Has anyone used an HP48gx with a Topcon ET-1 total station with only a coaxial port? As I understand, Topcon later produced an ET-1 with a 9 pin serial port, however I have the original ET-1 with just a coaxial port that you can power the total station with an auxiliary battery pack. If you have, did you have any data communication problems.
I would like to be able to collect data electronically, as opposed to entering it manually. The ET-1 is in great condition and is a very accurate 1" total station. I don't do a lot of work and don't need a fast modern gun. The attached web site sells a data cable for the HP48gx and the Topcon ET-1, but I would like to get some feedback and opinions before I spend $300 on a cable.
I have thought about buying a newer total station, but can't justify it based on the amount of work I do right now, having just started out doing side work. I can afford $300, if it gets me what I need, even though it is just a cable, as opposed to spending $1500 to $2500 for a Topcon total station that uses a 9 pin serial port or a 6 pin Hirose port (I have cables for those types of ports).
The port on my ET-1 looks like this:
Let me try the image again...
I'm pretty sure that is a power connection only, and there is no serial wiring for data transfer. While Geodimeter made a single power/communications setup for their early robots, I don't think the ET-1 was configured that way.
I see to vaguely remember a slope correction external keypad that was absurdly expensive as an option back in the day, so maybe there is a way.
My GTS-3b has the same port, and the Manual says that you can connect an Topcon FC-1 Data Collector there. In the 25 years that I have had the instrument (I bought it new), I have never had the occasion to do so.
ASSUMING (maybe a big assumption) that the HP48 has the correct communication protocals and software, I suspect that it might work. There are probably a number of FC-1 Data Collectors gathering dust in folks closets around the country though.
Loyal
My SMI user guide shows that the ET-1 is supported and I saw the instrument listed in the instrument menu screen.
You can find a cable that will connect to an environmental case easier than one that will connect directly to the HP48.
a couple of cables
http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-Topcon-Sokkia-9-Pin-Serial-Data-Cable-/320576133502?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Topcon-Leitz-Sokkia-Data-Collector-Cable-/140223897104?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0
Back in the 80's I remember working with a GTS-3b that communicated through the external power connection like you've shown here, but the cable was quite expensive. If it were me, I'd check with a knowledgeable Topcon tech prior to spending the money.
SS
I did the programming at Topcon during 1986 & 1987 for a data collector package for an HP-71B named ProPac that supported both the ET-1 and the GTS-3B of that time frame. It used the same cable as the FC-1 going through an environmental case of similar design to the HP-48 case for SMI or TDS. The case had a DB-9 female connector.