Survey Pro or Survey Controller

I would recommend Survey Pro. Survey Controller is great for GPS but I don't like it for anything else. You will not like it, coming from Survey Pro.

We use survey controller with our S-6 and GPS and love it.

Have never used Survey Pro so I can't compare it.

I haven't used Survey Pro in about 3 years...at the time it was my favorite software. Now Carlson SurvCE is...though it won't run the S6.

We have (4) S-6's, when I purchased the first one, the salesman talked me into Trimble Access (same as Survey Controller)...reluctantly I agreed. Every time I buy a new S6, I consider switching to Survey Pro. The only reason I don't, is because of the "integrated surveying" feature available on Access. It literally takes 1 second (1 click) to switch between the S6 and the R8 (GPS). This is a slick feature, especially useful when GPS conditions are marginal.

If Survey Pro had integrated surveying (or equivalent), I would switch back.

I've used both Survey Pro and Survey Controller. I'd choose Controller, for both GPS and total station work.

I've used both and in my opinion it depends on what kind of surveying you do more of. For topographic surveys and gps stuff I think Survey Controller is a bit better than Pro. For construction staking Pro is hands down a better product. Controller is getting better but still not close to Pro!

> ...For topographic surveys and gps stuff I think Survey Controller is a bit better than Pro. For construction staking Pro is hands down a better product...
I agree with that. Stakeout is not controller's strong suit.

> ok here is the deal. I am going to buy another Trimble S6. We have a few rangers that we run our R8, Leica TS, and other S6 with.
>
> I have an chance to get the new controller with Survey Controller rather than Survey Pro. Having three boxes with Survey Pro I am wondering how my S6 and R8 will run on Survey Controller. Will they be more responsive? Work smoother?
>
> Is it worth the gamble? Once the collector is bought no turning back.

Will they be more responsive? (I can only speak about the S series guns) Way more responsive. Way more smoother. Does not make any sense to me why. Seems like the same company would share drivers better but there is a difference. I've got Trimble access and Survey pro 5. I can tell you without any doubt that trimble software will run your S series gun way better than Pro. The new Pro is terrible. The old Pro was good but will make your controller crash. Go with Trimble. And this is coming from a guy that doesn't like Trimble. I think they are a money hungry company that thinks their way of doing things or their equipment is so far superior than all others and will nickel and dime you to death on every little thing possible for the life of that product.

I got both and I use Access even though Access could learn a few trick from Pro. Pro doesn't work as good with the robot as access (I think its the exact same as Survey Controller right). Also I think you have a 30 trial with either program.

We have 4 s6's that we controll with TSC2's. They have both survey controller and Survey Pro (v4.11). We use the Survey Pro. Can't say that we did any sort of evaluation - everyone wanted TDS because that was what they are used to.

We just got new R8's and the Survey controller definately seems to be superior for the GPS.

A couple of things to be aware of:
TDS versions 5 and greater do not support the Levelling Module.

I heard that Survey Controller was not going to be updated/maintained in the future as Trimble was going forward with Access. (this is what I heard).

Neil

T-Ray is right-on! Another point is if you due a lot of computing in the field tds is much better. I think both are a let down to the survey community and surveyors should expect much more from the software companies. my 2 cents, Jp

Anyone know how Trimble's LM80 compares for layout?

I have never ran survey controller but if it is anything like SCS900 I would say Survey Pro is by far the superior product.

@t-ray

how did you get survey pro to connect to the s6?

The worst thing that ever happened to SurveyPro is Trimble.

@hooks

Holy zombie thread, Batman!

The thing with Survey Pro, IMHO, is that it is exactly the same as it was 20ish yrs ago when they went to a Windows format, which wasn't much different from the DOS/HP48 version that preceded it. Some may consider that a plus, I don't. It has a menu driven work flow, which doesn't take advantage of the modern operating system.?ÿ

I agree, surveypro was great and could be improved. I learned data collection with TDS when we first got a data collector. It was great, I loved it. Years go by and I inherited a Carlson data collector and liked some things better, some things worse. The reason I switched to Carlson is the way Carlson Software does business. The Carlson business model works well with my model and ideals. The software for GPS or Robotic has map view data collection and I find it much nicer than menu driven collection. The map view collection is easier to understand what is going on with the field operation and methods when teaching a new hire IMO.

@hooks

IMO, even in HP48 days Survey Pro was not the best. SMI had a much better work flow. But SMI couldn't make the jump to DOS and then Windows based controllers and so they died when HP discontinued the 48. Survey Pro survives because of it's large installed and entrenched user base, not because it is a better product.

This is where we disagree, lol, SMI is nonsense. When I got a Husky w/ TDS it was all over.... SMI was snake oil.

Posted by: @hooks

The map view collection is easier to understand what is going on with the field operation and methods when teaching a new hire IMO.

Especially since the younger generation is used to a visual interface with a touchscreen. Also, approximately 65% of the population are visual learners.

Posted by: @mark-mayer

It has a menu driven work flow, which doesn't take advantage of the modern operating system.?ÿ

Undoubtedly, it was cheaper to rewrite the software to run in the modern operating system and not to take advantage of it too.