So I'm looking at the Ashtech site for the info on the new Survey Control II, and in anticipation of this new animal I go in search of a compaq aero 1550. Seems everywhere I look, nobody has them. Anybody else have any luck? Did Ashtech buy them all up? Whats the (preferred) alternative?
Modified By Dave Huff on 6/6/2001 at 4:34 PM

Dave,

Compaq has recently discontinued the Aero 1550. We have not yet had time to change the documentation calling out this model.

Compaq's replacement for the Aero 1550 is the IPAQ 3150. This is the handheld we now recommend. Components such as the handheld pouch have been designed around the 3150.

If you plan to purchase an IPAQ 3150 for use with Survey Control II, you will need to also get the expansion pack for the compact flash card.

Bill Martin
Ashtech Precision Products

Thanks Bill. I tried contacting Ashtech sales, Mark was out and so was Pete.
Just kicking around some options here, if I were to find a "new old stock" aero 1550 for a really good deal, would it do the trick? Would it also need the expansion pack for the compact flash card as an optional accessory to the "base" configuration? The dimensions are smaller than the hp 48GX, so I am counting on the fact that the soft cover and the bracket with the original kinematic kit would do fine.
The 64 million $ question then would be "how much" for the complete iPaq 3150 and software, or just the software from Ashtech? Bill, if you can comment on this please do so.
Thanks and Best Regards,
Dave

Bill, in regards to Dave Huff's 64 million dollar question, would there be any discount for current Locus users who purchased the old kinematic kit who would like to upgrade to the new one ? Kinda like an upgrade incentive ?

Dave,

Sorry for the late reply to your post. It's been a bit hectic lately.

I happen to have an Aero 1550. It does fit in the 48GX pouch. You will need to place a foam block or similar space filler at the bottom of the pouch since the Aero is shorter than the 48GX. But, it works fine. I have done the exact think myself.

As a matter of fact, I am pretty sure the IPAQ will fit in the 48GX pouch. Qwners of Locus Handheld (48GX based)who want to upgrade to Survey Control II could get away with only purchasing an IPAQ (with compact flash expansion pack) and the software, making use of the bracket and pole from the 48GX package.

The Aero comes with a compact flash slot built into the main unit. You do not need an expansion pack.

Dave, I'd rather not discuss exact pricing in this forum mainly because, not being in the sales department, I'm afraid to provide incorrect information. Prices change often and the I'd hate to provide you (and everyone listening) with incorrect pricing information (liability issues). I can tell you that the price of the complete package is similar to the price of the HP48GX package and the price of the software alone is very similar to the price of the HP48GX based software. For more specific information, call our sales department directly (800-229-2400) or a local dealer. And feel free to post it if you like (your not liable).

Hope this helps.

Bill Martin
Ashtech Precision Products

Modified By William Martin on 6/11/2001 at 11:24 AM

Mike,

I wish I could definitively say the answer to your question was yes, but I believe it is no and I can tell you why.

It was our goal to keep the price of the Survey Control II / IPAQ kinematic package as close as possible to the Locus Handheld / HP48GX package. This was not easy since the IPAQ is considerably more expensive than the HP48GX. Considering this and the fact that the Survey Control II / IPAQ kinematic package is made up of a number of components, most of which are not manufactured by us (IPAQ, bracket, pouch, pole, etc), our profit margin on this package is already very thin. This makes it very difficult to offer this specific package at a discount.

Sorry for the disappointing news. We, as a company, have always tried to help our customers keep up to date at as little cost to them as possible. Sometimes we can help (free Ashtech Solutions upgrade) and other times we cannot.

Bill Martin
Ashtech Precision Products

Bill,

Thanks for the reply. I checked with sales at the end of last week and seems they were in the dark about this thing.
The iPAQ 3150 is roughly twice the cost of a discount/mail order hp 48gx. Until the end of June, Compaq direct is throwing in the flash expansion pack as a freebie. I would like to see more information on the software for the survey control II, the specs on Ashtech site are very sketchy.
The 48gx is fine in the static site logger mode, the drawback I find is the lack of quick description changes, and the point incrementing being restored after a reinitialization in the kinematic mode.
Now, if the new Survey Control II will let us "cut out" data from a particular SV as does say the TSC-1, that would be beneficial. Perhaps a "point code" method of descrition input would be neat. And a "next new" site ID key would be fantastic.
The days of Hewlett Packard building us the best in calculators are gone. The 48gx lasted many years, but I think we are going to see the "pocket PC" machines come and go at a much faster rate.
Just trying to justify whether it would be an upgrade rather than an update. I'm all for seeing Ashtech build a better mousetrap, and from a sales standpoint they have done just that. We can use the Survey Control II with Locus today, and have it for the Z xtreme tomorrow.
Bill, if you can highlight a few of the changes, I would appreciate it.
Thanks and Best Regards,
Dave

Dave,

Let's see if I can address your questions:

Question:
How does Survey Control II improve upon Locus Handheld in the area of descriptions?

Answer:
In two ways. First, any description that is entered is retained in a descriptor list. The next time you need the descriptor, you can select it from the list rather than enter it again. You can also edit a descriptor that is close to the one you want. Second, description entry is must easier and quicker with the Win CE interface.

Question:
How does Survey Control II improve on the point incrementing after kinematic re-initialization.

Answer:
As you know with Locus Handheld, if you have incremented up to point number 10, then go back and enter point number 5 to reinitialize on this point, the auto-increment feature will increment to number 6 for the next shot when really it should be 11.

We fixed this in Survey Control II in the following manner. First, we added the ability to tag a point as a control point to be used later for re-initialization. When you do need to reinitialize, you enter a special initialization part of the software and simply select the re-init point number rather than having to remember it. Then, when you return to the point collection part of the software, the incrementing of point numbering begins where you left off automatically.

Question:
Does Survey Control II allow you to "cut out" data from a particular SV?

Answer:
No. Can you elaborate on what you see as the benefit of this during data collection?

The Survey Control II manual is on the Ashtech web site if you would like to download it. It will give you full detail on the functionality of Survey Control II. To find it, follow these instructions:

1. From the main page of www.ashtech.com, select Customer Support from the left side column.
2. Select 'Access the Ashtech FTP Site'.
3. Go into the Reference Manuals folder.
4. Go into the Survey Control II folder. The manual is here in PDF format. FYI, the file is over 7 mb.

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Bill Martin
Ashtech Precision Products

Bill,

Once again you have come through for me. Once I updated from acrobat reader 2.1 to 5.0, I was able to take a look at the manual.
Looks nicely done. Interesting change in the use of the 2 meter pole and kinematic, where it appears you use only the actual pole height in a vertical measurement.
The cross checking of the HI in meters vs. feet is a pretty good blunder detection tool.
In elaborating on "cutting out data", seems this could be done to reject the data from an SV on the horizon mask,say for example you were concerned about obstructions and possible multipath. I understand we will be able to do this with the new version of the "solutions" software when we post process.
As far as the $, I talked to Margie in sales this afternoon. The information I got from her was that there is yet to be a price list on the system or its components. She says should be out by the last week of the month.

Equally interesting is the new Micro Survey "field genius" software. One of the suggested hardware platforms just happens to be the iPAQ. This could get rather enticing!
Thanks again Bill and Mike M., looks like a "wait and see" event at this point.
Best Regards,
Dave
Modified By Dave Huff on 6/13/2001 at 1:08 AM