps fix/lost voice?
About to drive me crazy!!!!
speaking of the topcon hiper 2!
getting ready to head out for the day but I'll check for that B.L. ...I use the Hiper II primarily as base receivers... the sound it emits when recording an epoch in static mode was a little weird at first but then became useful when I could be assured the data was still being collected later on when in the area without having to look at it...... Battery life is 4 to 4 1/2 hours about but no problem with a gel cell attached...
Andy... if you get a chance...check out the GR-5's...
another one of are crews is running that setup and they like it mucho
to be serious - the amount of brain-work done by the person in the reference above deserves not only a special post...
... this is the best resource to learn gnss on "molecular" level but, ...the learning curve might last a lifetime though (in my case anyways) ...
I have read your posts with great interest and congratulate you in your efforts. I would like to see the hardware tested in field conditions. Send a set to us or Kent McMillan for field testing and perhaps we can prove the effort that you have put into your project. 🙂