What theodolite?

[d b]

(09-16-2014 12:20 PM)HP-Collection Wrote:  For my collection I would like to buy a theodolite I can combine with the following parts I own:

- CO-OP Data Collector (as seen on my website)
- Geodimeter Data Recording unit (as seen on my website)
- HP-48 (I maybe need the cable to connect the calculator)

What theodolite (type, not only brand) do you recomment?

For documentation I added a similar unit I already own (Kern brand)

Best regards
Matthias
http://www.hp-collection.org

Some things:
-A few years ago, Sweden's venerable Geodimeter was acquired by California's GPS giant Trimble in a move clearly acknowledging the limits of voodoo technology. You might be able to find specs through them, especially if they have a corporate archivist.
-You may find that another manufacturer uses the same protocol and you could possibly be able to widen your search to include some other gun that will also work with the program you have. The protocol being the order of the data and the separator used.
-At least one geodimeter instrument will only record part of each shot onto a TDS 48 unit, so unless it's cheap; you might not want that one. If memory serves me, it was Horiz dist and elevation difference (or conversely slope distance with zenith angle). Like the HP 3810b, no horizontal angle could be sent but it would be recorded by a more traditional input/storage device, such as pencil and paper. Point number and description will be handled in your data collector.

As to "what is a theodolite?" Here in the states, general usage was that:
-A fine European transit like a Wild, Kern, or Zeiss would be called a Theodolite.
-A U.S. made theodolite like a beautiful brass K&E would be called a transit.
So the answer to "what's the difference between a transit and a theodolite?" was: "about seven hundred bucks".