Topcon Total Stations: Demystifying model names/numbers
I do 70-80% construction layout, and I've used the sokkia ix-503, topcon gt-503 (only for a few months when the motors died on the ix), Leica tcrp1203+ and now a Trimble s5.
If it was my choice I'd take the Leica. Actually I'd take the ts16 which I got to test for about 20 minutes once (just with my own tablet and fieldgenius so no captivate features).
I think my preferred software would be magnet field, but it's been a couple years now since I used it. It had way less bugs than Trimble Access, by far and the software was fast on my tablet. Also the gt-503 worked a lot better than the ix-503, so when we got our original robot back from warranty I switched to the Leica with paranis. Later the boss got me the RH17 Bluetooth handle to go with it and that made it much better. Easily the best robot I've used. I would have been happy with the gt-503 though. Either one I'd rather have than the s5.
The s series is just really annoying to use robotically or manually after getting used to the sokkias for years and then the Leica, plus using conventional Leica's for a few years also. I miss all the features, like the display with angles, distance, battery level...you can do MLM's without a data collector....shoot vertical differences without a data collector. On and sight something in using the knob without being connected. I feel extremely limited by the s series, on a regular basis.
Don't get me started on the search and joystick. The sokkias and topcons with the RC unit will always find the prism (as long as you point the window on the RC unit the right way), the leica powersearch always finds the prism and you can tell it which way to turn so you waste less time. Trimble only has a good search in integrated mode. I use it that way almost all the time now. I'm always on busy sites with lots of traffic, so you're losing lock a lot no matter which robot you have.
Leica has nothing to do with Trimble. That is a mis-statement.
You didn't read that correctly. Apologies for the long text in brackets but if you read the whole sentence less the bracketed text in the middle it is a correct statement.
Geomax = poor man's Lecia
Spectra = poor man's Trimble
@jerrys Believe it or not I can power the Parani with a run-of-the-mill powerbank off Amazon. Whether it will work in cold weather remains to be seen...
Certain tablets have powerful built-in bluetooth adapters that actually do okay at short range. For longer range you're totally correct (I haven't tested the limits so far).
Much of the other stuff can often be found laying around. Buying new however... the costs definitely mount.
The RC's on their own are hard to find and often cost in the thousands. Sometimes they're part of a prism kit. But I guess the RC unit + prism can be had for relatively reasonable prices compared to radios and prisms for other units.
I used the paranis in cold weather with the Leica 1200, no issues.
A topcon isn't inferior to other brands. Do you know how much Leica and Trimble put in their marketing? That has to be paid for.
Very true! And don't let me mistakenly refer to 'cheap' as being inferior. Topcon robotics tend to go for less right now compared to other used robots. Perhaps because they're more numerous, maybe even due to survivor bias, or the fact that some of the other manufacturers are strategically taking their older units out of circulation to try and coax people into buying new...
Part of the reason for researching Topcon was to make sure I have the knowledge to take advantage of a deal should I pull the trigger and buy one, that is after noticing that many Topcon robots go for quite a bit less than other used stuff. Being able to go down multiple routes can be very advantageous.
The screaming deal on a Lecia 1200 looks like buying a Geomax zoom 95 (the same thing) and then use XPAD which is super easy for layout or survPC if you go the Carlson route (Carlson just rebadge the Geomax).
But as always you need a decent dealer for the great nearby!
I think having a dealer nearby is key. Most the used Geomax stuff I've seen costs twice as much as say, a used TPS1200. Those are getting more and more rare though. The Geomax would usually come as a complete setup but for me I kind of prefer doing my own thing.
Regarding the Parani radios, the power supply can be anything that keeps it on. But I don’t think you can get useable range with the stock antenna supplied with the Parani. I found 5 Db gain antennas that give an effective range of several hundreds of feet.
@350rocketmike Did you buy the Parani power pack or a 3rd party external power bank like me? The power pack seemed like a bit of a waste if the former actually works.
I'm leaning towards FieldGenius as well. They used to have just a "layout" version that got discontinued/absorbed into their main product. Their pricing looks the most cut and dry (I can't find concise info on how much Magnet costs). I haven't used Magnet much but it seems pretty good.
I’ve run Trimble S-series robots and Topcon 600 series robots and their both good instruments. Both have their merits and problems. For me, the Trimble instrument was more user friendly but heavier. Also, the Topcon instrument seems to track the prism better. However, Topcon magnet is more user friendly and less glitchy then Trimble access. The Trimble robot is less noisy in operation. Topcon has the better plummet. The only other plummet that I know of that comes even close is Nikon optical plummet.
I used a third party power bank. It fit right in the waterproof baggy I was using to hang the whole setup off the tripod and that power bank was actually overkill and would last a week on battery. The only issue I had was specific to fieldgenius...it would drain the tablet battery fast. Luckily I had 2 extended batteries and it was normally 2 day battery life, but the glitch caused fieldgenius to drain 1.5 batteries in a day. That was part of why we got the radio handle before the next winter came.
I find fieldgenius pretty easy to use. The map would crash frequently but that was probably more to do with the DXF's that I was given than anything. We have a few older subdivisions that we're still finishing up layout and they're 1:1 scale, local coordinates. So on those ones I sometimes still use the Leica and fieldgenius, especially if I'm going to have to use reflectorless.
