I see many posts from people who seem to be using strictly static systems. I have been using Ashtec/TDS RTK for nearly 3 years and other than the cable problems and that little thing I had with the cold weather and the radios, I can't imagine setting at a single point for more than 5 minutes. In the "flat" areas we can go up to an 8 mile radius, less in the big hills. We consistantly retie points from different base points with cm accuracy (H & V). Why are so many people still running static systems when the RTK is so fast and accurate?

We use the system every day. All but lot surveys and then we sometimes tie them to the "grid" if we have time. I currently have nearly every section corner in two counties tied in less than three years and I rotate/scale in my old projects to the "grid" whenever we are close. With this system we can go get a lot more data in a fraction of the time it took with traversing. The extra data "always" makes for more informed decisions. Just a stupid question.

Not a stupid question at all -

I got three static receivers & all the bells & whistles for about $12K. An RTK setup would cost me $35K-$65K.

I don't do enough work to keep $65K worth of GPS equipment busy.

Haven't yet been able to repeal the laws of supply & demand.

Jerry

I use both RTK and more traditional static GPS work for a variety of projects but personally I prefer to use network adjustments for control work. The plain truth is that RTK is a radial survey even with field calibrations. If you want to know your positional accuracy with more confidence than you can get with RTK then use a survey network.

For topo, field data capture, and stakeout the RTK is wonderful.