Hi guys
I have a Trimble S7 robot and TSC3. I've had it for 4 years now and have had to send it back because of persistent problems with the radio communication between the robot and the TSC3. I've done this 6 times.
It normally starts off with "attempting to connect", then the dreaded "radio down", "radio up", "radio down" etc. This is normally resolved with a TSC3 reboot, but usually within 2-3 days of this pattern, the radio connection packs in completely and I have to send it back. I had the radio X module replaced numerous times.
I have tons of work on at the moment, and it's starting to play up again! WTF do I do?
Do other Trimble users experience the same problems?
Cheers, Fobos8
Hi, I'm the original poster. I'm getting this problem at the start of every day for the last 4 days. I have the TS3 right beside the robot. It's happened so many times, normally ends in total radio failure and having to send the unit back.
I had the same problems in the past with both of our systems.?ÿ Each one went to the Trimble dealer for troubleshooting. Both radios in the TSC3 had malfunctions not covered by Trimble.?ÿ The repair cost was approximately $1,600 each.
The TSC3s had a good run, over a decade, but they've been EOL for about eight months now.
I have an S7 at work but I'm using a TSC7 with it and have had zero problems. I'm kind of surprised a TSC3 could even control it actually. Have you got a loaner from the dealer by chance? Does robot work fine with a tsc5 or tsc7?
Have you replaced the antennae??ÿ I have had same problems and its just been the antennas.
Wow! Someone admitting to a problem with a Trimble gear, how could it be. You'd best trade it for a more reliable TOPCON.?ÿ At least that is what others would say if the tables were turned.
Have you replaced the antennae??ÿ
Had a radio go out on a Trimble 5603 some years ago. The problem was that the antenna on the instrument was compromised, which lead to the radio board overheating. After that we simply made a habit of replacing the antenna every 6 months or so. But I'm surprised that your service tech hasn't suggested that.?ÿ
Wow! Someone admitting to a problem with a Trimble gear,
Our local techs are taking in Maytags on the side just to keep busy.
Wow! Someone admitting to a problem with a Trimble gear, how could it be. You'd best trade it for a more reliable TOPCON.?ÿ At least that is what others would say if the tables were turned.
What in your opinion is the reason behind the negative opinions on topcon? And are they that much better than Sokkia?
Just brand loyalty is all it is.
Topcon and Sokkia are one company (merged a few years ago), so they are identical. Topcon is sold in US, Sokkia is international brand.
Well our Sokkia ix robot insured that we will never buy from that company again. It's have honestly been the worst total station we've ever had.?ÿ
It's a night and day difference between it and the 12 year old Leica 1203 and the Trimble s5 is significantly better than the old Leica too.?ÿ
It's not just the motor failures, but losing lock all the time or not tracking even when it does have a lock. It was a long 2 years with that machine and now it sits on the shelf making no money at all for the boss.?ÿ
Wow! Someone admitting to a problem with a Trimble gear,
Our local techs are taking in Maytags on the side just to keep busy.
The only time I remember the service techs being actually, truly busy was in late winter/early spring when everyone suddenly remembered they hadn't brought their instruments in for calibration before the summer rush.
We had a guy bring in an original, first-edition S6 that had never been serviced - in over a decade. It took that long for the collimation values to finally move out of tolerance. I hauled one through the backwoods on many remote jobs in AK, despite others' insistence that robots in general and Trimble in particular couldn't handle poor field conditions.
That being said, they sometimes break. As I routinely remind staff during training, if it's got moving parts, they can break, if it's got a radio it can stop communicating and if it's got code, it can crash. Modern gear has all of that, so it's gonna happen.
@rover83?ÿ
Probably because of COVID but our Sokkia ix was about 3 months getting the motor replaced for the second time. Luckily the loaner worked at least better than ours did.?ÿ
Maybe we just got a lemon that they couldn't fi properly. I wish our experience was better as I did like the magnet field software after I found enough info about it online. It ran great on my Panasonic tablet also.?ÿ
My Topcon GT-1001 works great for me with Magnet Field. I'm setting tool points in a cleanroom (car chip manufacturing) for past 8 months with a tolerance requirement of 1mm. I negotiated a more reasonable tolerance of 3mm. Upon setting over 700 points I was called back on just one bad point that was 5mm out of tolerance. After I set stickers on the RMF floor using a marksman laser setup, they overlay the factory printed mylar on my tool points to cut holes in the floor. Each tool is the size if car and cost about $2 million. They are also installing a track system from my datum points that will carry the wafers to each tool. One down side, I have to wear the white tyvek bunny suite with booties, hoodie and gloves all day long.
