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Recommendations for older Total Station < $1,000?

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Last Post by Glenn Breysacher 9 years ago

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otherhand

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?ÿI've decided it may be time to add a simple, older TS to the pile of toys I seldom use. It's something I'll occasionally use to map historical or archaeological sites. Don't need anything robotic (I think) nor reflectorless (I can use a prism pole), just something basic. It would be nice if the unit could hold a fair amount of points internally so I wouldn't need a separate data collector. I'm not concerned about battery condition as I can likely recell the packs myself.?ÿ

On eBay in that price realm I'm seeing a lot of Sokkia Set3s and Set4s, and a fair amount of older, somewhat beat up Topcon units. I've noticed some listed as total stations lack EDM and are really electronic theodolites, but then that's just eBay. But I definitely want the EDM function.

Does anyone have any recommendations for brands/models in that price range? Equally helpful would be models to best stay away from. Thanks for any input!

Tom

Posted : November 27, 2017 2:41 pm

rberry5886

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The Topcon 300 series are work horses.....I've been using a 303D for 15 years, no problems...you can pick one up real cheap on Ebay...

Posted : November 27, 2017 3:20 pm

kevinfoshee

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I second the 300 series Topcon. I have a Topcon 313. I bought it for $700 for a back-up unit. It is a very nice gun. If it were reflectorless, it would be my main instrument.

Posted : November 27, 2017 8:15 pm

otherhand

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Thanks, I'll have a look at those.

Tom

Posted : November 27, 2017 9:00 pm

jaro

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There were some that were basically a total station with an edm that the two didn't talk to each other. You would read the horizontal angle, vertical angle, and slope distance. I think the Topcon 2R was one of those. It was kinda rough for stakeout. I might be remembering it wrong, it was a long time ago.

James

Posted : November 27, 2017 9:46 pm

bill93

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The TopconGTS-2B was a 6-second manual, micrometer-reading theodolite+ EDM.?ÿ I have one that works fine.?ÿ I think the GTS-2R was an slightly upgraded?ÿ instrument of the same basic configuration, still 6-second, but I've never handled one.?ÿ

The GTS-3 series had digital angle readout and I think converted slope to horizontal distance for you.

Those are all pretty old machines.

?ÿ

Posted : November 27, 2017 11:01 pm

rich-leu

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I also have a GTS-2B that continues to do what it was designed to do. One thing it wasn??t designed to do is ??hold a fair amount of [or any] points internally.?

Of course, one could always, dare I say it, use a field book.

Posted : November 27, 2017 11:37 pm

otherhand

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To close out this thread with an update, I'll report I was able to pick up a Sokkia Set3B II for the rather ridiculous price of only $300. Batteries were shot, but I just replaced the old NiCads with new NiMH cells and increased capacity by 50%. The Sokkia is in surprisingly good shape with no damage, and the EDM seems very accurate. So with a bit of luck, there are some real deals to be had out there. This is going to be a fun unit. Thanks again for your inputs.

Tom

Posted : December 6, 2017 10:21 am

james-vianna

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Surveyed many thousands of acres with a 2b, a real workhorse. I procured two of them for the local BOCES survey class that we teach. The students actually like reading the micrometer over digital displays.

Jim?ÿ

Posted : December 6, 2017 11:23 am

bill93

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I always thought the double lines on the 2B were too far apart.?ÿ A little closer would have made it much easier to determine when you were centered.?ÿ Maybe it's just my damaged eyes.

Posted : December 6, 2017 1:24 pm