Trimble 5600 series Robotic Total Station equipment experience?
Ok, this is for the users of this series equipment or anyone with helpful knowledge.
This is obviously very old equipment.
Looking mainly to use for learning and a hobby, nothing critical that requires a $50,000 RTS etc.
Is anyone finding these to be useable when all the working components and proper software are acquired?
I am more particularly looking for the Trimble 5603 DR200+ with 2.4GHz radio which are more common.
I really needed the Trimble Standard DR that has the coaxial red laser pointer for vertical layout that I can see for staking, but not seeming to find any that are also radio and Robotic. I am not finding the DR 300+ with the optional laser pointer on the top where the course sight is either. (not finding this optional laser anywhere also by itself, may be able to just mount and aim a laser pointer to the top manually for my use) So the 5603 DR200+ with radio may have to suffice that is supposedly robotic for use with the mandatory RMT 606. I know there are 3 different options, battery, Tracklight or full robotic Tracker. Hoping the DR200+ with built-in radio / antennas have the full robotic Tracker for use with the RMT 606. Not sure how to determine that until received. Seems they would for robotic tracking?
I see there are BLUE and RED dot GeoRadios. What is the difference please?
I may look into the Parani bluetooth options and the trick to use them once initially connected via cable. Seems the GeoRadios are overpriced etc.
Then obviously you have battery power for the RTS, radio, RMT 606 and data collector. I am sure these old batteries will be an issue, where a motorcycle battery will come into play for the RTS. I assume I will have to find an option for the battery power for the rover pole with RMT 606, radio and data collector. (not sure I want to do the power stick battery in the pole option?) Then the issue of the backup battery inside the unit itself. From what I understand from a post here, must be replaced before it dies to avoid loosing settings, firmware etc?
The biggest issue seems to be the software for the data collector. I see some units have a Data Collector with old Trimble Survey Controller software…. different versions. Anyone have any luck downloading this very old software to install say a old Trimble Nomad 900G data Collector (windows Mobile 6.1) or the like? Don’t really want to buy another DC such as TSC2 or 3 etc. Or is it virtually impossible to find this software that works with the Trimble 5600 series RTS’s. Is the keypad really needed if you have a data collector? Does Trimble Access have drivers for the Trimble 5600 series? I think Survey Pro does? But how to get the software also if so? And, YES, I KNOW Trimble has been phasing the 5600 series etc out and sounds like Survey Pro also.
I know I can use a old MicroSurvey FieldGenius v9.0.20.3 that apparently has the very last drivers for the Trimble 5600 series. (Trimble would not support their products/drivers with MicroSurvey anymore) Anyone actually have luck with this and full Robotic Total Station functions? Do they work with Carlson SurvCE (depending on versions also I guess?)
Thank you for ANY help with all of this from experienced users. Seems to be quite a project, but again, this isn’t going to be used for anything critical.
Log in to reply.