Trimble M3-use with external data collector?
I have a Trimble M3 total station that is rarely used, I probably only used it two or three times. It is a newer version of what was a Nikon. I have a user manual in pdf dated 2008. But, the instrument I have has trimble access on board, and the manual does not mention that at all, I believe this is a newer instrument than 2008, but I do not remember when I bought it.
Is there any way to use an external data collector? I have a TSC2 with survey controller and a Yuma with access. I would like to be able to do GPS with the data collector and then use the instrument with the same job file.
You should be able to use the TSC2 via Bluetooth connection or you can get a cable to run it.
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Right now it is totally dead, probably have not had it out for a year or so. Charging the battery now. I just downloaded a 2013 manual from the trimble site, hopefully it reflects what the instrument has.
It has two USB ports, one micro and one large one.
So the new manual says it has bluetooth. I will try that in the AM when the battery is charged.
I need this for travel by plane, My S6 is just a hassle to take (overkill), the M3 is much more compact, and it is all I need for this work. Plus it has a longer DRv range than the high accuracy S6
We jump over from our R10 with TSC3 to the M3 with the TSC3 routinely. All you have to do is pair the Bluetooth connections and setup a M3 template in your DC and you are up and running. Not sure if you can use Survey controller with the M3 or not
I agree with TXSurveyor, bluetooth will be fine but you cannot use Survey Controller, Access will trump it. Not sure why you want to use an external data collector. I would guess that because the buttons on the M3 are too small? I have used a retractable eraser as the button pusher and worked out fine.
I want to use an external data collector because I want to first set a pair of points with GPS (VRS), and then use the instrument to shoot a point in the woods. That way it is all in one file.
So, I got the Yuma to connect to the M3. I setup a survey style in the Yuma for the M3, which is in the list of instruments. I use the default baud rate of 4800, as well as the other defaults under the M3 screen.
Go to general survey...measure...m3...station setup..."connecting to total station"...nothing. I tried it with the M3 at the main windows screen, in "TSMode", which shows the instrument and a data collector, and also with access running.
The manual has NOTHING in it about this. It does show the "external device connector" with pinouts for RS232, but I don't have a cable.
I'm going off of memory here but I think the first time you will have to go out to Windows on the DC and pair the devices thru Bluetooth connections and then go back to access it should connect thru access when you tell it connect to the total station
Yes, I did pair them using the BT icon on the main windows screen. And when I go into access on the yuma, I tell it to use the M3 as a conventional instrument.
What happened to the old days when you got detailed manuals?
You probably have to go into the instrument settings and tell it that you want to use Bluetooth, or at least that you want to use an external data collector, not the onboard. The Nikons and Spectras are like that. The only things you should have to do on the collector, and it sounds like you did, are pair the instrument and then tell it to use that in the Bluetooth settings under Conventional.
If it won't work after all that try setting the instrument to Nikon in the survey style. But you shouldn't have to do that unless your version of Access is really old.
Thanks Lee. I will try that. One thing I noticed is that on the Yuma the M3 is shown as a tablet. No com port associated with it. I go to services in the BT screen, refresh, and nothing is listed. BTW I have access 2016.02 on the Yuma.
