Ashtech Z-max
Ashtech Z-Max rover with Carlson Surveyor
Obtained from the Netherlands
Product details: Ashtech Z-max | Sercel (Spectra Precision) | GNSS Receivers | Survey | Material: Plastic
These pictures are actually not from the system in my collection but from the system that I tested in 2007 for GeoInformatics. Both are however the same (apart from the serial, although I neglected to write the serial down in 2007). The Z-Max in my collection was a donation from Rijkswaterstaat via Nicolas de Hilster a colleque at the MIWB and a fellow collector (though not of GPS, my luck).
When Thales Navigation brought the Z-Max onto the market in 2003 it was an innovative design. Rather than other brands it wasn't a backpack but everything was on the same pole. Maybe the most innovative was the UHF antenna in the thick pole between the receiver and the antenna. With the receiver in the middle of the pole (and a sturdy handle), the instrument was even relatively easy to operate though still heavy. It's downfall in 2007 was that it only had GPS at 24 channels where all the competitors also had GLonass with 72 channels and were much faster. In those days GPS developments went very fast and the system was old in a few years. What also set it back was the Carlson Survey software. Though not bad, it was not specifically designed for the Z-max meaning that it missed some features that other software had. The software also looked out of date compared to the others.
The unit in my collection still works tough the batteries are 'near dead'.
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Ashtech Z-Max rover with Carlson Surveyor
Obtained from the Netherlands
Product details: Ashtech Z-max | Sercel (Spectra Precision) | GNSS Receivers | Survey | Material: Plastic