Robot Choice

I love my Focus 10. It's the EXACT same as the Trimble 5600...Except about 60% of the price and it's blue not yellow.

Drop the cash, when the other one gives up the ghost, but drop that zero (leica) and get you a hero (trimble vx)

I know not what path others may take.....

I'm already saving for the next one, and it will probably be a Topcon 9000 series. I love my Leica, but have been told the same thing, once it breaks, it is gone.

hows your business..are you slow? Might wait till first of year and see what economy will do before you dive in. You also might check ebay. But if all is good and business is up and inst sales are down you might get a bargin

> Might wait till first of year and see what economy will do before you dive in.

Be careful with that choice. If they allow the Bush tax cuts to sunset, the 50% equipment expense option disappears and everything over $25,000 will have to be depreciated. Currently the cap is $250,000. If you're going to invest in a robot, and the Bush tax cuts are still on the chopping block, do it before Jan. 1, 2011.

> I know not what path others may take.....
>
>
> I'm already saving for the next one, and it will probably be a Topcon 9000 series. I love my Leica, but have been told the same thing, once it breaks, it is gone.

I you are going with Topcon anyway, check out Hayes Instrument. Topcon owns them now, and maybe you can get a used one that was out on lease. Topcon 9000 series

I don't know about the Bush tax credit, you'll have to decide that for yourself.

Brad

Send me an email (matthew at franksurveying.com). I just got a flyer about Leica extending their deal a new Leica 1200+ robot with viva collector for around $26,000 with needed accessories depending on angular accuracy.

We just bought one on this deal, and it works great.

Sorry Kris, about the only thing zero on a Leica is the prism offet.

Matt

You sound like a stooge nothing and nothing of value has changed in 10 years
in robots
and data collectors are slightly better very slight

so even with my allegro cx i would say my old husky fs3 will do the job...

so leica boy matt even the latest Lieca robot looks like parts strip mined from
geodimeter parts bin...

peter k

They are a little pricey, but you wont regret it.

My ten year old boy says, "Awesome!"

I have used all three major brands, (Trimble 5603, Lieca 1200 Smartstation, and Topcon GPT 8005A, current), in the past 9 years.

All Instruments have their strengths and weaknesses. All will get the job done, and in good fashion. I probably like my Topcon better than all the rest, just because I have spent much more time with it since I now own my own shop. It is simple, straight forward, and the only time it has let me down has been one day when it would not track due to it being 15 degrees outside.

You choice should be based upon your financial abilities, but most importantly, your local dealer support. It is imperative that you be able to pick up the phone and speak with someone when you are having a glitch/issue in the field. Trust me, I don't care what brand you buy, you will have days when it wants to act up. Sometimes it is battery issues, sometimes it is radio interference. It happens to all of them sometimes.

Be sure to look for used setups, as there are alot of them out there right now. I picked mine up used in 2007 when I opened up my business. I bought it from an engineer/surveyor that was ex-military. he was downsizing. The robot and accessories looked brand new, as did the GPS/RTK base and rover. I bought both for what a new robot would have cost at the time. It was a long weekend from West TN to Charolette SC and back in two days, but well worth it.

I hope this helps.

Thanks Jimmy. Very good summary.

Unfortunately I DID make my robot choice 12 years ago based on local support. Then a few years later that local dealer & Leica decided basically to get a divorce and I was left out in the cold with NO support, locally or otherwise.

BUT, I still think that is good advice, so now I am leaning toward Topcon. They (currently) have great local guys. But even if/when those guys are gone, I get the impression in my nearly 30 years (I know I am only 40, but I stasrted helping Dad with his transit and chain (no reel, we had to 'throw it', and it was maked only every foor and then hundredths were at the end) when I was 12 years old in 1982) in the business that Topcon is basically like Ford. It seems to have a very good worldwide support network. Right?

Larry, Moe or Curly?

All of my equipment purchases are based on compatability, dealer support, etc. I dont buy just because it has a Leica name on it. Having used all brands and models of equipment, we chose works best for our company and for the last 40 years in business, Leica has been a big part of it.

There is a white paper coming out that we collaborated on that demonstrates the efficiency and value of an intergrated survey system. I will make sure to send you a copy.

By the way, I am still waiting on your procedures for obtaining first order leveling with your robot.

I'll probably go through Earl Dudley, as they handle our region and have known the guys in Birmingham for a while now, good folks all the way around. The local sales rep handled my last purchase, and hopefully can send some work their way.

Trig Leveling

>By the way, I am still waiting on your procedures for obtaining first order leveling with your robot.

For those interested, here's a compilation document on Precise Leveling With A Total Station that describes the equipment and procedures described by Charlie Glover when he investigated the concept. The method appears to be applicable to robotic instruments as well.