What brand are you using? Any pros or cons?
Is control runs still a two man job with a digital level? Seems to me it would have to be or it would take twice as long to do it.
We use a Trimble DiNi.
I like it, but it is not without flaws.
Our one is older, and the software it runs could definately be improved - it has a number of inconsistencies that will catch an unwary operator.
I would also like to be able to download it without having to use Trimble's Data Transfer utility.
And yes, for us leveling is still a two person job.
What data collector and software are you using?
I use Topcon DL-502 with TopSurv and Magnet. This level has a lemo connector serial port. I attached serial to bluetooth adapter. Now I can have anyone just point point the level and focus the rod. Then I can record data in the controller 300ft away.
I think the Topcon/Sokkia levels 'claim' they are the only digital level that can read a waved rod. But I like to have the bubble attached to rod, and don't wave it. DL is great for layout also.
You may also consider rod options in your purchase. Topcon/Sokkia has a bulky 4 section rod. Some others have extension type level rods, others even work a steel tape bar code.
After researching a couple, it looks like any leveling is a two person job. The Eye Man may just be a robotic servo, but you still need him.
All my other equipment is Trimble, TSC3, S6, R8/GNSS.
I prefer an 'Aye' man....they tend to be more agreeable.
I suggest you stay with the flavor you are used to, Trimble. It will get along with others in your sand box. I have never used Trimble.
You must have the old Zeiss style DiNi - they're great guns, very accurate, but the software is brutal and the battery isn't great.
The new DiNi has an interface that looks much more like Trimble Access and uses the same battery that the R8 does. We ran three closed loops with one late last year, about 3900' each way. Our worst raw misclosure was 0.0058', and that was on the first run, one of the turns was a little unbalanced. The other two were 0.0015' and 0.0029'. I'm no math whiz but I think that makes our worst loop close a little better than 1:1,300,000.
We used two of the folding rods and a three man crew and walked the whole thing. Took about 2 hours per loop.
I should add that if you have TBC it makes downloading and adjusting a snap. It's still Data Transfer, but it's running in the background, the interface is the TBC Device Pane. And the new DiNi is USB, not serial like the Zeiss style.
We are on our second digital level. We got a Wild NA2000 in 1992. We used it till the batteries in the memory cards died, then bought a Leica DNA10. Both have been great instruments. We routinely get 2nd order closures on loops with the fiberglass rods. I just ordered a new Leica DNA03 1st Order Level with the calibrated invar rods. The NA2000 and DNA10 probably have 5,000 miles of leveling on them and they have been great. I expect the new DNA03 to give us even better results. Our NA 2000 paid for itself in the first year by cutting down the time to reduce level notes and eleminating the need to rerun loops after a mistake. If you do much leveling you are costiing yourself money if you dont have a digital level.
> The new DiNi has an interface that looks much more like Trimble Access and uses the same battery that the R8 does.
Ours uses the R8 battery, but the software is nowhere near as polished as Access - its obviously based on some old version of Dos - project names limited to 8 characters for example. It still beats booking manually though 🙂
That's the newer one then... I agree about the software, it looks more like Access but it's definitely not Access. But it's still better than what was in the yellow Zeiss. You might want to make sure you're running the latest version; as with all of there sensors, there have been updates over the years.
we use a trimble DiNi07. Our other gear is S6, R8, and TSC2 with Survey pro. You have to buy the leveling module for Survey Pro. The software works well and I usually export a level report, import into excel to format, and then paste it into a STARNET file to adjust. I have access to TBC but I prefer STARNET.
Heck, my HP 48 with TDS Pro will operate our DL 102. It works pretty good. I kind of prefer to use it rather than our 2500 with TopSURV 8.
