3rd May 2010, 09:37 AM
You can get a Leica 1200 kit for ?20,000? Thats come down a lot in price from the ?30,000+ last time I looked.....snap it up I would say. Fantastic kit and as accurate as you say.....Garmin a good large range GPS at reasonable price. Just don't be looking to locate small finds or grid pegs.....
However bearing in mind the recent free availability of OS map data in the UK (and having something of an obsession at present about not allowing archaeological boys to play with survey toys until at least they demonstrate a sound knowledge of what the toy does or doesn't do!!), I wonder if accuracy with GPS is any grater than you would get with putting a dot on a printed map. I think I could get pretty close to smaller than 5m with a reasonable scale map and sound map-reading/prismatic compass skills. Infact using digital vectorised 'free' maps I have been able to get down to less than 10cm without the use of GPS (checked back for accuracy with total station at later date...)
However bearing in mind the recent free availability of OS map data in the UK (and having something of an obsession at present about not allowing archaeological boys to play with survey toys until at least they demonstrate a sound knowledge of what the toy does or doesn't do!!), I wonder if accuracy with GPS is any grater than you would get with putting a dot on a printed map. I think I could get pretty close to smaller than 5m with a reasonable scale map and sound map-reading/prismatic compass skills. Infact using digital vectorised 'free' maps I have been able to get down to less than 10cm without the use of GPS (checked back for accuracy with total station at later date...)
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...