Anybody else using this software for data collection? We got it with a robot we purchased earlier this year and have had nothing but problems with it. We got it on a Topcon FS 2600 data collector, which is now in the shop because it froze up. Dealer gave us a loaner Tesla with the same software, which we have been able to use for a few days and now it is freezing up. Now here comes the big one, after collecting quite a bit of data on a large topo job, part of which I had already sent to the client, I now realize that when I exported the data to a csv file, it exported the points with ellipsoid heights instead of orthometric elevations! Talk about egg on my face, the elevations shown were 84.63' off, even though in the field we were checking into known benchmarks within hundredths!
I am wondering if anybody else is having problems with this software, or is anybody really happy with it?
Haven't used it yet but will most likely be immersed in Magnet this coming summer so I'll be quite interested in anybody else's experience. Thanks for the initial review there Pat 🙁
Pat,
I do not have any experience with your problem, but perhaps the link may be of assistance.
Pat, I just purchased the 2600 with Magnet loaded, but have not had a chance to get outside and check it out (below freezing keeps this stove-up old fart indoors!) Hopefully, the learning curve on this one will be easy enough to figure out. Keep posting about your travails ........
-JD-
No experience with Magnet here.
Only concern is with the ads in the surveying mags. I wonder how Magnet works in the field?
The ads show an instrument being run by an "instrument man", I guess, and another dude at the remote prism rod that has what appears to be a data collector attached. WTF?
Why would you need both an "I Man" and a data collector at the rod? Seems like a lack of forethought at the manufacturer's level.
My 2¢.
JA, PLS So Cal
> The ads show an instrument being run by an "instrument man", I guess, and another dude at the remote prism rod that has what appears to be a data collector attached. WTF?
That sounds about par for Topcon. I had quite a few instances where the Topcon Robot I use was locked on to the prism in a wide open field while I'm standing there and it loses me. Now that's a WTF moment....
Double drat.
I had essentially all but decided to buy a Topcon Imaging Station. I am putting the brakes on right now pending my checking of this out.
I have had some bad experience with Topcon stuff in the past, but have also had a lot of good experience with them as well.
I've been using Magnet on a FC250 with Hiper XT GPS and Topcon GPT9003 robot with no problems over the past six months. Comparing TopSurv vs Magnet I noticed MagNET has:
- much sharper graphics
- faster processing of large CAD files and images
- quicker connects to Bluetooth devices
- can finally extract points from a polyline
- love the instant connect to Bing maps to download aerial images
- can calculate volumes from surface
- the cloud stuff is appealing to me
- don't like paying a yearly subscription for software
You must read the export list before saving your coordinate file. You may have selected Ell. Ht. (Ellipsodal Ht's) instead Elev. Or you may NOT have had the GEOID loaded at the time of export.
Lee Green
I am glad to hear from someone who is actually happy with the software! As to not having the settings correct, or not having a geoid set, I went over them several times. In fact, I could import a file into the DC, then turn around and export it back out, and all coordinate elevations would be reduced by what the DC calculated the Geoid height to be at that horizontal location, even including calculated points at a zero elevation which when exported were at a -84.6 elevation. My supplier even had the same result when he tried it.
Sounds like a bug some place. My elevations export just fine.
Send the files and I'll take a look.
What GEOID are you using?
Did you try using TopconLink?
What format do you export to, you said CSV?
Try exporting to Topcon Text Custom (*.txt), I get same correct elevations with each method.
What version? I have Version 1.1 (build 47704)
Topcon Custom works, I realize that now. When I got the DC, I just went through the list of files it would create, I found the export to csv and just went with it.