Solo Surveyor and Prism Poles

You pound the stake in with the prism pole, of course! 🙂

I've seen the Gardner (it seems precarious to me). I have the short SECO, which isn't too heavy, but does kind of get in the way sometimes.

But 99% of the time, I lay it down carefully on the ground.

Never lean it something - it took two several hundred dollar repairs to my RC-4R unit to figure that out.

Hahaha! Use it as hammer--very funny!:-D

I leaned my prism pole the other day and it was a close call! I caught it just in time!! I wanted to place it on the ground but with all the mud we have--I just don't have the heart to do so!

Thanks for the thoughts and aloha Gromaticus!

We have the Gardner Rod rest and the guys love it. It does not add much weight and it retracts automatically when you pick it up.
The added bonus is that the robot remains locked on the prism (most of the time!)

I always use a bi-pod. I would not chance it falling and either damaging the prism or the data collector. It's one of a few obstacles to being a solo surveyor. When the 3 man crew is me, myself and I, you have to make the best of it.

+1 the gardner

I use the Gardner Rod Rest or a bi-pod, but mostly the rod rest.

I use 3 legged pods and always stand it up or put it on a gun rack on truck or ATV.
When working by myself, I can have as many as 8 different prism setups of pole and tripods spread around on things at a distance beyond what prismless will shoot.
I have made many targets from pvc blocks of wood and on the back of gammon reels with prismatic reflective tape to spread around hanging from a wire that has been set in place with a plum bob or slipped over or setting on objects.
:plumbbob:

Can I ask if the Gardner Rod Rest is useful with a GPS head (not the new plastic ones), or is the 3-4 lbs too high up and top heavy?

Thanks Gregg!

Thank you for your thought Jason! Aloha

Aloha, Azwieg:
Looks like Gardner rod rest is pretty popular...
Thanks

yswami, post: 340375, member: 7679 wrote: Aloha,
I am just curious what do you as a solo surveyor do with your prism pole when you are pounding stakes.

I use the SECO shorty (12") bipod. It's light and unobtrusive, and provides a good way to grip the pole when collapsed. The tips, when the device is collapsed, sort of hook onto my shoulder, easing the strain on my arm during transport. I use it with a prism as well as with my Triumph-LS.

I considered the Rod Rest, but it didn't look stable enough for my purposes, especially in rough ground. The shorty bipod does require the user to bend down to in normal use, but I decided the extra stability was worth it. And it works great against vertical surfaces like buildings and fences.

Aloha, [USER=10]@Jim Frame[/USER]
Thanks for the this suggestion. Just to confirm...this the one you mentioned above right? Price is significantly cheaper too.

I use a bipod with a fiberglass rod that's extremely light. The weight of the bipod isn't too bad because the rod is so light. I do mostly solo stakeout all week. I've been thinking about getting the Gardner rod rest for a while but it seems like a lot of money for what it is....

Gregg Gaffney, post: 340387, member: 1111 wrote: We have the Gardner Rod rest and the guys love it. It does not add much weight and it retracts automatically when you pick it up.
The added bonus is that the robot remains locked on the prism (most of the time!)

+2 on the gardner rodrest. I wouldn't survey solo without it. Heck, I would probably use it running a two man crew also. We got one back in 2006+/- when a former employer bought a robotic/gps setup. I bought one as soon as I went out on my own.

toivo1037, post: 340409, member: 973 wrote: Can I ask if the Gardner Rod Rest is useful with a GPS head (not the new plastic ones), or is the 3-4 lbs too high up and top heavy?

I don't think I would trust it for that although I haven't tried. It seems to balance well with a prism and data collector though. Seems like that amount of weight would possibly tip it.

Thanks for the this suggestion. Just to confirm...this the one you mentioned above right? Price is significantly cheaper too.

I have one of these, but I use it with my mini stakeout rod when running robotic. I bought it when I was doing stakeout with my mini tripod

yswami, post: 340422, member: 7679 wrote: Aloha, [USER=10]@Jim Frame[/USER]

Gregg Gaffney, post: 340440, member: 1111 wrote: I don't think I would trust it for that although I haven't tried. It seems to balance well with a prism and data collector though. Seems like that amount of weight would possibly tip it.

I use mine all the time with my HiperLite. You do have to be careful if it is on uneven ground. Just use common sense, and you will be fine.

What model of Bluetooth adapter are you using, I am shopping for one to connect to my instrument.