EDM settings

Use the EDM settings screen to configure settings for the electronic distance meter in the instrument.

To view the EDM settings screen:

  • Tap and select Instrument / EDM settings.
  • Tap the instrument icon in the status bar to view the Instrument functions screen and then tap and hold the Laser or DR button.

To switch measurement mode, tap the first button in the Instrument functions screen to cycle through the available modes.

For most Trimble instruments, when you select:

  • STD, the instrument is in EDM Standard mode, where it averages the angles while a standard distance measurement is taken.
  • FSTD, the instrument is in EDM Fast Standard mode, where it averages the angles while a fast standard measurement is taken.
  • TRK, the instrument is in EDM Tracking mode, where it constantly measures distances and updates them in the status line.

For a Trimble C3 and C5 total station, when you select:

  • Normal, the instrument averages the angles while a standard distance measurement is taken.
  • Fast, the instrument averages the angles while a fast standard measurement is taken.
  • Precise, the instrument constantly measures distances and updates them in the status line.

Depending on the instrument that the controller is connected to, the following functions may be available:

Select the Direct Reflect check box to enable DR mode.

You can also enable DR mode from the Instrument functions screen, or by changing the target to Target DR.

To streamline the process of locating a prism in dark environments, enable the laser pointer in the EDM settings screen and enable the LaserLock check box in the Target controls screen.

You can also enable or disable the laser from the Instrument functions screen.

The Trimble S8 or S9 total station can be equipped with a 3R high power laser pointer.

The high power laser is a class 3R laser that emits laser radiation – do not stare into the beam or view directly with optical instruments.

When using the high power laser pointer:

  • The instrument can automatically turn to measure to the laser pointer location, even though the laser pointer is not coaxial with the telescope. When you take a distance measurement and the 3R high-power laser pointer is on, a preliminary measurement is taken to determine the vertical angle to turn the instrument so that the distance is measured to where the high-power laser pointer is pointing. The instrument automatically turns to that location and takes the measurement. The instrument then turns so that the high-power laser again points to the measured position. The preliminary measurement is not stored. This function does not occur during continuous topo.
  • The calculation of the vertical angle to turn to assumes the horizontal distance to the preliminary measurement is similar to the distance to the high power laser pointer location. To measure to the high power laser point when it is near the upper or lower edge of an object, consider using face 1 to take measurements at the lower edge of an object, and face 2 to take measurements at the upper edge of an object so that the preliminary measurement does not overshoot the object you are measuring to.

To blink the laser when storing a point measured with DR, select the number of times the laser will blink in the Blink laser field.

To define the acceptable accuracy of a measurement, enter a Prism standard deviation or DR standard deviation value, depending on the mode the instrument is in. When measuring to diffuse targets the standard deviation is displayed on the status line until the standard deviation satisfies the defined value. Once the standard deviation is satisfied, the measurement is accepted. To accept the measurement before the standard deviation is satisfied, tap Enter while the standard deviation is displayed on the status line.

Enter a suitable DR minimum and maximum distance for your survey. Increasing the maximum distance will increase the time that it takes for a measurement to complete, even if the distance being measured is less than the specified maximum. The default maximum distance provides a balance between measurement time and range. Increase the maximum distance if you are working at longer ranges. To restrict the DR measurement range, enter a minimum and maximum distance to avoid a result from a distant or intermittent object.

Use the long range mode when a strong instrument signal is required for measuring to targets more than one kilometer (about 0.6 miles) away.

To accept measurements at a lower accuracy (that is, below the normal instrument specification), enable Weak signal.

Use 10 Hz tracking when a faster update rate is required when using Tracking mode.

 

  • This option is only available if you are in both Autolock and Tracking mode. If you select DR or turn Autolock off when tracking, the software will default to normal tracking mode.
  • Although tracking is faster the precisions will be null for the stored point.