Soft-Art has been developing GPS software and selling GPS systems for 6 years. At one time we manufactured our own GPS systems when GPS pricing was prohibitive and we were able to produce a system that was competitive in cost and value. Since that time, Sokkia has entered the market with their Stratus single frequency receivers as well a dual frequency receiver line. The Stratus is easily the best single-frequency receiver available for the money, featuring a superior battery system, rugged casing and no cables. The dual frequency receivers, including the GSR2600 and Radian IS, use the Novatel receiver board, currently considered by many to be the best receiver board available today because it has the least noise in its data. This is the same board that Leica has switched to.
What is somewhat surprising to learn about GPS is that, unlike most products, the choice of hardware has very little impact on the quality of the results... In other words, all GPS systems produce virtually the same result in terms of accuracy. It doesn't make any difference whose product you buy in this regard because GPS accuracy is not dependent on the receiver in any of the systems that are currently being marketed for surveying. Differences in performance between the various systems on the market are marginal - the Sokkia and Leica, in one test, were shown to be a little better in terms of consistency as an example. The big differences lie in the areas of price, support and software.
Another advantage that we have is that we sell direct. On a system costing over $40,000, you are probably spending at least $10,000 for the dealer's markup, and the dealer is already paying a manufacturer's markup of about the same amount. In bypassing a dealer's markup and buying directly from a company like us, you can save a LOT of money. We sell a complete RTK system for $26,000 that will match up with any of the other systems on the market that are priced at $35,000 and more.
Another consideration is that this is a highly integrated system. The desktop software and data collector software were designed to work with each other as well as with the GPS and total station hardware. With this system, you can collect field data, transfer it to the desktop and design a subdivision, transfer THAT design back to the data collector and stake it out with our RTK GPS system, disconnect from that and plug into your total station to take some shots buried in the trees. One software system at one very low price.
If, for some reason you don't want to use our software, the Sokkia system will work with other data collectors on the market, including TDS and Carlson. The price of the system will be higher by the difference in price between our data collector and whatever other data collector you wish to use.
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