I assume the handheld GPS (datalogger) has to be left on the tripod when doing static.

Trouble is, that would be one of the most "stealable" items most people would see! AND left alone for many hours.

Any way to make it less conspicuous, or construct some sort of cover to hide the lovely blue toy?

Matt,

Good observation.

Maybe they can add some sort of anchor eye to the case without much trouble ??
(super glue ?)

Then you could put a cable thru the eye and lock it to something.

Jimbo

Rather than asking Ashtech to modify the case (which seems unlikely since it's already in production), perhaps a more practical alternative would be a lockable clamshell-style tripod bracket that clamps around the tripod leg and encloses the receiver.

Of course, you're still faced with the matter of locking the tripod to something secure, and protecting the antenna is even more difficult.

Good idea Jim.

If the cable could be made slightly longer, then the datalogger could be securely locked in a small metal case that could be padlocked to the legs.

That would make it even more secure than the Locus, because at least thieves would only get away with the antenae if the legs were also chained to a star-iron picket.

Security of the base station is always an issue, and evey now and again we hear of entire RTK base stations going missing.

What's a star-iron picket? I'm unfamiliar with the term, but it sounds interesting.

Good luck on securing anything. I can't even seem to keep 16 horsepower riding mowers in the yard. Had one stolen in April. Sitting against the back of the house under my bedroom window, waiting for the mower mechanic to pick it up on Monday. Gone Sunday night. Replaced it with a new one, and chained it to a tree. Gone July 2. Got another mower, a motion light, a much bigger chain and no sleep for several Sunday nights in a row. It's still there....I think.

Point is, there is no "secure" anything, if someone wants to take it or break it, they will.
Hope I still have a mower Monday. I may actually crank it up.

J.D.

A star-iron picket is a 6 foot steel rod with 3 "vanes" and looks like a star from the top. Millions of the things are used for fencing here in the Australian outback.

JB is right about keeping things secure, BUT, I think you would just make it as hard as possible for thieves. No matter what you do, someone with enough will is going to steal it, but most pinching is "opportunistic". They were just driving past and put the whole base station on the back of their truck.

This way you just increase your chances of keeping the gear.

I agree with both J.D. and John..anything can be stolen...but you should not help them to take your stuff..Like I tell some of my crew members, that were raised in a @#$%@ barn...shut the doors and the hatches on the truck!!!!!!!! don't just offer up our expensive equipment to anyone walking by..at least make them open the @$#!@$%$@@ doors to get to it...some of them never learn.,..
What are you going to do? Kick trashcans??? Must be why I like working by myseld somedays...Tom Bryant