I don't survey as much as most of you on this forum, so I appreciate all your great advice. Currently, I use an old Total Station 310, but need to replace it after it bit the dust last week. I would like to upgrade to a full robotic system. There seems to be a lot of used equipment on the market. Are there any models to stay away from or features I should look for? For example, I saw a complete 815A system with an RC-2 for a reasonable price.
Any ideas and recommendations?
Thanks!
We have 2 used srx systems. The 5 works fairly well. The 3 has issues that concern me. It doesn't always turn to the prism before recording data. In my limited experience the SRX5 is a workhorse. Good luck on the search..
not sure what your price range is but the spectra focus 30 is an awesome machine and can be found used in great shape for around 15,000.
i run two of them and no complaints.
I have the 815A without an RC-2 and I stay frustrated at it. It's a good thing that I'm not a quicker guy or I probably would have traded it in already. I don't have anything against the setup per se, but I'd think that there'd had to be some units around 5 years old for a pretty decent price.
My recommendation would be to buy the newest setup you can afford. In general, the more recent the equipment, the faster and more efficient it will be. I use a Topcon 8003 with RC-2, which is about a 12-year old robot. I get excellent results with it, but I spend a lot of time waiting for it to go through its routines, which are much slower than the newer equipment.
Also, I would recommend the best reflectorless feature you can get.
ditto... many, many dittos...
Likewise trimble S6 can be had for a similar price sometimes.
there are bargains to be had.
Definitely get one that's reflectorless.
Is reflectorless really that big of an advantage?
> Is reflectorless really that big of an advantage?
It is to me, especially when I'm working alone. It can save you a ton of trouble on certain shots, especially when you learn the tricks of it. When you stand at the gun and take about 25-30 shots without walking all over the site, you'll understand.
YES!
ditto ... reflectorless is a must have.
for a solo operator reflectorless is high on the list.
saves a lot of walking and climbing fences.
I find that there are some jobs that I dont use the robotics because I can get it done just as easily using the reflectorless.
I even use it on small stakeout jobs. point in direction, throw a stone, get a reflectorless obs to get me in the ballpark. then turn on the robot for fine tuning.
And if it is rough work for topsoil removal, then quite often I dont need robotic. Just make notes on the amount each point has to move. walk around and move the stone. recheck. most times I can get them to under 6" which is good enough for the excavator guy.
> Is reflectorless really that big of an advantage?
Another ditto. Great for remote building corners or just about anything you don't want to climb fences for. A couple years ago I did a topo on about 3 acres at a about a 40% slope on a mountainside. All open. I did the entire thing from one set up in reflectorless with a rod ht of 0.1' and just found a nice rock to shoot, with the exception of the building pad they already graded. I used robotic for that. If I'd have had to walk that slope I wouldn't be here to give an example of how to make your life not only easier, but helps with the profit margin
Now I get it. Good comments...
craigslist ad i just happened upon.
Exact same setup I have. Now I know what it may be worth, maybe worth. It's worth more to me in my truck though.
craigslist ad i just happened upon.
Still an excellent unit, especially for that price. I understand that they have discontinued making parts for them so the joy may be brief.
craigslist ad i just happened upon.
Guys, so I rented a Sokia CX hybrid reflectorless, after my 312 bit the dirt last week. Using it on a solo 3 ac. topo job - I really needed it after all. Wow, what a great gun! Any thing I shot comes back, and real accurate and easy to use - light weight. I am never going to a conventional system again. The cable to my data collector was real dear, however. I see what you guys were talking about.
What blew my mind, I would shoot the laser at real oblique angles and it still recorded. This gun is real technology. Thanks for the advise.
craigslist ad i just happened upon.
> What blew my mind, I would shoot the laser at real oblique angles and it still recorded.
Getting a return from an oblique reflectorless shot is the easy part. Being able to trust it is trickier.
craigslist ad i just happened upon.
> > What blew my mind, I would shoot the laser at real oblique angles and it still recorded.
>
> Getting a return from an oblique reflectorless shot is the easy part. Being able to trust it is trickier.
Technology marches on, we have to keep ourselves current.
With the right surface properties, I have faith in an oblique return from a 2014 reflectorless gun, not so much from a "12 gauge slug-era" of a 2002 gun, regardless of the brand.