We really use our Trimble 5603 dr200+, reflectorless + robot. Hoping to add an S-6 as soon as we can. I would say get a robot if you can.
If you can afford a good one, get it. The possibilities are endless.
I think nowadays the robot guns are pretty close to each other as far as quality. Service from your dealer and personal preference is what is driving purchasing one robot over another. I have a QS. It works flawlessly. Our dealer though (Superior Instrument) set up everything for me (blue tooth, wireless) so I can concentrate on using the robot to its max, and make the most of my money spent on it.
> I have given some thought to this. We need some sort of "Goat stake" to tether the inst to. So that grab and dash folks cannot succeed. For the tripod, and inst.
I lock my robot at most setups, and generally I can locate it near a fire hydrant, sign pole, fence or other suitable object that can be used as a locking anchor. Every now and then I'll have a setup out in the open, and if I'm not comfortable leaving it unlocked I'll install a trap anchor similar to these:
The design I have is a little different -- the anchors are arrow-shaped with a 1/4" shaft that fits into a hole in the end of a driving pin -- but the principle is the same. They work well, and are cheap enough to leave behind.
> ... We need some sort of "Goat stake" to tether the inst to. So that grab and dash folks cannot succeed. For the tripod, and inst.
I have heard of a few instances of these things getting stolen over the years but not all that many. I have heard far more tales of people having their trucks and offices broken into. I think that the thieves pretty much know that the serial numbered instrument with out the rods, prisms, data collectors, and carrying cases are easily identified as stolen and difficult to sell.
But if you are worried I suggest you get about 50 feet of the heaviest chain you can find. Run it through the tripod legs and shackle it. It doesn't matter if the other end is anchored to anything, I think, because the weight of it will make a quick getaway impossible.
I've had my Trimble 5600 for over 10 years and still love it.
Don't skimp to save a few bucks, when it's just you and the robot in the field you need it to work and work flawlessly.
> I have heard of a few instances of these things getting stolen over the years but not all that many.
It's not so uncommon in my area. Construction sites are the most popular, but other urban settings are also vulnerable. The thief drives up to the instrument, hops out of the car, unscrews and unplugs the gun, and takes off, leaving the tripod behind. So if you're going to lock, it's important to lock the gun, not just the tripod.
I agree that as long as the gun is locked to the chain, the chain idea would probably work.
Now that these pieces of equipment are getting so popular to be stolen, you think the manufactures would come up with some type of locking mechanism to lock the instrument to the legs and then even the legs.
This is the order of things in my world
Get Excellent RTK GPS set GPS points by RTK use robot due to NO RTK..
ROBOT as required then when Sky opens up throw robot in ditch and reach for thE
RTK GPS you will immediately
start to enjoy Surveying again VIA nice high performance RTK GPS.
I Suggest in my opinionated opinion that you find someone who has a
Nice RTK and a decent robot and work with them for a day or two.
then you will realize that it is the Controller DC then RTK and lastly the
stupid robot. I always reach for the RTK when I leave the trailer
I can't remember the last time I robot traverse why set two RTK points
occupy with robot and pick up with robot what you can't DO with RTK.
So Get the Check book out and BUY
1 Good DC 4K
1 the best RTK 25K
1 Decent Leica TS12 Robot 25K
Pick up real customers because you have real Gear instead of work arounds
Find A decent rod man I always run as two man topo / staking bigger jobs
my hydro graphic survey buddy and I share a common rod man.
And run as one man at day to day on site construction support smaller stuff
Lastly stay away from trimble products
Setch Equipment LIst
DC
2 New Carlson Surveyor Plus
Carlson SurvCE Ver 3.02
Carlson SurvCE Ver 3.02
Robot
Leica TS12
Type TS12 P 2" R400
S.N. 269895
Art No. 791307
Equipment No. 4944492
GPS
Sokkia Gsr1700Csx RTK L1 Two rovers, One base
post process soft Spectrum Ver 4.21 L1 dongle
Satel 3ASd 1 watt, Stubby, 15cm, 30 cm GainFlex.
Computer
Xi Computer S/N: 037019
Intel Core i7-2600K CPU @ 3.40GHZ
Mem 16.0 GB
Win 7 64.0 Bit
Autodesk C3D 2013 subscription Service pack 1
AVG Antivirus
HP 111 Roll feed 24" plotter.
seems that there is quite the love/hate relationships with Trimble - I wonder why that is? I don't see other manufacturers get nearly as much strong sentiment.
While RTK may be a great tool but my area of Northern New Jersey, like much of the northeast, has way to much tree cover for RTK to be useful. For me a robot is the way to go.
Yes robots are a necessary evil at times
In your site and my case I always start with rtk Gps and set control in open areas
to close of a open Robot traverse etc to bring in GIS and other data to get on the GRID so on so on and yes we are stuck with robot at times due to trees but large industrial customers with deep pockets don't have tree on there sites.
Peter K
We have an S6. Zero negatives about it in 4 years. Absolutely worth getting the active prism for it, you will pull your hair out trying to use the passive one. Can't comment on Leica, as I haven't used their robots.
That sums it up Leica did not have to FIX there Robot like Trample
by using a Active boat sized 360 prism.
If Leica required a active prism they would make one.
On another topic I do some grademan and basic machine control using
stock Lieca robot/RTK and purchased a new Spectra Physics dual slope laser
with a 2 year warranty and the unit quit the service invoice said due ""user erased firmware had to reinstall firmware = $108.00 for a new under warranty unit"
with NO of how or why this occurred just a lot of smiles. This leads me to speculate
they billed me and sent possibly a warranty bill mail to Trample. This really
Pizzed me of for I had 2 excavators and 5 guys in the pipe trench and had to save the day using my leica robot and GPS myself instead of my basic rodman using a dual
slope laser. I was told that the unit had to go to Dayton to be fixed and on return
may be the same ??????????.
So when you hear IT has to go to Dayton bend over and take a advil.
> Yes robots are a necessary evil at times
In western Oregon there are very few opportunities to use RTK. So few that you usually don't even load it in the truck a lot of days. So few that you may forget how to set it up between opportunities. So few that you end up doing a lot of work with the TS that might have been done more quickly with RTK.
Oklahoma is the exact opposite. The TS may not get used for days or even weeks at a time. And the RTK often gets used when maybe the TS was the better tool.
The thing is - when you use TS when you might be better off using RTK your productivity may suffer. When you use RTK when you should be using TS it is often the quality that suffers.
FWIW, the daily productivity in the two places - in terms of number of point collected and area covered - is about the same.
> The thing is - when you use TS when you might be better off using RTK your productivity may suffer. When you use RTK when you should be using TS it is often the quality that suffers.
Wow, that's a great summary statement.
