Since my total station was broke a few days ago, i am in the market for another one. I have found a Topcon GPT 2003. it appears to be in good condition, but i am not familiar with it at all. Do any of you have experience with this model? and what is your overall opinion of it?
Thank you,
I use it every day when not using the robot. Good gun. Not the best reflectorless range or beam width out there, but it will shoot power poles at 350' routinely. Beam width is a little wide for really flat shots.
Angular accuracy is great. EDM precision is great. Weight is good, battery life is really good on newly recelled batteries. The plummet on ours is a laser (which I'm pretty sure was standard). You don't have to level it before you can turn on the laser. Most newbies think you do. Press the menu key, page down to illumination, turn on laser. Then plumb it up.
The keypad of every Topcon total station I've ever owned gets sticky with use over time. My 2003 is no exception, but using the data collector almost exclusively keeps it from getting sticky as fast.
You'll find some negative comments on the board concerning these guns. I've used a 3000 series Topcon which I believe is basically the same as the 2000 series for several years with very few problems. It's been a real workhorse. My main complaint would be the horrible optics and light gathering ability. I consider it great for small jobs and stakeout but not too great for large boundary.
Ditto on everything said. Used our everyday since new. Great workhorse gun. I see a little less effective reflectorless, at 300' typical. Small, light, just works. Get 3 total batteries to keep you good for long heavy days.
maybe time to get them recelled. we get many days of topo work done on a single battery. two will easily make a week for us.
There's a guy selling a 2005 at the top of the page.....