Ellis Veatch --- www.askellis.net

#1 · July 7, 2010, 2:21 am

As many of you know, we lost Ellis in April of 2009, at age 62.

He spent many years of his life in GPS support. He was past President of Geo-Hydro, employee number eight at Ashtech, and spent his last years in the support group at Leica. He had a Master's degree from Ohio State and worked on the original GPS triple differencing algorithms with Ben Remondi.

I knew him for 37 years, and worked in the field with him on many projects.

When his website at http://www.askellis.net went "dark" a few weeks ago I guess it just finally hit me.

The website was a wealth of free information, not just for Leica customers, but for the entire surveying community. His article on GPS networks was the best short piece I ever saw on the topic. He ran the site entirely at his own trouble and expense. That's the kind of guy he was.

I have contacted his wife and the webmaster and the site is back up in an arrangement we are all in agreement about. I have personally committed to pay for it for the next year, and it's paid for. I'll try to do my best to keep it going. The forum is not back yet and the blog to his earlier site is unlikely to return.

But a lot of the webinar stuff is back and I will try to get the forum going again. I will need some help with answers as I do not own or use the Leica System 1200 stuff.

It may be several weeks before I get back all that I can get back from the original site.

Please be patient and any comments or suggestions will be welcome, here or by PM.

Thanks

#2 · July 7, 2010, 3:28 am

Wow, Carl I had not heard about Ellis passing, RIP. 🙁

He was one of my mentors, and we observed and processed data in the days of only 4 SV in view for a couple of small windows and baseline at a time using LINECOMP on an intel 8087 with 8088 coprocessor. He was truly a pioneer, and together with Javad they were a super team in the 80s. His continued progression through his other work ventures was always with a love of GPS in his heart, and a willingness to share his immense knowledge with anyone, regardless of receiver brand they might have. And above all, he was a truly super human being.

Thanks so much for paying the way, and taking the effort to "keep the lights on" on his website. I have been out of the GPS day to day, so havn't checked in there for a few years. Your commitment to the good of the profession is noteworthy. Good going man. Let us know when a year comes up and another decision needs to be made.

Here is a photo of one of my guys ensuring our Ashtech LXII would not get wet:

#3 · July 7, 2010, 10:14 am

RIP, Ellis.

I stumbled upon his site a few years back. What a great resource.

I'm sorry to learn of his passing.

Rick

#4 · July 7, 2010, 2:33 pm

Thank you very much for re-installing the website

#5 · July 8, 2010, 3:48 pm

i was looking for ellisv.com just a short time ago. more good stuff there. have not gotten back to them. think i should wait on it. if anyone else wants to bring it back by popular demand, read below

this was the reply from the admin...

[email protected]
cc; [email protected]
Hi Edward,

Yes, I just heard from Michael Linn, and if he gets permission from Ellis's estate, then he might take over the site.

On Jun 29, 2010, at 8:59 AM, Glawe, Edward wrote:

Any plans to restart ellisv.com ? please.

Kindest regards, eddie glawe

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writenowdesign.com