Robotic TS Recommendations?

I like the 5600 series

You can get a 1" second instrument on EBAY for a reasonable price. I Know that Star*net has a module for translation for TDS. You will want the long range targets,maybe. There is onboard software, but I am not certain there is value in learning a system 20 years old, but there is that option. You can also use the trimble survey controller. Since you use trimble GPS, a Focus makes sense or some other trimble TS.

Trimble has come out with a lower-cost version of the S-6, called the S-3 to save yourself about ten grand. The talk is that it has everything the S-6 has except the screen on the gun. A friend of mine just test drove one and hopefully his was just bad gun. Radio range was only 250 feet and reflectorless wouldn't touch 500 feet. My S-6 is good out to about 1400 feet for radio and 984 feet for reflectorless. The S-3 uses Mag Drive which really saves on battery and is fast and accurate. If you already have a Trimble controller you're ready to go.

The Focus 10 Robots have been discontinued...but there are a few available at a good price....

Light...not especially...but proven, rock solid and dependable.

Trimble S3 is lighter.....and smoother to use.

My dos centavos.

Leica

.

Below is a list of the weights of various robotic total stations I have found on the internet. The weight provided is typically the instrument with tribrach and batteries, with the exception of the Focus 10 and Trimble 5600, which have external batteries and can add more weight.

Older Models:
Focus 10 - 16.5 lbs
Leica 1100 - 13.5 lbs
Topcon 8000 - 17 lbs
Trimble 5600 - 15 lbs

Newer Models:
Focus 30 - 12 lbs
Leica 1200 - 17 lbs
Sokkia SRX - 17lbs
Topcon 9000 - 15 lbs
Topcon 8000 - 17 lbs
Trimble S3 - 13 lbs
Trimble S6 - 13 lbs

The older models might also have more weight at the rod if external radios are needed and cords can sometimes be an issue (the Leica 1100 being an exception). The newer models tend to have the radios built into the data collector and eliminate cords at the rod.
Ebay can be a good place to find cheap robots but I have found, as others have stated many times before, that dealer support is crucial, especially when buying a piece of equipment you are not familiar with. The warranty provided by some dealers help a lot also. I initially bought a Geodimeter on ebay for a great price but ran into problem after problem. I have since purchased a Topcon 8005a from Hayes and could be happier with the instrument and support provided by Hayes. A phone call to a dealer can also reveal more used instruments than may be listed on their website.
Obviously the older equipment will be cheaper, but the newer the equipment, the more availability of parts should you need service.
This information is by no means gospel, just information I have gathered over the last few years in researching and buying robots.

I believe that the S6 would meet and exceed your expectations for an instrument. Trimbles software on the other hand is less than impressive to me, but I am a TDS fan so your mileage may vary.

"I have since purchased a Topcon 8005a from Hayes and could be happier with the instrument and support provided by Hayes."

Sorry, I meant to say
"I have since purchased a Topcon 8005a from Hayes and could not be happier with the instrument and support provided by Hayes."

Hayes has been great, I wanted to clarify that.

Kent, what is your average shot length on big projects?

> Kent, what is your average shot length on big projects?

I'd use a robot the same way that I use a manual TS, i.e. to

- get conventional ties between GPS control points that are usually less than 1000 ft apart,

- do detail mapping that usually is within 600 ft. of the setup, and

- do setting out of boundary markers that usually are within 300 ft. of the setup.

Kent, what data collector software are you already familiar or comfortable with?

Kent-

Perhaps on a zany note you might beat the mesquite for kilt clad energetic types ?

Given I have a few years on you (not wisdom tho') the concept of safety in numbers has always impressed my career path.

I.E. have a person with you.

Now if you went to the local fire hall, there may be a person there who is looking for, or is willing to get part time work with fresh air and keeping in shape.

I would doubt if there are too many farms in Metro Austin, but if you had a line on an agricultural contact from a feed/fertilizer supplier, you may be able to find a son or daughter of a farmer as an assistant.

The beauty of a farm background is that, in majority, the farm community thinks and knows how to work and is thinking safety.

Also. our North Aboyne Sublatitudinal Missionary Group might be entreated to supply surveying support staff as a continuing educational program ! 😉

Cheers

Derek

> Kent, what data collector software are you already familiar or comfortable with?

The key element on the DC will be how it handles scale factors and State Plane Coordinates.

I've used an SDR-33 for much longer than I imagine the manufacturer ever thought anyone would keep it in use, but have found it to be perfectly serviceable for what I do.

Dare I ask what budget you had in mind?

> Dare I ask what budget you had in mind?

I'm looking to see what is available at what price. I've always bought good quality equipment over the years and have never been dissatisfied with the long term economy of it.

Kent: I use a Trimble S6 high accuracy (1", 1 mm+1 ppm). Since you seem to be a stickler for accuracy, I think you would really like this instrument. But, there is a tradeoff to having the high accuracy edm. Reflectorless range is very poor (at least in my 5 year old model). Other than that issue (which isn't that big a deal to me), I love it.

being a mag drive, it is lightweight and batteries last a long time (no motor)

> Kent: I use a Trimble S6 high accuracy (1", 1 mm+1 ppm). Since you seem to be a stickler for accuracy, I think you would really like this instrument.

Well, my accuracy target for boundary surveys is to end up with NAD83 coordinates with standard errors of about +/-5mm in N and E. The limiting factor is the accuracy of the GPS vectors that make the connection to NAD83 and transfer it around the project. In other words, I don't think that I'd realize a significant net improvement in final accuracy of positioning with a 1" instrument. I can, of course, see how it would be necessary for deformation monitoring surveys where the conventional measurements were the critical factor.

I think that a 3" instrument would be just fine for nearly all surveying applications I have in mind. It's also entirely possible that there are instruments being sold as 5" instruments that actually perform significantly better than that. That would take some testing of a specific instrument to determine, though.

Kent

Just from your posts I would think you should probably be looking at either Leica or Trimble.

I know little about Trimble, however with Leica I would only be looking at the Viva 1200+ robots and above. The new Leica data collector and Smartworx is pretty cool and would give you the tools you need for data analysis.

> Perhaps on a zany note you might beat the mesquite for kilt clad energetic types ?
>
> Given I have a few years on you (not wisdom tho') the concept of safety in numbers has always impressed my career path.
>
> I.E. have a person with you.

Derek, it's a balancing of different factors. I actually prefer to work by myself when I can.

The exception, of course, is when there is quite a bit of stuff to be packed in, such as for setting boundary markers in remote locations; but that isn't a common occurrence.

John, if you went and bought a new one today, I believe they come with a better reflectorless edm.