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Anyone own a Topcon GTS 255?
Posted by rfc on September 20, 2014 at 11:54 pmThinking of moving up. Have an opportunity to own one at a very attractive price (around $2k).
http://www.topconstore.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=146
Anyone have one and have opinions on how well it does?
paul-in-pa replied 4 years, 11 months ago 9 Members · 20 Replies- 20 Replies
> Anyone have one and have opinions on how well it does?
Well, I wonder whether even the Topcon folks know how well it does. This is from your link:
Along with 5-second accuracy, the Topcon GTS-255 has 30x magnification allowing surveyors to read slope and horizontal distances up to 7,500 feet with a single prism and take angle measurements to as little as 0.3 second.
Note that Topcon only claims a standard error of +/-5″ for a direction taken as the mean of Face Left and Face Right with the GTS 255. My expectation is that your present instrument will be found to perform at very close to that level when it is properly tested.
I wasn’t so interested in its specs, as to stability, maintainability, battery life etc.
The one thing it’s got that mine does not is the ability to store and download data (unless I can figure out how to use a data collector with mine–I don’t think it will work, even though it has a serial port).While I’m having a swell time with my field book, it does present a serious inroad for blunders. My personal experience can attest to that.
Also, I did see that reference to .3″! It inspired me to re-read the thread that discussed the difference between minimum readout capability and accuracy.
> Also, I did see that reference to .3″! It inspired me to re-read the thread that discussed the difference between minimum readout capability and accuracy.
I’m pretty sure that what they meant was that the instrument takes 0.3 seconds of time to return a distance and angle reading after the “measure” button is pressed.
Not sure which series the 255 is part of.
Looked at The Topcon Museum, but it does not make it clear.
We had a GTS 225, which was a solid instrument, in my opinion. It was world’s better than the instrument it replaced, when we got it. Have since sold it, so don’t have much detail to offer. I believe the third digit in the model number indicates the angular accuracy, i.e. 5 arc seconds.
Salient points about the Topcon GTS-250 series:
1. It is built on the same concept as the GTS-200 series. Side mount battery, simple operation. Unlike the predecessor models which include the GTS-200, GTS-210, GTS-220, GTS-230W and GTS-240N and GTS-240NW series, there are only two models, a 2″ and a 5″, the GTS-252 and GTS-255 respectively. In the earlier models there were 5″, 6″ and 10″ models in the case of the GTS-200 and 210 series. In the 220 and later models there were 3:, 5″ 6″ & 9″ models.
2. The GTS-250 and GTS-250W models are made in China. They have been building similar instruments in China for several years now and they seem to have developed a solid process.
3. The difference between the GTS-255 and the GTS-255W is that the GTS-255W has built in Bluetooth. I suspect from the price you are offered this is one that does not have Bluetooth.
4. If it does not have Bluetooth and you intend to use an external data collector, the data port is in the body of the instrument rather than the base.
> Salient points about the Topcon GTS-250 series….
>
Thanks very much. There are so many Topcon models, it makes one’s head spin. This is more information on this instrument than I’ve found searching the internet for quite a while. The Topcon Museum doesn’t really make things easier either.I don’t need Bluetooth, and might not even use a Data Collector; opting instead for a direct connection to a ‘puter. Still evaluating the options. Thanks again for the info.
Forgot to ask:
You wouldn’t have a pdf of a manual would you?
ThanksI can get a copy of the manual in PDF. (That’s the only way it is available) But it is 6 Mb, too big to email.
I can download it and put it on our ftp site if you would like.
Most appreciated.
I can receive a 6mb file, but ftp would work too. We could use my ftp site too; whatever works for you, Sir.JerryS, post: 280694, member: 205 wrote: I can get a copy of the manual in PDF. (That’s the only way it is available) But it is 6 Mb, too big to email.
I can download it and put it on our ftp site if you would like.
I’d like a link to that if you can make it available.
thx
If you can take a file that big, I can email it to you.
By the way….
Welcome!rfc, post: 366121, member: 8882 wrote: If you can take a file that big, I can email it to you.
By the way….
Welcome!thanks!
and yes, I think I can. you’ll get a bounce-o-gram if my ISP disallows it.
dxc
Need your email address to do it.
rfc, post: 366129, member: 8882 wrote: Need your email address to do it.
well…that was confusing…I got your reply as an email which I assumed came from you via magic. a slew of emails from the forum informs me this is not the case, so here it is, slightly obfuscated in a vain attempt to avoid it being scraped by somebody else’s spambot:
dxc at pobox dot com
and yes, it really *is* pobox.
thx
dxcDone.
If you’ve set your preferences so, when you post to the forum and someone replies, you are considered to be “subscribed” to the thread. Then, when anyone else posts to that thread, you get an email (from the system…not the poster) that says so and so has posted. Kind of like an alert system.
Let me know if you have problems receiving the manual. Haven’t gotten a bounce yet.rfc, post: 280363, member: 8882 wrote: Thinking of moving up. Have an opportunity to own one at a very attractive price (around $2k).
http://www.topconstore.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=146
Anyone have one and have opinions on how well it does?
I use a similar one that takes the same batteries, the new fresh battery will last a full day of work or more. after about 6 months to a year the battery will loose its ability to hold a charge. some batteries do real well for a long time (over a year) some need to be replaced in as little as a few months. my place of employment has found it most economical to purchase new ones on ebay about $50 bucks, instead of having them re-celled. the instrument is tuff, it holds up to rain, wind, and sub-zero temperatures well. the model I use is a 3″ gun with bluetooth not sure of the actual model #. I have used a leica robot & traditional TS at my previous place of employment, so it is hard for me to really love the topcon, but does everything we ask it to do.
rfc, post: 366139, member: 8882 wrote: Done.
If you’ve set your preferences so, when you post to the forum and someone replies, you are considered to be “subscribed” to the thread. Then, when anyone else posts to that thread, you get an email (from the system…not the poster) that says so and so has posted. Kind of like an alert system.
Let me know if you have problems receiving the manual. Haven’t gotten a bounce yet.got it, thanks!
dxc
I’ve seen equal quality used instruments for less that do not require a prism. Lazar is nice to have on a TS.
Bluetooth can be achieved with a Parani hooked to the end of the instrument cord.
It is nice that Magnet can be part of the equation and it does have onboard DC ability.
0.02Trying to connect a 255 to Field Genius 9 software in my data collector but having communiction error.
Am using 1200 baud, 7 even and 1 stop bit. Unit beeps when attempting to link but no connection.
Any suggestions?
Scott
I’ve used quite a few different Topcons over the years and my data collectors all thought they were the same instrument. doubt there is much you have to learn.
They have no reason to mess with DC interface.
Paul in PA
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