I obtained a set of three Locus receivers in December 2000. As received, one of the receivers would not connect by IR to download. The serial number of this unit was LK 119993119. The supplier replaced that receiver and until yesterday I have had no further problems with anything in the Locus system. However, yesterday when attempting to download receiver No. LK 119993137, I had selected the data in the directory and clicked on it to move it over to the right side when I received an error message: "THIS PROGRAM HAS PERFOMED AN ILLEGAL ACTIVITY AND WILL BE SHUT DOWN etc, etc." After that, I could not get that unit to connect again last night. This morning, the unit did connect and showed the "flying paper" symbol, but the bar graph or the % complete did not show any activity. The lights on the receiver were all blinking at once rather than in sequence. Afer several minutes, I shut it off and it has refused to connect again. The other two receivers downloaded correctly as usual.
The supplier has agreed to replace this unit and I have already shipped it to him, but I am quite concerned about what is going on here. I absolutely cannot afford to lose another whole day's work as happened yesterday. I will appreciate any information anyone can give me.

Joe,

Please send me an email with the name of your supplier who has this unit. I want to keep track of this receiver in an effort to determine exactly what is wrong with it.

Bill Martin
Ashtech Precision Product

Hello:

The last error you got "This Program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down" is a Windows error message that might not be related to that particular LOCUS receiver.

What versions of LOCUS processor and Windows are you using?

Do you have a second Windows computer to try downloading your LOCUS units from?

The data on the last LOCUS may still be recoverable. Please make sure your dealer tries to recover the data from this receiver.

Regards,

Richard Phelan

Richard,

I have Version 1.20 and Windows 98. I know that I received a standard Windows error message and I simply sated it in full here so that everyone would know the exact message I got.

I realize in dealing with a computer, anything is possible, but since I have not been receiving that message in other programs or in the Locus program before trying to download that receiver, it just seems that it might be the receiver. Also, please note that everything continued to work in downloading the other receivers, although considering the luck I have had so far, I wonder how long they will continue to work.

Thanks for the reply, and the suggestion that the dealer might be able to recover the data, but this was a rush job and we completed it using total stations this afternoon.

Thank you,

Joe Seall

Joe,

When we first started using the Locus processor we had a similar "illegal function" message. Try reinstalling the software. That may solve the windows problem. I can also symphathize with you on losing a days work. Don't get disheartened about it. After a few months you are liable to be like we are and try to use your Locus units on every job.

J.D. Billings

The dealer called me yesterday and told me the receiver I returned worked perfectly when he tried to download it. Also yesterday, I experienced some new and crazy behavior in my survey program,
so I'm ready to concede that I have computer problems.

I've been thinking about purchasing a laptop, anyway. Does anyone have any opinions or recommendations? Please email me.

Thanks,
Joe Seall

I get this message sometimes when my file name is too long or consists of more than one word. I create a new file with a name that is a single word.

Joe,

If you want to get the receiver back and bring them up to me in Brandon, we'll download the files here and crank out the data. Give me a call.
I'm also thinking of buying a laptop and processing in the field, but then I'd want to also run TDS download/conversion at the same time and mix the two. Nah, not yet!
Best Regards,
Dave

Dave,

Thanks for the offer, but the dealer emailed me the files and I have already processed them.

Why would you not want to also download TDS data in the field? Would this be a problem to do that I am not aware of? I will appreciate any insight you can give me on downloading both in the field and using both to complete or at least speed up the job. I often work 30 - 50 miles away and would really like to be able to see everything on the screen and make accurate calculations and decisions without having to travel back to the office.

Sincerely,
Joe

I use a laptop in the field when the data absolutely must be observed at the site. The biggest problem with doing this is screen visibility. You'll need to work from inside a completely shaded area, such as your vehicle. The screen will be invisible under open sky, including overcast. I use a Toshiba Satellite, a very nice system. Sony VAIOs are more compact, but more expensive (three grand).

If you do go the laptop route, figure on incorporating an optical mouse as pointing device. If you want to use the computer's built-in pointing devices, your mechanical efficiency will drop by one half for starters, even more in mouse-heavy CAD applications.