Trimble TSC3 vs. TSC5

Adam Kelly is a professional land surveyor based in Colorado. He is a long-time user of the Trimble TSC3 Controller with Trimble Access, and he compares it alongside the new Trimble TSC5 Controller.

[@petterhoffmann4156]

Man, Colorado is beautiful.. Equipment getting well tested for sure! Thanks for the thorough testing and comparing info!

[@atown4428]

I’m spoiled. We have 2 TSC-5s and one TSC-7 for two field guys. I get to pick whichever, every time out.

[@stuartross1081]

I had TSC5 on short demo. Circular rocker button lacks a really good and easy to find recess, compared to TSC3. In quick code panel I simply couldn't get up to speed and made mistakes. Also enter button to right of rocker was so small and difficult to hit I assigned F6 as an enter button which helped greatly but wasted a valuable function key. Also, on the version I had I could not download my raw file from R10. Access kept crashing so you need to have a TSC3 with you too. Your review comments about the eccentricity and I agree with that finding. TSC3 with radio and bracket doesn't feel any heavier than similar TSC5. I also do a lot of work in the mountains. I did manage to get the TSC5 talking to my SX10 eventually but on every start up had to run a separate debug program to get the LR radio to work. It worked with the S6 straight out of the box. The TSC3 might be at the end of the road but it is still the one to use if you need to work fast to earn a living. I would buy a TSC5 if it had a more efficient and better thought out key board, It should be easy to fix.

[@danielyoo9532]

Great review, looking forward to using one!

[@lucashicks13]

Being Android if you are hooked to a mobile hotspot, you can set up an gmail account for the collector. Then email job, csv, etc. to any other email account. Also office people can email you any files you might need for the collector.

[@arrowm6961]

My only concern is that I bought two of them. Both of them had the screen fall off. My favorite Data Collector right now is the TDC600. I like my Trimble products. This set up is nice for for many reasons, android op system, apps like drop box, finally a charger that my cell phone can use..... When is Trimble finally going to let us purchase Trimble Access on our Cell phones or Tablets?

[@allenjohnson8133]

The tsc5 is ok. Battery life is good. It did crash on me a couple of times doing site calibrations in Siteworks when it was new, but following some updates it has been better. At this time, you cannot do a traverse in Siteworks on the tsc5.

[@akhehra]

TSC5 is a beautiful machine. I wish it was windows based instead android. I been using for last 5 months and not happy with program. TA exit out if screen go to sleep. Can't transform points unless exit out completely and restart program. Same issue with import export of points. Takes few second to load point manager from shortcut key. It just can't handle Trimble Access program. Never had those issues with TSE2 and 3.

[@JarnoBerg]

Will the tsc5 one day be compatible with the sx10 scanner?

[@stuartross1081]

Works with SX10 now Dec 21 onward

[@d112cons]

Mostly, but with a catch. With long range radio, TSC5 and SX10 are compatible. However, some of the earliest versions of the SX10 do not support wifi to Android devices, only Windows. If you've got one of the old ones, you might be better off with the (windows based) TSC7

[@codywitt2718]

Wish we would have gone TSC5 instead of the TSC7 it’s a boat anchor and battery life is horrid

[@waqashamza4683]

would you gift me one tsc3