This series covers most of the current Leica total stations such as TPS 300, TPS 700, TPS 1000 (including TC1010 and TC1610) and TPS 1100. For the older 400, 600, 800 and 900, turn off ATR and use the TPS 100/300/400 config. Many of these units include the “motorized” option.
- Comm Setup: Default baud rate is 9600 and Even Parity, 7 Char Length and Stop Bits 1, however, we recommend using baud rate 19200 and None Parity, 8 Char Length and Stop Bits 1 for all 1100 and 1200 series instruments for better performance.
- Instrument Series: Instruments supported are TPS 100/300/400, TPS 700/700 Auto, TPS 1000/1100 and TPS 1200.
- Read Method: Default setting is Fast. Other settings are Fast, Tracking, User-Defined and Reflectorless. The "Standard" option produces a 3-second reading while the “Fast” setting produces a 1-second reading. One application of Reflectorless is to toggle between a 0 prism offset (shooting a rock face or brick wall) versus shooting a prism with a non-zero prism offset. When set to Reflectorless, the rod height and prism offset automatically go to zero. When returned to Standard, the previous non-zero prism offset is recalled and the original rod height is restored. Turn to Point for stakeout and PowerSearch are disabled in Reflectorless mode. The Read Method (Std, Fast, Reflectorless) will appear in the upper right of the graphic screen for most types of Leica total stations, in commands such as Sideshot/Traverse, Stakeout Point, etc.
- Foresight/Backsight Prism Offset: Here is the list of standard prism offsets. Note that Leica prisms default zero to equate to -34.4 mm. So a prism offset of 34.4 equals a zero “net” offset. Whenever a prism constant is changed, a note is written to the raw (RW5) file. When you select one of the prisms from the list (Circle, Mini, etc), the value that is shown in parenthesis is the actual value sent to the instrument. i.e. 0.0 for Circular, 17.5 for Mini. If you select "30mm" or "40mm", we send - 4.4 and 5.6 respectively (30-34.4 and 40- 34.4). The user may also type in any value they choose. In this case, we will send that value exactly, unmodified, to the instrument.
- (360) (23.1): Prism offset of 23.1 (Leica model).
- Circle (0.0): Standard Leica round prism.
- Mini (17.5): Leica mini prism.
- ReflTape (34.4): Equates to zero offset (wall, surface).
- 30mm: Other manufactures (Sokkia, Seco).
- 40mm: Other manufacturers.
- Motorized: When clicked off, this also ghosts out most items in the lower half of the dialog. When clicked on, 4 additional options become available. They are ATR, Power Search, Turn to Point in Stakeout and (if on), Turn to Vertical in Stakeout.
- ATR (AutoTarget Recognition): For the TPS 700, TPS 1000 and TPS 1100, this option will find the prism after you point in the approximate direction. It searches over a fixed range of motion and detects all prism types and locks on to the exact center of the prism. Saves “dial in” time.
- Power Search Enabled: The Power Search option can be purchased with all motorized Leica total stations. This option activates the “Pwr Srch” button in the “banner line” at the top of the survey and stakeout screens. When Power Search is pressed, the total station will typically find the prism in 10 seconds regardless of the direction it is initially pointed. If it has found one prism and you hit “Power Search” again, it will leave that prism and find the next one. If you have only 2 prisms on the job (foresight and backsight), it will conveniently rotate from the foresight to the backsight and back again each time it is pressed.
- Turn to Point in Stakeout: You would always want to click this on with a motorized total station. In stakeout (with the exception of slope staking), the program “knows” the angle and distance to turn. When clicked on, this would turn the correct horizontal angle to the stake point, automatically. When on, it also activates the next option, “Turn to Vertical in Stakeout”. Turn to Point in Stakeout is disabled when in Reflectorless mode, since staking out should require the “certainty” of a prism placed vertically over the target point.
- Turn to Vertical in Stakeout: When auto-turning to stakeout points, you have the option to turn horizontally but not vertically. If “Turn to Vertical” is clicked off, you would need to manually “dial in” the vertical position of the prism in stakeout. However, if rod heights are unchanging, this should be clicked on, and will turn the gun to the correct vertical position, factoring in the current rod height setting.
