Well I have been through at least 7 windows based data collectors in the last 9-10 years . My 1.5 year old Topcon FC 2500 has started to have issues . Screen is acting funny and keyboard keys starting to not work . I am so sick of these crap windows units no matter what brand (TDS,Carlson and now Topcon) any touch screen is worthless after a couple years . I finally got some work and now the data collector got to be sent off .
Also Topcon is advertising new data collectors with no way of running their Robots how stupid is that . Topcon has there own radio to snap on the data collector and the new ones will not allow that .
I just hacked the RS-1 Radio and its a Futaba FDQ02t , anyone have a wiring diagram for this , I have looked on the web and cannot find one . Futaba makes RC radios . I am thinking of making a stand alone Radio to hang on the pole out of the RS-1 .
Rant over .
Get an allegro
We are using the Panasonic Toughbooks with the Carlson Field pack.
Crews really like them. The size/weight issues seems to have been over come by the ability to download drawings and having a screen big enough to see and the ability to pull coordinates directly from the drawing. The Bluetooth capabilities and the ability to hit the internet to send and receive data to the office from the field is a big plus too. The ability to send "last minute changes" directy to the crew in the field has been a life saver more than once.
Seems to me that your beef is with the hardware rather than with Windows. In the 10 year period you quote I've used Rangers, Trimble ACU's, and TSC2's. All have had a service life of about 3 years +/-. We routinely work in the rain hereabouts.
If you please, what units last longer under such conditions? Sure, touch screens are the weakest link. Who wants a dc without one? Plan on having maintenance costs.
Well the hp 48 lasted longer the TDS Huskey lasted longer . Yes its the hardware . The common element with the problem units is that they were made by two techhologies . I would use a dos huskey if it would run my robot.
Huskie
ah the good ole huskie,
I dare anyone to show me another data collector that can hammer a tack into a hub.
(and still remain operable)
:coffee:
Huskie
Sadly, I'd give up the touch screen in an instant to get a modern DC made to work with my robot that performs as well as my 15 yr. old Husky FS2. Currently I'm using a Topcon FC2500 with TopSurv software. It's too dependent on the touchscreen and lacks the ability to be operated exclusively by the keyboard. This slows me down when doing calculations because I have to switch between the keypad and the touchscreen to accomplish any task. Also, given the difference in system memory and processor speeds, the FC2500 should fly relative to the Huskey FS2 - It doesn't.
Huskie
Hp 200 with tds pro.... could fly with that thing and a good chainman. I find I spend much of my time in the field rotating around the rod so I can see a screen that has a bunch of worthless data on it then searching for a little icon to touch so I can go on to the next screen that has the needed data! I was looking at some of the videos of the Javad system. Once again he has some great ideas like having an electronic plumb bubble built into the DC so you don't have to take your eyes off the screen to make sure your plumb. Jp
You want a tough DC?
Check out this video and show me anything that is tougher.
Carlson Surveyor + put to the test.
Larry P
Huskie
I (briefly) ran a robot with a Husky FS3. What a pain in the posterior. No, I think I want a touch screen and graphics on the dc to run a robot.
Huskie
I'm definitely a fan of the graphics, I'm just not that impressed with the overall performance of my current dc vs. the huskey.
I need to load my dc with Carlson and take it for a test drive but I just don't have time to learn the quirks of yet another dc software right now.
Great video Larry, thanks for posting! What a way to show durability.
Anyone not using external data collectors?
Is anyone else still not using external data collectors?
Our field crews collect all data in the instrument (Leica, Trimble, Geodimeter), hand book traverse data, download side-shots in the office, and process in Copan.
I'm told it's quicker than using a DC.