Trimble Access vs SCS900

You can get the Roads module for ACCESS and you wouldn't need SCS900.

Ive never used Survey Controller (Im a TDS kinda guy)but my crews have. They made the switch to SCS900 about a year ago. They mitched and boaned about it for weeks but it eventually died off. I personally think that all of the Trimble Software is cumbersome at best compared to the sleek, simple,doesthesamethingbutmuchmoreefficientlythantrimble, TDS that they unmercifully killed.

Working for a Heavy Civil Contractor I have used both Survey Controller and the SCS900 extensivly, the survey controller in my opinion is a very generic type of survey data software, while it will perform very well once you get familiar with it, it does not have all the bells and whistles like TDS survey pro or carlson SurveCE most of which you may never use and you over pay for feature programming anyways. After using SC for a couple of years I knew what I had to do to make it work efficiantly for the projects that worked on and it worked very well. The SCS900 on the other hand when we swiched over from SC I truley hated this software, it was version 1.3 or so and to me it was the most back asswards Fred Flintstone type of software that I had ever used, it took some serious getting use to, After years of using SCS900 and many new version updates I can honestly say it has grown into (in my opinion)one of the best construction layout programs (with roading module) out there. it handles surfaces, alignments & models extremly well, while most programs are point based in nature dealing with strictley ASCII files, the SCS900 is a point and CAD based program. I can just drop a dxf file in and go. My old TSC2 had 3 programs on it, Survey Controller, Carlson SurvCE & SCS900, when we upgraded to the TSC3 the trimble rep informed me that the TSC3 would only be able to have one program installed on it at one time. Trimble has obviously done this to maximize profits by making you buy new controllers.

my .02

Good info. So have they changed SCS900 to work more like SC or Access like the salesman said? Or do you still have to jump through all that Work Order BS? With the roading module can you do the same things SC does with Station/Offset and Position on Road?

SCS900 does not work like SC, at least up till its last version 12.49, I cant comment on Access since I have never used it. The SCS900 still utilizes the same concept of site-folder then within that folder it has the design folder and the work order folder at least up to the lastest version 3.0 that I am using. The roading module still has the station/offset and position on road as well as other usefull features.

I have TSC2 with Survey Controller 12.49. I've been asking this question and no one has been able to answer...until now.... I've finally found a forum with someone that seems to know. Please help me understand. I want to be able to stake Construction without using thousands of point numbers. I want to be able to upload a CAD drawing into my TSC2 and pick linework or items and then stake to them with my S6 or GPS....much like the Contractors do. I don't really know all the capabilities of SCS900 software but wondering if I can stake my whole construction site from it. Currently I'm bringing my laptop in field each day......calculating points then staking. So time consuming. I've had contractors come right up next to me with a pole and check my work....I'm thinking to myself....."it just took me 30 minutes to calc the same points". I've been in business since 1996 and have gone through all kinds of cycles of employees and equipment....I'm all by myself now and want to be as efficient as possible. I would even be willing to talk by phone if needed.

Hi,
I worked with Survey Controller before and now with Access and an S6.
You'll have to make a dxf from your design.
Clean up your dwg first, get rid of all layers you don't need in the field.
I prefer to explode all polylines to simple lines and figure out on what layers all your stake data (lines, arcs and/or points) are drawn.
It's best to have a dxf no biggeer in size then 4MB for reasons of speed, bigger wil work but you'll have to be patient when zooming and panning.
Transfer the dxf and place in in the same directory of your job files.
In the job properties you can link your dxf under the 'Active Map' button.
First select your dxf, second toggle the layers you want selectable for staking, or you can select all layers by toggling the dxf itself. To be able to select the items in the dxf you'll need a 'square symbol' with a 'V' inside.

This should help you to get started,

Happy staking from Belgium,
Chr.

I have been in the business since 1984. I have used mainly TDS and Carlson field software. 2 years ago I went to work for a heavy construction company and was introduced to the SCS900 software. I have 2 stakeout techs who use the SCS900 software and I use Carlson (Fast Survey). I find the SCS900 to be very restricted and aggravating but it is easy for a newby to learn. I have recently purchased a new TCS3 with Access and it seems to be overly complicated to set up jobs. We utilize dxf and dtm files for stakeout on all of our jobs. My problem is trying to share calibration files between SCS and Access and also withour machine control. if anyone can shed some light on this it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

eddycreek, post: 204056, member: 501 wrote: Had a salesman make this statement to me today.

"Since SCS900 and Access are very similar now, we can not add Access to TSCs with SCS900".

First off, someone is not telling you the whole truth. We have a TSC3 data collector with Access and SCS900 on it.
Trimble has separated the Survey and the Construction parts of the product line and many of the dealers that only deal in Construction Equipment are not allowed to sell Access.

Call a dealer that caters to the Survey crowd and ask them if you can have Access put on a DC that already has SCS900 on it.

Second, There is not a lot of difference in Access and Survey Controller. Trimble basically took most of the road functionality out of Access and put it in a separate module. It still works the same compared to Survey Controller, you just have to pay extra for it. Then you have the issue of having to switch between the General Survey module and the Roads module. There may be some new things in the Access Roads module but I haven't found them yet.

I would tell you my opinion of SCS900 but my keyboard does not have a "bleep" button.

James

Drew Branch, post: 440438, member: 11866 wrote: My problem is trying to share calibration files between SCS and Access and also with our machine control. if anyone can shed some light on this it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

I think I can help you with that. It may take me a day or two to find my info, it's on another computer, and I am fixin to head out to a job now, but I will get back with you.
James

Sorry to bring up an old thread but DREW BRANCH, if you are still here, I have some information that I think will help you.

email me at jasrowden (at) yahoo (period) com