- Laser Pointer: Ideal for indoor or “dark” evening surveying, this option sends a red beam out. It is often used when doing reflectorless work, and makes a red mark on the wall, floor or object being surveyed, thereby confirming the position prior to the shot. The beam should not be directed into someone’s vision or eye.
For Leica TPS equipment that offers the reflectorless option, screens such as Sideshot/Traverse and Stakeout now have a handy icon which when clicked, switches from non-reflectorless to reflectorless and back. The button appears in both the graphics and text modes of these screens.
Leica 1200 Robotic
The new Leica robotic total station requires the activation of the “Extended GeoCOM” option before it will allow the user of third party data collection software (i.e. SurvCE or Tsunami).
- Activation Information: The following information was provided by Leica in document Su11-05G.
TPS1200 Instruments (TCA, TCP, TCRA, TCRP) require a special key code to operate in Robotic mode when using an AllegroCE/RCS running SurvCE Version 1.5. The following table lists the part number for the code:
Product Part Number Description
TPS1200 734754 GeoCOM Robotics License
Note: When ordering a TPS1200 Robotic Instrument, AllegroCE/RCS and SurvCE, you must order part number 734754 – this is a no charge item.
- Procedures for Checking Activation Status: A simple way to know that the “Extended GeoCOM” option is not activated is to enter the Robotics dialog of SurvCE and attempt a power search. The instrument will communicate but the power search feature will fail. If you suspect this to be the case, on the newer firmware you can also check the status using the following steps:
- Power on the instrument.
- Select the “User” button on the keyboard.
- Select the F3 button for “STAT”.
- Select list item number 3 for “System Information”.
- Use the down arrow key to scroll to the bottom of the “Instrument” page.
- Verify that “Extended GeoCOM” is on.
- Defining the Port: The Leica 1200 needs to know that you intend to use the GeoCOM interface through the external port. The following steps will set the Leica to communicate with SurvCE:
- Power on the instrument.
- Select “Config”.
- Select menu item 4 for “Interfaces”.
- Arrow down to “GeoCOM Mode” and select F3 for “Edit”.
- Select F5 for “DEVCE”.
- Select “RS232 Geocom”
- Select F3 for “Edit” and verify the communication settings.
- Baud Rate: 19,200
- Parity: None
- Data Bits: 8
- Stop Bit: 1
- Select F1 for “STORE”.
- Select F1 for “CONT” and verify the following option on the GeoCOM Mode page:
- Use Interface: Yes
- Port: Port 1
- Device: RS232 GeoCOM
- Protocol: RS232 GeoCOM
- Select F1 for “CONT”.
- Verify that the only device active is RS232 GeoCOM and select F1 for “CONT”.
- Prediction Settings: The Leica 1200 has several prediction modes for when the instrument has lost lock. The following are the recommended settings while using SurvCE:
- Select 3 for “Manage”.
- Select 5 for “Configuration Sets”
- Pick New or Edit (Recommend New for First Time)
- New - Input Name, Desc and Creator Initials then F1 Store/Cont
- Select F1 for “CONT” 8 times until the "Automatic Prism Search" screen appears.
- Select the down arrow one time and set "After Prediction Search With:" to "No Search" by tapping the right arrow key one time.
- Select F1 for “CONT”.
- Select F1 for “CONT” 2 more times until the "Interfaces" screen appears.
- Select the down arrow key to highlight GeoCOM mode and press F5 for “Use”. Make sure no other mode is set. To toggle off any other mode highlight and press F5 for “Use” to toggle off.
- Select F1 for “CONT” 5 times to save and exit to the Main Menu.
TC1010/1610
For the Leica TC1010/1610 series instruments, it's important that the following settings are true:
- Communications Settings (SurvCE & Instrument): 9600,7,even,1
- Communication Mode: Make sure you set the instrument to communciate RS232 mode, not module.
SurvCE Settings
- Instrument: Leica TPS Series
- Instrument Series: TPS 1000/1100
Make sure all of the toggles in the settings dialog are off. If the ATR toggle is on and grayed out, activate the Motorized toggle, toggle off ATR, then toggle off Motorized.