Sokkia iX vs Trimble S5/S7 vs Focus vs …
I run a small construction layout company in Alberta. We do a fair bit of legal surveys too. Up until now a Sokkia SRX3 paired with Survey Pro 5.4 was the main total station for the field. It’s been in use since 2013. Very solid instrument, never any issues with tracking or distances.
However lately somewhere between the robot, the RC handle, the RC controller, the data collector (Nomad) and the software some sort of gremlin/glitch started to appear that causes it all to freeze. Reboots, taking batteries out, new setups, etc become required. Very inconvenient when you are in the middle of a busy 6 lane road trying to stay alive…
I realize (part of) the problem is that we are using Sokkia hardware with Trimble software. It has always been a bit spotty. And it may be by design, haha…
I would very much like to stick to Survey Pro, as for construction layout it is beyond anything there is (IMHO). I’ve tried Field Genius, Access, Carlson, and Magnet… So whatever new gun we get it will be used with Survey Pro. We do have the latest 6.6.3 version too…
So, if I’m getting a new instrument I’m stuck with a seeming impossible choice (these are just my (+)’s and (-)’s):
1.) Sokkia iX: (+) small, lightweight, easy focusing, full featured display/keyboard, Japanese, dog whistle RC prism search; (-) potential issues with Survey Pro, unknown reliability of ultrasound motors
2.) Focus 35: (+) seamless integration with Survey Pro, cheap, tracking; (-) awkward focusing, build quality, Chinese, prism search
3.) Trimble S5/S7: (+) seamless integration with Survey Pro, tracking, build quality, Swedish; (-) rudimentary built in functions (needs DC), large active prism, awkward focusing
I may be missing some things…
I do like almost everything about the iX except the drivers/compatibility issues.
For the Trimble instruments I really dislike the way you focus, I find it’s taking me many many seconds to dial it just right. It’s only an issue when using reflectorless, but we do quite a bit of that. And not being able to measure without a DC…
So, any suggestions..? Or is there another (modern) gun that will work with Survey Pro?
Thanks!
Ivo
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